The Metro Council Zoning Committee will resume debate on whether property owner Richard Preis should be forced to fix up several dilapidated pieces of rental property he owns in historic Spanish Town at its Nov. 18 meeting. That’s the word from Council Administrator Brian Mayers, who attempted to clear up at least some confusion on what happens next in the ongoing battle between Preis and those who are hoping to force him to repair the properties in question.
Debate at Wednesday's Zoning Committee hearing abruptly came to a halt when Mayor Pro Tem Mike Walker ended the meeting because he said time had run out. At issue is Preis’ appeal of an obscure city ordinance that allows the Historic Preservation Commission to cite a property owner with “demolition by neglect” for letting properties fall into disrepair. The citation came in late August, after Preis attempted to get permission to raze the homes to make way for an apartment complex the neighborhood is fighting. Preis appealed the HPC’s demolition by neglect citation directly to the Metro Council, which HPC members say is not the way the appeal process should work. They have asked him to come before them and argue why he should not have to repair the properties.
It may seem like a technicality but it’s an important one, and council members seem to agree the wording of the ordinance, at least as it applies to the appeal process, is confusing. That’s why Metro Councilwoman Tara Wicker, who represents Spanish Town, says she plans to convene a committee of HPC members, city attorneys and Planning Commission staff to draft a rewrite of the ordinance and clarify what the correct procedure should be. In the meantime, Wicker says she doesn’t see how the Metro Council Zoning Committee can deny Preis’ appeal and force him to fix up the properties.
“Because the process is so convoluted and the law is so unclear, I don’t see how reasonably we can put forth a demand that he fix up those properties,” Wicker says.
Comments
Posted by Diva on October 23, 2009 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wicker is obviously running for mayor. All of her decisions are based on politics, not what's right or what constitutes good planning.
She has reversed herself numerous times after voting one way on the P&Z Commission and then doing the opposite when the same item came before the Council.
She doesn't represent her consituents well and doesn't seem to care about them as much as she cares about her own political ambitions.
Posted by STdenizen on October 23, 2009 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, the article on her fundraiser being sponsored by the developer's parents certainly explains why the "safety meeting" she called turned into a "guess what we're putting in your neighborhood" surprise.
Posted by spanishtowner on October 23, 2009 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I believe Ms. Wicker is confused about which aspects of procedure need clarification. Just because the Demolition by Neglect ordinance is untested doesn't mean the ordinance itself is unclear or that the HPC didn't have standing to cite the owner with it.
And regarding whether her allegiance lies with her constituents (those who, according to Webster, are "one of a group who elects another to represent him in public office")or with her fundraiser hosts/developer's parents, how many times have we heard that it's the APPEARANCE of improperiety that is to be avoided?
Your constituents, Ms. Wicker, that's us. Sorry all our friends aren't well connected enough to raise big bucks for your next foray.
Posted by vicarhoward on October 23, 2009 at 2:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Preis' attorney seemed to be lacking (or keeping back) a number of bits of info at the Council meeting-- like how many of Preis "demolition by neglect" houses which he rents are occupied. Answer: At least 5 of the 7. Or that David Slaugter (son of the senior Slaughters noted in your AM report with Tara's comments) applied to HPC for demolishing houses Preis wants to sell him so that Slaughter can erect an oversized (5 or so story) Capitol Lofts, not in keeping with historic Spanish Town Guidelines. While it may be true that Preis or any citizen can approach the Council with issues where does "subsidiarity" come into play? Should someone cited and in danger of a fine by the "Litter Court" or caught running a red light appeal directly to the Council, clogging their agenda, BEFORE appearing at Litter or Traffic Court? Further, it is also true that Preis allowed the lovely Mayer Duplexes on North 6th. and the Prather Boarding House on State Capitol to deteriorate under his ownership (serial "demolition by neglect"?) to the point of tearing them down. It is this "slippery slope" of destruction of rehabitable homes in Spanish Town about which "the clock is ticking" as well as any "harm" to Mr. Preis.(Recall how George Jenne rescued the "Three Sisters" on Spanish Town Rd. which were FAR more debilitated that Preis' seven). Historic Spanish Town stands to be the REAL loser. REMOVE NOT THE ANCIENT LANDMARK WHICH YOUR FATHERS SET UP (PROVERBS 22:28) Thanks also to Denise Marcell who pushed the point of Preis' lack of good stewardship of the homes he is renting and the dangers to his renters. Lastly, walk or drive through our 16 block historic neighborhood and see the fair, good and even excellent condition of a huge majority of places including some that Preis or Slaughter want to destroy rather than rehab. Thanks, Rev. Howard Hall, Resident born in and retired to Spanish Town; HSTCA Beautification Committee
Posted by Being_Stupid on October 23, 2009 at 11:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is okay for the Metro Council to start the meeting 5 minutes late.
Then take a 5 minute recess (after leaving a law office rezoning case in limbo).
BUT-By-Garsh-Darnit!!! - Better end this meeting at 8 O CLOCK on the DOT!!! and leave Richard Pries and his Property Rights to the Jaws of the HPC.
