Larry Richard

Iberia Parish Government will have a new planning and zoning director soon following an extensive search, according to Iberia Parish President Larry Richard. 

“Next week Iberia Parish will have a new director at planning and zoning,” Richard said in this week’s Richard Report. “I am pleased with the results of our job search and want you to know that we are constantly working to bring quality and knowledgeable new employees to work alongside the talented employees we currently have in our organization.”

Sara Fawcett Gary will assume the role, replacing former director John Raines, who died in March. Richard said Gary comes with a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the workings of planning and zoning and government. 

Gary is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a bachelor of arts in political science, as well as a masters of public administration from LSU. The new director has experience in the public defender’s office and the Office of Public Health and Office of Disability Services, all while attending college. 

Richard said Gary began her career with Lafayette Consolidated Government in 2008, serving as a Planner II with the Planning and Zoning Department. In 2011, she was named development manager of the LCD Development and Planning Department. 

While serving as Development Manager she was instrumental in the creation of and adoption of the Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Code. Comprehensive Planning is a major part of the strategy moving Iberia Parish forward, Richard said.

“Her experience will provide Iberia Parish with a fresh perspective on a successful planning agenda for our parish and the need to coordinate the efforts of not only government agencies, but as a liaison to the development community,” Richard said. “I look forward to the integration of Sara into our staff and welcome the energy she will undoubtedly bring to our team.”

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The parish president also addressed state government’s recent capital outlay decisions and its effects on local government. 

“As you are all aware, the state legislature and governor are working to balance the state’s budget. Their decision making has a direct impact on all local governments, specifically as it relates to capital outlay projects,” Richard said.

“Capital outlay is the process which allows us to fund many projects that affect our ability to succeed. You may have read that the governor recently vetoed many capital outlay requests.”

Richard said two major projects, the access road for the Acadiana Regional Airport and Robert B. Green Veterans Building, were still on the way despite the vetoes 

“I’m very pleased that the Acadiana Regional Airport Access Road Project for approximately $4.3 million and the Robert B. Green Veterans Building for approximately $300,000 were not vetoed. We submitted 11 capital outlay requests and two requests were not vetoed. The two projects are very much needed projects for Iberia Parish.”

“My goal is to request for the capital outlay funds that I think Iberia Parish currently needs, with the realization that all may not be funded. When making capital outlay requests the administration and the legislative delegation discuss and prioritize our parish needs.

“I want to thank our legislative delegation for continuing to fight for our parish, and Gov. (John Bel) Edwards for recognizing the importance of these two projects and allowing them to move forward within the capital outlay process.”