Baton Rouge Growth and Development

[greg225]

Planning Commission staff supports rezoning site of proposed barge-cleaning facility                       

The Planning Commission staff is recommending that the commission rezone a 60-acre tract on River Road that is the site of a proposed barge-cleaning facility. The staff recommends rezoning the property from M2, or heavy industrial, to HC1, or heavy commercial—a change that, if adopted by the commission at its meeting tonight and approved later this week by the Metro Council, will effectively kill plans for the controversial facility.

Last month, Metro Council members John Delgado and Chandler Loupe proposed rezoning the property amidst mounting opposition to the barge-cleaning facility, which would be developed by Port Arthur, Texas-based Tubal Cain Marine Services. Along with the zoning change, the city’s FuturEBR land use plan will also have to be amended to change the designated land use from open space to commercial. The Planning Commission staff also supports that change.      https://www.businessreport.com/business/planning-commission-staff-supports-rezoning-site-proposed-barge-cleaning-facility-2

  

[richyb83]

Is this the best location they can find along the river??

Edited August 18, 2015 by richyb83

[greg225]

edit*

?

[greg225]

Baton Rouge Planning Commission recommends rezoning to keep out controversial barge cleaning operation      

Updated at 6:52 p.m. — The Planning Commission on Monday voted to recommend a rezoning over a controversial barge cleaning operation, meaning Tubal-Cain Marine Services is just a step away from being banned from its intended industrial business at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge.

 

The next step is the Metro Council, which will have the final say Wednesday.

About 100 residents packed the City Hall chambers to express their opposition of the industrial project, which would be located across from the Riverbend subdivision and a BREC park. The site is 3.1 miles from LSU’s Tiger Stadium.

Residents said the site would impact their quality of life, hurt their health, and lower their property values. But Tubal-Cain proponents said they’ve already invested $4 million into the site over the past two years.

“Industries such as ExxonMobil, Center Point Terminals, The Dow Chemical Company, Shell, Valero and Motiva, and others are the typical customers of barge lines requiring such services,” Jay Hardman, executive director of the Port of Greater Baton Rouge wrote in a letter to the Planning Commission. “Indeed, Tubal-Cain was asked to establish a presence in the port area because of the need for their services.”

Hardman also wrote that Tubal-Cain has spent $4 million in “conceptualizing, developing, designing, permitting, mitigating wetlands, along with material and equipment procurement in order to begin construction of their facility.”

Currently, the property is appropriately zoned for the project that Tubal-Cain has leased from the Port. The only step they were waiting on was a state permit, which is mostly contingent on correct local zoning.

But as public opposition grew, backed by Mayor-President Kip Holden, LSU President F. King Alexander and Congressman Garrett Graves, two Metro Council members proposed changing the zoning of the land as a means to prevent the project from happening.

“Tubal-Cain’s presence will only impact the local economy in a positive way,” Tubal-Cain operations manager Randy Cooper said in a written statement. “We will hire locally, purchase locally and use local services, injecting millions of additional dollars into the Baton Rouge area economy. And, we will be providing a necessary and critically needed service to the petrochemical industries in this area that are so vital to the economic well-being of the entire Baton Rouge region.”

The Planning staff recommended the zoning change. Their report says the change would provide “greater compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood, and existing uses.”      http://theadvocate.com/news/13203739-123/barge-company-has-invested-4

[greg225]

Claitor breaks ground on new building in Acadian-Perkins Plaza center         

Jon Claitor has broken ground on two new buildings in his Acadian-Perkins Plaza shopping center at the intersection of Perkins Road and South Acadian Thruway. The new outparcel buildings, which will be adjacent to one another, will comprise 6,700 square feet and be perpendicular to the existing strip mall, wedged next to the new Red River Bank branch currently under construction. Claitor says he has signed leases with two new tenants—Mattress Firm and Smoothie King. Claitor says the Smoothie King will relocate from its existing location nearby in the Southdowns Shopping Center to his development, which he expects to complete in the first quarter of 2016.

