St. Charles goes digital with zoning maps

Published 11:01 am Saturday, September 10, 2016

LULING — St. Charles Parish has gone digital with its zoning information.

Residents can view the current digital map by logging onto stcharlesparish-la.gov/planningandzoning and scrolling to “Official Zoning Map.”

The Department of Planning and Zoning adopted the digital zoning map of the Geographic Information System as the parish’s official zoning map this summer.

“The shift to a digital zoning map will provide more accurate information to residents and parish officials,” Planning and Zoning Director Michael Albert said.

“It allows the department to get information out to the public in a timely and modern format that can be accessed anywhere.”

The department previously used the St. Charles Parish Zoning District Maps and the St. Charles Parish Aerial Zoning District Maps to provide service to residents and businesses. Both are hard copy paper maps that were designated as the official zoning maps in 1983.

The new digital map was constructed by the GIS Office and adopted by the Planning and Zoning Department to provide for better accessibility, accuracy and clarity. It also provides easier maintenance as opposed to the multi-step process of updating paper maps, which deteriorate over time.