A.

General requirements.

(1)

Off-street parking facilities for one-family and two-family dwellings shall be located on the same lot or plot of ground as the building to be served. The location of off-street parking facilities for other uses shall not be more than three hundred (300) feet distant from the main building, provided, however, that the zoning classification of such land is the same as, or less restrictive, than the classification of the lot upon which the main use is located except as hereinafter provided. Such parking space or area shall be established by a recorded covenant or agreement as parking space to be used in conjunction with the principal use and shall be reserved as such through an encumbrance on the title of the property to be designated as required parking space or area, such encumbrances to be valid for the total period of the use or uses for which the parking is needed are in existence. Such agreement or covenant shall be duly recorded in the office of the clerk of court and a certificate furnished the zoning administrator.

(2)

Parking requirements for two (2) or more uses of the same or different type may be satisfied by the allocation of a common or collective parking facility when such uses adjoin the area to be allocated for the parking facility. Such facility shall not be less than the sum of the requirements for the individual uses computed separately.

(3)

Area reserved for off-street parking or loading in accordance with the provisions of this section shall not be reduced in area or changed to any other use unless the permitted use which it serves is discontinued or modified except where equivalent off-street parking or loading space is provided.

(4)

For uses not specifically mentioned in this section the requirements for off-street parking and loading facilities for a similar use specifically mentioned in this section shall apply.

B.

Off-street parking requirements. Off-street automobile parking space or area shall be provided on any lot on which any of the following listed uses are hereafter established and in accordance with the schedule shown. When a use is increased in capacity by the addition of dwelling rooms, guest rooms, floor area or seats, the minimum off-street parking shall be provided for such increase. Parking space or area may be located on any portion of a lot except in the required front yard or as herein provided.

C.

Off-street loading requirements. Every hospital, institution, hotel, commercial or industrial building or use having seven thousand five hundred (7,500) square feet of floor area or more shall have at least one (1) permanently maintained off-street loading space for each seven thousand five hundred (7,500) square feet of floor area or portion thereof. Each space shall have the minimum dimensions of ten (10) feet by twenty-five (25) feet and shall be provided within the building or upon the lot. This provision does not apply to commercial or industrial uses or buildings that do not require the use of trucks or other vehicles for delivery or disposition of goods to and from the building.

(Ord. No. 2005-10, § I, 6-14-05)

A.

Mobile home parks. In any district in which mobile home parks are permitted, or are permitted by the board of adjustment, the following regulations and minimum standards shall apply:

(1)

Minimum area of tract, eight (8) acres; minimum width of tract, for portions used for general vehicular entrances and exists only (other than alleys and service entrances), fifty (50) feet; for portions containing mobile home stands and buildings open generally to occupants, one hundred (100) feet. The tract shall comprise a single plot except where the site is divided by public streets or alleys or where the total property includes separate parcels for necessary utility plants with permanent rights-of-way and easements for connection and access or for other structures necessary to the park, but not open generally to the occupants, provided that all lands involved shall be so dimensioned and related as to facilitate efficient design and management.

(2)

Minimum number of spaces is fifty (50), all of which must be completed and ready for occupancy before first occupancy is permitted.

(3)

Length of residential occupancy. No space shall be rented for residential use of a mobile home in any such park except for periods of thirty (30) days or more, and no mobile home shall be admitted to any park unless it can be demonstrated that it meets the requirements of the health code of the State of Louisiana.

(4)

Convenience establishments of a commercial nature, including stores, coin-operated laundry and dry cleaning establishments and laundry and dry cleaning agencies, and beauty shops and barber shops, may be permitted in mobile home parks subject to all of the following restrictions. Such establishments and the parking areas primarily related to their operation shall not occupy more than ten percent (10%) of the area of the park, shall be subordinate to the residential use and character of the park, shall be located, designed and intended to serve frequent trade or service needs of persons residing in the park, and shall present no visible evidence of their commercial character from any portion of any residential district outside the park.

