Louisiana 2014 2014 Regular Session

Louisiana House Bill HB579 Comm Sub / Analysis

                    DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services.  It constitutes no part of
the legislative instrument.  The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of
the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.  [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Danahay	HB No. 579
Abstract: Relative to the zoning commission in the city of Sulphur, grants the city's governing
authority the power to grant certain powers and duties to the commission.
Present law authorizes municipal governing authorities, for the purpose of promoting health,
safety, morals, or the general welfare of the community, to regulate and restrict the height,
number of stories, and size of structures, the percentage of lots that may be occupied, the size of
yards, courts, and other open spaces, the density of population, and the location and use of the
buildings, structures, and land for trade, industry, residence, or other purposes. Requires a
municipal governing authority, in order to avail itself of the powers conferred by 	present law, to
appoint a zoning commission.  Additionally authorizes a municipal governing authority to
appoint a board of adjustment and to provide that the board may determine and vary the
application of the regulations and restrictions adopted pursuant to present law to keep in harmony
with their general purpose and intent.  Present law provides that zoning ordinances enacted by a
municipal governing authority and the acts of the zoning commission, board of adjustment, or
zoning administrator are subject to judicial review on the grounds of abuse of discretion,
unreasonable exercise of the police powers, an excessive use of the power, or the denial of the
right of due process.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law grants the board of aldermen of the city of Mandeville, in addition to all other
powers authorized by 	present law, the power to authorize the city's zoning commission to
exercise the same powers, duties, and responsibilities granted to a board of adjustment pursuant
to present law.
Proposed law retains present law and additionally grants the governing authority of the city of
Sulphur the power to authorize the city's zoning commission to exercise the same powers, duties,
and responsibilities granted to a board of adjustment pursuant to present law.
(Adds R.S. 33:4727.2)