The comprehensive rezoning plan for Covington is reaching the final phases with a public hearing held Monday night on the text of the plan ordinance.

Councilman Lee Alexius said the city council hopes to have the text in hand at the beginning of November for review and will be considering the ordinance by December or January.

Russell Butz, representing the newly established tree board, addressed the hearing, stating that recommendations by the tree board of the landscape ordinance will be in the hands of Steve Vilavaso next week. Vilavaso is president of Vilavaso and Associates, the consulting firm that is helping the city do the rezoning plan.

Planned landscaping revisions include elimination of the tree classification “C” that allowed for trees little more than bushes and the list of “A” and “B” trees that should comprise 75 percent of the trees in new developments. In addition, no more than half of the trees should be from the same species in order to provide more variety.

Tree mitigation will be clarified, including the cutting down of trees in areas that are prohibited. When this occurs, trees have to be replanted or planted in a public area or a paid fine reflecting the replacement value of the tree cut.

Butz also said the ordinance needs to clarify whether a resident needs a permit to cut a tree anywhere on their property or whether a permit was needed only to cut in setback areas.

Butz said that no trees could be cut in a setback area. If a tree is diseased or dangerous and needs to be removed, it must be replaced.

Other topics covered in the text Monday included mixed use overlay plans and districts, the historic district, signage, planned use development overlay districts, flood prevention requirements, parking requirements, landscaping, outdoor lighting regulations, nonconforming uses, home occupations, several specific businesses such as truck stops and tattoo parlors and other businesses.

The sign ordinance originally proposed by the city council was incorporated into the comprehensive zoning ordinance and is addressed in detail, including matters such as obsolete signs and enforcement of the sign code.

The comprehensive zoning initiative began three years ago to help prevent spot zoning and plan for the city’s future.

In addition, the new ordinance will allow many smaller changes, detailed in the text, to be handled administratively by the office instead of going before the planning and zoning commission and/or the board of adjustments.

The proposed text clarifies many issues that have caused concern, including traffic studies and density problems that have added to infrastructure problems in the past.

The new ordinance details what is and is not required by each classification and the processes that are needed to adhere to the new ordinance.

Any changes imposed by the city council in adopting and/or implementing the plan will not affect anyone immediately. If a business is in a current zone that allows for mixed use and is rezoned residential, the business is grandfathered in and will be allowed to operate as usual, said Vilavaso and city Planning and Zoning Director Naketah Bagby earlier in the process.

Current land use will not be affected by the maps or ordinance since it would be grandfathered in and will continue to be allowed. However, if a use is discontinued, property will fall under the new ordinance.

“Zoning and land use follows the land, not the owners,” said Vilavaso in 2008. “Many of the changes will reflect a more appropriate renaming of what you already are in many neighborhoods.”

Currently, 60 percent of the city is residential.

The zoning ordinances and map have not been updated since 1968 and the new ordinance will provide a clear, concise rendering, negating the old ordinance that was in some areas, in conflict with one another.

Residents are urged to review the entire text available on the city’s Web site, www.cityofcovingtonla.com.