(5)

In addition to meeting the above requirements and conforming to other laws of the city, parish or state, mobile home parks shall also conform to the requirements set forth in sections or chapters of "Minimum Property Standards for Mobile Home Courts," FHA, August, 1962, Chapter 4 (provided throughout that where these provisions require FHA approval or acceptance by FHA, mobile home parks, not insured by FHA shall obtain written approval or acceptance from appropriate local authorities). Where provisions of such regulations conflict, the most restrictive, or those imposing the higher standards, shall govern.

B.

Trailer parks. In any district in which trailer parks are permitted the following minimum requirements and standards shall apply:

(1)

Location and access. All trailer parks must have direct access to State Highways 1, 22, and 308, with appropriate design of entrances and exits. No entrance or exit from a trailer park shall be through a residential district, nor require movement of traffic from the park through a residential district.

(2)

Site conditions. Condition of soil, groundwater level, drainage and topography shall not create hazards to the property or the health or safety of the occupants. This site shall not be exposed to objectionable smoke, noise, odors, or other adverse influences and no portion subject to unpredictable and/or sudden flooding, subsidence or erosion shall be used for any purpose which would expose persons or property to hazards.

(3)

Spaces for occupancy, uses permitted and length of stay. Spaces in trailer parks may be used by travel trailers, equivalent facilities constructed in or on automotive vehicles, tents, or other short-term housing or shelter arrangements or devices. Spaces shall be rented by the day or week only, and the occupant of such space shall not remain in the same trailer park for more than thirty (30) consecutive days.

(4)

Accessory uses. Management headquarters; recreational facilities, toilets, showers, coin-operated laundry facilities and other uses and structures customarily incidental to operation of a trailer park are permitted as accessory uses in such parks in any district in which trailer parks are allowed. In addition, stores, restaurants, laundry and dry cleaning agencies, beauty parlors, barber shops, and other convenience establishments shall be permitted as accessory uses in trailer parks in districts where such uses are not allowed as principal uses, subject to the following restrictions:

(a)

Such establishments and the parking areas primarily related to their operations shall not occupy more than ten percent (10%) of the area of the park.

(b)

Such establishments shall be restricted in their use to occupants of the park.

(c)

Such establishments shall present no visible evidence of their commercial character which would attract customers other than occupants of the park.

(5)

Site planning and required improvements, general objectives. Site planning and improvements shall provide for:

(a)

Facilities and amenities appropriate to the needs of the occupants.

(b)

Safe, comfortable, convenient and sanitary use by occupants under all weather conditions to be expected during periods of occupancy.

(c)

Protection of occupants from adverse environmental influences, and for appropriate protection of the neighborhood from potential adverse influences within the park.

(6)

Relation of spaces to exterior streets. In addition to yard requirements applying generally within districts, the following limitations shall apply with respect to trailer parks: No space shall be so located that any part intended for occupancy for sleeping purposes shall be within fifty (50) feet of the right-of-way line of any major street, or within twenty-five (25) feet of the right-of-way line of any minor street.

(7)

Special external yard requirements in certain districts. In C-1 districts, in addition to yard requirements applying generally, the following limitations shall apply with respect to trailer parks: Where a park in these districts adjoins a lot line (without an intervening street or alley) the boundary of any R-1, R-2 or R-3 district, a yard of at least twenty-five (25) feet in one dimension shall be provided.

(8)

Design of access to park. Entrances and exits to trailer parks shall be designed for safe and convenient movement of traffic into and out of the park, and to minimize marginal friction with free movement of traffic on adjacent streets. All traffic into or out of the park shall be through such entrances and exits. No entrance or exit shall require a turn at an acute angle for vehicles moving in the direction intended, and radii of curbs and pavements at intersections shall be such as to facilitate easy turning movements for vehicles with trailers attached. No material impediment to visibility shall be created or maintained which obstructs the view of an approaching driver in the right lane of the street within: (a) one hundred (100) feet where speed limit is less than forty-five (45) m.p.h., or (b) one hundred fifty (150) feet where speed limit is forty-five (45) m.p.h. or more, of any portion of the approach lane of the accessway within twenty-five (25) feet of its intersection with the right-hand lane of the street.

