[0:03] Welcome. Welcome, everyone. This is the st. Charles parish planning board of commissioners
Meeting for august 7th,
[0:09] 2025. If you please silence all devices for the duration of the proceeding.
[0:14] at this time, we'll stand for a moment of silence,
Followed by the pledge of allegiance.
[0:37] allegiance] so thanks for everyone
[0:46] in attendance. We do have a large audience. Just to remind everyone,
If you're not familiar with the procedures if you do come up and provide public comment
[0:54] when the public hearing is open, you will have three minutes. And you have one chance to speak, so you cannot approach the podium.
[1:03] if you are planning to speak for more than one person,
Just let us know beforehand and we will give you a bit more time.
[1:09] also, we do have one commissioner in absence. It does take four yays for each item to pass.
[1:18] first on the agenda we have 2025-6-hop. Requested by karen liakos for home occupation.
[1:25] blooms of norco, 500 barreca street. Council district 6.
[1:30] this request comes before the planning commission due to requiring a floral dealer
License,
[1:35] which blooms of norco does possess. The applicant states the business will be delivery
Based and customers will not visit the residence.
[1:42] no complaints or violations are on file and no code violations were apparent during a site
Visit.
[1:47] the department recommends approval. Thank you. And is the applicant present, do you wish to add anything?
[1:54] no. Thank you. At this time, we're going to open the public hearing for 2025-6-hop.
[2:01] anyone with questions, comments, or would like to speak either for or against if you'd
Please approach the podium.
[2:16] and if you'd please state your name and address for the record,
Please. My name is chelsea duplantis. I live at 510 barreca street,
Norco, louisiana.
[2:26] I'm their neighbor. I know y'all said that. They said it's delivery based and all that.
[2:31] I just want to make sure that that is, it is delivery based because I have concerns about
The parking situation.
[2:38] our street is narrow, and they already have a lot of cars parked on our street.
[2:43] I also have two little girls. Sorry. I'm nervous. That's okay. I also have two little girls that like to play outside in our yard.
[2:50] so, like I have, you know, worry about excess traffic.
[2:54] more people in the area. We also have a bus that comes down the street twice a day to pick
Them up.
[3:01] and it already has trouble coming up and down the street with all the cars parked.
[3:05] you know, at their household. So I was just concerned about the the excess traffic in the
Parking situation.
[3:11] yeah, and it shouldn't be. So it's delivery based business from her residents to
Customers.
[3:17] there are no customers that would be visiting the residents. Right. So shouldn't have any traffic. This is a home occupation permit.
[3:24] so if that were to start happening outside of the permit,
There are ways that planning and zoning can address that and withdraw the home occupation.
[3:31] okay. So if I have any further concerns, I can address it with planning and zoning. Yes. Okay. All right. Thank y'all. Thank you.
[3:40] anyone else? Yes. If you please approach the podium.
[3:51] and if you can, please state your name and address for the record,
Please. My name is carol patterson.
[3:56] I live at 811 5th street. I'm on the corner of fifth and barreca.
[4:02] I live directly across the street from 500 barreca.
[4:07] okay. Okay. I've lived there for over 30 years on my home and mental resident there for
Over 30 years.
[4:17] first of all, when I got the letter, it states in the letter that they are,
That she is a property owner.
[4:25] and to the best of my knowledge, it's a rental property. It's not a homeowner property. That would be the first point I'd like to make.
[4:35] I would think that would make a huge difference in whether you get a permit to be in a
Neighborhood.
[4:41] and secondly again, to the best of my knowledge,
We are zoned as a residential area, not
[4:51] a commercial area. And once you allow one business in,
Then other businesses are going to be able to come in as well.
[5:00] and I'm opposed to that because we have a lot of congestion in our neighborhood,
Especially during school season,
[5:08] with school busses, children being in the street. And as my neighbor across the way stated long ago,
We have children that play out and we don't want to be worried about people,
[5:20] you know, parking and cars coming, delivery trucks or whatever it is.
[5:25] I'm not sure exactly what they're going to do other than open a business. If you have flowers, you've got to have somebody come in.
[5:32] so there's going to be people in and out from time to time,
And they already park on our property side.
[5:40] my concern is safety issues, not only for my property,
But other people's property as well,
[5:46] because when they're getting out, if they have an accident on my property,
Then I'm liable for that.
[5:52] and so I know that they're going to part because they already do.
[5:56] and so that's, they, those are my issues as a safety issue.
[6:02] and also the fact that we are zoned to be a residential area and not a commercial area,
And I'm opposed to a business coming in,
[6:11] even if it is in-house, because when that happens,
Then it opens the door for other businesses.
[6:17] thank you for hearing me and I am opposed to it. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? This is the public hearing for 2020
[6:30] 5-6 shop. Okay. At this time, we'll close the public hearing.
[6:38] applicant. Since you're here, anything you want to add?
[6:43] if you do, you need to if you wouldn't mind approaching the podium.
[6:57] yeah. We're recording, so we need to catch you on the mic. So if you state your name and
Address for the record, please. That's okay. I'm karen liakos and I live at 500 barreca
[7:04] street, and I own blooms of norco, which was currently on 31 apple.
[7:10] I did want to downsize to a home base because I do deliveries only most.
[7:15] I mean, 70% of my business is wire orders, so I don't really have.
[7:21] and so for me, it's just better to work from home and have no.
[7:25] it'll be deliveries only. And as far as like flowers being picked up,
I go and I will personally go to wherever I need to go to pick up my flowers and bring
[7:33] them back. There will be no traffic except for my vehicle. Okay. Thank you. Any questions for miss karen from commissioners?
[7:46] at this point, do I have a motion to consider 2025-6-hop.
[7:53] motion by mr. Price. Second by mrs. Ross.
[8:09] and that passes unanimously. Next on the agenda we have 2025-11-min.
[8:16] requested by cyril & gina favaloro for subdivision of one lot into two,
113 verdin lane, paradis.
[8:24] zoning district r-1a(m). Council district 4. The applicant request for subdivision of lot
X into two lots x1 and x2.
[8:33] both lots meet the minimum 5000 square foot area and 50 foot width required under r-1a(m)
Zoning.
[8:39] improvements shown on proposed plot x1 would also meet required setbacks.
[8:45] geometric standards are not met. Specifically item iii.b.3. Arrangement, which states. All laws shall possess frontage on a street or roadway that
Meets the specifications of these regulations.
[8:55] lot x is currently landlocked, a result of the 2006 subdivision.
[9:00] by subdividing lot x further into lots x1 and x2,
An additional landlocked lot is created,
[9:07] increasing the extent of the existing deficiency. Verdin lane is used for access to lot x from wisner street,
An arrangement established with the 2006 resubdivision,
[9:18] but verdin lane is a private drive and cannot be considered a street or roadway that meets
The specifications of the subdivision regulations.
