PART III. TACONY RESTORATION DISTRICT

§4709.11. Tacony Restoration District; creation; governing authority; powers; duties

A. There is hereby created a special municipal district, consisting of property owned by the town of Vidalia, hereinafter referred to as the "town", to be known as the Tacony Restoration District, hereinafter referred to as the "district". Such district shall be a body politic and corporate, shall be an instrumentality of the town of Vidalia, and shall not be construed to be a political subdivision of the state of Louisiana. The district shall be composed of all the territory described as follows:

A 14.68 acre tract, more or less, portion of Tacony Plantation, property of the town of Vidalia, Sections 34 and 35, T7N-R10E, Concordia Parish, Louisiana.

From the corner common to Sections 35, 36, and 41, T7N-R10E, Concordia Parish, Louisiana, go N 74°11' E for 5323.8 feet to the point of beginning, being the most southerly corner of a 31.40 acre tract, also being the southwest corner of a 4.44 acre tract and being on the northerly right-of-way of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, now abandoned.

Thence from said point of beginning, go along the easterly boundary of said 31.40 acre tract (Little Acres Subdivision) N 16°19' W for 881.37 feet and N 16°11' W for 591.48 feet to the land side toe of the Mississippi River Levee; thence go the following courses and distances along said land side toe of the Mississippi River Levee: N 87°49' E for 120.75 feet, N 89°54' E for 200.81 feet, N 83°37' E for 186.14 feet, S 76°52' E for 207.56 feet, S 75°54' E for 195.27 feet, S 38°59' E for 124.40 feet, and S 47°53' E for 35.65 feet to the edge of a gravel road; thence go along edge of said gravel road S 34°00' E for 254.62 feet; thence leaving the edge of said gravel road S 86°35' W for 337.00 feet; thence S 80°22' W for 200.00 feet; thence S 79°53' for 200.00 feet; thence S 80°05' W for 62.18 feet; thence S 16°19' E for 1033.80 feet to the northerly right-of-way of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, now abandoned; thence continue S 16°19' E for 58.86 feet to the center of said abandoned railroad; thence go along the center of said abandoned railroad N 74°28' W for 108.72 feet and N 69°52' W for 133.83 feet; thence leaving the center of said abandoned railroad; N 16°19' W for 62.16 feet to the point of beginning. Within described tract contains 14.68 acres, being a portion of Tacony Plantation, situated in Sections 34 and 35, T7N-R10E, Concordia Parish, Louisiana.

B. The primary purposes of the district shall be to provide for restoration and preservation of Tacony House located within the district and to protect and preserve the integrity and historical nature of the house and its grounds while also providing opportunities for the public and the citizens of Vidalia to enjoy a significant historical site near the area which eventually became the town of Vidalia. In accordance with the provisions of this Section and subject to the approval of the governing authority of the town, the governing authority of the district shall have and may exercise all powers necessary or convenient for the carrying out of such purposes, including control of restoration of Tacony House, preservation of the house and grounds, construction of any other buildings and usage of facilities in the district, and the negotiation of contracts with private entities for lease or conveyance of property within the district.

C.(1) In order to develop and effect the functions and services of the district and to provide for representation in the affairs of the district of those persons and interests immediately concerned with and affected by the purposes and development of the district, there is hereby created a board of commissioners for the district to be known as the "Tacony Restoration Authority" and hereinafter referred to as the "authority" or the "restoration authority".

(2) The authority shall consist of ten members who shall be appointed by the governing authority of the town. Of the initial appointments, three appointees shall serve two-year terms, three shall serve four-year terms, and four shall serve six-year terms as determined by lot. All subsequent terms shall be six years.

(3) Any vacancy which occurs prior to the expiration of a term shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by the governing authority of the town.

(4) As soon as practical after appointment of the members of the authority, the authority shall meet and elect from its number a chairman and such other officers as it may deem appropriate. It shall adopt rules for the transaction of business and shall keep a record of its resolutions, transactions, findings, and determinations, which record shall be a public record.

