The St Tammany Parish Council met last night and passed a revised version of a zoning density moratorium that Parish President Mike Cooper originally proposed.
With a unanimous vote of 14-0, the Council approved a temporary moratorium on rezoning of residential property for higher-density developments.
The measure restricts the rezoning of property to allow more than four housing units per acre of land, or to zone such parcels as Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) or Traditional Neighborhood Development Districts (TNDs) for at least three months.
The moratorium does not restrict building permits and allows building under the property’s current zoning classification.
Cooper said after Thursday’s vote that some Council members were unhappy last month that he had not consulted them before the original ordinance was introduced, but in the end a satisfactory compromise was reached.
Cooper’s original proposal would’ve provided a six-month moratorium on rezoning to allow residential development of more than one home per acre. It was amended at the April Council meeting to its current form.
Cooper requested the moratorium while the Parish completes studies on drainage, traffic, wetlands and other issues related to growth, all of which will be completed by 2024.
