LAPLACE — A proposal that included a 1,000-unit housing/apartment complex on nearly 1,100 acres of land near Belle Terre Country Club was soundly rejected by the St. John the Baptist Parish Council this past Tuesday, overturning the Planning Commission’s decision that had previously approved the massive project.

The council’s unanimous vote was met with loud cheers of approval from the standing room only crowd that filled the new government complex, easily the most attended meeting since the building opened earlier this year.

“My first concern was drainage,” Councilman Marvin Perrilloux said. “I will not force this (on the people). As of now, I cannot support this like it is.”

An ordinance was introduced calling for the rezoning of approximately 1,070 acres bounded by Belle Terre Boulevard, the Vicknair Canal, St. Andrews Boulevard and approximately 3,000 feet of property north of Interstate 10. The Planned Unit Development (PUD) included a large apartment complex along with some residential housing.

Neighbors from the Belle Terre Country Club and St. Andrews area were vocal and consistent in their opposition, all echoing concerns that the parish’s poor drainage system, education system and frequent electrical outages would all be exacerbated by the development.

The potential of eroding property values was also cited.

Resident Debbie Schum said neighbors were not in favor of having 1,000 units in their backyard.

“We already have flood problems,” she said, questioning how the already taxed drainage system would be able to adequately drain even more water.

“I have grave concerns about this,” Schum said.

Daryl Floats, a member of the St. Andrews Home Owners Association Board, said his board and the boards of the Belle Terre HOA and the Links HOA are all against the proposal. He cited safety, drainage and density issues in his opposition.

Floats said he was first made aware of the proposed development on July 15 at the Planning Commission meeting. He said not only were the three HOAs in opposition, but every person he had spoken to were also opposed to the project.
“I have not heard anyone for it,” he said. “I think the council and the HOAs should have the same position.”

Thomas Roush said his concern is in “five to 10 years” the development would become government-funded housing.

“We’ll be fighting with young kids speeding down the streets and trying to break into our houses,” he said. “We are concerned. If you are wanting to do something, then let’s do it right.”

Connie Powell, a former member of the Planning Commission and a planning attorney in Jefferson Parish, said the commission erred in approving the project. She said a variance of such of magnitude has the potential of jeopardizing the entire master plan.

One resident said traffic in the parish is a nightmare, the beleaguered water system is a “laughing stock” and the education system is “terrible.”

“My trust in you is wavering,” she told council members.

Mike Hogstrom, owner of OnSite Design, which is the designer for the development, said he had requested the council to defer any action so he could meet with residents. He said a computer slide show detailing the project was prepared that would “hopefully” allowed the council to “make an informed decision.”

He said the rest of his design team was prepared to attend the meeting but they had been told the matter would be deferred.

Indeed, the administration had recommended deferral.

The crowd immediately responded that a slide show was unnecessary and repeated cries of “It’s time to vote” could be heard.

“I want to take action on this tonight,” council member Jaclyn Hotard-Gaudet said. “I don’t want to spend another two weeks talking about this.”

After some additional legal discussion on how to address the issue, the matter was voted down.

In other council action, the administration received approval to engage a law firm to secure property for the Haydel Canal Project, bringing a smile to the face of Perrilloux, who has spent the past eight years championing the levee project.

The project was besieged by a number of challenges as the parish attempted to acquire property to allow it to move forward. Some owners did not want to sell; other property owners could not be located.

Now, however, an elated Perrilloux said the parish has everything in place to move forward.  He said another survey must first be completed, which should be done by the end of the year, with construction to start in early 2020.

He said the estimated completion time once construction begins is six months.

“I am 100 percent the project will be (completed) by the start of the 2020 hurricane season,” Perrilloux said. “Those residents will have additional levee protection.”

He said the new levee will start near the Foxwood levee, go behind the New Era subdivision and end off of Airline Highway.

 

Richard Meek is a contributing writer to L’OBSERVATEUR.