D.(1) The restoration authority shall prepare or cause to be prepared a plan or plans, hereinafter referred to as the "plan", specifying the layout and character of restoration, preservation, and development within the district. The plan shall include but not necessarily be limited to the following: the nature of any restoration of Tacony House including details on how such restoration will be consistent with appropriate historical architectural periods, guidelines for the general character of the external appearance of buildings and facilities within the district to whatever extent and detail the authority and the town may deem appropriate, and plans for preservation and restoration of Tacony House and preservation of the entire area included in the district, whether such plans are effected by the town of Vidalia or by subsequent owners of said property.

(2) In the development of the plan, the authority shall conduct such public hearings, publish such notice with respect thereto, and disseminate such information as the authority, in the exercise of its sound discretion, may deem appropriate or advisable and in the public interest.

(3) The authority shall submit the plan to the governing authority of the town. The board of aldermen may by a majority vote of its members adopt or reject the plan as originally submitted by the authority, or it may alter or modify the plan or any portion or detail thereof, but only by a majority vote of all its members. The plan as finally adopted by the governing authority of the town, including any amendments adopted as herein provided, may be implemented by the authority.

(4) The authority shall provide information to officials of departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of state and local government and to the public at large, in order to foster public awareness and understanding of the objectives of the plan, and in order to stimulate public interest and participation in the orderly, integrated development of the district.

(5) After the plan has been adopted, it may be altered or amended only by adoption of a resolution by the authority proposing the change and approval of the proposed change by the governing authority of the town.

E. Pursuant to the purposes for which it was created, the authority may:

(1) Accept and receive, in furtherance of its function, funds, grants, and services from the federal government or its agencies, from departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of state, parish, or municipal government, or from private or civic sources.

(2) Hold public hearings and sponsor public forums whenever it deems it necessary or useful in the execution of its other functions.

F.(1) The restoration authority shall have the authority to consider, negotiate for, and recommend to the governing authority of the town the lease or conveyance of all or any part of the property located in the district to any private person or entity who will undertake restoration and preservation of such property, any such transaction being hereinafter referred to as a "transfer". The restoration authority shall prepare a suitable and appropriate contract for any transfer it recommends to the town. In determining the consideration for any transfer, the authority may take into account the benefits for tourism in the area which may be generated by restoration and preservation of historical properties as well as the value of the lands, buildings, or other properties involved.

(2) The authority shall require as a provision of any contract for transfer of property that the restoration and preservation of the Tacony House and other property in the district by the contracting party or parties be consistent with the plan provided for in this Section.

(3) Prior to any such transfer, the authority shall give notice of its intention to recommend to the governing authority of the town the transfer of property in the district. A notice of intention shall be published once a week for two consecutive weeks, beginning at least fourteen days prior to the date a resolution recommending transfer is to be considered by the authority. Such notice of intention shall include all of the following:

(a) A general description of the proposed transfer.

(b) A description of the property to be transferred.

(c) The proposed consideration to be given in exchange for said property.

(d) A statement that the proposed contract is on file for public inspection in the Vidalia Town Hall.

(e) A statement as to the appraised value of such property as determined by a real estate appraisal made within the previous twelve months.

(f) A statement that anyone objecting to the proposed transfer may file a written objection to said transfer at the Vidalia Town Hall by a specified date, which date shall be five days after the date of the last publication of such notice.

(4) Anyone who objects to the proposed transfer may file a written objection to the transfer at the Vidalia Town Hall by not later than five days after the date of the last publication of the notice required by Paragraph (3) of this Subsection.

(5) Should more than five percent of the resident electors of the town timely object in writing to said proposed transaction, an election shall be held for the purpose of submitting the question of the transfer to the voters in accordance with Chapter 6-B of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950. The town governing authority shall call the election to be held on a date authorized by R.S. 18:402(F) and shall submit the ballot proposition to the secretary of state.