In addition to the new outparcel, Claitor says he plans to landscape the shopping center’s asphalt parking lot, which has long been an eyesore in the neighborhood. He is also ending his leases with several small businesses that have kiosks in the parking lot, including a snowball stand and windshield repair shop. Claitor says he is adding shrubbery, trees and a new sidewalk along Perkins Road and hopes to attract food trucks to line sidewalk as they do along the Florida Panhandle’s popular Seaside development on Highway 30A.

Parking has long been an issue in the Acadian-Perkins Plaza shopping center, and the addition of the new buildings will eat up nearly two dozen spaces. However, Claitor says he has developed a new parking lot in the rear of the shopping center that can accommodate more than 100 vehicles.    https://www.businessreport.com/article/claitor-breaks-ground-new-building-acadian-perkins-plaza-center

[greg225]

Juban’s upset about Claitor’s plans for new development at Acadian-Perkins Plaza                 

A dispute is brewing over two outparcel buildings shopping center owner Jon Claitor is planning to develop in the parking lot of his Acadian-Perkins Plaza shopping center. An attorney for Juban’s Restaurant, which is located in an adjacent building to Claitor’s shopping center and shares a parking lot with it, says the two outparcel buildings, which will total 6,600 square feet, will eat up too much space in an already crowded parking lot and violate an agreement the Jubans and Claitors have over shared parking at the center.

“We have an agreement that requires them to maintain a minimum number of parking spaces on their tract,” says attorney Loren Kleinpeter, who represents Juban Properties. “I don’t think they will be able to meet the parking requirements for the current uses.”

Claitor broke ground last week on the two buildings, which will be perpendicular to the main building of his shopping center and wedged next to a separate outparcel that is the site of a Red River Bank branch currently under construction. Kleinpeter says he tried to stop work on the project by notifying the permits division of the city-parish Department of Development that Claitor did not have a building permit. Steve Shurtz, a plan reviewer for the department, says Claitor did not have a permit last week but confirms one was issued Monday.

Kleinpeter says his clients remain undaunted and will seek an injunction.

“Most good developers want to make sure they have plenty of parking so their customers and the customers of the their tenants can utilize the property and visit the building,” Kleinpeter says. “But the Claitors don’t look at it that way.”

Parking woes have long been an issue at the shopping center, and the Claitors and Jubans have tussled over it for years. They lie at the heart of the wall that separates the Juban’s building from yet another Claitor-owned building in the development.

Claitor declines to comment on Kleinpeter’s actions, but he previously told Daily Report  he has adequate parking at the center.  Two years ago he paved and striped a parcel in the rear of the development to accommodate 100 cars.

Shurtz says the shopping center does meet the required number of parking spaces required by the city-parish. However, there are vacancies in the existing portion of the shopping center. If those are filled, Shurtz says Claitor will be required to build a parking garage before he can get an occupancy permit for his new buildings.         https://www.businessreport.com/article/jubans-upset-claitors-plans-new-development-acadian-perkins-plaza

[greg225]

Metro Council votes 9-2 for rezoning land which blocks barge cleaning operation  

The Baton Rouge Metro Council approved a rezoning of the property where a controversial industrial barge cleaning company was slated for operations.

 

The rezoning means the city-parish’s designated land use is not appropriate for industrial use anymore, effectively killing the businesses plans to open, despite spending the past two years and $4 million preparing the site.

The vote was 9-2, and only council members Ryan Heck and Joel Boe, voted against the rezoning and in defense of the business.       http://theadvocate.com/news/13223296-123/metro-council-votes-10-2-for

[greg225]

Port Commission president apologizes to Baton Rouge residents for Tubal Cain fiasco                   

The Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission’s president is apologizing to the people of Baton Rouge for leasing 60 acres of riverfront property near a subdivision and a BREC park to a Texas company that planned to build a barge cleaning facility on the site.

The deal spawned a public outcry that culminated Wednesday, when the Metro Council voted to rezone the property, effectively killing the project before it could get off the ground.

“If we had known this would cause so much uproar we never would have started this process,” says Commission Board President Clint Seneca. “As a board we are going to back off and try to get our good name back.”

Seneca says he’s not sure how, exactly, to do that other than to apologize for misjudging the situation.

“I think the first step is to apologize to the citizens of East Baton Rouge Parish,” he says. “If they don’t want it there we’re not going to put it there. As a port we want to be good neighbors. We’re not going to force anything down anybody’s throat.”

The port first entered into lease talks with Tubal Cain Marine Services, a Port Arthur, Texas, company, in late 2013. The public didn’t become aware of the proposed project until June, when a hearing was scheduled with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. Area residents and community leaders reacted with concern that bordered on outrage, leading to the Metro Council’s decision to rezone the site from heavy industrial to commercial to halt the proposal.

DEQ has yet to determine whether it will issue a permit for the project, though the rezoning has rendered the question moot. A DEQ spokesman issued a statement today saying, “Although the change in zoning does not automatically terminate the permit application, please be assured that DEQ will consider public comments and recent action by local government in its final permit decision. Once the comment period closes, DEQ will review the public’s comments and a response to all timely public comments will accompany the permit decision.”

Tubal Cain executives have declined to comment.            https://www.businessreport.com/article/port-commission-president-apologizes-baton-rouge-residents-tubal-cain-fiasco

[greg225]

Other property zoning along the Mississippi River could get Metro Council scrutiny             

The Metro Council’s decision to rezone property in south Baton Rouge because the proposed barge company wasn’t deemed compatible with surrounding property has some council members thinking about what else needs to be changed on the parish zoning map.

 

Some council members now want to take a closer look at all zoning along the river, others want to look at north Baton Rouge zoning while still others think zoning on private property should be left alone.

“This was never private property; it has always been public property,” Councilman Buddy Amoroso said about the recent rezoning of the Port of Greater Baton Rouge property in south Baton Rouge. “I would never vote in favor of council action for private property.”

However, other council members saw the recent controversy of locating the proposed Tubal-Cain barge-cleaning facility near residential and recreational areas as a wake-up call to re-examine zoning to make sure it still reflects the parish vision for future development.

Councilman John Delgado, who called for the property rezoning to stop the barge-cleaning facility, said it’s time to address other property along the river.

South of the rezoned area near Farr Park, property along the river is zoned rural. However, the area where Farr Park Equestrian Center is located allows heavy industrial uses, and that needs to change, he said.

“They are going to seek a new zoning designation solely for parks,” Delgado said of BREC. He said the new designation would apply to all parks throughout the parish.

Carolyn McKnight, BREC superintendent, said she will meet with planning officials to come up with the park zoning designation to protect green spaces while allowing the parish parks commission flexibility to manage those spaces.

“We have 12 new community parks where we’ve made significant investments,” she said, adding that the change should help the parks and the neighborhoods where they’re located.

North of LSU along River Road, some properties allow heavy industrial use even though the sites have been used for single-family homes for decades.

Starting at West McKinley Street and heading north to just past Oklahoma Street, an existing heavy industrial zoning could create problems for homeowners if they need to do an expensive expansion or other work that requires a permit.

Frank Duke, planning director, said these homes were built in the 1970s when single-family homes were allowed to be built a heavy industrial zone, but that’s not the case anymore. That means if a house burned down, the owner couldn’t get a permit to rebuild the home because of the zoning classification.

These are areas that need to be rezoned to maintain the residential nature of the area. It would be up to the Metro Council to change zoning laws for the riverfront and adjoining property to reflect current conditions and future desired development.

The heavy industrial zoning continues north past the Interstate 10 bridge and along the river from North Boulevard to just past the State Capitol. The council, Delgado said, needs to take a look at this whole riverfront area.

“I have a vision of our riverfront of commercial and residential that draws people in, not scare them away,” he said. “It’s something we have to look at if we want to develop our riverfront as part of this city.

“This was the wake-up call that we needed to look at this,” Delgado said.

Councilwoman Chauna Banks-Daniel said she’ll be asking the planning department to give her a list of all the unoccupied heavy industrial zoned sites along Scenic Highway for the purpose of rezoning. She said changes will be difficult, but the area is heavily industrialized and could become more attractive to homeowners.