[9:25] it cannot be considered legal frontage and does not allow for the arrangement requirement
To be met. The applicant submitted a request for a waiver from the arrangement
[9:32] requirement. The department cannot support the waiver and endorse the creation of an
Additional landlocked lot.
[9:37] lot x, along with the adjacent lots w and y,
Are under common ownership, allowing for the possibility to reconfigure the existing
[9:44] arrangement and create multiple lots with legitimate street frontage. Department recommends denial. Thank you. Is the applicant present?
[9:54] you wish to speak? Oh, no. I'm just trying to separate it.
[10:03] if you would please approach the podium. Sorry.
[10:14] gena giles. Well, that's favaloro. That was my married name.
[10:19] oh, verdin lane's a like a dirt road. I also,
We own 123 verdin lane, which is at the end of that dirt road.
[10:27] I'm just trying to separate 113 verdin lane,
Where she has her trailer on one side of the gravel road,
[10:35] and then the big piece of property on the other side of the gravel road. It's really not landlocked because I had to give the okay for 123 verdin lane to have
Access to that property
[10:48] at all times. Even though it's a private drive,
None of it's really landlocked because the street runs from wisner all the
[10:58] way down verdin lane. And that's 105 verdin lane,
113 verdin lane, and then 123 verdin lane.
[11:08] so I'm just trying to let her have her piece of property where her trailer is at to where
She has her own piece of property.
[11:18] and then I still have my big piece across the street.
[11:22] and then I also, we still have 105 verdin lane and then 123.
[11:29] so I don't see where it's landlocked. So you do own 105 and 123.
[11:38] okay. Thank you. At this time. I'm going to open the public hearing for 2025-11-
[11:48] min. Anyone here with questions, comments are here to speak either for or against?
[11:54] if you please, approach the podium. Seeing none will close the public hearing for
2025-11-min.
[12:04] any questions from commissioners? No, no. I'm sorry,
You had.
[12:15] that's not the subdivision. No, this is this is. Not yet. No, this is a different item. Any questions from commissioners for
[12:28] mrs. Favaloro? Yep. Is verdin lane. Mic, mic down?
[12:38] yeah. There you go. Verdin lane, do they may,
Do we have to make that a designated street in order for that not to be considered
[12:47] mic]. Yes, it would have to become a public street for it to have frontage with our code.
[12:58] is it designated then? It's a private lane. Yes.
[13:03] they want to sell one of them. They have to no longer have access,
Correct?
[13:08] since this is a private land. They're dealing with access easements throughout there,
You know,
[13:15] the technicality and the code is it requires frontage on a public street,
Not a private access lane.
[13:33] hey, do I have any further questions? You have a motion to consider 2025-11-min.
[13:39] so moved. Second. Frangella, price.
[13:56] and that motion fails. With everyone voting nay unanimously.
[14:04] next on the agenda, we have 2025-5-spu requested by.
[14:10] sorry. No, it's a resubdivision. Only if it's approved.
[14:18] yeah. So that does not go forward to the council.
[14:22] next on the agenda we have 2025-5-spu requested by deborah dufresne vial for r-1a use in a
C-3 zoning district on lot b-2c,
[14:32] esperanza plantation, adjacent to 13979 river road in luling.
[14:37] council district one. As mentioned, the applicant proposes a single family home on lot
B-2c zoned c-3,
[14:44] a single family home may be permitted only when reviewed and approved as a special permit
Use.
[14:50] the request meets the majority of the evaluation criteria. It does not comply with the future land use designation,
But it meets all other criteria evaluating for compatibility with the surrounding area.
[15:01] the plans show that setback and parking requirements can be met if approved.
[15:05] permitting must occur within 12 months. You'll also see on your desks that they have a
Concern that was brought to our attention today concerning some
[15:15] drainage up by the river road at the front of the proposed site of this single family
Home.
[15:21] if y'all would like to review that, but the department recommends approval.
[15:27] thank you. Is the applicant present and wish to speak?
[15:45] good evening. Deborah dufresne vial, 13979 river road.
[15:49] thank you. The request for rezoning is for a residence,
As we, you know, stated in our
[15:59] application. The business park has commercial developments from jackie bee drive going
Toward
[16:09] our houses. It transitions, I guess, from commercial to residential.
[16:16] when bso built the yellow plantation looking building,
That's actually a lease that we have,
[16:25] we every we got I don't know how many letters in the mail from all the different lots
Around the.
[16:33] but we own all the property adjacent. And like I said,
You're transitioning from dufresne business park,
[16:40] which is m1 light industrial to residential all along river road right there.
[16:48] and we just would like to request your approval for that. And as far as the drainage, the drainage ditch,
I think in the, the memo written, I don't know if it was from
[17:02] planning or what, but they there is a drainage ditch that's maintained by us that goes
From river road
[17:12] to the railroad. And hopefully one day they'll get the culvert straight on the railroad,
By our house,
[17:21] as well as everywhere else in the parish. That seems to be a hang up for water to get
Through.
[17:27] but there is water in the ditch right now because we just poured the driveway.
[17:32] yeah. And that's. That's the picture. Have you seen this? I think it's blocked. Is it blocked because the cement is being poured or.
[17:39] yes, they poured the cement and we called the contractor again today to still to please
Come.
[17:44] it's cured. The cement is good. Thank you. Okay.
[17:49] thank you. Thanks. At this time, we're going to open the public hearing for 2025-5-sbu.
[17:57] anyone with comments, questions or here to speak either for or against,
If you please, approach the podium.
[18:06] seeing none, we'll close the public hearing for 2025-5-sbu. Any final questions for miss dufresne from commissioners?
[18:16] do I have a motion to consider. 2025-5-sbu. Mr.
[18:20] folse. Second. Second by ross.
[18:34] and that passes unanimously. Next on the agenda we have 2025-5-r
[18:43] requested by jeffrey vicknair for a change of zoning from c-1 to c-3 on the remainder of
Lot 9,
[18:50] square 9, good hope subdivision block e, 435 apple street,
Norco.
[18:54] council district 6. Thank you, mr. Chairman. The applicant is requesting a change from c-1
To c-3 for the purpose of an hvac shop.
[19:04] the department found that the request did not meet any of the three criteria,
And as such,
[19:09] recommended denial. Thank you. Thank you. Is the applicant present?
[19:16] you wish to speak at anything. If you please approach the podium.
[19:25] if you state your name and address for the record,
Please. Jeffrey joseph vicknair, 180 evangeline road,
Montz, louisiana.
[19:33] guys, I bought a piece of property on apple street for 35. It was already commercially zoned. In order to open my business,
Hvac business.
[19:43] so there is an office space there already that's commercially zoned.
[19:48] in the future, I'm looking to put a little storage facility behind the building.
[19:53] the only reason I'm getting it rezoned is because I called the parish,
And they said I had to rezone it to open hvac business.
[20:01] I was calling to get the size of a sign I could put up in front of the building. I did not know when I purchased the property.
[20:08] it had to be a c-3 for an hvac company, so that's the reason I'm trying to rezone it.
