LIVINGSTON, La. - In a marathon meeting Thursday, the Livingston Parish Council first approved, then narrowly rejected, a waiver request that would have allowed a small mobile home to remain on a lot in a Watson subdivision.
The request came from resident Asa Faulkner, who had already placed a 600-square-foot trailer on his property on Beechwood Drive, installed electrical and sewer connections, before learning that a waiver was required. Faulkner said he intended for his 87-year-old mother-in-law to live in the home.
The proposal drew opposition from neighbors, with six of them speaking against the waiver during public comment. Only one person, in addition to Faulkner, voiced support.
Council member Erin Sandefur said the council was working to bring parish zoning matters under control.
“These waivers are out of control,” she said. “We’re just trying to do the right thing in straightening all this out. If this passes tonight, there will be 15 people applying for waivers tomorrow.”
At one point, parish officials reported that 41 waiver applications were already pending, with another eight submitted earlier that day.
After nearly an hour of debate, Council member Ricky Goff moved to grant the waiver for two years, with a $500 per day fine if the trailer remained after that period. The motion initially passed 5–3, with Sandefur, Ryan Chavers and Dean Coates opposed.
Moments later, however, Council member Joe Erdy asked to change his vote. The council first approved a motion to reconsider, and on the second vote, the measure failed on a 4–4 tie. Council Chairman Billy Taylor abstained both times.
In other business, the council:
Adopted a resolution authorizing up to $91.29 million in tax revenue bonds. Jim Ryan of Government Consultants, Inc., explained the move does not commit the parish to borrowing the funds but allows the process to advance to the State Bond Commission and the hiring of bond counsel and financial advisors.
Authorized an application for a grant to support the Livingston Parish Council on Aging.
Approved an application to the Delta Regional Authority’s Community Infrastructure Fund for a lift station project in the Denham Heights subdivision.
Introduced an ordinance regulating the installation of cell phone towers in the parish.
Approved several routine zoning requests but voted 5–4 to table a hearing on an ordinance that would eliminate the parish’s mobile home waiver list.
The council also added four streets in Sandefur’s district—Superior Drive, Glacier Bay Drive, Lake George Drive, and Lake Providence Drive—to the parish’s priority road list.
The council recognized the PARDS boys soccer team, which this summer became the first local team to advance past the regional level and compete in the National President’s Cup Tournament in Tampa, Florida. The team went 1–2 in the July 11–15 event.