(9)

Off-street parking, loading and maneuvering space. In connection with use of any trailer park, no parking, loading or maneuvering incidental to parking or loading shall be permitted on any public street, sidewalk, or right-of-way, or on any public grounds, or on any private grounds not part of the trailer park unless the owner has given written permission for such use. Each trailer park shall provide off-street parking, loading and maneuvering space located and scaled so that the prohibitions above may be observed, and park owners shall be held responsible for violations of these requirements.

C.

Manufactured/mobile home districts.

(1)

All areas of the city shall be classified in one (1) of three (3) districts, which districts shall be as follows:

a.

Manufactured/Mobile Home District 1: Manufactured Homes/Mobile Homes Prohibited:

No manufactured homes/mobile homes shall be allowed in these districts except those manufactured homes/mobile homes which were in place in the districts as of the effective date of this amendment.

Manufactured/Mobile Home District 2: Manufactured homes/mobile homes permitted:

Manufactured homes/mobile homes shall be permitted at any place within these districts.

Manufactured/Mobile Home District 3: Manufactured homes/mobile homes allowed by petition:

Manufactured homes/mobile homes within these districts shall be allowed by petition only. The petition process shall be conducted by the Code Enforcement Officer and the applicant shall pay a fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) to cover the cost thereof. The manufactured homes/mobile homes shall be allowed in this area only if a majority of the property owners within the square that said manufactured home/mobile home is proposed to be located is obtained, and when there is no unanimous objections by adjoining property owners. The Code Enforcement Officer shall notify all property owners within said square by certified mail/return receipt requested to the address listed for the Notice of City Property Taxes. The Code Enforcement Officer shall include in the petition a statement indicating the name of the applicant and the property owner, if different, and the lot and square number of the property on which a mobile home is proposed to be located. A statement of whether or not the property owner agrees or objects to the location of the mobile home on the lot in question shall be placed in the notice for the property owner to return to the Code Enforcement Officer. The Code Enforcement Officer shall include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the notified property owner to return his/her/their objection or consent to the City. If the notified property owner fails to return the consent/objection form, it shall be deemed a "no vote." A "no vote" will exclude the property owner from the computation of the majority consent required from property owners within the square. The City of Donaldsonville shall have twenty-one (21) days within which to distribute the petition and collect the consent and/or objections from said property owners.

b.

Notwithstanding any of the provisions above, a property owner in Manufactured/Mobile Home District 3 who wishes to replace an existing manufactured home/mobile home, shall be permitted to do so without the necessity of going through the petition process only if the property owner previously went through the petition process when the existing manufactured home/mobile home was placed on the property. The property owner shall pay a permit fee in the amount of fifty dollars ($50.00) to the City of Donaldsonville to replace said existing manufactured home/mobile home.

(2)

Map designations.

District 1: Manufactured homes/mobile homes prohibited shall be all areas on the attached map designated in red.

District 2: Manufactured homes/mobile homes permitted shall be all areas on the attached map designated in green.

District 3: Manufactured homes/mobile homes allowed by petition shall be all areas designated on the attached map in yellow.

Editor's note— Please note that such map has not been set out in the Code but is on file in the office of the city clerk.

(3)

In no case shall any manufactured home and/or mobile home older than twelve (12) years be allowed to be placed within the city limits. All mobile homes that are to be placed in the city shall be inspected by the code enforcement officer and the code enforcement officer shall certify in writing that the manufactured home/mobile home complies with all federal, state, and local laws and ordinances and that the manufactured home or mobile home's exterior or appearance shall conform to the following criteria:

EXTERIOR, APPEARANCE CRITERIA

1.

All exterior walls and siding shall be in good condition and without holes, dents, peeling or flaking paint and of a uniform color.

2.