(6) If the number of resident electors who object to the transfer is not such that an election is required pursuant to Paragraph (5) of this Subsection or if the question of the transfer is approved by a majority of those voting on the proposition at an election held pursuant to said Paragraph, the authority shall adopt a resolution recommending the transfer and shall submit the resolution, the contract, and other relevant information to the governing authority of the town.

(7)(a) The governing authority of the town may then consider and adopt a resolution or ordinance authorizing the transfer. Such resolution or ordinance shall set forth, in a general way, the terms of the authorized transfer and include a statement that the contract is on file for public inspection in the Vidalia Town Hall. At its regularly scheduled meeting immediately prior to the meeting at which the resolution or ordinance will be considered, the governing authority of the town shall announce to those persons present that the resolution or ordinance will be considered at the next meeting.

(b) Such resolution or ordinance shall be published as soon as possible after adoption in one issue of the official journal of the town. For a period of thirty days from the date of publication of any such resolution or ordinance, any interested person may contest the legality of such resolution or ordinance or the validity of the authorized transfer, after which time no one shall have any cause of action to contest the legality of the transfer for any cause whatsoever, and it shall be conclusively presumed thereafter that every legal requirement has been complied with, and no court shall have authority to inquire into such matters after the lapse of said thirty days.

G.(1) For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Section, the town may remit and the restoration authority may receive such funds as the town may deem appropriate. All funds received by the authority shall be deposited in a special account within the town treasury and shall be subject to a yearly audit by an auditing firm selected by the governing authority of the town.

(2) The expenditures of the authority shall be in accordance with one of the following procedures:

(a) The amounts appropriated to the authority by the town shall be expended for purposes specified by the town. The expenditure of money received from other sources shall be approved by the governing authority of the town.

(b) The authority may adopt an annual budget which shall be subject to approval by the governing authority of the town. Such budget shall be adopted and amended in accordance with the Louisiana Local Government Budget Act, R.S. 39:1301 et seq. If such a budget is adopted and approved, expenditures of the authority shall be as provided therein, except that additional expenses may be authorized as provided in Subparagraph (a).

(3) If the town authorizes the use of money for such purpose, either pursuant to a budget of the authority or otherwise, the authority may:

(a) Appoint employees as it may deem necessary for its work, whose appointment, promotion, demotion, and removal shall be subject to the same provisions of law, including civil service regulations, as govern other corresponding employees of the town of Vidalia.

(b) Contract with planning experts, engineers, architects, and other consultants for such services as it may require.

(c) Reimburse authority members for actual expenses incurred in carrying out the official duties of the authority.

H.(1) Before the commencement of any work in the erection of any new building or in the alteration of, addition to, painting, repainting, or demolishing of any existing building within the district, the owner or lessor shall submit an application to the authority for a permit therefor. Such application shall be accompanied by the full plans and specifications thereof, so far as they relate to the proposed appearance, color, texture of materials, and architectural design of the exterior, including the front, sides, rear, and roof of such building, or alteration or addition of any outbuilding, party wall, courtyard, fence, or other dependency thereof.

(2) The authority shall upon due consideration report its recommendation regarding the issuance of a permit, including any recommendations for changes as in its judgment are reasonably necessary to comply with the provisions of the plan provided for in this Section, by sending them in writing to the governing authority of the town with the application and documents submitted. If the governing authority of the town finds that the proposed work complies reasonably with all regulations, ordinances, and laws of the town and with the plan provided for in this Section to the extent that the town shall deem necessary, the town may issue a permit for such work.

(3) No work as described in this Subsection shall begin within the district prior to such permit being obtained.

I. The authority may require approval of signage in the district and may adopt guidelines regulating the appearance, color, size, position, method of attachment, texture of materials, and design of signs in accordance with the character and overall design of the district. The authority may provide for the issuance of permits for signage and may require such a permit prior to the erection, placement, or alteration of any sign.

Acts 1997, No. 1327, §1.