[20:13] c-1 would be fine with me if I could run my business out of it. Got with all the neighbors. I got some signature signs saying they would have no issues
With me putting the building up to parish codes behind them,
[20:24] behind the shop, behind the office space. It was commercially zoned before.
[20:32] and I don't see an issue with it. But if y'all do have one,
I'd like to know why a c-1 is not good and has to be
[20:42] a c-3 because I don't understand it. Thank you. Thank you. This time, we're going to open the public hearing for 2025-5-r.
[20:54] all my neighbors. Submitted to the commission? Yes, please. Thank you marny. Public hearing for 2025-5-r.
[21:05] anyone with questions or comments or would like to speak either for or against? If you'd
Please approach the podium. This time we'll close the
[21:14] public hearing for 2025-5-r. Any comments questions from commissioners?
[21:21] I guess, you know, I have no real problem with it.
[21:26] the issue is, if your business goes well, you get bigger and you move out and you change
It to c-3.
[21:33] it's all the list of everything else that can go there. You know, I know, you know, I mean, it's just the fact that the,
You know, the air conditioning has everything about you.
[21:43] okay. But if you think about it, there's a and. So that's the only concern you have when you know that
[21:58] where. It might not mean that, but I'm not going anywhere. If you're going to speak,
You need to come back up if you want to. Any further questions from mr.
[22:07] vicknair? Go ahead. Michael. Just to add in,
To answer the question, hvac repair and service is a specific c-3 use.
[22:15] it's not listed in c-1, it's just in c-3. The only other alternative would be to go to c-2
With a special permit use for it.
[22:23] so even if this fails, there is another path to go forward with an approval.
[22:32] any final questions from commissioners? Do I have a motion to consider 2020?
[22:38] go ahead, mr. Price. I would ask the applicant,
Knowing what michael just stated.
[22:44] excuse me. Would you be willing to right now,
Just say that you would rather go with the c-2 the special permit use.
[22:51] yes, sir. We would still have to take that application and process it.
[22:58] okay. So he could start that application in the time being because regardless of whether
You all vote for approval or denial,
[23:05] it still goes to the parish council for final decision.
[23:10] unless you would like to withdraw it and resubmit it with c-2 with a special use permit.
[23:18] that's up to you. Yes, sir. I mean, that's that's fine.
[23:22] I was just told I had to have a c-3. That's the only way. That's the only reason I'm here. The c-2, well,
It's not guaranteed to pass.
[23:30] the c-2 option does put more restriction on it. That means if you were to sell it and someone were to change the business,
They would have to come back for a special use permit.
[23:38] so they couldn't put c-3 uses in that building anymore,
Right? So when if you if you were to granted c2 zoning,
You would ask for a special use just for that hvac business where you would come with
[23:50] sizes and criteria, and then we would make the decision based on that,
Right.
[23:55] and it would only pertain to that specific use. Okay. So as a c-1, I cannot use that that building for office space?
[24:04] you can use it for office space. It is already commercially zoned. You can use it for office space. But if you look at the code there are certain list of
Businesses,
[24:12] types of businesses you can have in c-1, c-2,
And c-3.
[24:17] hvac because of the sheet metal and the equipment and forklifts,
And.
[24:21] unfortunately, I'm not going to have all that,
But I understand. And, but that's why it falls in that c3 category,
[24:27] which also increases requirements for access to a commercial highway,
Things like that.
[24:31] could I ask what bird signs is right next door to me,
With all their forklifts and everything else right next door?
[24:38] it can't be. Let's see. So there is c-1 next,
You're talking about on the
[24:48] left side? Yes sir. Stan, it's on c-1 as well. So they have forklifts and big buildings and all that c-1.
[24:54] so the building and there's no forklift restriction on c-1,
The buildings. It depends on what type of business it is. But hvac plumbers I think are specifically
Listed in c-3,
[25:05] correct? And if you were just running your office out of the building now,
You could do that.
[25:09] if there was no equipment and nothing else coming out of it. Yeah. I mean, that's it's also saying that's about it.
[25:16] no, it'll have to be that. That would be it. Not just about like no equipment,
No servicing,
[25:21] no bringing parts back to until the zones, zonning is change. Maybe I'll do to c-2 because I would like to put a little 14 by 14 shed in the back.
[25:30] okay. Why don't we have you talk with one of my staff members tomorrow and we'll see about
Getting that set up.
[25:35] all right. Thank you. Thank you, mr. Vicknair. I have a motion to withdraw. 2025-5-r. I motion.
[25:42] motion by mr. Price. Second. Second by mr. Ross.
[25:59] and that passes. Thank you, mr. Vicknair, for considering some options.
[26:09] next on the agenda we have 2025-1-maj requested by j.
[26:13] breaux enterprises for a preliminary plat approval of rivermist,
A new residential subdivision off river road in saint rose adjacent to dianne place
[26:22] subdivision. Zoning district is r-1a. Council district 5.
[26:26] thank you, mr. Chairman. This application is for rivermist subdivision.
[26:31] it proposes 109 new residential lots with ten common area lots,
Two new rights of way and one right of way extension.
[26:39] 20 foot private drainage servitude within each block,
A detention pond at the rear of the subdivision between block e and the railroad tracks,
[26:47] and a sewer lift station within block e between gentle showers street and the detention
Pond.
[26:52] there is a phasing plan in place for the subdivision,
With phase 1 being lots one through 60 and the detention pond,
[27:00] the sewer lift station, and phase 2 being lots.
[27:04] well, the remainder 49 lots up to the 109. The following items have to be
[27:14] submitted in order for the application to be reviewed by the planning commission,
Inclusive of a preliminary plat,
[27:19] drainage and impact analysis and traffic impact analysis. The required reports and responses are in your packet tonight.
[27:27] in addition, the department of water or wastewater has reviewed this sewer evaluation
Report.
[27:34] you have comments on that in your packet. The plat is deficient in two ways.
[27:39] it is specifically lacking or has block length in excess of 1500 feet.
[27:46] and it has a lot to the north of the track that is landlocked.
[27:52] both of those items require a waiver to be heard by the commission and council.
[27:59] the application in its current form meets the requirements of the major subdivision
Process.
[28:04] thank you. Thank you. Is the applicant present? Do you wish to speak? Please state your name and address for the record,
Please.
[28:17] good evening. My name is greg bloss with duplantis design group.
[28:21] address is 1308 camellia boulevard, lafayette,
Louisiana, 70508.
[28:28] I'm the civil engineer for the project, and I'd be happy to answer any questions that you
Guys have.
[28:33] thank you. Thank you. Any questions at this point from commissioners?
[28:39] thank you. At this point, we're going to open the public hearing for 2025-1-maj.
[28:46] anyone here with comments, questions or are willing to speak either forward?
[28:51] all of us. If we could please keep the audience chatter down.
[28:55] and if you'd please approach the podium. Again,
Three minutes per individual.
[28:59] if you're speaking for more than one person,
Just let us know. We'll give you a bit more time. But thank you.
[29:05] name and address, please. My name is cynthia costello. I live at 230 dianne drive in saint rose, louisiana.
[29:13] I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak tonight. I'm a current
Resident,
[29:18] president of the dianne place civic association,
And many of our residents have come to me with concerns about the proposed new rivermist
[29:26] subdivision in saint rose. It is my understanding that the proposed subdivision plan,
To be built between janet drive and the cemetery and saint rose off
[29:36] of river road. I believe I read that phase 1 subdivision,
Will have, the subdivision will have 109 homes in
[29:46] it, and plans to cut through gene drive as an additional exit access to the new
Subdivision.
[29:53] I'm 100% opposed to building this new proposed subdivision. I do not believe that the parish can handle the flooding that we are already dealing with
In many of the subdivisions in saint rose,
[30:03] including dianne place subdivision. Our residents have suffered flooding many,
Many, many times in the 38 years that I have lived in dianne place.
[30:12] I also learned that because of the limited parish capacity,
Rivermist will utilize a private treatment facility.
[30:21] that right there tells me that the parish can't handle more capacity,
And we shouldn't even consider building more subdivisions until we can.
[30:28] another question I have regarding the hoa running the sewer treatment facility is,
Will the hoa be required to have a financial reserve to
[30:38] guarantee maintenance of the sewer treatment of that plant? And if not, what guarantees will there be that the hoa will live up to their
Responsibilities?
[30:47] will there be a person in the hoa that has knowledge on even how to maintain and what's
Required?
[30:55] so many questions. Because of the limited parish capacity,
The rivermist subdivision hoa will be responsible for maintaining their own site sewer
[31:05] treatment plant. How does that work? If the hoa doesn't have the funds.
[31:10] who's in charge of making sure it's properly maintained?
[31:15] how will that sewage treatment plant impact the residents of dianne place subdivision?
[31:19] will there be odors from it? If I read the plants correctly,
It will be built along the backyards of homes on the end of janet.
[31:28] will the placement adversely affect their property values? I would want to purchase. I wouldn't want to purchase a home next to a sewage treatment
Plant.
[31:36] another concern I have is rainwater runoff from rivermist subdivision.
[31:42] will it be pumped? How will it be pumped out into where? Will this new subdivision will utilize the same drainage ponds,
Areas and equipment used by dianne place?
[31:53] if that's the plan, we're in trouble. I'm very concerned that building the new subdivision
In an area already prone to flooding,
[32:01] even in a hard rain, can cause increased flood risk to dianne place residents.
[32:07] as we've seen, when they build new subdivisions in our area,
They're already having great great flooding insurance,
[32:15] great flooding issues, the strain on the drainage system which turns into flooding homes.
[32:22] it's not that I oppose growth in our parish,
But we need to be able to have the infrastructure in place to maintain that growth.
[32:30] and I see the proposed river subdivision as a disaster waiting to happen to saint rose.
[32:36] I would like to see the drainage upgrades needed in saint rose to be able to handle these
Issues we're having currently,
[32:43] before we build anything else, I read that there will be a cut through on jean drive tying
Die in place to the new subdivision.
[32:52] we are currently experiencing cracks streets,
Sinking areas, uneven roads in our subdivision.
[32:58] I believe adding more traffic to our streets is going to cause more problems and have more
Issues.
[33:04] I have not also not read anything in the planning about our school resources and how a new
Subdivision could impact,
[33:12] can st. Rose elementary and albert cammon handle more students?
[33:17] do they have classroom capacity and the teachers?
[33:21] thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. I sincerely hope that some of our concerns
From dianne place will be addressed by the planning and zoning board and taken into
[33:30] consideration. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else?
[33:39] and we'll we'll take questions, comments. And then at the end,
We'll ask the applicant to come back up and try to answer some of them if we can just keep
[33:47] on going. I don't know if I'm going to repeat something she said,
Because we can't hear them right back there.
[33:53] if we can hear somebody talking. But that's it. We can't tell what they're saying. Is that mic on?
[33:58] zoe? I mean, it's even difficult to hear what you're saying back there,
But okay, I'll try to speak a bit louder.
[34:05] thank you. If you please, state your name and address for the record,
Please. My name is debbie. Lastname. Becker. 130 janet drive in dianne place subdivision.
[34:16] and I just have specific questions regarding what the plan is.
[34:22] first, I live in the front. I have not, by god's grace,
Been flooded, but there are many in the back who have more than once.
[34:32] the pumping stations have a hard time just helping those people not have the fear of more
Water in their house every time it rains.
[34:41] they upgraded them, it looks like they upgraded them for this,
But we've been told no, that's not the case.
[34:47] the other thing is that came up is, the flood zone has,
The plane has changed.
[34:55] so if they come in with a subdivision, what is that?
[35:00] how high are they going to raise those houses? That's going to bring the water right back in.
[35:05] to die in place into the houses that butt up against that field.
[35:09] my house being one of them. And that's concerning that that water is going to come to me.
[35:16] and then for me, it's going to go back to the back of the subdivision. The other thing, there's been some talk about access that.
[35:27] are they going to access from river road. Are they going to access through dianne place?
[35:33] I've heard that they're going to possibly use gene drive as an access,
Possibly the front of janet,
[35:39] where it turns. We have so much traffic now that flies up through there.
[35:44] we don't need anymore. And the electric grid,
We seem to be going down all the time.
[35:52] what are they going to do to strengthen that electric grid?
[35:58] I mean, we've we've lost power twice within the last month or so.
[36:02] just the other day, a couple of days ago, we were without power for at least two hours.
[36:07] and they said, we don't know why. If you put it back on,
You have to know why.
[36:13] so it looks like they're just turning it off because the grid can't hold the drain.
[36:19] my other question is. With
[36:29] the access was one of them. And I believe it's going to be an hoa.
[36:35] that's the housing. It's going to be an hoa subdivision that they're planning. It is recommended. It is listed to be maintained by an hoa.
[36:43] at least pieces and parts of the subdivision,
Yes. Okay, and along that fence line, I don't know how many years that was a an orchard for
Pecan trees.
[36:55] those trees, a lot of them are in very bad shape. A lot of them are infested with termites. Are they going to take those down?
[37:04] if this is, if this goes through. I mean, there's a whole lot of questions for people who
Have lived in dianne place.
[37:10] I've been there for over 40 years and it's concerning.
[37:15] thank you. Thank you. Yeah. And again, we'll have the applicant come back up and try to
Answer some of the questions at the end.
[37:27] thank you. If you please state your name and address for the record,
Please. Hi, I'm courtney fasola. I live at 275 dianne drive,
[37:33] which is the very back of the neighborhood. The property where this neighborhood is
Supposed to be.
[37:40] I actually have my horse there right now. So I'm on this land every single day.
