Bossier Parish weighs future of planned unit development moratorium

The moratorium was put in place one year ago and affects three jurisdictions: the Bossier City, Benton and Haughton metropolitan planning commissions. A planned unit development is a community of single-family homes or condominiums with shared amenities that don't adhere to standard zoning laws, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Planning for population growth is a point of interest because Bossier Parish consistently ranks as one of the few expanding parishes in northwest Louisiana, according to recent census data.

The committee is expected to take up the measure again on June 17. The moratorium applies to the planned unit development projects only; regular subdivision applications are still moving through the approval process. 

Jurors examined the benefits and drawbacks, then briefly considered and withdrew a motion to recommend eliminating the moratorium altogether.

One drawback of these developments, officials pointed out, is the problem of high-density developments with narrow streets that present difficulties for motorists to traverse. On the other hand, they may enable developers to bring affordable housing options to the marketplace, they said.

The intent of the moratorium was to provide time to find a consultant who would evaluate and re-draft their  rules, according to Bossier MPC Executive Director Carlotta Askew-Brown.

The planned unit development rules update discussed Wednesday now overlaps with a broad comprehensive plan, agreed to last month, to update all land use policies and zoning regulations using a professional planning service. 

The MPC, the Bossier City Council and the Police Jury, at a total cost of $1 million, signed onto the development of an updated plan to manage future growth and development. 

The master plan is an economic tool that tells us where and how we want to manage growth, Brown said, adding that the unified development code will enforce that plan.

Halff Associates, a Texas-based infrastructure consulting firm with an office listed in Shreveport, is the preferred choice, according to a review of City Council documents.

The consultant will evaluate a wide range of issues, from population growth and transportation routes to open space and how to create the right conditions so young families will choose to remain in Bossier.

Haughton and Benton did not agree to participate, officials said at Wednesday's meeting.

It’s unclear why those governments would not participate but planning and parish officials said most of the recent “development interest” is occurring in those two municipalities.

They plan to use Franklin Associates to advertise community-wide meetings, surveys and other engagement opportunities through social media, websites and other media outreach tools, the contract states. The draft master plan and updated unified development code are expected in two years.