“You don’t hear city visionaries and developers making such statements as ‘We need more housing density in north Baton Rouge to promote walkability and affordable housing opportunities,’ ” she wrote in an email. “There is no thought to the over 5,000 plant workers with sizeable incomes that work in north Baton Rouge, if presented modern homes, retail shops and recreation, would also choose to live, work and play in north Baton Rouge.”

As for the proposed barge-cleaning facility in south Baton Rouge, the rezone may preclude it from locating on the Port of Greater Baton Rouge property, but the pending air permit is still under review by the state Department of Environmental Quality.

“Although the change in zoning does not automatically terminate the permit application, please be assured that DEQ will consider public comments and recent action by local government in its final permit decision,” wrote Jean Kelly, DEQ public information officer.

If the permit is granted, it would likely take some kind of court action to permit the company to use the property.

The operations manager for Tubal-Cain Marine Services didn’t return requests for comment, but port commissioners said no legal action is planned from the commission.

“I think as a board, I think we’re going to back down and see how it goes from here,” said Clint Seneca, commission president.

The lease with Tubal-Cain Marine Services is still in place and the port is working with the company to find a solution, which includes finding the company another location, he said.

Seneca said his main concern is the Metro Council rezoned a property because it didn’t like a business.

“It changes the value of all property depending on what the Metro Council wants to do with it,” Seneca said.

“What if the council doesn’t want a mall or certain store to open at a location; can they just rezone it?” he asked.

“I think it opens a lot of opportunities for the council in the future,” he said.   

South of the rezoned area near Farr Park, property along the river is zoned rural. However, the area where Farr Park Equestrian Center is located allows heavy industrial uses, and that needs to change, he said.

“They are going to seek a new zoning designation solely for parks,” Delgado said of BREC. He said the new designation would apply to all parks throughout the parish.

Carolyn McKnight, BREC superintendent, said she will meet with planning officials to come up with the park zoning designation to protect green spaces while allowing the parish parks commission flexibility to manage those spaces.

“We have 12 new community parks where we’ve made significant investments,” she said, adding that the change should help the parks and the neighborhoods where they’re located.

North of LSU along River Road, some properties allow heavy industrial use even though the sites have been used for single-family homes for decades.

Starting at West McKinley Street and heading north to just past Oklahoma Street, an existing heavy industrial zoning could create problems for homeowners if they need to do an expensive expansion or other work that requires a permit.

Frank Duke, planning director, said these homes were built in the 1970s when single-family homes were allowed to be built a heavy industrial zone, but that’s not the case anymore. That means if a house burned down, the owner couldn’t get a permit to rebuild the home because of the zoning classification.

These are areas that need to be rezoned to maintain the residential nature of the area. It would be up to the Metro Council to change zoning laws for the riverfront and adjoining property to reflect current conditions and future desired development.

The heavy industrial zoning continues north past the Interstate 10 bridge and along the river from North Boulevard to just past the State Capitol. The council, Delgado said, needs to take a look at this whole riverfront area.

“I have a vision of our riverfront of commercial and residential that draws people in, not scare them away,” he said. “It’s something we have to look at if we want to develop our riverfront as part of this city.

“This was the wake-up call that we needed to look at this,” Delgado said.

Councilwoman Chauna Banks-Daniel said she’ll be asking the planning department to give her a list of all the unoccupied heavy industrial zoned sites along Scenic Highway for the purpose of rezoning. She said changes will be difficult, but the area is heavily industrialized and could become more attractive to homeowners.

“You don’t hear city visionaries and developers making such statements as ‘We need more housing density in north Baton Rouge to promote walkability and affordable housing opportunities,’ ” she wrote in an email. “There is no thought to the over 5,000 plant workers with sizeable incomes that work in north Baton Rouge, if presented modern homes, retail shops and recreation, would also choose to live, work and play in north Baton Rouge.”

As for the proposed barge-cleaning facility in south Baton Rouge, the rezone may preclude it from locating on the Port of Greater Baton Rouge property, but the pending air permit is still under review by the state Department of Environmental Quality.