All windows and doors shall be free of signs of deterioration or missing or broken out panes and shall be lockable from inside with a form of mechanical fastener.

3.

All roofing and gutters shall be free from defects such as buckling or sagging, holes or other defects that would result in air or water infiltration.

4.

All undersides of mobile homes shall be in good condition and insulation will be secured in place by manufactured fabric as per mobile home industry, or hardware cloth secured neatly.

5.

All electrical and plumbing shall comply with NEC and state plumbing codes as adopted by the City of Donaldsonville.

The code enforcement officer shall fill out a form to be designed and approved by the commission council concerning the manufactured home or mobile home's exterior appearance and shall file said form with each application.

(4)

All manufactured or mobile homes in the City of Donaldsonville at the time of the enactment of this ordinance [2009-03] shall have six (6) months within which to place approved manufactured home skirting around said manufactured and/or mobile home in accordance with guidelines of the manufactured homes industry association. All manufactured or mobile homes to be placed in the City of Donaldsonville shall be skirted with approved manufactured housing association skirting within thirty (30) days of placement. Any person failing to place approved skirting on their manufactured or mobile home in the City of Donaldsonville shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per day each day the violation continues.

(5)

All persons applying for a permit to place a manufactured or mobile home in the City of Donaldsonville shall pay a one hundred dollar ($100.00) inspection fee and said manufactured or mobile home shall be inspected by the code enforcement officer for the City of Donaldsonville and shall comply with all applicable building, plumbing, electrical, fire and any other code, or health regulation or rules which apply and said fee shall be payable in advance. In no event shall the fee be refunded should the manufactured or mobile home fail said inspection and not be allowed to be placed in the City of Donaldsonville.

(6)

Any person who transports or allows to be transported any manufactured or mobile home in the City of Donaldsonville shall be required to possess a state highway permit if required by the State of Louisiana, Department of Transportation and Development and obtain a City of Donaldsonville street permit which designates the route to be taken through the City of Donaldsonville and shall have police escort by the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office. The city street permit shall cost twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and shall be approved by the code enforcement officer. Any person, including but not limited to the owner of the manufactured/mobile home, the seller of the manufactured/mobile home, and/or the transporter of the manufactured/mobile home, shall be subject to a five hundred dollar ($500.00) fine for each day that the manufactured/mobile home remains in the City of Donaldsonville if said manufactured/mobile home is placed in the City of Donaldsonville without the inspection certificate and without the necessary state highway permits, the city street permits and/or police escort.

(Ord. of 9-9-75; Ord. of 11-11-75; Ord. No. 1999-27, § 1, 2-14-99; 2000-11, § 1, 5-8-00; Ord. No. 2009-03, § I, 2-10-09; Ord. No. 2009-15, § I, 7-14-09; Ord. No. 2023-12, § I, 8-22-23)

All signs, hereafter erected on any lot in any district, except official, traffic, and street signs, shall conform to the provisions of this section, unless otherwise provided.

A.

Signs in Residence "R" districts. In residence districts no sign shall be permitted except the following:

(1)

A sign, not exceeding two (2) square feet in area, giving the name and/or address only of the land or building on which displayed or the owner or lessee thereof.

(2)

A sign pertaining to the lease or sale of a building or property, provided such sign shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet in surface area and is unilluminated.

(3)

Temporary non-illuminated signs, for one (1) year, advertising a new subdivision development of five (5) lots or more, provided such signs do not exceed sixty (60) square feet in surface area, or no more than fifteen (15) feet, nor less than two (2) feet above ground, advertise only the development in which they are located, and are erected only at dedicated street entrances.

(4)

One (1) unilluminated sign identifying an engineer, architect, or contractor engaged in the construction of a building, provided such sign shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet in surface area, is no more than fifteen (15) feet or less than two (2) feet above ground and is removed within thirty (30) days following occupancy of the building.

