Opponents have said that commercial buildings larger than 10,000 square feet do not belong in the neighborhood commercial district
The first reading of an ordinance that would remove square-footage restrictions for commercial buildings in some parts of Harahan drew another fiery crowd to the City Council chambers Thursday night. Residents again spoke out against the ordinance, which had its second first reading after being disparaged and deferred at last month's council meeting. "I do not understand why this council wants to change this ordinance and allow unlimited square footage in C-1 when there is a cap of 25,000 square feet in C-2," resident Judy Johnson said.
The ordinance, authored by Mayor Vinny Mosca, removes language from the city's C-1 neighborhood commercial zoning code that bars buildings larger than 10,000 square feet. Mosca and city planner Steve Villavaso reiterated that the change does not give developers automatic approval. "It doesn't permit anything in C-1. It sets up a process that the city will use to decide whether to allow a use to occur," Villavaso said.
Opponents of the ordinance have said that commercial buildings larger than 10,000 square feet do not belong in the neighborhood commercial district. Others have speculated that the proposal is being made to accommodate potential development at Colonial Golf & Country Club, which is in the midst of federal bankruptcy.
"This does not only affect Colonial; this affects every piece of property that is adjacent to a C-1 piece of property," said Johnson. If the ordinance has no square-footage maximum, he noted, "what can they build next to your house?"
Villavaso said most of the Hickory Avenue corridor between Dock and 10th streets is zoned C-1. There are also scattered C-1 zones along Jefferson Highway. Small to mid-size drug stores can range from 10,000 to 15,000 feet. For comparison, the Rite Aid store located at 8225 Jefferson Highway, Harahan is about 13,000 square feet, he said.
Mosca told the audience that he penned the ordinance to welcome new business development and possibly generate revenue to cover the $4 million costs of city sewerage repairs as well as the repayment of a FEMA loan made after Hurricane Katrina.
Councilwoman Cynthia Murray renewed her opposition to the ordinance, saying that removing the 10,000 square-foot cap would not solve the city's money woes.
But Councilwoman Dana Huete said rejecting the option to hear proposals from developers is tantamount to closing the city to businesses. "If we don't want our taxes to go up, we need to start welcoming businesses," she said.
Michelle Hunter can be reached at mhunter@timespicayune.com or 504.883.7054.