The Lafayette City Council denied a request to rezone a property to make way for a Roman-styled entertainment complex and also deferred a decision on a gas station planned for the corner of Dulles Drive and Foreman Drive.
The council on Tuesday rejected a request to rezone a property from commercial mixed use to commercial heavy for the 50,000-square-foot live music venue dubbed “The Colosseum” planned for the 800 block of Verot School Road. The request would have allowed the location to host large live music events.
The actual proposed building for the site can be built under its current zoning designation, said Tammy Luke, Lafayette Consolidated Government’s Community Development and Planning Department director.
The council received 37 calls and emails opposing the request. Two people spoke in opposition at Tuesday’s meeting.
“It looks like an empty plot of land that can be someone’s field of dreams, but the rezoning request goes too far,” Julie Gauthe said. “It asks for the heaviest level of commercial development for a small piece of land in the middle of neighborhoods. There’s really no capacity to handle a sudden surge in major traffic.”
The building would accommodate 3,600 people and require 331 parking spaces. If approved, it would offer live performances, several bars and a pool hall.
LCG’s planning and zoning department recommended that the council deny the request. Reports stated that it could be a “disruptive influence on the surrounding neighborhoods” and “not conducive to the relative quiet and peace expected in a neighborhood.”
Council members also deferred action on a conditional use permit necessary for a convenience store with gas sales proposed for the corner of Dulles and Foreman, which is currently home to the Corner Pantry.
The council received 14 calls opposing and a petition signed by 131 people in favor.
Speakers opposing the Grab-N-Geaux gas station raised concerns about increased traffic, safety and crime issues, pollution and impacts to property values.
Those in favor included the current Corner Pantry owner, Connie Dubose, as well as representatives of the prospective property owners and their attorney.
The Corner Pantry, which has been at 801 Foreman Drive for over 50 years, would be demolished as part of a plan to build a convenience store at the location.
They brought assurances that they would have no greater impact on traffic or crime and that modern gas stations use advanced safety features to prevent gas leaks.
Council members deferred a decision to facilitate a compromise and set conditions around the proposed location.
“We’ve heard a lot of good arguments tonight,” said Councilman Thomas Hooks, who proposed the deferral. “I’m just wondering if there needs to be more time to discuss what those concessions are and if we’re to put those into the conditional use permit.”
Councilman Andy Naquin said traffic will likely not increase because of the gas station and noted that traffic is already established in the area. He said he was concerned that denying the permit would leave the building abandoned.
“Personally, I am for this,” Naquin said.
It’s the third time in recent years city council members made decisions on whether or not to allow a convenience store with gas sales in a residential area. Plans at the former Flowers Etc. building and the former Chase Bank building — each on neighboring blocks — were denied by city officials in recent years.
The Flowers Etc. request initially got the OK from the city council but was vetoed by Mayor-President Monique Boulet. Planning officials with LCG recommended denying the request when it went before the zoning commission.
The Chase Bank gas station denial was appealed to the Louisiana Supreme Court, which denied the owner’s writ application, leaving the council’s decision as final.
LCG’s planning department received 10 calls from residents in opposition to the Foreman gas station. Staff indicated in their earlier report that they were reluctant to support the request, citing its proximity to single-family homes and schools.
The staff recommended including restrictions such as reduced nighttime lighting, limited hours of operation, a ban on outdoor speakers and noise limits. A convenience store without gas sales would be allowed by right.
“I would consider not making that an all-night operation,” Naquin said. “Nothing good happens after midnight.”
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