“Although the change in zoning does not automatically terminate the permit application, please be assured that DEQ will consider public comments and recent action by local government in its final permit decision,” wrote Jean Kelly, DEQ public information officer.

If the permit is granted, it would likely take some kind of court action to permit the company to use the property.

The operations manager for Tubal-Cain Marine Services didn’t return requests for comment, but port commissioners said no legal action is planned from the commission.

“I think as a board, I think we’re going to back down and see how it goes from here,” said Clint Seneca, commission president.

The lease with Tubal-Cain Marine Services is still in place and the port is working with the company to find a solution, which includes finding the company another location, he said.

Seneca said his main concern is the Metro Council rezoned a property because it didn’t like a business.

“It changes the value of all property depending on what the Metro Council wants to do with it,” Seneca said.

“What if the council doesn’t want a mall or certain store to open at a location; can they just rezone it?” he asked.

“I think it opens a lot of opportunities for the council in the future,” he said.                    

[greg225]

Albemarle leaving Baton Rouge for Charlotte                         

Albemarle confirmed today what many have been hearing for months—the company is relocating its corporate headquarters from Baton Rouge to Charlotte, North Carolina. The company also announced it is relocating local employees from its Refining Solutions business to existing offices in Clear Lake, Texas. Some 120 employees will be affected by the relocation.

“As we look at the ever increasing demands for communication, collaboration and mobility for our employees and our customers, Charlotte is the best strategic location to base the new Albemarle,” company President and CEO Luke Kissam says in a prepared statement.

The Albemarle move was not unexpected. Since the company acquired Rockwood Holdings for $5.7 billion earlier this year it has been evaluating its sites around the world, and local business and political leaders confirmed earlier this summer a move was in the offing.

Still, the news comes as a blow to the city and the state, especially as another major company—Amedisys—announced earlier this summer it is relocating its corporate executives to a satellite office in Nashville, Tennessee.

Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Steve Grissom says his office tried hard to keep the company from leaving.

“LED and our economic development partners in Baton Rouge mounted a concerted effort to retain and expand Albemarle’s headquarters,” Grissom says. “Those discussions included proposals to further strengthen air transportation offerings and the diversity of education options available to company employees and their families.”

LED lured the company’s headquarters to Baton Rouge in 2008 with a package of incentives that included more than $4.2 million in reimbursed relocation expenses.

Albemarle says Baton Rouge will continue to be home to the company’s research and development and manufacturing operations as well as its Process Development Center. The company will also keep several functional and support operations at its current downtown office.

Baton Rouge Area Chamber President and CEO Adam Knapp is taking the company’s decision in stride and pointing to other positive developments in the local economy.

“Albemarle will continue to have significant presence with 500 jobs in the market even after today’s announcement, which was not unexpected,” Knapp says. “Year-to-date, more than 1,400 new jobs have been announced and the region continues to lead the state in non-farm employment growth.         https://www.businessreport.com/article/albemarle-leaving-baton-rouge-charlotte-2

 

[greg225]

Baton Rouge can't compete with Charlotte 809,958 population its a big city, but Albemarle  knew when they came to Baton Rouge they was not going to stay here. Albemarle only came here for the  incentives I truly believe that. Baton Rouge Metro Airport need to attempt to become a better airport because I don't see them trying.

Edited August 25, 2015 by greg225

[all2neat]

And the bleeding continues. 

[Mr. Burnham]

Baton Rouge can't compete with Charlotte 809,958 population its a big city, but Albemarle  knew when they came to Baton Rouge they was not going to stay here. Albemarle only came here for the  incentives I truly believe that. Baton Rouge Metro Airport need to attempt to become a better airport because I don't see them trying.

The airport has nothing to do with it, would Baton Rouge benefit from a larger airport closer to the city? Yes it would, but an airport needs demand and the metro currently does not have any demand. It has some, but not enough and airline companies are not going to simply add more flights to an airport that can barely attract people with the flights we currently have. Baton Rouge needs to fix education, infrastructure, and crime.

Baton Rouge can't compete with Charlotte 809,958 population its a big city, but Albemarle  knew when they came to Baton Rouge they was not going to stay here. Albemarle only came here for the  incentives I truly believe that. Baton Rouge Metro Airport need to attempt to become a better airport because I don't see them trying.

The airport has nothing to do with it, would Baton Rouge benefit from a larger airport closer to the city? Yes it would, but an airport needs demand and the metro currently does not have any demand. It has some, but not enough and airline companies are not going to simply add more flights to an airport that can barely attract people with the flights we currently have. Baton Rouge needs to fix education, infrastructure, and crime.

[greg225]

The airport has nothing to do with it, would Baton Rouge benefit from a larger airport closer to the city? Yes it would, but an airport needs demand and the metro currently does not have any demand. It has some, but not enough and airline companies are not going to simply add more flights to an airport that can barely attract people with the flights we currently have. Baton Rouge needs to fix education, infrastructure, and crime.

The airport has nothing to do with it, would Baton Rouge benefit from a larger airport closer to the city? Yes it would, but an airport needs demand and the metro currently does not have any demand. It has some, but not enough and airline companies are not going to simply add more flights to an airport that can barely attract people with the flights we currently have. Baton Rouge needs to fix education, infrastructure, and crime.

Charlotte crime rate is higher than Baton Rouge people always say crime, but most cities crime is way worst than Baton Rouge not going to name of them its a long list "Cough" New Orleans is one.  They said its about the airport in the article : “Those discussions included proposals to further strengthen air transportation offerings and the diversity of education options available to company employees and their families.

[Mr. Burnham]

Charlotte crime rate is higher than Baton Rouge people always say crime, but most cities crime is way worst than Baton Rouge not going to name of them its a long list "Cough" New Orleans is one.  They said its about the airport in the article : “Those discussions included proposals to further strengthen air transportation offerings and the diversity of education options available to company employees and their families.

Big whoop...I got one thing somewhat wrong. BR still has crime and has a long way to go until it reaches a tolerable level. 

[dan326]

It may be true that other cities have more crime, but they also have a lot more resources, amenities, and desireable suburbs to balance it out. Although I will say that atleast the violent crime here doesn't seem to be random.

[fla_tiger]

Does anyone know if Charlotte or NC offered incentives to Albemarle? I am certain LED did their best to dissuade Albemarle from leaving.

Did LA or BR offer incentives when they relocated here from Richmond a few years back?

This is sad. I was not aware that Amedysis is also relocating. Hell this is tragic! Did Tennessee offer incentives to them?

My opinion only........it does not help when close-minded rants of one self serving governor offset all the hard work BRAF, BRAC, LED and others strive to attract Fortune 1000 companies here. (recall IBM grand ribbon cutting). I for one, will not miss him, cannot wait for him to leave office. (again........my opinion only)

 

[greg225]

It may be true that other cities have more crime, but they also have a lot more resources, amenities, and desireable suburbs to balance it out. Although I will say that atleast the violent crime here doesn't seem to be random.

Most crime in this country isn't random this happens everywhere.  Cities like L.A. and Chicago have gangs not just in the inner city, but also in the suburbs.  Most crime is drug relate as long as drug are on the streets murder, theft, burglary, etc will happen.   

[Mr. Burnham]

Can't wait for Jindal to leave. 

And yes BR offered massive incentives, but Charlotte and Nashville offered more along with large populations, better schools, more tourists, and better infrastructure. 

[cajun]

Can't wait for Jindal to leave. 

And yes BR offered massive incentives, but Charlotte and Nashville offered more along with large populations, better schools, more tourists, and better infrastructure. 

Jindal helped get them here in the first place.  Jindal is not responsible for Baton Rouge's very long list of local problems that are intentionally not addressed.  Baton Rouge is.  

We all claim to want reduced dependency on the automobile, more recreational activities, better night life, and more upward mobility.  Tax incentives and corporate recruitment along with development controls can help produce just that....but tax incentives and aggressive state economic development strategies will not change the fact that adults in the professional environment want not just good, but excellent public schools for their children.   It's the public school system.  It's always been the public schools that have hindered East Baton Rouge and fueled suburban sprawl.  That can't be overstated.   