[37:46] if it rains for more than five minutes. This whole property is a lake. I'm not kidding. I had to have a vet come out to treat my horse's hooves because he is
Just in standing water constantly.
[37:57] so obviously it will have to be built up. So these houses don't flood.
[38:02] and just on janet themselves, if we rain for more than 30 minutes,
People are getting water in their house,
[38:08] like this is daily. I'm sure many here flooded recently.
[38:13] like we can't take more than 30 minutes of heavy rain or we flood.
[38:18] I understand we just got a new pumping station,
And I don't really see a difference when it floods.
[38:26] my house is raised a little, so I do get lucky in the back. I'm selling a house across the street that almost gets rain in often.
[38:34] there's a lady across the street diagonally from me,
She has rebuilt her house, I'm not kidding,
[38:40] you like three times just since ida. The flooding in here is unreal.
[38:45] and I'm on that property every day. It's swamp. I like, it's going to take lots of build up to make this livable for one.
[38:54] and then I saw on the plans they want to put a sewer pump in like someone's backyard on
Janet basically,
[39:00] I wouldn't be happy about that. My main concern isn't,
I can move my horse, I get that.
[39:07] I'm just on the property every day, and I see how bad of shape it's in,
Even with the drainage ditches built in it already,
[39:14] as it is for it to drain, it doesn't drain. It sits there for days and days like I'm
Talking about six plus inches of water in most spots that just sits there
[39:24] and we already flood. That's my main concern. Can our sewer withstand it? Can our grid electricity grid withstand it?
[39:32] how will this affect our school system? Our teachers are already ran out there,
Ran into the ground as it is,
[39:39] and I just don't see how this would be beneficial to anyone in die in place with the value
Of our homes,
[39:48] especially making the flooding worse. That's my main thing. Thank you for your time. Good afternoon. My name
[40:02] is robert dale. I'm at 263 dianne drive. I think my the previous speakers have expressed
Our concerns very well,
[40:11] so I'm not going to take much time. I just want to point out that I'm currently going
Through the very expensive process of having my house elevated,
[40:18] which is a mitigation process, and my concern is that this new development will aggravate,
[40:25] not mitigate. So thank you for your consideration.
[40:29] thank you. Hi, I'm bonnie hymel. We live at 232 janet
[40:39] drive and our street floods every day when it rains.
[40:43] doesn't even have to rain 5 minutes. Just this past week when we had a storm. You go out there and the water is up to the,
Up to your knees.
[40:50] 232, 230, 228, we fled all the time. The. My neighbors.
[40:55] they flooded for ida. Weren't even in their house a year when we all flooded for francine.
[41:02] nothing is being done to fix this issue. And now you're wanting to add more to it.
[41:07] and the water, because the street was flooded for francine came in through the back,
Through the spill that you're wanting to.
[41:14] so I had all that gunk, all the cow manure, all the horse,
All that in my house.
[41:21] you know, we just got back in our house. I'm freaking now every time it tries to rain.
[41:28] so, I mean, I think the drainage situation needs to be looked at totally in there because
There is something wrong.
[41:35] and this has been, we've been in there for 20 years and it's still doing it.
[41:40] so thank you. Thank you mrs. Hymel. Anyone else?
[41:44] and if we could please keep the conversation and the audience down. Remember we're
Recording, this is being broadcast, so we want to make sure everyone's being heard
[41:51] clearly. Good evening. My name is nancyjo allemand. I live at 238 janet drive.
[41:55] I have not lived there for 40 or 28 years. I've only been there for four and a half.
[42:01] however, the plan for the to drain the new rivermist subdivision is simply a plan on
Paper.
[42:07] my house luckily did not flood, but it came within a little half an inch during hurricane
Francine.
[42:15] and I did, our home, which we'd only been in for six months. We closed in our house in january, oh february of 2021,
And we did receive substantial damage during hurricane ida.
[42:28] I had lived in jefferson parish during hurricane katrina and not had that much damage in
My home.
[42:38] if that if that area behind our home is r-1a,
I don't.
[42:46] during hurricane ida, our fence came down and I had horses in my back yard from that
Pasture.
[42:54] and I've seen cows and other livestock in that area. So if it is an r-1a, why are there livestock on that property?
[43:02] that doesn't seem, that doesn't make sense. If that is zoned a residential area and has
Been zoned a residential area,
[43:10] it is poorly maintained. There are debris brush piles behind our fences that you can see,
Dead trees falling down.
[43:20] and like I've said, live animals that have, I mean,
I've been coming home one night from work and there are cows coming down from the proposed
[43:28] area where they want to cut through the road access.
[43:32] so there's animals back there and, and it just it does not seem like a very thought out
Plan.
[43:41] it is zoned r-1a, it is zoned currently today r1-a. So animals are like allowed on r-1a? Okay so that.
[43:53] they're adjacent. I don't know who. They are because they were,
Because I have pictures of horses.
[44:01] an open land area would allow it, right. Okay. So the reality is the current drainage plan for dam.
[44:08] so division does not work properly to protect its residents from flooding. Numerous homes have flooded in the past, including my own.
[44:14] some multiple times. And others have been threatened by flood waters,
Including my home on occasion as well,
[44:19] especially during hurricane francine. Storm waters from river mist will end up in the same
Place as those that presently flow out of dianne division that scenario will not be good
[44:28] for dianne place. It will put more homes at risk of flooding because the drainage
Infrastructure cannot currently handle the drainage from dianne place, in addition to a
[44:35] new subdivision, I ask that this project not move forward until the needed drainage and
Wastewater infrastructure is in place to ensure that all the residents of dianne place are
[44:43] protected from flooding and improper wastewater treatment. Thank you,
Thank you.
[44:55] name and address, please. I am dakota ward, 214 dianne drive.
[45:00] no, I ain't gonna beat up a dead horse on the flooding because it's obvious. Obviously a
Problem back there, but my main concern is saint rose primary and albert cameron middle.
[45:09] obviously coming from outside. They're not in our neighborhood as far as saint rose goes
As a whole.
[45:15] so they don't know the trials and tribulations we go through with kids and our youth. So at 109 homes, I think I read something about maybe multifamily also,
I'm not sure about that,
[45:24] but so potentially 109 kids going into a school system that,
From what I hear, is 25 to 1 in some classrooms.
[45:30] so I like that to be considered by y'all before y'all vote or at least investigation on,
You know,
[45:35] something on that. Thank you. Thank you. Hello,
My name is ronshawn williams.
[45:45] I live at 262, dianne. I bought my house three years ago,
And every year since I've been there,
[45:52] I've been out with my neighbors by cleaning drains when it flood.
[45:57] a matter of fact, the day I think I bought my house at rain and I saw the water slowly
Creep up,
[46:01] which was a scary thing. I also bought in that neighborhood because of the school system,
And that's a concern.
[46:07] I have two young boys, and I don't want overcrowding or anything of that nature,
Because that does affect kids.
[46:13] if they're not able to get that one on one with the teachers,
Which is going to hurt everyone in the long run.
