By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – When the St. Charles Parish Council meets on Monday night, there are sure to be lots of residents eagerly waiting to see the outcome of one proposed and highly controversial resolution.

The highly-debated motion would provide authorization to Pintail Contracting Services LLC on behalf of 310 Investments LLC to endorse the Planning and Zoning Commission approval of a Special Permit Use to locate a heliport on land zoned AV-1 at

Lot 3, Square 13, Esperanza Business Park at 579 Judge Edward Dufresne Parkway in Luling.

The zoning issue has drawn the ire from many Ashton Plantation residents, whose subdivision is located closely to the proposed area. Ashton Plantation home owners have expressed concern the heliport could decrease their home values.

The Council has received numerous letters about the resolution, in which parish residents seem split in their reception of the heliport.

One Norco resident wrote an email that stated, “there are many communities that put up with some inconveniences so that we can enjoy having one of the best school systems, a government that can provide most of our needs, and a sheriff department that has the resources to provide us protection…business and industries pay 85 percent of the taxes collected in our parish and without them we would not be the parish of plenty…I would like to go on record as being in full support of the zoning change to put a helicopter airport in Dufresne Park.”

On the other hand, many residents wrote to the parish about their concerns regarding the noise levels, pollution and increased traffic patterns the proposed heliport may bring.

One concerned resident wrote, “the location of this heliport will increase the frequency of low-flying air

traffic over the neighborhood and in the immediate surrounding areas, which include two schools, the new parish community center, the animal shelter and the sheriff’s headquarter.”

The St. Charles Parish Council will meet on Monday, Feb. 17, at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the courthouse located at 15045 Louisiana Highway 18 in Hanhville.