Mandeville Residents Oppose Historic District Proposal

Dozens of Mandeville residents turned out for a public hearing earlier this week to vent about a plan to create a historic district.

The Times-Picayune reports most expressed fears the district would lead to over-regulation of private property.

Members of the city's Planning and Zoning Commission assured residents the ordinance to create the district can be modified based on public input. Still, some said it represents increased government intervention in their lives.

Planning Director Louisette Kidd said the ordinance was introduced "to find out how restrictive we want it (the district) to be."

Under the plan, the City Council would establish the historic district for the Old Mandeville neighborhood.