On Oct. 26 the Shreveport City Council passed a resolution encouraging the Shreveport Caddo Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) "to place a moratorium on the issuance of any occupational licenses and certificates of occupancy for liquor stores/retail sales of alcohol-liquor, other than renewals, for a period of six (6) months."
This MPC is a separate government agency not subject to review or supervision by the Shreveport city council.
Thus the suggested moratorium is just that - it is not a mandate.
Any moratorium should be approved by the MPC Board.
The current MPC Board will no long be empowered to act as of Jan. 1, 2022 when legislation sponsored by Louisiana state representative Danny McCormick becomes effective.
A new Shreveport Metropolitan Planning Commission ordinance may be enacted by the Shreveport city council and then a new board of Shreveport citizens appointed.
The MPC agenda for Wed. (Dec. 1) lists consideration of the council resolution.
Four of the current MPC board members were appointed by the Caddo Commission, four by the Shreveport city council and the last member was a joint commission-council appointment.
Any moratorium would only apply to the city of Shreveport, and not the current MPC jurisdiction of five miles in the parish adjacent to the city limits.
The resolution states that the city of Shreveport is "committed to undertaking a comprehensive review of its zoning and land use classifications and regulations in regard to liquor stores/retail sales of alcohol-liquor."
This review can be accomplished by the city council and/or the MPC staff WITHOUT a moratorium being in place since the council has the final approval of any new liquor/alcohol occupational licenses and certificates of occupancy.
The MPC staff does not need approval by the current MPC Board to undertake a review.
The current MPC board should not approve the moratorium that will be inherited by a new Shreveport planning board if and when one is approved by the Shreveport city council.