A.

Initiation of change. The mayor and council may, from time to time, amend, supplement, or change the regulations, restrictions, or boundaries herein or subsequently established in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 33:4725. Such amendment, supplement or change may be initiated:

1.

By action of the council itself by introduction of an ordinance; or

2.

On petition by property owners, by filing with the council through the planning commission an attested petition in writing which conforms to the standards and requirements of said planning commission for petitions to amend or change the comprehensive zoning law, provided that no petition for a change in the classification of property shall be considered or acted upon unless such petition is duly signed and acknowledged by the owners or authorized agents of not less than 50 percent of the area of the land for which a change of classifications is requested; provided, however, that where any lot located in the aforesaid area is owned in division, all co-owners must sign for that lot to be included in the 50 percent provision.

B.

Procedure. No amendment, supplement or change of the zoning ordinance or zoning map shall become effective unless and until:

1.

There shall have been a public hearing in relation thereto before the city council, at which parties in interest and citizens shall have had an opportunity to be fully heard.

2.

The applicant shall provide an affidavit containing the names and addresses of all property owners within 300 feet on both sides of the street and all adjoining property owners.

3.

The applicant shall provide a "Class C" survey (plant plan) of the lot prepared by a civil engineer or land surveyor, licensed in the State of Louisiana, showing the actual dimensions of the lot, the size and location of any existing structures, servitudes and restrictions, and any such other information as may be necessary to provide for the enforcement of these regulations.

4.

The applicant shall provide an ordinance in the approved form stating the desired change for review by the planning and zoning commission and approval by the city council.

5.

Notice of the proposed change and of the time and place of the hearing shall have been published once a week for three consecutive weeks in the official journal of the city. At least 20 days shall elapse between the first publication and the date of the hearing. The applicant shall permit a sign to be posted on the property by the city on which the zoning change is sought indicating that an application for a zoning change has been filed with the planning and zoning commission. The sign shall remain in place for at least two weeks prior to the hearing before the planning and zoning commission and shall remain in place until final action of the application by the city council. The sign shall be a minimum size of 24 by 36 feet. The sign shall indicate the place, date, and time of the planning and zoning commission hearing. After being set for a hearing before the city council, the sign shall be changed to indicate the place, date, and time of the council hearing.

6.

After the public hearing as provided above, the planning and zoning commission shall submit its report and recommendation upon the proposed change and amendment to the city clerk within ten days of the hearing held by the planning and zoning commission regarding said proposed change.

7.

The provisions of this section do not apply in cases where there is a proposal to enact an entire new ordinance to change the text as a whole, or to change all of the official zoning map of the city, or both, in which event the procedure set out in the Revised Statutes of 1950, title 33, sections 4721 through 4730 (R.S. 33:4721 through 33:4730) shall be followed.

C.

Fees. Before any action shall be taken as provided in this section, the applicant(s) proposing or recommending a change in the classification of property or any change in the comprehensive zoning ordinance shall pay a fee in the sum of $500.00 for each text change not involving acreage; or $500.00 for each acre of land or portion thereof, for which a change of classification is proposed or recommended to cover the approximate cost of this procedure. The applicant(s) proposing or recommending a change in the classification of property or change in the comprehensive zoning ordinance also shall pay all costs of the advertisement provided for herein as determined by the city clerk.

D.

One year limitation. Whenever a petition is filed requesting or proposing a change in, or amendment to, this ordinance, and said petition has been finally acted upon by the council in accordance with the above procedure, then the council shall not consider any further petition for the same change or amendment for the same property within a period of one calendar year from the date of the council's final legal action on said petition. The provisions of this section do not apply in cases where the council wishes to initiate a change in the classification of property or an amendment to the comprehensive zoning ordinance.

(Ord. No. 1564, § 1, 12-21-2006; Ord. No. 1865, §§ 1, 2, 3-21-2019; Ord. No. 1979, § 1, 10-19-2023)