The Iberia Parish Regional Planning Commission is finalizing what members say is a “good” zoning plan and ordinance for Iberia Parish.

At its Thursday meeting, commission members discussed the details of the ordinance they say need “tweaking,” including height limits on certain structures, wording on some parts of the ordinance and lot size restrictions that members say are too strict.

A major concern is the definition of a farm in the proposed ordinance, which is set at a minimum of 25 acres. Commission member Jane Braud and Southern Mutual Help Association Executive Director Loran Bourg questioned the minimum, and said it might be too high for smaller farmers who might not have that many acres.

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“That number is typical in other ordinances, but it’s an arbitrary number,” said Dennis Ehrhardt, Ph.D., who was hired by the commission to write the ordinance.

Ehrhardt said the commission and the Parish Council can make any changes they believe are necessary. Variances and special permitted uses are written into the ordinance for things that do not comply with the ordinance, Ehrhardt said.

“With zoning, you expect amendments to the ordinance,” Ehrhardt said. “Things grow.”

The commission did not change the acreage requirement for a farm, but did make changes on a few other parts of the proposal including nonconforming use permits, which are permitted structures that do not meet zoning requirements but are grandfathered in.

In the original verbiage, if at least 50 percent of a nonconforming use structure is destroyed by fire, hurricane or any other disaster, the its owner would be forced to rebuild according to the zoning ordinance. 

The commission moved to eliminate the percentage, citing that it would be hurtful to businesses open 30 or 40 years.

Though the plan has made progress since its beginning, Iberia Parish Council members who attended the meeting said the plan is still a “work in progress.”  Bourg said the restrictive, larger lot sizes zone out “affordability for different classes of people who need to live in certain areas.”

Commission Chairman Dana Dugas said in response that the larger lot size is to prevent “tiny lots with houses on top of each other in rural areas.”

Councilman Troy Comeaux said he will suggest a council ad-hoc committee continue to “tweak” parts of the zoning plan after it’s adopted by the planning commission.

“I don’t want you to feel pressured,” Comeaux said.

Once the plan reaches the council, it will decide whether to adopt the plan or put it on the ballot for voters to decide.

Councilman Naray Hulin said he thinks the council should decide because there are still many residents who do not understand what zoning will bring to the parish.

“We are here to represent our constituents, and we need to make that decision,” Hulin said.