A.

The purpose of the historic structure overlay zones is to protect certain historical sites from incompatible development. This zone protects irreplaceable historic and economic assets in the parish. The Planning Commission should encourage landowners with historic property to use this zone to preserve these structures.

B.

Inclusion or Exclusion.

1.

Individual property owners can, via written request to the Zoning Official, request that their property be designated on the Official Ascension parish Zoning Map as a Historic Site.

a.

The property will be evaluated by the Zoning Official to determine if the criteria has been met and the request shall be placed before the Zoning Commission for recommendation to the Parish Council.

b.

All advertising deadlines will need to be met.

2.

Individual property owners can, via written request to the Zoning Official, request that their property be removed from the Official Ascension Parish Zoning Map as a historic site.

a.

The request shall be placed before the Zoning Commission for recommendation to the Parish Council.

b.

All advertising deadlines will need to be met.

C.

Development Standards.

1.

No industrial uses shall be allowed within the property boundary lines of the historical site. Limited commercial uses shall be allowed on the historic site to the extent that the commercial uses are compatible with the historic site, do not hinder the integrity of the site, and meet the following criteria.

a.

Historic site shall be open to the general public a minimum of 240 days in each calendar year.

b.

Uses shall be limited to the following:

i.

General retail (gift shop or other retail activity) provided however, that the sale of gasoline or other automotive services shall not be permitted;

ii.

Restaurant;

iii.

Reception Hall;

iv.

Meeting Hall or Conference Center;

v.

Hotel, motel or bed and breakfast not exceeding 100 rooms;

vi.

Exhibit hall;

vii.

Museum;

viii.

Chapel;

ix.

Spa (associated with hotel, motel or bed and breakfast).

c.

Development standards:

i.

Floor to area ratio shall not exceed .35;

ii.

Parking:

a)

For all general retail, meeting hall or conference center, a minimum of one parking for every 250 square feet of gross square footage shall be provided; and

b)

For all restaurant, dining hall or area designated as a dining area open to the public, a minimum of one parking space for every 3.5 seats or occupancy and one space for any 150 square footage of kitchen or other food preparation area. In the event the same square footage serves as meeting hall, conference center and dining area, the more stringent of the parking requirements shall apply.

c)

Outdoor spaces used for similar uses shall be included in establishing the overall parking requirements for the historic site.

d)

A minimum of one and a maximum of three bus parking spaces shall be included in the overall parking requirements at the discretion of the Planning Commission.

e)

Parking requirements are cumulative, however, same square footage shall only be included in the calculations using the most stringent requirement.

f)

Parking area landscaping shall comply with section 17-2082(A): Landscape requirements.

g)

A parking study prepared by a Professional Engineer licensed to practice in the State of Louisiana may be used, subject to approval by the Planning Commission, to establish the total required parking,

iii.

Buffering;

iv.

Landscaping;

d.

A site plan shall be submitted and reviewed by the Planning Commission.

2.

Extending from the property boundary line outwards 250 feet, any use permitted in the underlying zoning district shall be permitted in this section of the historic site overlay zone, except for those similar to industrial, manufacturing and waste related activities, natural gas or fuel related control, monitor, or distribution activities, mass storage, travel or movement activities, similar activities as deemed in the discussion of the Planning Commission, except healthcare and medical facilities. Buffering requirements as provided for herein shall be adhered to.

3.

From 250 to 500 feet beyond the boundary lines, any use permitted in the underlying zoning district shall be allowed, subject to the buffering requirements provided herein.

4.

This ordinance does not extend to buildings or land which fail to conform to the uses set forth in this chapter on the date of enactment of this ordinance. The lawful use of any building or land existing as of the date of enactment of this ordinance may be continued, although such use does not conform with the provisions of this ordinance, provided that:

a.

No nonconforming use shall be extended to displace a conforming use.

b.

A building that contains a nonconforming use may not be reconstructed or structurally altered in excess of 50 percent of the assessed value of the building prior to construction, unless the building is changed to a conforming use approved by the Planning Commission.

c.

A nonconforming land use maybe expanded by no more than 50 percent of the original nonconforming site.

d.

Any nonconforming structure declared unsafe by an agent of the parish may be restored to a safe condition.

e.

Once changed to a conforming use, no building or land shall be permitted to revert to a nonconforming use.

f.

Whenever a building or land used in whole or in part for a nonconforming use becomes and remains vacant for a continuous period of 180 days, or whenever the commercial operations carried on in such a building or on such land have been discontinued for a period of more than 180 days, the subsequent use of the property must conform to the provisions of this ordinance.

g.

An abandoned nonconforming use may be re-established within 90 days after the 180th day of the abandonment upon a showing that the continuation of a conditional nonconforming use would not adversely affect the health, safety, or welfare of the public and is in substantial compliance with existing or permitted uses of adjacent properties.

h.

This section shall apply to any nonconforming uses which may arise whenever the boundaries of a district are altered.

D.

Pre-Development Meeting.

1.

Any development proposed within the historic site overlay zone shall be reviewed at a pre-development meeting to be held before the Planning Commission. The applicant shall:

a.

Submit a complete application together will all required documents and other necessary information to clearly communicate and inform the Planning Commission all intentions for development, including but not exclusively, architectural schemes, landscaping, projected volume of business and any other relevant information that the Planning Commission may request;

b.

Attend a pre-hearing meeting with staff to review the application, submitted documents and proposal in detail. Developer, owner or authorized agent shall provide any additional documentation or support information as it may be deemed necessary by the Ascension Parish Development Director.

c.

Attend a public hearing before the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission may approve, approve subject to conditions of approval, deny or postpone the application, except however, the Planning Commission may only postpone taking action on the subject application only one time for a period to be specified in its motion to postpone. Additional postponements may only be granted at the applicant's request.

2.

Notice of the pre-development meeting shall be given to all adjacent landowners via certified mail at least five days prior to the meeting. Said meetings shall be held during regularly scheduled Planning Commission meetings, except for good cause shown, at which time a special meeting shall be called subject to the same notice requirements.

3.

The purpose of the pre-development meeting is to ensure compliance with all applicable portions of the Ascension Parish Development and Zoning codes: ensure uses within the historic site are compatible with the site and surrounding area; ensure the development is consistent with the goals, objectives and policies of the Ascension Parish Codes and purpose and intent of these provisions; and, place the public on notice of any development in or near historic sites. By doing so, the Parish of Ascension protects the integrity of the sites and furthers the preservation of these historic sites.

E.

Buffering Requirements.

1.

Uses allowed under this section within 500 feet of the property boundary lines of the site shall provide a buffer between the use and the property lines. Buffering shall consist of landscaping and/or fencing consistent with the architecture of the historic site. All buffering shall be subject to approval by the Planning Commission.

F.

Architectural Standards.

1.

Architecture shall be consistent with the style or period of the historical site.

G.

Exclusions.

1.

Single-family detached residential structures are excluded from the requirements of this overlay zone.

(DC03-01, 1/9/03; DC03-05, 8/21/03; DC05-02, 5/5/05; DC09-04, 5/21/09; DC09-09, 12/17/09; DC09-10, 12/17/09)