With three of its nine members absent, the Livingston Parish Council worked its way through a relatively short agenda Thursday in about 30 minutes, holding two public hearings and upholding a zoning denial.
Inclement weather and the holiday season contributed to the lighter attendance. Council members Erin Sandefur, Ricky Goff and Ryan Chavers were absent from the meeting.
The two public hearings were completed quickly, with no one appearing to speak for or against the proposed ordinances. The first involved a proposed amendment clarifying provisions related to the redemption of bonds, while the second concerned adoption of the council’s 2026 budget and amendments to the 2025 budget. The council’s Finance Committee met prior to the meeting to review the proposed budget.
Both items were adopted unanimously.
The council unanimously upheld the parish zoning committee’s recommendation to deny an application from RCR Properties to rezone approximately five acres on JC Steward Road in Albany from R-1 to R-1.5. According to Louisiana Secretary of State records, RCR Properties is domiciled in Hammond and managed by Robert Rogers.
Three area residents spoke in opposition to the request. Carroll Simoneaux, who has previously opposed the application, called it “spot zoning” and said spot zoning is illegal. Earl DeVille said the property was already overdeveloped, describing it as “trailers, trailers, trailers,” and added there was inadequate space for additional trailers. A third speaker said the request was not intended to help the applicant’s family, adding, “These will be trailers he rents out to other people.”
Council member John Mangus made the motion to uphold the zoning committee’s recommendation, which briefly led to some confusion. Council member Joe Erdey, whose district includes the property, initially voted no, believing he was opposing the rezoning request. After being informed that a “no” vote would have rejected the committee’s recommendation, Erdey changed his vote, making the denial unanimous.
The council considered a resolution authorizing a hardship waiver to allow the issuance of a second address for property on Charles King Road in Albany, enabling the property owner to care for her disabled brother. The property also lies in Erdey’s district, but after discussion Erdey elected to pull the resolution indefinitely.
The council approved another item in Erdey’s district by naming an unnamed road Chapel Pine Drive for 911 purposes. The road is located off LA 442 and extends approximately 1,065 feet.
Council Chairman Billy Taylor announced that because of the Christmas holiday, the meeting normally scheduled for the fourth Thursday of the month, Dec. 18 this year, will not be held unless something time-sensitive was brought to his attention within the appropriate public notice timing, at which point the meeting would be scheduled.
The next council meeting is scheduled for Jan. 8.
