Council OKs zoning requests

Each had received a favorable recommendation from the city Planning Commission.
Shandell Mansion asked for a “conditional use” designation to relocate Delynn’s Barber Shop to newly purchased property at 929 W. Northern Ave with the stipulations of one barber chair and proper residential signage. The new location has a guest house in the back yard which Mansion wanted to use as the barber shop.
That guest house was a sticking point for some.
Alderman Brad Core argued that, according to city ordinance, the shop must be located within the main building for a variance to be granted. “Our ordinance does not allow for the business to be in a separate building,” he said. “We’re setting a precedent that we will allow commercial use in separate buildings.”
But Mayor Tim Monceaux contended that Mansion was requesting a “conditional use” designation, not a variance and Code Enforcement Officer Tony Duhon agreed.
City Attorney Tom Regan, who was unable to attend the meeting but was watching it from home, called Monceaux to backup the mayor and Duhon.
“She did not ask for a ‘home occupancy’ variance. She asked for conditional use,” Monceaux translated from the cell phone. “And she has met all requirements.”
Core conceded, “If Mr. Regan says it’s OK, it’s good with me.”
Mansion’s request was granted unanimously.
The second recommendation from the Planning Commission was to approve a variance that would allow Third Crop Properties, LLC, to encroach 4 feet onto utility right-of-way for a building structure along the east side of Avenue C between West Mill Street and West Elm Street.
Again, it was Core who led the discussion, asking if the property in question belonged to the city and, if so, shouldn’t the city sell it instead of allowing the business to use it.
“Has this ever been done in the past?” he asked.
Monceaux said it had. “It’s been a long time, but the city has done this in the past.”
The mayor pointed to similar action on Avenue D north from Mill Street to the Railroad tracks and on Front Street south to the tracks.
Regan, again via cell phone, added that a similar variance had been granted to Cajun Bag.
The request was approved.
In somewhat related action, the council introduced an ordinance to abandon West Elm Street west of the west line of South Avenue C.
A public hearing on the proposed ordinance will be held at the Feb. 9 council meeting.