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2017 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 137
BY SENATOR JOHNS
PUBLIC LANDS. Authorizes a referendum election on the lease of certain lands owned by
the city of Lake Charles. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 33:4699.1(E), relative to lakefront property within the city of Lake Charles;
3 to authorize a referendum election on a proposition regarding certain lands owned
4 by the city; and to provide for related matters.
5 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 33:4699.1(E) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 ยง4699.1. City of Lake Charles; lakefront property
9 * * *
10 E.(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section to the contrary,
11 the governing authority of the city of Lake Charles is authorized to call a special
12 election in accordance with law seeking voter approval by those electors of the
13 city qualified to vote regarding the revision or modification of the existing plan
14 for commercial and residential usage of all or a portion of the land areas
15 described in this Section. The proposition for the election shall include the
16 following information with respect to the proposed project:
17 (a) Reasonably and fairly identify the area of land to be used or leased
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 137
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1 for residential or commercial development.
2 (b) Describe the general nature and extent of the proposed development
3 project and generally describe any applicable design guidelines.
4 (2) If a majority of the qualified electors of the city of Lake Charles vote
5 to approve the commercial or residential usage of all or any portion of the areas
6 described in the ballot proposition, the city shall have the full and exclusive
7 right, jurisdiction, power, and authority to authorize, conduct, and effectuate
8 development in those land areas described in the proposition for the residential,
9 commercial, and profit-oriented purposes as provided in Subsection D of this
10 Section.
11 (3) The city of Lake Charles may also construct, acquire, extend, or
12 improve facilities such as marinas, motels, hotels, restaurants, residential
13 housing, commercial office space, and boating facilities and provide roads,
14 sewer, water, and other utilities as may be necessary to facilitate any such plan
15 for commercial or residential use previously approved by the voters or as may
16 be authorized in the future as provided herein or to make such site
17 improvements as may be necessary to comply with applicable flood plain
18 regulations. In exercising such authority the city shall also have authorization
19 to develop the property pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 51:1150 through R.S.
20 51:1160.
21 (4) Nothing in this Subsection shall in any way supersede the sole
22 authority and responsibility of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board relative to
23 gaming as specified in R.S. 27:15 nor shall it affect any law regarding the
24 requirement for or the conduct of any election or regarding the conduct of any
25 form of gaming.
26 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
27 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
28 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
29 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 137
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1 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument was prepared by Michael Bell. The following digest,
which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was prepared
by Ann S. Brown.
DIGEST
SB 137 Engrossed 2017 Regular Session Johns
Proposed law authorizes the city of Lake Charles to call a special election to seek voter
approval regarding the commercial and residential usage of all or a portion of the leased land
on the lakefront.
Proposed law authorizes the city of Lake Charles to have the full and exclusive right,
jurisdiction, power, and authority to conduct and effectuate development in the lakefront
land areas for the residential, commercial, and profit-oriented purposes consistent with the
proposition if a majority of the qualified electors vote to approve it at the referendum
election.
Proposed law authorizes the city of Lake Charles to construct, acquire, extend, or improve
facilities such as marinas, motels, hotels, restaurants, residential housing, commercial office
space, and boating facilities and provide for roads, sewer, water and other utilities as may
be necessary to facilitate any plan for commercial or residential use approved by the voters.
Proposed law specifically provides that nothing in proposed law shall supersede the sole
authority and responsibility of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board relative to gaming.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 33:4699.1(E))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Local and Municipal
Affairs to the original bill
1. Clarifies the fact that the information in the proposed projects, to be included
in the proposition for the election, shall affect commercial and residential
land areas.
2. Technical amendment.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.