(5)

One (1) identification sign, not to exceed thirty (30) square feet in area, for the following uses: church, school, hospital, library, farm, park, clinic, or similar uses. Such sign shall be solely for the purpose of displaying the name of the institution and its activities or services. It may be illuminated, but not flashing.

(6)

Directional signs not to exceed two (2) square feet in surface area for the following uses: church, school, hospital, library, sanitarium, clinic or similar use provided that each shall be limited to one such sign per major thoroughfare approach. No such sign shall be permitted on minor residential streets.

(7)

One (1) name plate sign for a dwelling group of four (4) or more units not exceeding five (5) square feet in surface area. Such sign may indicate the names and addresses of the buildings or it may be a directory for occupants.

(8)

One (1) name plate sign no more than four (4) inches in width and eighteen (18) inches in length indicating the name and occupation or profession of the resident who utilizes the premises for a permitted home occupation.

B.

Signs in C-1 Limited Commercial district. In the C-1 district signs are permitted subject to the following regulations:

(1)

All signs permitted in the R districts.

(2)

The total area of all business signs on a building or lot shall not exceed one hundred fifty (150) square feet or the sum of three (3) square feet for each lineal foot of lot frontage, whichever is the greater. No single business sign surface may exceed three hundred (300) square feet in area, nor shall two (2) or more smaller signs be so arranged and integrated as to create a surface area in excess of three hundred (300) square feet.

(3)

Advertising sign structures shall be limited to not more than one (1) structure for a lot of one hundred (100) foot frontage or less, and to one (1) additional structure for each one hundred (100) feet of additional lot frontage. Such structure may contain not more than two (2) signs per facing, nor exceed fifty-five (55) feet in length, and no advertising sign may exceed three hundred (300) square feet in area. No advertising sign shall be erected within fifty (50) feet of an adjoining residence district if designed to face into such district.

(4)

Coordinated shopping centers. Each coordinated shopping center may have one (1) incidental or free-standing identification sign for each street frontage, set back at least twenty (20) feet from the front property line and announcing only the name of the shopping center and the hours of business.

C.

Signs in C-2 General Commercial districts. In the C-2 district signs are permitted with the following regulations:

(1)

All signs permitted in the R districts.

(2)

The total surface area of a business sign or signs on a lot shall not exceed six (6) square feet for each lineal foot of lot frontage.

(3)

Advertising sign structures shall be limited to not more than one (1) structure for a lot of fifty (50) foot frontage or less, and to one (1) additional structure for each one hundred (100) feet of additional lot frontage. Such structure may contain not more than two (2) signs per facing, nor exceed fifty-five (55) feet in length, and no advertising sign may exceed three hundred (300) square feet in area. No advertising sign shall be erected within fifty (50) feet of an adjoining residence district if designed to face into such district.

(4)

Coordinated shopping centers. Each coordinated shopping center may have one (1) incidental or free-standing identification sign for each street frontage, set back at least twenty (20) feet from the front property line and announcing only the name of the shopping center and the hours of business.

D.

Signs in I Industrial districts. In the I Industrial district signs are permitted subject to the following regulations:

(1)

All signs permitted in the R districts.

(2)

The total surface area of a business sign or signs on a building or lot shall not exceed ten (10) square feet for each lineal foot of lot frontage.

(3)

Advertising sign structure shall be permitted subject to subsection E, General restrictions.

E.

General restrictions. Unless otherwise provided in this ordinance, the following regulations shall apply to signs in all districts:

(1)

No sign shall be so erected as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape, and no sign of any kind shall be attached to a stand-pipe or fire escape.

(2)

No sign shall be erected at the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision; or at any location where, by reason of position it may interfere with or obstruct the view of traffic sight lines or traffic control devices. If located within direct line of vision of a traffic control device, no flashing or intermittent red, green or amber illumination shall be used.

