Rouzan on agenda

The city-parish Planning Commission will reconsider a final development plan Monday for a 17-home subphase of Rouzan, as well as a concept plan for Mallard Park, a 90-lot development north of Hoo Shoo Too Road that previously drew strong opposition from neighbors.

The final development plan for Rouzan Phase 3C actually failed 4-2 last month when it didn’t receive the five votes necessary to pass. After realizing that final development plans don’t go on to the full Metro Council, they just fail, the commission voted to defer it. The commission had three members absent that day. Those who were present decided it wasn’t right to not give final development approval since the subphase concept plan previously received approval.

Nearby neighbors and two families living on property within, but not included in, the Rouzan development continue to oppose it, particularly objecting to developer Tommy Spinosa’s practice of breaking Rouzan into subphases and changing the layout.

“The piecemeal approach is not working, that’s our message to you tonight,” nearby resident Angela Angelloz told the commission last month.

As for Mallard in the Hoo Shoo Too area, developer Kevin Nguyen deferred then withdrew a zoning change application. He refiled as a planned unit development. Mallard’s 90 homes would be on 56 acres, or 63 percent of the property, with 21 acres open, according to plans.

The residents who came out in opposition to the previous filing said the development would worsen traffic and that the homes are out of character for the area.

The planning commission staff is recommending the commission deny the request.

Also on tap Monday is final development plan approval for Fairfield at Baton Rouge. Fairfield is a 40-acre apartment development proposed behind two acres at Ben Hur Road and Burbank Drive.

The concept plan was approved last year. The final development plan calls for 301 apartments: 36 one-bedroom units, 71 two-bedroom units, 50 three-bedroom units and 144 four-bedroom units.

Bethany World Prayer Center’s planned performing arts center and church next to Towne Center and five new homes along Convention Street at North Eugene Street, built by the Mid-City Redevelopment Alliance, round out the list of notable items for Monday’s meeting.

The meeting will be at 5 p.m. on the third floor of the Governmental Building, 222 St. Louis St.