END OF THE YEAR news & updates

A Letter From Our Executive Director

Dear Members and Friends,

What a challenging year this has been! The Growth Coalition helped achieve several vital issues in the development community, despite the COVID-19 global pandemic. The credit for this goes to our dedicated Board of Directors and our Membership!

The Growth Coalition strives to give our members a voice, along with valuable information on the constant change and growth in the Capital Region. Thank you for all your input this year!

We look forward to seeing you in 2021! Have a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.


Sincerely,

Larry Bankston

Executive Director

October 2020 Membership Luncheon

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STANDARD PLAN FOR GRINDER PUMP STATIONS

Dear Members,

Please see the message below from Richard Speer, PE Director City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge Department of Environmental Services.

The standard plan for the grinder pump station is now published on BR Projects website. Please see the link below. We will be adding the electrical and instrumentation standard plans for this pump station to the website throughout the day.

http://brprojects.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/805-18-Grinder-Pump-Station-Type-IA-1of2.pdf

This should provide a more cost effective approach to developing small tracts of land where a nearby gravity system can accept the flows. Please see information below.

  • This type of pump station would be allowed to discharge only into the gravity collection system.

  • It is applicable for developments with design capacities of 20 – 60 gpm. This will allow use in subdivisions with less than 50 typical single family homes (49 single family homes is 61 gpm based on our spreadsheet).

  • Minimum lot size for the station will be reduced to 30’ x 30’ for these grinder pump stations.

  • There will be a connection for a generator but not a permanent installation.

We have also revised http://brprojects.com/ to move some of the design resources, standard Specifications and standard details from the SSO Program page to http://brprojects.com/design-and-construction-resources/ (general resource page of Baton rouge Projects) to avoid confusion.

We are in the process of converting the SSO Program design requirements into DES design guidelines. These will be on the page referenced above.

If you have any comments please respond back to me via email.

UDC Chapter 16, Proposed Sign Changes

PROPOSED SIGN CHANGES ON NOVEMBER PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA

Dear Members,

Please see the message below from Ryan L. Holcomb, AICP, Interim Planning Director for the City-Parish Planning Commission.

Attached, please find a draft version of UDC Chapter 16, Signs for your review. This will be on the Planning Commission agenda in November. These changes are relatively minor and deal mainly with additional clarity that the permit office has requested.

Here is a summary of the proposed changes:

Licensing: 16.2.1.B.

There has always been confusion on if all sign contractors should be licensed, this is not specifically stated in UDC.

We changed “regulated” to “confirmed”. That would just require the permit office to check for licensing.

Setback:

Signs should have a 10’ setback under the general section of freestanding signs It is on the sign application at the permit office, but not in UDC under freestanding signs.

We added this to Section 16.5.5.

Clearances:

Signs (pylon, projecting, marquee, suspended, and awning signs) shall have a 7’6” clearance. This requirement was not in the pylon section.

We added this to the Pylon Sign graphic.

Temporary Signs:

Department of Development requested a timeframe be added for temporary signs.

We added a proposed “two-month” time

Wall Area:

We added new graphics, under Table 16.E.

Monument sign area:

We added a new subsection and graphics, Section 16.2.2. A.1e.

Please contact Ryan Holcomb with any questions or concerns.


Chapter 16 Signs

Protocol for the Planning Commission Meeting Monday, September 21, 2020

PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

Dear Members,

Please see the message below from Ryan L. Holcomb, AICP, Interim Planning Director for the City-Parish Planning Commission.

In anticipation of the Governor transitioning the State to phase 3, we have been working with Infomation Services to arrange for public comment in person at the upcoming Planning Commission meeting Monday, September 21, 2020. We will have members of the public socially distanced in the River Center Library with the meeting remaining in the Webex video-conference format as a “short-term” solution until both the public and Planning Commissioners are able to be in the same location.

Public comments will still be accepted online and read into the record during the meeting. 

