Two informal public meetings held this week gave Livingston Parish residents a chance to weigh in on the parish’s ongoing Master Plan and Zoning Code update—an effort aimed at shaping future land use and development.
The first meeting, held Tuesday at the South Branch of the Livingston Parish Library, drew 22 participants, including Parish Council members Ricky Goff and Erin Sandefur. A second meeting followed Wednesday evening at Live Oak High School in Watson.
The goal of the Master Plan update is to modernize zoning rules and address a broad range of issues facing the parish, including regulations for mobile home and RV parks, home-based businesses, industrial growth, drainage, school capacity, and commercial development.
Although the Master Plan is intended to be reviewed every five to six years, Livingston Parish has not undertaken a significant update since 2013. That lapse was a major factor in the Parish Council’s decision to invest $187,500 in the current effort.
This week’s meetings, described as interactive workshops, were part of Phase Two of the planning process. They were designed primarily to gather input from residents about their concerns and priorities for the future of the parish, said Anna Wyble Doucet, an engineer with Fenstermaker & Associates, the Lafayette-based consulting firm assisting with the plan.
More opportunities for public engagement are expected in the coming months as the planning process continues.