[46:18] so I'm just 100% opposed to this right now. Between the flooding and the school system and
Then hearing about the waste pump being in the back because I'm actually riding a bike.
[46:27] so that's a wonderful smell that I'll have to deal with as well. So just wanted to put that out there. Thank you.
[46:33] thank you, mr. Williams. Hi, my name is kendell castillo.
[46:43] I live at 128 janet, and I just want to say,
If y'all raised the dirt behind my house like my neighbor,
[46:49] water is definitely going to come into my house because I'm already this far from water
Getting into my house with a hard rain,
[46:55] so. And I've seen the front of dianne place flood all the way to my truck's bumper just
About a week or two ago.
[47:01] so I definitely don't want water going into my house. And that'll be my problem if y'all elevate those of yours like that.
[47:08] thank you. Thank you. Hi, I'm kayla phillip. I live at
[47:18] 260 janet and I actually built my home there,
So I've been there from the beginning.
[47:25] I am very fortunate. I have never flooded because there were five houses on our street
That are higher than the other houses because they pass an ordinance,
[47:34] when they were building to raise them. So the builder raised those five and then put in to
Lower the rest and they got lowered.
[47:43] so those people flood. But I have never flooded,
So I'd like to keep it that way.
[47:49] so I have a question like everybody else. What is the elevation going to be?
[47:53] I'd also like a definition of what these common areas slash drainage servitude are,
Because there's a very large one right behind my home.
[48:03] also, the proposal of the lift station, which is three houses down from me,
Which is a very big concern for a lot of us,
[48:12] is is it a storm sewer, a regular sewer? Is it above ground?
[48:18] in ground? How is it going to run? Is it generator backup?
[48:22] is it electrical? What happens when the power goes out? What happens if it's not maintained? And is there a reason that it has to be behind
Somebody's house?
[48:33] but why is it even there? Does it need to be there? So that's all my questions. Thank you. Thank you.
[48:49] victor van, I live at 160 janet drive. I've been there 30 years and I have a great concern
With the water.
[48:59] I've seen things over the years, and I guess 95 to 18in of rain in two days.
[49:08] and the whole back of the subdivision was water.
[49:14] the pastures about two feet lower than the property on janet drive.
[49:20] and a lot of the water goes off on there, you know,
It builds up, but it does drain there.
[49:26] it's a tremendous amount of soil they're going to have to put to raise this up.
[49:31] how long does it have to settle? Where's the water going to go while why? That's settling. I just have a major concern with the water.
[49:40] traffic, you know, that's going to be there anyway.
[49:45] but thank you for the opportunity to speak. Hope everyone's well.
[49:49] thank you. Hi. I'm
[49:59] paris taliancich, and I have a house on 200 janet.
[50:04] so in gene. So this will definitely affect me.
[50:08] being on the corner of gene, I will get all the heavy traffic coming in and out right in
Front of my house.
[50:16] I'm on that dead end right now. So also to the flooding.
[50:21] I have been fortunate enough to never flood,
But I am concerned about the flooding, just with this new subdivision.
[50:31] I mean, I do get the flooding in my backyard. It has never came close to my front door, but I can definitely see where that could be a
Problem in the future with flooding.
[50:43] so that's all I have to say. Thank you. Good
[50:53] evening. My name is steve philip. I live at 260 janet.
[50:57] my boss was up here speaking a minute ago. I guess some of my concerns are going to be
What's already been mentioned.
[51:03] I have assisted other people raising furniture in their house when we've had the floods.
[51:08] I also am a member of what they call cocorahs for the last two years,
I've been reporting rain levels in our subdivision to a national organization out of
[51:17] colorado. The last time it flooded in our subdivision,
Which it didn't hit us, it hit the other people was only 2.25in of rain.
[51:25] so just so you keep that in mind. The other thing is,
For those of us who don't flood but have to come home.
[51:32] these people don't want us driving through the water and pushing it into their houses,
Which I can understand. So not only are we worried about who does or doesn't flood.
[51:40] you may not be able to get home either. And I'm just thinking that's another thing we have
To think about.
[51:45] and as far as the lift station, I don't know if any of you have been around lift stations
That move sewage.
[51:50] where I work, I recently had to go out and take pictures of 85 lift stations.
[51:55] 80 out of the 85 had a really gross smell coming from them. So I can tell you that it can be bad if it's not maintained,
And it's hard to maintain to keep the smell away.
[52:06] that will decrease the value of our homes. And like somebody else has already said,
How much higher are they going to have to raise the ground behind us?
[52:14] I would feel more comfortable with all of this if you could prevent our subdivision from
Not flooding for one year before you allow them to build this,
[52:23] because right now we know it cannot handle a 2.5in rain and keep people up in the middle
Of the subdivision from flooding.
[52:32] so it is truly a concern. Thank you. Thank you.
[52:44] hello, I'm ashley roussel. 219 janet drive. I'm kind of going to go on education side
Along with the flooding.
[52:52] education wise, I feel like it's going to be disadvantaged,
At least for our kids.
[52:56] for the fact right now our busses are already overloaded,
And it's kind of come to the extent to where some parents end up having to bring kids to
[53:05] school because there's nowhere for them to fit on the busses in our area.
[53:10] on the flooding side, every time it floods, I have water come through my backyard and I'm
Not even,
[53:16] and I'm on the other side. So like the pasture is across the street from me.
[53:21] just last week when it rained, I walked outside to and I have a drain in front of my
House.
[53:29] I am constantly outside. My husband is outside. All of our neighbors outside. I have many of them here.
[53:35] we are pulling stuff out of drainages to try to get the water down. Last week I literally within ten minutes of rain walked out to knee deep water.
[53:45] couldn't even get out of my house to go pick up my kid from school because I couldn't get
Out of the driveway.
[53:51] so that's kind of like just some of the real concerns.
[53:55] a lot of the water on the for the people on my side,
It backs into our drainage systems.
[54:02] so we have drainage systems in our back yard when the street floods,
It comes in through our back doors.
[54:09] I literally have sandbags, have had them since ida,
Constantly behind my back door, and I still get water in my house every time it rains.
[54:19] so I'm kind of rain and education side is the concern for me.
[54:24] thank you. Thank you. It's the public hearing for 2025-1-maj.
[54:55] good evening. My name is cliff buller. I reside at number 3 canyon lane in the bar none
Ranch subdivision,
[55:01] which is just down river from our good friends and dianne place. And I'm speaking in opposition to this development at this time.
[55:08] my concerns are mainly the drainage that we've been discussing.
[55:13] and the, our process of approving subdivisions right now seems to be rather haphazard.
[55:21] this particular development is very dense. The lots are a minimum size of about 6000ft²,
Requiring a 20 foot servitude on the
[55:31] front and rear of the property of each lot. So to be very limited to what you can actually
Build on these,
[55:37] on these lots the concern of a drainage and,
And the the sewage treatment, I'm confused in reading the report,
[55:46] the application, and sometimes it's referred to as a lift station and sometimes as a
Sewage treatment plant.
