The Baton Rouge City Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 20 approved a rezoning that will let an existing wedding venue at 10910 and 10920 South Haven Park Court serve alcohol on site.

The commission voted to change the property’s zoning from heavy commercial (C2) to commercial alcoholic beverage restaurant (CAB1). The applicant, who identified himself as Keith and Emery, told commissioners the rezoning request is intended to allow the venue to serve alcohol alongside meals, and that the business is already permitted to operate as a wedding venue under the current zoning.

The rezoning would permit on-premises alcohol sales only if the majority of the venue’s sales and receipts come from food rather than alcohol, a requirement the planning director and staff explained to the neighborhood and the applicant. Director Ryan Holcomb told the commission the Planning Office certified the request as consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and the Unified Development Code and that one pre-meeting comment of concern had been received.

Neighbors said noise and proximity to residences are the chief concerns. Deborah Cimino, speaking for the Sherwood Forest homeowners association, said the distance from the building to nearby houses is “less than 50 feet” and urged clarity about noise controls. The applicant said the courtyard is farther from houses — “about 100, I would say between a 125 feet or more” — and described mitigation measures including an eight-foot brick fence, additional landscaping and limits on hours. The applicant said most event activity would occur indoors.

Commissioners also noted that separate state permitting by the Alcoholic Beverage Control agency (ABC) is required before alcohol service could begin; Vice Chair McGrath observed that ongoing noise problems could affect an ABC permit even if the rezoning is approved. The record also reflects a community meeting organized with Councilman Cleve Dunn, which Director Holcomb said went “very constructive” and at which neighborhood questions and the single early comment of concern were discussed.

Commissioner Coleman moved to approve the rezoning; Commissioner Eller seconded. Seeing no objections, the commission approved the request.

The rezoning approval is limited to the zoning map change to CAB1 for the subject property and does not automatically grant any state liquor permit or change other regulatory requirements. Any required ABC permit or other operational permits would follow separate review and approval processes.