State senate approves lakefront development bill

Published 4:13 pm Thursday, May 18, 2017

BATON ROUGE — The state Senate on Wednesday gave 36-0 approval to a bill that would authorize Lake Charles to call an election seeking voter approval of changes to the lakefront development plan that voters approved in 2007.

Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach said in February the legislation would allow the new mayor (Nic Hunter’s administration) to revisit the layout of the lakefront if it chooses.

Senate Bill 137, by Sen. Ronnie Johns, R-Sulphur, moves to the House. It would allow the city to develop lakefront land for residential, commercial and profit-oriented purposes consistent with what voters approve.

Development could include plans for marinas, accommodations, restaurants, housing and office space. The bill says developments might have to be elevated to comply with flood elevation requirements.

Roach said the plan approved in 2007 sought to apply a unified design throughout the lakefront, leading to Bord du Lac Marina, the Promenade and the downtown streetscape project.

The lakefront has four tracts of leasable property, and each has its own development limitations. Other areas are reserved for public space.

Limitations on Tract 4, the North Beach area, prompted the proposed bill, Roach said. He said in February that at least one developer has expressed an interest in Tracts 3 and 4.

City law limits Tract 4 development to commercial facilities that support public recreational use of the area. Roach said the bill would give the city a chance to change the requirement to allow for the interested party to develop the property without this limitation.

Tract 3 is the area around the Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau.