By LEONARD GRAY

HAHNVILLE – Potential hazards of a railroad crossing to a subdivision lacking a second access dominated Tuesday’s meeting of the St. Charles Parish Council, where 15 residents and potential residents of Fashion Plantation Estates spoke at the meeting.

At issue is a currently private crossing dating back to the original Fashion Plantation, owned by Confederate Gen. Richard Taylor, which present developer Dr. Ray Matherne wants to make a public crossing.

That public crossing would connect the current first phase of the subdivision, now 70 percent completed, with the second phase, already 30 percent pre-sold. Eventually, Duhe Drive, which connects with the crossing, would extend all the way to Louisiana Highway 3127 and allow the construction of a third phase of homes.

Several residents of Phase One say they had no idea Duhe Drive would connect directly to La. 3127, permitting through traffic.

“If they go through with this, it’s going to be like Barton Avenue,” Vincent Biamonte, of 100 Duhe Drive, said.

Others pointed out problems with emergency services and safeguarding lives, potentially placing lives in jeopardy. In addition to the parade of upset neighbors, a petition bearing 54 signatures was presented to voice the residents’ opposition to the plans.

Matherne, however, said the process has been totally above board, that people have always been aware the crossing is there and all development steps have gone through public hearings without opposition.

“It was always the plan to come into phase two from River Road, and that’s still the plan,” Matherne said.

That does not satisfy the newer neighbors, who are only now finding out the public hearings are past.

“I will no longer have the peace and quiet I moved here for,” Victoria Giblin, of 109 Duhe Drive, commented.

Anna Hymel, of 107 Fashion Blvd., added, “I was specifically told phase two was going through (La. Highway) 3127.”

Also at issue was a letter mailed to the residents from Parish Councilman Desmond Hilaire which read: “If you will recall, the railroad had prior approval through the previous administration, planning and zoning and the parish council.”

That rubbed the current homeowners association president, Stephen Myers of 113 Duhe Drive, the wrong way, since he was not around during the previous administration.

“That’s what gets me,” he said.

His wife, Rose, shouted at Hilaire, “I’m very angry with you.”

On a side note, Hilaire purchased the vacant lot next door to the Myers.

Meanwhile, the matter of insurance for the crossing is the major concern of Matherne. At the council meeting, bowing to the residents’ concerns, the council tabled a vote on whether to rescind their earlier permission for the parish president to sign the agreement with Union Pacific Railroad for the insurance agreement.

Matherne has a pending Corps wetlands permit application for the extension of Duhe Drive to intersect with La. 3127, with a wetlands impact of 1.42 acres. He expects approval “any day now.”

Matherne said once the lots are sold, and the children are using the four-acre recreational park in the midst of the second phase, the concerns will be in the past.

“This is not going to be a through boulevard,” Matherne emphasized of Duhe Drive, and added it would be much more convenient to use nearby Interstate 310 for commuters.

Myers added, “What they did, they had the best intentions but they didn’t think it through. I’m not denying the economic importance and I don’t want to hurt Ray Matherne. We have really good neighbors and we’ve been really fortunate.”

But, he concluded, “If it goes through, we’re putting our house up for sale.”