Baton Rouge Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting - December 15, 2025
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Baton Rouge Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting - December 15, 2025
The Baton Rouge Planning and Zoning Commission met on Monday, December 15, 2025, in the evening (exact time not stated) at City Hall, 222 St. Louis Street, Room 348. The commission welcomed new Commissioner Mason Batts, approved the consent calendar, considered a contested rezoning request on Florida Boulevard, approved a PUD concept plan renewal, and recognized outgoing Commissioner Evan Scruggs. No agenda or minutes were available; this summary is based on the transcript.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes of the November 17, 2025 meeting (motion by Addison, second by Scruggs).
- Item 13 (CS 1125, WIPED track 7740 Pettit Road) was withdrawn by the applicant on November 10, 2025.
- Approved the remaining consent items 6-12, 14-15 as presented, including:
- Case 5125: 8261 Ned Avenue, Rural to Limited Residential A3.1.
- Case 5225: 683 and 709 East Airport Avenue, Transitional B1 to Light Commercial LC3.
- Case 5425: 12201 Corsey Boulevard, Rural to Light Commercial LC2.
- Case 5525: 550-555 South Kenilworth Parkway, Rural to Light Commercial LC1.
- PUD 300 Southgate Concept Plan Revision 3 and Sterling Southgate Final Development Plan Revision (adding acreage, increasing residential units, decreasing building stories).
- Case S425, 'The Kendrick,' proposed townhome subdivision.
- CS 1225, Ira W. D.R. Montract, 3549 Greenwell Springs Road, flag lot minor subdivision.
- SS 325, AT Bryce Property, 19190 Plank Road, residential subdivision with private street.
- Staff certified all consent items as consistent with the comprehensive plan and UDC; no speaker cards were submitted; motion by Addison, second by Vice Chairman Grout, approved without objection.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Applicant Lauren Juno (president, WTSO/Innovative Dewatering Solutions) spoke in support of the Florida Boulevard rezoning, stating the 12.5-acre site east of 17501 Florida Boulevard would host a zero-discharge grease trap and septic sludge disposal facility, with an LDEQ permit, 10-12 trucks per day, and no discharge to waterways or drainage systems. She also cited the Florida Corridor small area plan and argued the facility would deter illegal dumping.
- Doug Bozeman, owner, supported the facility, stating he lost 80% of his pumping business after the previous local disposal option closed, had invested over $100,000, and that illegal dumping in waterways is a continuing problem.
- Clay Barrillo, project engineer, supported the application, noting he designed a similar DEQ-approved facility that has operated without problems.
- Aaron Raoul Beek, a resident directly upstream, opposed the request, saying flooding could bring chemicals onto his family's property, which has been held for 75 years.
- Chad Cooper, 17575 Riverside Park Drive, opposed, citing the flood zone AE, previous rezoning denials (2001 and 2003), and concerns about sewage smell, dust, noise, pump truck traffic, and environmental impact. He agreed with staff's denial recommendation.
- Craig Moats opposed, calling the area a natural deer sanctuary and saying pump trucks are not wanted; he encouraged finding a solution but not 'in our front yard.'
- James LaFemme, a downstream resident, opposed, noting his house had eight feet of water in the 2016 flood and questioned safeguards against chemical releases.
- Councilman Moak was reported by staff as opposing the Florida Boulevard items.
- For the Macon's Road/Joor Road PUD renewal, applicant representative Eric Piazza spoke in support, explaining the previously approved PUD concept plan had expired and this was a renewal brought up to current code. He stated there was no opposition before the meeting and that Councilman Hearst supports the request.
- Perry Williams, a neighbor at 6650 Joor Road, opposed, saying the area is heavily wooded and rural, and he was concerned about traffic and flooding from additional development.
