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Louisiana Parish Approves Video Poker Moratorium

LOUISIANA – As reported by the Times Picayune: "The St. Bernard Parish Council on Tuesday approved a 180-day moratorium on new video poker truck stops, temporarily halting new permits for such businesses while officials try to tweak zoning laws to restrict their location in the future.

"Before the vote, the ordinance's author, council member Judy Hoffmeister, amended the measure to clearly state that two pending projects will be allowed to proceed during the moratorium. Developers of those projects have filed applications with the parish, one on May 26 and one on Monday, but neither has received a permit.

"Mike Hunnicutt, director of the parish Department of Community Development, has said the developer of the truck stop on St. Bernard Highway in Arabi, Charlie Bienvenu, filed an application in May to open another one on 25 to 30 acres owned by the Joseph and Arlene Meraux Charitable Foundation on Paris Road, and Chalmette developer Ed Colomb filed an application Monday to develop a truck stop on part of 33 acres of land about 800 feet east of the St. Bernard High School baseball field in the St. Bernard community.

"…Celeste and Kenneth Dufour of Violet spoke against the moratorium, saying that it hinders economic development. Celeste Dufour and her four siblings own the property being bought for the truck stop in the St. Bernard community…"

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