The Planning Commission is beginning to implement new design guidelines in neighborhoods around Baton Rouge. The design guidelines were adopted last year by the Metro Council as a way to clarify and simplify the city’s Unified Development Code and bring it more into line with recommendations contained in the city’s land-use master plan, FuturEBR.
Mid City is the first neighborhood that will be affected by the change. For the past four months, Planning Commission staffers have been working with the Mid City Redevelopment Alliance to replace the zoning regulations contained in the Government Street Overlay district with a new set of rules that fall under the category of Urban Design level. Planning Director Frank Duke told the Downtown Development District board of commissioners Tuesday the changes should go into effect this fall.
“What this does is simplify and streamline the ordinance,” Duke said. “It is very clear as to what our expectations are.”
Now, the Planning Commission is turning its attention to downtown, where the regulations in the Arts and Entertainment Overlay District will be replaced by those in the Downtown Design level. The new regulations will govern design issues like parking, signage, sidewalk benches and building facades.
“We want to make it very clear what the expectations are and make sure there are no encourages without incentives,” Duke said. “By doing that we can help stimulate additional development in our downtown area.”
DDD Executive Director Davis Rhorer said he initially wants to implement the new guidelines on the Third Street corridor.
—Stephanie Riegel
