Town Planning & Zoning Meeting Minutes – Wednesday, December 17, 2003

BRUSLY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
December 17, 2003

A regular meeting of the Brusly Planning Commission was held on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 in the Council Meeting Room, Brusly Town Hall, Brusly, Louisiana. The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Debbie Thompson at 6:30 P.M.

Members present: Jules Thibodaux, Carroll Fontenot, Debbie Thompson, Rosa Stelly, Shane Sarradet

Members absent: Claudette Purnell, Leslie Crockett.

Others present: Marianne Berthelot, Mayor Joey Normand, Don Neisler, Chris Kershaw, Joanne Bourgeois, Keith Birch, Danny Rabalais, Kenny Hunts, Fred McKenzie.
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Upon motion of Mr. Carroll Fontenot seconded by Mr. Jules Thibodaux , the Minutes of the November 19, 2003 meeting were approved as written. Motion carried unanimously.

There was no other business to come before the Planning Commission.

Mr. Carroll Fontenot made a motion to adjourn. Mrs. Rosa Stelly seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

The meeting of the Planning Commission adjourned at 6:35 P.M.

 

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Debbie Thompson, Chairperson

MINUTES OF BRUSLY ZONING COMMISSION
December 17, 2003

A regular monthly meeting of the Brusly Zoning Commission was held on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 in the Council Meeting Room, Brusly Town Hall, Brusly, Louisiana. The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Debbie Thompson at 6:36 P.M.

Members present: Jules Thibodaux, Carroll Fontenot, Debbie Thompson, Rosa Stelly, Shane Sarradet.

Members absent: Claudette Purnell, Leslie Crockett.

Others present: Marianne Berthelot, Mayor Joey Normand, Don Neisler, Chris Kershaw, Joanne Bourgeois, Keith Birch, Danny Rabalais, Kenny Hunts, Fred McKenzie.
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Upon motion of Mr. Carroll Fontenot, seconded by Mrs. Rosa Stelly, the Minutes of the November 19, 2003 meeting were approved as written. Motion carried unanimously.

The Chairman opened the Public Hearing on the following:

• Proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to change side setback requirements from eight (8) feet to ten (10) feet to comply with NFPA code.

The Chairman recognized Mr. Kenny Hunts representative of the Brusly Fire Department. He stated that close side set-backs cause risks of fire moving from one house to another and the recently adopted NFPA code recommends increasing the setback requirements to at least 10’. He stated that it has been proven by NFPA that by increasing setbacks the risk of fire spreading drops 85% therefore they are recommending the change. He advised that this would affect residential property only since commercial properties are dealt with through the State Fire Marshall.

Mayor Joey Normand was recognized. He stated that the change would affect all residential districts plus B-1 and B-2 districts.

Following are items discussed upon questions and comments from the public in attendance:

• Effect this change would have on high-density areas in the older part of the town by decreasing the building area on the smaller lots.

• Possibility of high-density areas and newer existing developments that have been laid out according to the 8’ setback requirement being grandfathered.

• Variances and how this could increase the number of variance requests received by the town.

• Variance guidelines and the possibility of taking into consideration the distance from structure to structure in requests for variance. Also the possibility of granting a variance if firewall standards are followed in new construction.

Members felt that more time is needed for study and agreed to defer action to the January 2004 meeting. There was no further discussion. Mr. Carroll Fontenot made a motion to close the public hearing. Mr. Jules Thibodaux seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

Mrs. Rosa Stelly made a motion to defer action to the January 2004 meeting. Motion was seconded by Mr. Carroll Fontenot and carried unanimously.

 

Under other business, Mr. Hunts submitted a letter from the Fire Department setting forth plans for requirements for the fire department to receive a plot plan or Fire Marshal plan when any commercial building is being built in the town. He stated that they would like for the Zoning Commission to make sure the fire department will get a copy of plans to review and make decisions on water flow, placement of fire hydrants and location of fire lanes. Mr. Don Neisler was recognized. He recommended that this matter be addressed in both the subdivision and zoning codes. Mr. Hunts was advised that this matter will be placed on the agenda for the January 21, 2004 meeting for discussion.
There was no other business to come before the Zoning Commission.

Mr. Carroll Fontenot made a motion to adjourn. Mrs. Rosa Stelly seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. The meeting of the Zoning Commission adjourned at 7:30 P.M.

 

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Debbie Thompson, Chairperson