Understanding Life in Shelly's Homesites: A Neighborhood Within a 7-Square-Mile City

Shelly's Homesites 2025 Program: Enhancing Neighborhood Stability and Growth

Welcome to Shelly's Homesites, a community within the city of Denham Springs.

Shelly's Homesites, located within the city limits of Denham Springs, Louisiana, offers a unique perspective on life in a small city spanning just 7 square miles. While Denham Springs provides essential services to its 10,132 residents (2023 Census), Shelly's Homesites often finds itself overshadowed in the city's broader scope of governance and priorities. By examining the capabilities and constraints of this compact city, residents of Shelly's Homesites can better understand what to expect in terms of services and advocacy.

The Shelly's Homesites 2025 Program seeks to enhance neighborhood stability and foster growth within this residential subdivision. By focusing on long-term development and community well-being, the program is designed to strengthen the area's foundation and create a more sustainable and vibrant future for its residents.

We are a group of dedicated citizens committed to ensuring the long-term health and prosperity of our neighborhood. We work together to uphold community standards, ensure compliance with city ordinances, and support local businesses operating within Shelly's Homesites.

Property Rights

Landowner Liberties: Balancing Lawful Use and Government Regulation.

Safeguarding Property Rights: The Fifth Amendment in Action
The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the rights of private landowners, ensuring they can utilize their property for any lawful purpose. This constitutional safeguard prevents lawful activities from being suppressed or restricted based on another property owner's disapproval or subjective perceptions of nuisance, inconvenience, or provocation.

While the government possesses the authority to regulate land use for public welfare, individual property rights are shielded from arbitrary interference by neighboring landowners, municipal inspectors, or ordinance enforcement authorities.

Additional Constitutional Protections

• Due Process Clause Homeowners cannot be deprived of their property without due process of law, ensuring protections against arbitrary zoning changes or seizures.
• Equal Protection Clause Guarantees fair treatment in property taxation, zoning, and municipal regulations.
• Right to Privacy Protects homeowners from unreasonable government intrusion into their private space.
• Freedom of Association Allows lawful gatherings within personal residences.

Neighborhood Goals

Our goal is to enhance stability and promote growth within Shelly's Homesites. The Shelly's Homesites 2025 Agenda focuses on fostering a thriving and sustainable community that aligns with the city's vision for progress and development.

We advocate for:

• Balanced government regulation that does not suppress lawful activities.
• Neighborhood advocacy ensuring Shelly's Homesites has equal recognition in city governance.
• Better enforcement of municipal codes so all residents receive fair treatment.

Local Initiatives and City Governance

Denham Springs operates under a mayor and city council form of government. The five-member council oversees policies, ordinances, and legislative duties, while the mayor manages daily operations and appoints department heads.

Shelly's Homesites residents can advocate for stronger enforcement of ordinances that directly impact their community. This includes municipal code enforcement and business licensing oversight to ensure fair application of the law:

• Municipal Code Enforcement: Addressing property maintenance, zoning compliance, and servitude regulations.
• Business Licensing Oversight: Ensuring businesses operating in Shelly’s Homesites comply with permits, zoning, and safety laws.
• Infrastructure Maintenance: Reporting neglected drainage systems, street obstructions, and servitude clearance issues.

By engaging with city officials and utilizing tools like Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests Shelly's Homesites residents can hold departments accountable.

Leadership Team and Ordinance Accountability

City Government Officials

• Mayor: Gerard Landry
• City Council Members: Robert Poole, Lori Lamm-Williams, Amber Dugas, Jim Gilbert, Jeff Wesley

Planning and Zoning Commission

• Chairman: Fred Banks
• Vice-Chairman: Bill Lawson
• Commissioners: Denver Ballard, John Cavalier, Gayle McLavy, Ray Riley, Chris Whitmire

Relevant Department Heads

• Animal Control: Boutwell, Rachel
• Business License: Cook, Ira
• City Attorney: Hulett, Stephanie
• City Clerk: Anderson, Buffy
• Building Official: Foster, Rick
• Engineers: NONE
• Financial: Hood, Michelle
• Fire Dept. Chief: Stafford, Richard
• Gas Dept.: Dugas, Darrell
• Grants: Jennings, Donna
• Ordinance Enforcement: Stephen Davidson
• Planning and Zoning: Banks, Fred
• Police Chief: Walker, Rodney
• Purchasing: Harris, Dana
• Street Dept.: Lathers, George
• Treasurer: Hood, Michelle
• Wastewater: Clark, B.J.
• Water Dept.: Harris, Ben

Strengthening communication with city leaders ensures Shelly's Homesites remains an integral part of Denham Springs' governance. While Shelly’s Homesites is part of the city, residents must actively advocate for equal representation, enforcement, and development to preserve the neighborhood’s integrity.