Plans edge forward for Rouzan library branch

Although library board members joked about being good at doing nothing, they took a small step forward at their meeting Thursday by voting to uphold an ad-hoc committee recommendation to build a south Baton Rouge branch at the proposed Rouzan development. The recommendation also calls for the East Baton Rouge Parish Library system to tweak its agreement for a land donation at Rouzan, a housing-and-retail complex planned by developer Tommy Spinosa of Perkins Rowe bankruptcy infamy, in order to protect itself if Rouzan falls through and the branch property is left with no parking, utility provisions or other surrounding infrastructure. A lawsuit against the Metro Council set for trial in June could nullify zoning for the traditional neighborhood development, or TND, along Perkins Road. “It’s possible all those arrangements would vanish,” board member Stanford O. Bardwell said. “We could be left without the various support elements.” For the full story, click here.—Todd R. Brown