Public schools have been a problem here for as long as I've been alive, and Baton Rouge openly fought efforts to create a new public school district in East Baton Rouge just over the past several years just the same way they fight every other grassroots effort to improve something here.  The capital area has been shooting itself in the foot for decades by fighting infrastructure development, not being open or tolerant of all people, and running their school district irresponsibly while fighting hard to maintain the power structure that keeps the city performing poorly.  There is a powerful faction in Baton Rouge that would rather fight progress and "get even" than actually make the region better.   These types have been in Baton Rouge their whole life and have a very parochial world view.  They value their own power and influence over improving the quality of life for their community and their children.  

[cajun]

It may be true that other cities have more crime, but they also have a lot more resources, amenities, and desireable suburbs to balance it out. Although I will say that atleast the violent crime here doesn't seem to be random.

Crime is a problem, but the root of that crime is cultural decay that is caused by a vicious cycle of failure in our public schools.  It will take several generations to improve the public school problems in Baton Rouge.   Frankly, they have not yet even gotten started addressing the problems.   It has to be addressed, but we also can't let this slow down or shut down the region's progress.

Other cities are able to overcome that handicap (which is politically insurmountable in many places throughout the country) by diverse offering of good quality neighborhoods connected to the city center with adequate transportation infrastructure.   Baton Rouge doesn't have that.   It fights every effort to develop that because it has the mindset that  Walker, Zachary, Central, Brusly, and Prarieville are the enemies.  They refuse to see the benefit that areas like that provide to the metro area as a whole and thus refuse to cooperate regionally.  

Edited August 28, 2015 by cajun

[cajun]

Other property zoning along the Mississippi River could get Metro Council scrutiny             

 

 

 

 

I don't have a problem with industrial use, manufacturing, fabrication, distribution centers, or port related facilities along the river in most areas.  I realize Baton Rouge is a critical port city and it should exploit it's location on one of world's largest inland waterways.  I do have a problem with operations that produce excessive noise or air/water pollution adjacent to commercial districts, residential areas, or major institutions (like LSU or Southern).  There's nothing wrong with a wharf or marine manufacturing facility down the street that adheres to reasonable noise and pollution levels....but a barge cleaning operation that produces fumes or harmful runoff is an entirely different story. 

The industrial zones should include a qualifier for low pollution and noise and/or an abundance of natural/green screening from adjacent plots.  A tug station, wharf, or barge manufacturing facility on the river should obviously face far less scrutiny and obstacles than a massive steel mill immediately adjacent to residential areas (not that I'm against a steel mill at all....that would be great if it came to the right site).

Outside of the city core of older cities along river road, it's fairly rare to see an abundance of residential development on the river.   It's far more common to see industrial facilities.  

Edited August 28, 2015 by cajun

[Mr. Burnham]

It is disappointing that Jindal has neglected that state in the past few years to focus on his laughable presidential ambitions. That is why I'm ready to see him go, but his efforts to bring some more economic development into the state will be his biggest legacy. 

Cajun, I think you hit it on the nail when you talked about how BR is killing itself. Granted, I think BR should be weary of closer relations with New Orleans, the two cities could still work together to get more things done. It is a true shame that so many in the city do not see the advantage of having 'satellite cities'. Do these people not realize that the key to success for many cities is infact those smaller ones? Look at Atlanta, Houston, NYC, LA, my hometown of Tampa, etc. All of them have utilized their surrounding region to spread and create economic and population growth. When ever you work with the region, the region itself grows and becomes more competitive which ultimately gives the city more power. 

In the past I thought St. George would be bad, but in hindsight St. George needed to happen. To be perfectly honest St. George would have been a fantastic way for the city to grow its population and create new education opportunities. It's not as though the Parish can not come together and fix region wide problems when we need to. Baton Rouge needs to recognize it cannot keep going the way it is going and instead give power back to the people to grow and expand this city. 

Education is the key to fixing this city. Once we can fix education the sky is the limit for this city. 