Members of the public may submit public comment on an agenda item by sending an email to planning@brla.gov , submitted via the online form at https://www.brla.gov/pc or by leaving a message at 225-389-3144 (comments are limited to three minutes when read aloud) no later than 4:00 pm on Monday, September 21, 2020. In addition, public comment will be accepted in person at the River Center Branch Library, 4th floor, located at 250 North Blvd. All public comments will be properly identified and acknowledged during the meeting.

A Message From The City-Parish Planning Commission

Planning Commission Meeting On

Monday, July 20, 2020

Dear Members,

Please see the message below from Ryan L. Holcomb, AICP, Interim Planning Director for the City-Parish Planning Commission.

The Planning Commission meeting on Monday, July 20, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. will be held via video conference and in a manner that allows for observation and input by members of the public, as set forth:https://la-batonrouge.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07202020-793 posted on July 9, 2020. The meeting will be available for public viewing on www.brla.gov,on Metro21 (Cox Channel 21), AT&T U-verse (Channel 99), and on the City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge Facebook page (via Facebook Live). 

The agenda and case information can be found online here:https://labatonrouge.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07202020-793

Also, case information can be found within the LDAST Tool:http://ebrgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=3dbad2d4a51045f5895078cd5858ebce

Our staff notes can be found online here:https://la

batonrouge.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/3913/Notes-From-Staff-PDF

Public comments on any of the items on the agenda may be submitted via email to planning@brla.gov, submitted via the online public comment form:https://www.brla.gov/FormCenter/Planning-Commission-26/Planning-Commission-Public-Comment-Form-160, called into 225-389-3144, or sent by mail to: 1100 Laurel Street, Suite 104 Baton Rouge, LA 70802.

Pursuant to Section 4 of JBE 2020-30, the Planning Commission for the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge will only conduct essential government business, on July 20, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. via video conference. The items appearing on the agenda have been deemed essential for the continued conduct of business by City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge. Considering the foregoing, and in accordance with Proclamation Numbers JBE 2020-30 and JBE 2020-33.

Planning Commission Meeting On Monday, June 15, 2020

Dear Members,

Please see the message below from Ryan L. Holcomb, AICP, Interim Planning Director for the City-Parish Planning Commission.

The Planning Commission meeting on Monday, June 15, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. may be held via video conference and in a manner that allows for observation and input by members of the public, as set forth:https://labatonrouge.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06152020-770 posted on June 4, 2020. The meeting will be available for public viewing on www.brla.gov, on Metro21 (Cox Channel 21), AT&T U-verse (Channel 99), and on the City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge Facebook page (via Facebook Live). 

The agenda and case information can be found online here: https://labatonrouge.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06152020-770

And also case information can be found within the LDAST Tool: http://ebrgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=3dbad2d4a51045f5895078cd5858ebce

Public comments on any of the items on the agenda may be submitted via email to planning@brla.gov, submitted via the online public comment form: https://www.brla.gov/FormCenter/Planning-Commission-26/Planning-Commission-Public-Comment-Form-160, called into 225-389-3144, or sent by mail to: 1100 Laurel Street, Suite 104 Baton Rouge, LA 70802.

Pursuant to Section 4 of JBE 2020-30, the Planning Commission for the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge will only conduct essential government business, on June 15, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. via video conference. The items appearing on the agenda have been deemed essential for the continued conduct of business by City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge. Considering the foregoing, and in accordance with Proclamation Numbers JBE 2020-30 and JBE 2020-33.

Planning Commission Meeting On Monday, May 18, 2020

Dear Members,

Please see the message below from Ryan L. Holcomb, AICP, Interim Planning Director for the City-Parish Planning Commission

The Planning Commission meeting on Monday, May 18, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. may be held via video conference and in a manner that allows for observation and input by members of the public, as set forth: https://la-batonrouge.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05182020-766 posted on May 7, 2020. The meeting will be available for public viewing on www.brla.gov, on Metro21 (Cox Channel 21), AT&T U-verse (Channel 99) and on the City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge Facebook page (via Facebook Live). 