Discussion Items
- Florida Boulevard rezoning (Items 2 & 3, PA 725 and Case 5325): Staff recommended denial, finding the Agricultural Rural land use designation appropriate, the requested M1 industrial zoning not consistent with the comprehensive plan, and the request inconsistent with the existing area character and potentially adverse to neighbors. Staff also reported four opposition messages and Councilman Moak's opposition. Vice Chairman Grout acknowledged the need for such a facility but expressed concerns about the M1 designation and the location being a gateway to Baton Rouge. Director Holcomb confirmed that M1 is the second most intense zoning district and permits uses such as concrete batching, truck terminals, and wrecked-vehicle storage. Commissioner Coleman asked whether the applicant had met with neighbors; the applicant said they were not aware of opposition until recently and would be happy to meet. Commissioner Coleman recommended a deferral so the applicant could meet with neighbors and Councilman Moak.
- Macon's Road/Joor Road PUD renewal (Items 4 & 5, PA 825 and PUD 225): Staff recommended approval, certifying compatibility and UDC compliance if the companion comprehensive plan amendment is approved. The applicant explained the PUD concept plan had been previously approved but expired after two years; this was a renewal. Public opposition was limited to the concerns described above.
Key Outcomes
- Items 2 and 3 (PA 725 and Case 5325, Florida Boulevard) were deferred to the January 26, 2026 meeting by a motion from Commissioner Coleman, seconded by Commissioner Batts, approved without objection. The deferral includes the applicant meeting with neighbors and Councilman Moak.
- Items 4 and 5 (PA 825 and PUD 225, Macon's Road/Joor Road) were approved by a motion from Vice Chairman Grout, seconded by Commissioner Scruggs, approved without objection.
- The consent calendar and minutes were approved.
- Commissioner Evan Scruggs was recognized with an award for his service; Chairman Washington and Vice Chairman Grout announced their intent to continue as chair and vice chair for 2026.
- The next planning commission meeting is January 26, 2026, which will also be the annual organizational meeting. The office will be closed December 25, January 1, and January 19 for holidays.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone, and thank you for joining us for tonight's planning and zoning commission meeting. At this time, we'll have the roll call. Mr. Holcomb. Chairman Washington. Here. Vice Chairman Graut? Here. Commissioner Addison. Commissioner Boyd. Here. Commissioner Bats? Commissioner Coleman? Commissioner Aller. Commissioner Fowler? Here. Commissioner Scrobs. Here. We have a call. Thank you, Director Holcomb. Commissioners, at this time, I'd like to take a moment to welcome Mason Batts to the Planning Commission. He serves as the executive director in the Mayor President's office, and he is replacing Commissioner Laurel Brownell, who, as you remember, retired last month. Please join me in welcoming uh Commissioner Batts. At this time we can move on to the approval of the minutes. Is there a motion to approve the minutes of the November 17th meeting? Motion from uh Commissioner Addison. I don't know. There's a slip, man. I don't know. I don't know how that happened. Uh second by Commissioner Scrogs. Are there any objections? Seeing none of those items have not been approved. At this time, we'll I'll ask the Vice Chairman to read in the rules for conducting public hearing. Rules for conducting public hearing. This is a public meeting. Any interested member of the public who wishes to comment on an item from this agenda may comment in person at City Hall 222 St. Louis Street, third floor, room 348 during the meeting. Members of the public desiring to speak on a particular item should refer to the meeting agenda and complete necessary information prior to the meeting by filling out a request to speak card indicating which item you wish to speak and place it in the designated location prior to the meeting. Applicant and applicant's representatives for the proposal will speak first for a total or combined period of not to exceed 15 minutes. Proponents will speak, then the opponents. Each speaker will not be allowed more than three minutes. Speakers are requested to limit their remarks by avoiding duplication in their presentation. Applicant will be allowed a total of five minutes for rebuttal. Excuse me. Opponents will not be allowed to rebut. Items placed on the consent agenda by the planning commission staff will not have time allocated for speaking unless there is a member of the public at the meeting who wishes to speak on an item. In such cases, the proposal will follow the standard procedure. Mr. Chairman, thank you, Vice Chairman Grell.
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