[55:53] I believe those are two different animals. And I'm curious as to what exactly is required
In this process.
[55:59] the idea of an hoa maintaining these facilities is crazy.
[56:05] I just do not see that happening a long run. You know,
Maybe for the first couple of years they can have a procedure set up to fund it and
[56:10] operate it. But what's going to happen, you know,
Five, ten, 15, 20 years down the line, what's going to happen is our parish at the
[56:17] taxpayers expense, got to step in and upgrade these facilities to maintain them.
[56:21] so I think there's too many questions to be to be looked at here.
[56:26] the poor folks at 252 to 256 janet will have a sewerage station in her backyard.
[56:36] the people from 258 to 270 janet will have a retention pond in their backyard.
[56:41] and who's going to maintain that? And who's going to deal with the mosquitoes and spells
And and aggravation of it?
[56:46] so I'm opposed to this. Thank you. Thank you.
[56:58] are you finished? No. Go ahead. If you please,
State your name and address for the record, please. Hi, I'm cathy newman, and I live at 103 janet drive.
[57:08] okay. I haven't flooded. I've been lucky enough to not flood,
But when it rains, the.
[57:16] I live where you can see the feel that it's backing the farmer.
[57:21] the flooding that comes from there when we have bad rain.
[57:25] the water hits the street and it almost comes in the middle of the street,
And you can see it rushing to the back of the neighborhood.
[57:33] so we know what those people are going through,
The horrors that they're facing while we're sitting there.
[57:40] you know, other than that, my big concern, I'm concerned for them.
[57:45] my big concern is I live right where the janet drive,
The curve is, three stops on the corner there of
[57:54] dianne. When the people leave that stop sign.
[57:58] they fly around the corner there. All the neighbors,
Right there are always waiting for a child to get hit on the bike.
[58:06] so any more traffic coming through, there is going to be a nightmare,
A total nightmare.
[58:12] my other concern, the people at park on the street,
Right there on that, up on that corner,
[58:19] right there near the stop sign towards the curve.
[58:23] you can't do nothing about that. My point is,
The fire department can't get through, there's no way,
[58:30] because we can't get our cars through. So if they're going to build more houses and that's
Going to be a thoroughfare on gene to get through,
[58:39] and the fire department might have to use it,
Then what's going to happen?
[58:44] like I said, and then all the traffic, they're going to be coming through and stopping at
The stop sign,
[58:50] and then it's going to just be back and all the way up. So concern for kids, the stop sign that my children go to,
My grandchildren go to st.
[58:59] rose stops two houses away from that curve. There's no way she's going to be able to do
That with all that traffic.
[59:08] what's going to happen with the busses? Thank you for listening to me.
[59:13] thank you. Can I say I'm about to go back to the fire department,
My husband is a firefighter and he cannot get through.
[59:21] yeah, you would have to come back up. And you've spoken once,
But sorry about that.
[59:29] I'm zina riley at 264 janet drive, which is at the end of janet drive,
And the last drain is in front of my house.
[59:38] I've been there for 27 years. Unfortunately,
We have never flooded, but we have been close to it many times.
[59:47] and I applaud my husband for that because he's always home and he's always out to keep the
Drain clear and clean,
[59:55] along with some of our neighbors here. And it could be 12:00 at night.
[1:00:00] they're out there protecting us from flooding.
[1:00:05] I've been a bus driver for 28 years here in saint charles parish,
And I drove in dianne place,
[1:00:12] and it has been numerous times where it was just a rainy day,
And we're picking up kids and they're all wet from
[1:00:22] the shoe up to the knee already with just regular rain water.
[1:00:26] I know that it's been expressed already through almost everyone in here about the
Drainage,
[1:00:32] but where my house is, I would have to deal with the retention pond and the sewage
Station,
[1:00:41] which would definitely curb my lifestyle of living. Backyard barbecues, just smell, crawfish balls.
[1:00:49] I don't see that taking place anymore, so I 100% oppose.
[1:00:55] thank you. How's it going? Richard
[1:01:05] brooks 43 dianne place. I believe a new neighborhood was already approved in the back of
Charlestown.
[1:01:14] it's 140 houses. So I would just like to know if the engineering for this neighborhood
Took that into account.
[1:01:22] and plus, that's 140 more homes with kids, might have kids that could put more on the
School system.
[1:01:29] so. Excuse me. That's all. Thanks. Thank you.
[1:01:37] this is the public hearing for 2025-1-maj. Anyone else?
[1:01:42] remember, you can only speak once, ma'am, on behalf of another property owner.
[1:01:47] is that okay? Quickly. Yes, please. If you give me their name and address,
Please.
[1:01:53] yes. I'm speaking for chad and nell thibodaux at 270 janet drive.
[1:01:58] they are the very last house on janet. The pasture drains into a servitude property right
There,
[1:02:06] and they will. Just wanted me to mention how much their land is caving in. And, I mean, if you'd go ride back there, you can see it's just falling into the ditch
Every time the rain waters come through.
[1:02:17] and that's just a concern they wanted to bring up. Thank you. You're welcome. Hi. My name is diane wyatt.
[1:02:27] I'm the original owner of my house at 259 janet drive. So I've been there for over 40 years. Everybody summarized all this pretty well.
[1:02:35] my question is, can we have an opportunity to make a list of questions and concerns that
The residents have,
[1:02:42] and have those specific questions and concerns answered with honesty?
[1:02:46] I mean, like in writing answers. What about the lift station? What about the retention pond? How high are these houses going to be built?
[1:02:55] you know what the impact is going to be on our school system. We have a lot of questions
That I don't want to hear generalizations of, oh, we're going to do this, and that's going
[1:03:02] to happen and it's going to be okay. I want specific answers to specific questions,
And I think that we should be able to submit questions and get answers before this is
[1:03:11] decided on. I think that's a reasonable request. Sure, sure. There's no formal process for that.
[1:03:18] well, can we. Unless, unless. Request it. You can,
You can request it.
[1:03:22] but unless the applicant has a town hall or something and invites the residents,
There's no formal process outside of one.
[1:03:29] this public hearing. If this were to proceed forward and be passed the night,
It would go to the parish council,
[1:03:35] in which you would have another opportunity to ask questions. In between those two events, you could reach out to your council person,
Ask those questions.
[1:03:43] I mean, she's not going to have the answers I want the answers about what is this sewer
Lift station?
[1:03:48] sure. Specifically. Yeah. And I think we'll talk through some of those after,
Once the applicant comes back up to get at least some of those answers.
[1:03:55] are going to have the chance to ask other questions after he speaks? No,
Not tonight. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Any further questions,
Comments?
[1:04:10] I'm walter pilie. I live on ducayet drive in destrehan. And so obviously this isn't my district. However,
I have been kind of a champion when it comes to drainage issues around the parish at the
[1:04:21] request of some of the other council people. Miss o'daniels will call me up when they have
A severe rain.
