By LEONARD GRAY

HAHNVILLE – The two oft-delayed railroad crossings at Ashton Plantation Estates and behind the St. Charles Parish School Board central office in Luling were approved for starting expropriation procedures at Monday’s meeting of the St. Charles Parish Council.

The actions, though, came after much discussion and public concerns over a third crossing at Fashion Plantation Subdivision.

According to the ordinances, “The expropriation of said servitudes for a grade crossing is for a public purpose, namely economic development and for access to publicly-owned property.”

Parish attorney Bobby Raymond said the parish would buy the property at fair market value from Ashton and from Esperanza Land Company, and the servitudes from the railroad, at a price to be determined.

Several council members complained they were uncomfortable with paying anything, including court costs, for the servitudes, and Councilman Desmond Hilaire pushed through amendments to each ordinance to the effect that the respective developers would reimburse the parish for all costs.

“I couldn’t support either ordinance if we have to pay a penny,” said Councilman Barry Minnich.

Raymond said buying the property would be no problem and doubted the railroad would put up much fuss over the servitudes.

Both measures passed by 5-2 votes, with council members Dee Abadie and “Ram” Ramchandran voting against, and council members April Black and Terry Authement absent.

Abadie said she was completely uncomfortable with expropriation at all, and Ramchandran urged for tabling the matter for further negotiation, a motion which gained no support.

The sites involved are between Interstate 310 and the school board’s central office, planned for the Raymond K. Smith Middle School and for a possible parish multi-purpose center, and owned by Esperanza Land Company; and the planned Ashton subdivision development, where property has been donated for an elementary school and for parish recreation.

A road is already under construction by Esperanza intended to cross the Esperanza property.

No road is yet begun on the Ashton site.

According to Raymond, an estimated cost of the insurance for the two crossings was $75-100,000 per year, the agreement also placing all liability on the parish, including covering any fault or negligence by the railroad, in case of an accident.

Now, no insurance can be found at any cost, Raymond continued, leaving the parish with little choice but to pursue expropriation.

Meanwhile, several residents pushed for the council to stand by them and block efforts by Dr. Ray Matherne, developer of Fashion Plantation Estates, to build a rail crossing at Duhe Drive, a crossing that present residents vehemently oppose.

Matherne reported he has a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wetland permit for the extension of Duhe Drive, granted March 14, to intersect with Louisiana Highway 3127, with a wetlands impact of 1.42 acres.

This will allow him to approach his Phase Two development from that direction. Construction on that road should begin soon, he said.

Several residents said that with Matherne building that road, he would not need the crossing to access his property.