Covington zoning ordinance ready for review

A public hearing to present the proposed zoning ordinance for the city of Covington will be held Monday at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Covington City Hall, 222 E. Kirkland St.

The ordinance has been the subject of hearings and neighborhood meetings by Steve Villavaso and Associates for the past two years, and the final draft is ready for review. The ordinance being presented is the text part of the planning and zoning process and will define and explain in detail the terminology and uses that will be allowed in every part of the city.

The proposed ordinance will contain five basic zoning districts: R, residential; C, commercials; I, institutional; O, open space/recreation; and M, industrial/ manufacturing. These will apply to each parcel within the city.

In addition, three overlay districts have been proposed: MU, mixed use overlay district (NMU,UMU); PD, planned development overlay district (RPD, CPD, IPD); and F, floodplain overlay district. Overlay designations may be applied to any lot or site in addition to its base district designation.

The five basic types of districts are further divided into more specific districts according to the proposal. They include RSL, single-family residential existing small lots district; RS-1, and RS-2, single-family residential district; RLL, single- family residential existing large lots district; RS-3, two-family residential district; RM-1, three- and four- family residential district; RM-2, multi-family residential district; CO, commercial, service and professional office district; CN, neighborhood commercial district; CBD, community business district; CR, regional commercial district; ID, institutional district; IH, medical service district; OS, open space/recreation; and ML light industrial/manufacturing.

The complete draft of the 140-page proposal is available online for review at www.cityofcovingtonla.com/nucont07/07pgs/4planng.html.

Zoning maps of the city with the new classifications will be presented at a public hearing Wednesday, Nov. 19, said Bonnie Champagne, planning and zoning commission clerk.