Zoning changes, budget on Thibodaux council agenda

The city of Thibodaux’s outdated zoning ordinances and the city’s annual budget will be the hot topics at next month’s Dec. 2 city council meeting.

Residents will have the opportunity to voice their concerns about proposed amendments to the city’s zoning ordinances during the regularly scheduled city council meeting.

The budget hearing, which will commence after the regular meeting, is to hear public concerns about the city’s 2009 operations and capital budget.

The City of Thibodaux Planning and Zoning Commission developed the city’s zoning districts in 1968. The council officially adopted the zoning ordinances in April 1979.

Council Chairman Chad Mire said the planning and zoning commission has chosen to revamp the zoning ordinances because they are obsolete.

The last time, the ordinances were amended was in July 1989, Mire said.

However, council has to approve the changes before they are made.

Some of the proposed changes are to eliminate those gray areas that used terms like “principally” and “conditionally” permitted.

Other changes will affect the Residential 3 area, which contains single-family and multiple-family dwellings in addition to a limited number of businesses.

Currently, the zoning ordinance change conditionally permits gas stations, car washes, motels, bars and lounges to do business in the neighborhood.

If changed, they will be prohibited.

“From now on, things will be either permitted or prohibited,” Mire said. “If they are prohibited, then residents will have to apply for a variance and go before the planning and zoning commission for approval.”

The city council will also hear from the public about the city’s operation and capital budget.

According to Mire, next year’s budget is an estimated $33 million.

Some of the 2009 expenditures include replacing the waterlines throughout the city, drainage and sewage improvements, upgrades to the Tiger Drive Bridge and possibly constructing a bypass road from North Canal Boulevard to the Laurel Valley Road.

The regular city council meeting will be held at 5 p.m. The budget hearing will immediately follow.

The Home Rule Charter, which was adopted in 2001, requires that the budget hearing be held at a separate meeting.