(3)

Any sign affixed flat against the wall of a building and not more than fifteen (15) inches in thickness shall not be deemed a projecting sign. Projecting signs may extend not more than forty-eight (48) inches beyond the building line, or over public property, in no event closer than two (2) feet to the curb line, and shall be at least ten (10) feet above the finished grade of the sidewalk. Wall signs shall not extend more than fifteen (15) inches over public property; however, lighting devices may extend not more than six (6) feet over public property provided the lowest part of such device is at least fifteen (15) feet above the finished grade.

(4)

Business and advertising signs are required to observe the same setback, side yard, and height limitations as provided for other buildings or structures in the zoned district, provided that where drive-in service or parking facilities are provided, one (1) business sign not exceeding forty-five (45) square feet in area may be erected in any required setback area if it is not located nearer to the street or highway right-of-way line than one-third (⅓) the required setback distance.

(5)

The illumination of any sign within fifty (50) feet of and facing a residential zone lot line shall be diffused or indirect and designed to prevent direct rays of light from shining into adjoining residential districts; and in no event shall flashing or intermittent illumination be permitted where the sign faces directly into and is nearer than three hundred (300) feet to dwellings in a residential district.

(6)

Directional or informational signs of a public or quasi-public nature not exceeding six (6) square feet in area may be permitted in any district on approval of the zoning administrator. Any illumination shall be non-flashing, uncolored and confined to the face of the sign. No advertising matter whatsoever shall be permitted on signs of this type.

(7)

Temporary signs indicating an event of public interest such as a state or local fair, local or general election, cattle or horse show, etc., may be erected on a thirty (30) day non-renewable permit in any zone on approval of the zoning administrator.

(8)

Whenever a sign becomes structurally unsafe or endangers the safety of a building or premises, or endangers the public safety, the zoning administrator shall give written notice to the owner of the sign or the owner of the premises on which the sign is located that such sign be made safe or removed within ten (10) days.

(9)

Any business or outdoor advertising sign legally existing prior to the adoption of this ordinance and which does not conform to these provisions shall not be altered, or changed in overall dimensions, except to conform to the provisions of this ordinance. If damaged to an extent in excess of one-half (½) of its current replacement value, it shall not be rebuilt, provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed to prevent normal maintenance and repairs, repainting or posting of such signs or structures.

(10)

Unless otherwise provided in these regulations, all signs shall be constructed and erected in accordance with the building code for the City of Donaldsonville, Louisiana.

(11)

To provide reasonable flexibility in these regulations, the board of zoning adjustment may approve an application for a business sign or advertising structure which may not conform with the provisions of the district in which it is to be located, where the location, size, or addition would not be inconsistent with the character of the area or neighborhood in which such sign or structure is to be located.

An authorized agency of the parish, state, or federal government, or the private owner or owners of any tract of land comprising an area of not less than five (5) acres may submit to the city council of Donaldsonville a plan for use and development of all of the tract of land for residential and allied purposes. This plan shall be referred to the city planning commission for study and report and for public hearings. Notice and publication of such public hearings shall conform to the procedure described in Section XII of this ordinance. After consideration by the planning commission, these plans shall be submitted to the city council for final action. The recommendations of the commission shall be accompanied by a report stating the reasons for this action. If the commission gives approval, it shall submit specific evidence and facts showing that the proposed community unit plan meets with the following conditions:

A.

The property adjacent to the area included in the plan will not be adversely affected.

B.

The plan is consistent with the intent and purpose of this ordinance to promote public health, safety, morals, and general welfare.

C.

The buildings shall be used only for single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, or multiple-family dwellings, and the usual accessory uses, such as private or storage garage, parking spaces, and for non-commercial community activities such as libraries, schools, and other similar uses.

D.

The number of dwelling units permitted shall be determined by dividing the net development area by the minimum lot area per family or dwelling unit required by the district or districts in which the area is located. Net development area shall be determined by subtracting the area set aside for churches or schools from the gross development area and deducting twenty-five percent (25%) of the remainder for streets or the actual area of proposed public streets, whichever is the lesser. The area of land set aside for common open space or recreational use shall be included in determining the number of dwelling units permitted.