I don't have a problem with industrial use, manufacturing, fabrication, distribution centers, or port related facilities along the river in most areas.  I realize Baton Rouge is a critical port city and it should exploit it's location on one of world's largest inland waterways.  I do have a problem with operations that produce excessive noise or air/water pollution adjacent to commercial districts, residential areas, or major institutions (like LSU or Southern).  There's nothing wrong with a wharf or marine manufacturing facility down the street that adheres to reasonable noise and pollution levels....but a barge cleaning operation that produces fumes or harmful runoff is an entirely different story. 

The industrial zones should include a qualifier for low pollution and noise and/or an abundance of natural/green screening from adjacent plots.  A tug station, wharf, or barge manufacturing facility on the river should obviously face far less scrutiny and obstacles than a massive steel mill immediately adjacent to residential areas (not that I'm against a steel mill at all....that would be great if it came to the right site).

Outside of the city core of older cities along river road, it's fairly rare to see an abundance of residential development on the river.   It's far more common to see industrial facilities.  

I think one of the more interesting things is that the east side of the river is increasingly becoming more residential and commercial. Though, I agree that industrial facilities are extremely beneficial to the city. I would love to see a marina or small scale harbor developed in East BR.

[greg225]

Crime is a problem, but the root of that crime is cultural decay that is caused by a vicious cycle of failure in our public schools.  It will take several generations to improve the public school problems in Baton Rouge.   Frankly, they have not yet even gotten started addressing the problems.   It has to be addressed, but we also can't let this slow down or shut down the region's progress.

Other cities are able to overcome that handicap (which is politically insurmountable in many places throughout the country) by diverse offering of good quality neighborhoods connected to the city center with adequate transportation infrastructure.   Baton Rouge doesn't have that.   It fights every effort to develop that because it has the mindset that  Walker, Zachary, Central, Brusly, and Prarieville are the enemies.  They refuse to see the benefit that areas like that provide to the metro area as a whole and thus refuse to cooperate regionally.  

I obviously don't see Zachary and Central as the enemy they are in EBR, so we have relationship with both cities. EBR and WBR  they are the only parishes in our area that have strong relationship. Livingston and Ascension they have people in their parish bad mouthing Baton Rouge.  I never heard anyone in EBR said they hate any other parish  in the Baton Rouge area. When Baton Rouge was trying to get the loop strong relationships could have been build there, but  Livingston and Ascension said no  the people seem to forget that.

Edited August 28, 2015 by greg225

[greg225]

It is disappointing that Jindal has neglected that state in the past few years to focus on his laughable presidential ambitions. That is why I'm ready to see him go, but his efforts to bring some more economic development into the state will be his biggest legacy. 

Cajun, I think you hit it on the nail when you talked about how BR is killing itself. Granted, I think BR should be weary of closer relations with New Orleans, the two cities could still work together to get more things done. It is a true shame that so many in the city do not see the advantage of having 'satellite cities'. Do these people not realize that the key to success for many cities is infact those smaller ones? Look at Atlanta, Houston, NYC, LA, my hometown of Tampa, etc. All of them have utilized their surrounding region to spread and create economic and population growth. When ever you work with the region, the region itself grows and becomes more competitive which ultimately gives the city more power. 

In the past I thought St. George would be bad, but in hindsight St. George needed to happen. To be perfectly honest St. George would have been a fantastic way for the city to grow its population and create new education opportunities. It's not as though the Parish can not come together and fix region wide problems when we need to. Baton Rouge needs to recognize it cannot keep going the way it is going and instead give power back to the people to grow and expand this city. 

Education is the key to fixing this city. Once we can fix education the sky is the limit for this city. 

I think one of the more interesting things is that the east side of the river is increasingly becoming more residential and commercial. Though, I agree that industrial facilities are extremely beneficial to the city. I would love to see a marina or small scale harbor developed in East BR.

I disagree I  believe that New Orleans relationship will be good for Baton Rouge.  Atlanta, Houston, NYC, LA  the regions  around them grow because they close to big cities like LA County 9 million people.  

 

 

Edited August 28, 2015 by greg225