Ford Property / Rouzan

Southside Civic Association

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Ford Property / "Rouzan"

ROUZAN UPDATE
MAY 2010

On May 24, the Planning Commission (PC) will hear a request from the Rouzan developer to go forward with what is now being called ‘Phase 3A’ of the development.

Phase 3A is a dense, short extension of Mimosa at Glasgow consisting of 26 residential lots. It is not connected to the other approved phases 1A, 1B, and 4A, all of which are accessed from Perkins Road. Most of the proposed ‘Neighborhood Edge’ lots that will abut existing Sweetbriar homes are 55 feet wide (minimum allowed). Lots facing Glasgow are only 22-30 feet wide.

This new submission is the fourth time the Rouzan developer has turned in plans that are less than an entire, original ‘phase.’ Five complete phases were originally submitted under the TND ordinance governing the development of the property.

SSCA believes there are unanswered questions concerning traffic, drainage and sanitary waste issues and is addressing these concerns with DPW and the PC. The PC has final say over these partial-phase submissions. The Metro Council (MC) will only be asked to consider the submission if MC members request that a discussion of the issue be scheduled for their May 26 meeting, only two days after the PC hearing. If the MC does not address the issue at this May 26 meeting, they will not have a second opportunity to question the issue or hear any concerns.

If you have issues or concerns with this newest Rouzan submission, you should make them known NOW. For PC and MC members’ contact information, click here.

Rouzan Specific Implementation Plan Hearing --
Planning Commission
Monday, Sept. 22, 5 PM

After rumors and delays, the Specific Implementation Plan (SIP) has been submitted by JTS and will be heard at the Planning Commission on September 22. The General Implementation Plan passed in January was “conceptual” and did not require formal impact studies on traffic, drainage, sewerage, etc. Rouzan has 5 planned stages, and the plans and impacts will only be presented one at a time. It still does not look as though a sewerage capacity plan is to be submitted at the PC for the SIP, but only later before construction permits are given. If you have any sewerage problems, call 311 and document them. We need your input and support at this meeting! Downtown, 222 St. Louis, in the EBR Governmental Bldg (3rd Floor--Metro Council Chambers).

January 23, 2008: We won't forget.

We lost the first round, and it was an important one. The Council passed the Rouzan TND--under the strong urging of Councilman Skyring--with only minimal consideration of the requests from the neighborhood.

But it was only the first inning of a game that will continue for quite a while, as Mr. Spinosa is required to bring his specific plans to the Planning Commission for approval for each phase of the Rouzan development. At that point, DPW is required finally to conduct the impact studies that we have asked for all along. They have assured us that if the impacts are too high, they will require a reduction in density. Let's hope they stay true to their word.

Vigilance is key.

For a copy of the resolution adopted by the Metro Council, click here. The stipulations (a-z) appear on pages 2-4.

"Rouzan" Information: Tommy Spinosa requested to change the zoning of the Ford Property from A-1 Single Family Residential to mixed-use Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND). This is the large undeveloped tract (former family farm) along Perkins and Glasgow, between Southdowns and Woodchase subdivisions. Under A-1 zoning, Mr. Spinosa could build 400-500 single family homes. Instead, he wants to build 800 residential units, 120,000 s.f. of office/commercial, a library, a church, and a school, with full connectivity to the adjoining Southdowns streets. The initial traffic study estimates the development will generate an additional 8,864-9,728 car trips per day on the surrounding roads.

The Board is VERY concerned about the potential impacts. The original 3-week application period was not sufficient to study the potential effects, hold properly-advertised public meetings, and develop appropriate stipulations to protect the surrounding area.

Below are links to documents submitted by Mr. Spinosa to the Planning Commission for Rouzan.

The official Rouzan website is www.rouzan.net.