ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / February 26, 2000

LAPLACE – It looks as if the controversy over phase 2 of Plantation Oaks subdivision is dead. For now at least.The St. John the Baptist Parish Council voted Tuesday not to give developerspreliminary approval to start phase two of the subdivision.

As in the other six times the issue has been raised at council meetings, the major sticking point has been drainage.

Residents who live in phase one of Plantation Oaks are opposed to any new construction until the parish improves the drainage on the west side of Louisiana Highway 54.

Resident and project critic Remy Amadee said, “It is totally irresponsible not to fix the drainage first.”Even though developers plan to build only 28 houses, some people are afraid any construction will worsen the flooding that is already in the area.

“There was no flooding before phase one,” said Amadee. “Put the people inand we had a problem.”That was disputed by another resident, Norman Volion.

“It has flooded back there as long as I can remember,” Volion said. “Theflooding isn’t that bad. We should give them preliminary approval.”The biggest obstacle to getting good drainage in the area is the Kansas City railroad track that runs east to west on the north side of Plantation Oaks and Garyville. The tracks block the flow of water into the swamps north ofthe tracks.

Developer Carl Monica insists the problem can be worked out.

“Kansas City is willing to help,” he told the council, “but the drainage problem has to be solved whether houses are built or not.”However, Parish President Nickie Monica said he talked to Kansas City, and even though the railroad company is sending an engineer to look at the problem, there was no commitment of funds.

“The project will cost $245,000,” said Monica, “and unless we get some sort of financial commitment from KC I cannot recommend this project.”Carl Monica said his company is willing to put up as much pro-rated funds as possible as long as others help out.

Councilman Allen St. Pierre, who came up with the original plan to alleviatedrainage in the area, is sure the money is there.

“I feel optimistic that KC will come through,” St. Pierre said. “Besides, theparish has always found money to fund other drainage projects.”St. Pierre made a motion the parish provide the funds to put up to threeculverts under the Kansas City tracks on the west side of La. 54 and useparish work crews to do the installation.

But Councilman Steve Lee warned that drainage and preliminary approval of the subdivision are two different issues and should not be tied together.

“I haven’t even seen an engineering report on the subdivision,” Lee said. “Howwill it affect drainage?” St. Pierre and Job Boucvalt said both the parish engineer and the engineersfor Shread-Kurkyndahl reported that the subdivision would have minimal impact on the area.

But Councilman Ranney Wilson wanted to know who would be impacted.

Parish engineer C.J. Savoie said 28 houses will not have an effect.Wilson then started a chicken-or-the-egg discussion.

“What comes first,” Wilson asked Savoie, “drainage or the houses? I’m worried about the impact on the new houses.”Savoie replied, “I don’t know until I see the plans, and for that the developers need preliminary approval from the council.”After more discussion on the legality of giving preliminary approval, Lee called for a question of the motion. The question was approved 8-1 withCleveland Farlough voting against it. St. Pierre’s motion died.St. Pierre than moved that the council vote on the original resolution 99-113and give preliminary approval to the developers.

However, some council members wanted to know if the culverts are stipulated in the preliminary approval is the parish responsible for the culverts.

Council attorney Charles Lorio said the parish would be responsible for putting in the culverts. However, he told the council the whole issue is reallymoot.

“The developers in the preliminary reports have to show that they can get the water out of the area,” Lorio told the council.

An exasperated Boucvalt put an end to the discussion.

“We are prolonging this,” he said. “This is not a good way to do business or torun government. Let’s vote on it.”Lee called for a roll call vote, and the motion for preliminary approval was defeated 7-2 with St. Pierre and Duaine Duffy voting for the resolution.The matter is finally put to rest as Carl Monica vowed, “I will not speak on this issue again after tonight.”

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