The agenda and case information can be found online here: https://la-batonrouge.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05182020-766

And also case information can be found within the LDAST Tool: http://ebrgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=3dbad2d4a51045f5895078cd5858ebce

Our staff notes can be found online here: https://la-batonrouge.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/3913/Notes-From-Staff-PDF

Public comments on any of the items on the agenda may be submitted via email to planning@brla.gov, submitted via the online public comment form:https://www.brla.gov/FormCenter/Planning-Commission-26/Planning-Commission-Public-Comment-Form-160, called into 225-389-3144, or sent by mail to: 1100 Laurel Street, Suite 104 Baton Rouge, LA 70802.

Pursuant to Section 4 of JBE 2020-30, the Planning Commission for the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge will only conduct essential government business, on May 18, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. via video conference. The items appearing on the agenda have been deemed essential for the continued conduct of business by City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge. Considering the foregoing, and in accordance with Proclamation Numbers JBE 2020-30 and JBE 2020-33.

Good Growth Awards 2020 Update

Dear Members,

Every other year, we look forward to the Good Growth Awards Gala, which recognizes and honors professionals in the development community and sharing their visions for the future that we’re building together in the Baton Rouge area. Given the growing concerns around COVID-19 and the capacity our event will be able to hold, we’ve made the difficult decision to postpone the Good Growth Awards until 2021. 

Plans are underway for speaker luncheon opportunities for our members. In the meantime, thank you for your patience and understanding -- and we look forward to seeing our Growth Coalition Members in the coming months.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our office @ office@growthcoalition.com 

Good Growth Awards Galla 10.28.21

Thank You to Our Growing List of Committed Sponsors for 2021!

Wampold Companies

Platinum Sponsor

Baton Rouge Business Report

Media Sponsors

The Preserve at Harveston

Gold Sponsor

NAI Latter & Blum

Centerpiece Sponsor

Silver Sponsors

Commercial Investment Division of the GBRAR, Compliance Envirosystems, 

Cook, Moore, Davenport & Associates, Dantin Bruce Development, 

Duplantis Design Group, PC, GraceHebert Architects, 

Long Farm Development, Momentum Commercial Real Estate,

Premier Geotech and Testing, Ritter Maher Architects

EAST BATON ROUGE CITY-PARISH BUILDING OFFICIAL UPDATE

Dear Members,

We received the below update from the East Baton Rouge City-Parish Building Official on new processes for utility connections and stormwater inspections.

For permits applied for today and in the future, it will automatically be set up the Permit Priorities. It will simply be an inspection request for Temp to Perm Electric or Temp to Perm Gas. All inspections through framing will have to be completed, and a final elevation certificate turned in to be able to schedule these inspections. The inspector will perform the appropriate inspection, and if it passes, it will automatically show up in a report for the Records Room so that the utility request can be processed. Once the utilities are connected, and the home is complete, then all the final inspections will take place. When the final inspections pass, a Certificate of Occupancy will be issued, and the utilities will become permanent at that time.

For permits that are already in process, we can follow the same procedure, but the applicant will have to call to request the inspection since it was not part of the original priority set. This still should be easier than the current TCI process. When the applicant calls, we will slide that inspection type into their permit priorities, and then the inspection can be scheduled by phone or online once this happens.

The Storm Water Inspection Process will also go “live” on all permits applied for after today. This will result in a predictable but effective inspection process. A stormwater site prep inspection will happen at the same time an in-ground plumbing inspection is scheduled. This will be two separate inspections occurring at the same time. The results are not dependent on each other. If the stormwater inspection fails, the inspector will have the ability to schedule a follow-up inspection and inform the contractor of the re-inspection date. There will be a second stormwater inspection (in progress) that takes place at the same time as the framing inspection, following the same procedure as the initial inspection. There will be a final stormwater inspection that takes place at the same time as the Final Building Inspection. We will not be able to issue a Certificate of Occupancy until the Final Storm Water inspection passes. This will allow us to properly enforce stormwater regulations without failing building code inspections or halting progress on the project. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please forward to our office. office@growthcoalition.com