HPC = Historic Preservation Clowns
(This is why nothing is being developed in Baton Rouge. Look at the HELL property owners have to deal with to get their property rights back from a Neighborhood Ass-ociation that uses the strong arm of government or lone council rep to steal property rights from others they single out and pick on)
Posted by Being_Stupid on October 23, 2009 at 11:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And as for this ispud rezoning case for the Peyton Murphy Law Firm:
FOR 2 HOURS... we watched a modern day lynch mob try to prevent a LAW OFFICE from being built at the corner of Keed and 5 LANE JEFFERSON HWY!!!
IT's a Freaking Law Office, not a McDonald's Drive Thru or Gas Station - get a grip neighborhood people!
Look at all the havoc those offices created along Bluebonnet Blvd! And don't forget about all the Law Offices in Downtown Beaurgard Town.
An ispud for a freaking law office!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH - WATCH OUT - HERE COMES A LAW OFFICE TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD - what is the worst that can happen???
Professionals wearing suits..
People drinking Starbucks Coffee...
A Mercedes Benz drving into the Parking Lot...
Property Values Increasing...
Please NO MORE OFFICE PLACES near my Neighborhood!
Posted by Being_Stupid on October 24, 2009 at 12:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And what was the deal with that annoying HPC Nazi "Brownshirt" that kept moving from chair to chair, raising his hand like he was in class? Its like - hey - we get the point - we see you on TV - now get a life please - the public forum is closed.
This idiot was probably what pissed Mike Walker off in the first place.
And when Mike Walker gets mad... better just get out of his way...because you are going down. Mike Walker could challenge Al Pacino-in-"Scent of a Woman".
Never pick an arguement with Mike Walker.
And never mess with Bad Leroy Brown either.
Posted by DAS_KAPITAL on October 24, 2009 at 3:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
THE HPC IS LIKE A BIG BROTHER FOR SPANISH TOWN. WE KEEP A KEEN EYE OVER THE NEIGHBORHOOD. LIKE A BIG BROTHER, THE HPC WILL PROTECT YOU FROM YOURSELF & YOUR NEIGHBOR.
NO INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNER IS ABOVE THE HPC IN SPANISH TOWN.
REJECT THE APPEAL. LET US TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN.
NOBODY IS ABOVE THE LAW.
Posted by DAS_KAPITAL on October 24, 2009 at 3:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WE, THE HPC, HAVE THE AUTHORITY IN SPANISHTOWN !!!
HOW DARE THIS PROPERTY OWNER, RICHARD PREIS, TRY AND GET AROUND US. IT DIDN'T WORK. HA HA HA.
Posted by StacieT on October 27, 2009 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
During the Metro Council meeting on Oct. 21, 2009…
Troy Bunch’s Statement that corner lots facing residential streets are not allowed to rezone to Office Use along Jefferson Hwy is false. In 2008, the precedence was set to allow for corner lots, facing residential streets, along Jefferson Hwy to rezone to Office Use. See UDC Online Map for Jefferson UDD4 Overlay, it clearly shows several corner lots along Jefferson Hwy that were incorporated into the overlay. Some of the residential lots included are two or three lots from the corner (see how the UDD4 goes onto Old Bluebonnet Road, not to be confused with New Office Bluebonnet Blvd).
The proposed Peyton Murphy Law Firm development does NOTencroach any deeper into the neighborhood than Juliet’s Garden across the street on the other corner.
History shows that office space near or inside residential neighborhoods increases property values (not the opposite).
Example 1: Urban Design District 1 along Bluebonnet Blvd (between Jefferson Hwy & Gail/I-10) all these new offices have drastically improved neighborhood property values.
Example 2: Law Offices located in Downtown Baton Rouge, like Beauregard Town and Spanish Town, have also raised property values and encouraged the preservation and redevelopment of downtown neighborhoods.
I wish the entire Metro Council, especially Alison Cascio, Joe Boel, Tara Wicker, & Smokie would support business development on Jefferson Hwy and East Baton Rouge. Now (not later) is the time to Build a Better Baton Rouge.
And I want to thank Councilman "Bones" Addison and Welch and the few others that spoke in favor of supporting this office ispud for Jefferson Hwy.
If this property does not qualify for an ispud, then what will qualify for an ispud?
I am sick and tired of seeing great projects and business devlopers being denied their rezoning requests and property rights within reason, just because a bunch of NIMBYs show up to oppose the new development.
Posted by StacieT on October 27, 2009 at 1:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And just 1 last point...
ISPUDS are very very strict as to what can be developed and how the property can be used.
I agreed with one point made by the NIMBYs, perhaps an 8 foot fence would not look good. Instead, compromise on a 3 foot tall brick or stone barrier. It will keep the cars from being able to access Keed, yet still enhance the property.
I live on Oliphant. And the office on the corner of Oliphant and New Bluebonnet, used a 3 foot brick barrier that is both very attractive and blocks cars from being able to access Oliphant. I like having this office complex down the street from me. The people that work there are very educated and professional. The kind of educated people (like architects, doctors, medical specialists, lawyers, etc.) I want in my neighborhood.
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