[1:04:27] I've been out there when they. When they have one in her district. Last year I saw one such as that. What you have there is a little unique.
[1:04:35] you've got a pump station on the other side of the railroad tracks,
Which is in essence, a levee.
[1:04:41] and you've got three culverts that cross over there,
And that's all you got to get this water out.
[1:04:45] and these people are having to get water out through a 27 to 36 and a 42.
[1:04:51] that ditch is a little deeper, but it goes from like a one foot to a -2.5.
[1:04:55] so it has some capacity to hold fluid. However,
The drainage impact analysis is counting on a detention pond,
[1:05:04] and I believe in those things if you do it right,
I'm just not sure if you're doing it right. If you want to pass this around. This is a sketch of what's stated in the dia.
[1:05:13] so I will say this. I'm not going to try to refute what the science is in the drainage
Impact analysis,
[1:05:21] but I talk to somebody who can, and it's a person who teaches hydrology.
[1:05:26] and the question popped up, and it's exactly what you see on this little sketch.
[1:05:30] looks like a pretty big pipe. So you're not really holding things back and trying to store
The fluid.
[1:05:35] so the whole idea is to keep that water contained and not going into the ditch to those
Culverts any greater than what they have today.
[1:05:44] and there is a flaw, too, because what they have today can't get the water across the the
Railroad tracks with the size of the culverts.
[1:05:51] and that's a common problem around this parish. We're putting in jackson bores over there where I live in destrehan. 360 and 254.
[1:06:00] what you have here is not much. I've been over there. I've seen where the water can recycle from the swamp right back into the inlet of the
Pumps.
[1:06:08] now they're working on that, but until they put some automated sluice gates and they've
Got some gates over there at the swamp.
[1:06:14] if you get a hurricane and that swamp starts rising,
The water comes back and all you're doing is circulating it.
[1:06:20] so I'm warning you guys to understand what we have and what we don't have,
Right.
[1:06:27] and all the science put aside. And I suggest that the company who's done this dia,
And I'm not trying to diss them,
[1:06:34] ought to get together with this person who I know who can critique this and try to make
Sure we're getting this right,
[1:06:39] if that's what we're going to do. But good lord,
We need to look at the crossover conveyance through the railroad tracks before you do
[1:06:47] anything. Because if all you're doing is limiting the flow that goes into this subdivision
Through this detention pond to what they already have,
[1:06:55] we already have a problem. And really, that's all I have to say. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Pilie. Good evening.
[1:07:07] my name is michelle o'daniels and I'm the councilperson for this district. And mr. Pilie addressed some of the technicalities of the drainage situation.
[1:07:16] but I'd like to address the major subdivision ordinance where we are today and what kind
Of input the,
[1:07:25] you know what all you're asked to do tonight. So the major subdivision ordinance was a major debate amongst the council before I was
Seated.
[1:07:34] and they indicated during the hearing that one of the problems was is they felt like there
Wasn't enough opportunity for public comment and feedback.
[1:07:42] so we're seeing that here tonight. We have a lot of questions. We may or may not get our answers tonight. Either way,
President jewell commented that with the new major subdivision ordinance,
[1:07:51] we'd have more information, facts versus fear to determine whether or not this is a good
Or a bad deal.
[1:07:59] well, I think it's a bad deal, and this is why I think it's a bad deal. It's a bad deal for the parish, because the parish gets put in a position where we can't
Provide or not providing basic infrastructure to its residents.
[1:08:12] it's a bad deal for the current residents who we have here that expressed why it's a bad
Deal for them.
[1:08:18] it's a bad deal for the prospective residents,
Who are not going to know that they're going to walk into a situation where a lot of their
[1:08:25] basic infrastructure is being privatized. So five,
Ten years down the road, all of a sudden they'd be like,
[1:08:32] we need to maintain this. We don't have the money to maintain it. They'll turn to the parish and guess what? They'll be told the parish can't touch it.
[1:08:40] let me give you some examples of what we have in st. Rose now, from these bad decisions made in the past,
Mostly in the 1970s.
[1:08:47] I thought we were past all these things. Although sometimes growth is an inspiration to do
Crazy stuff,
[1:08:54] like it was back in the 70s when we had the big housing boom.
[1:08:58] let's talk about fairfield. Fairfield had a private sewer system.
[1:09:03] the actual sewer lines going to that system were never dedicated to the parish.
[1:09:08] so we have residents that have backup a sewer and the parish says,
So sorry, it's private.
[1:09:14] we have charleston, who has fire hydrants, that these good people trying to stop fires go
To,
[1:09:22] and the fire hydrants are empty. So sorry you no longer have your condo.
[1:09:28] but we can't do anything as a parish because we don't own it. It was privatized. Most recently, riverwood has a private road and they also have some
Private drainage,
[1:09:39] a swale ditch. Well, individual homeowners decided,
I don't like the way it looks.
[1:09:44] let me adjust it. Let me do this. Let me do that. 20 years later, they have a drainage problem.
[1:09:49] so sorry you got to spend $25,000 to do it yourself.
[1:09:53] riverwood could probably afford it. The people that are going to be moving into this house
Are going to be spending a lot of money.
[1:10:00] probably everything. They have to get into their first home only to be told so.
[1:10:05] sorry the parish can't help you. You don't deserve the infrastructure everybody else has.
[1:10:10] it's not fair. It's a bad deal. It's a bad deal for everyone. I'm 100% opposed to the plan as it stands today.
[1:10:18] in addition to all of the drainage information and evidence you heard tonight.
[1:10:22] thank you. Thank you. Anyone else has kind of a last
[1:10:32] call? If you please approach the podium name and address for the record,
Please.
[1:10:37] my name is melissa van tanaka. I live at 224 riverview drive.
[1:10:41] I'm not in dianne place. I feel like one thing is,
This is being very sneaky.
[1:10:48] I never knew anything about it. I went to lunch with a friend of mine today. She was coming here. I said I would come with you.
[1:10:55] I also. I live in riverview. You. There's charlestown,
Riverview, nar none, and dianne.
[1:11:02] we all four got to get out the same way. We all have to go either one street or one
Street.
[1:11:08] how you got at least 5 or 700 houses back up in there.
[1:11:13] if it's a catastrophe happened and we have to get out,
What are we going to do?
[1:11:18] what if they the school busses have to get in? What are we going to do? I've lived on riverview for 40 something years.
[1:11:25] I have they had fires down there. To where? We cannot go down the street or we cannot
Leave.
[1:11:30] we're stuck because of those fire engines. I mean,
It's ridiculous.
[1:11:35] I know everybody's talking about the flooding,
Which luckily, thank god, I have never flooded.
[1:11:41] but for, you know, the traffic, the traffic is going to be unbearable because how is those
Four subdivisions going to get out with all of those
[1:11:51] houses, if all of a sudden they tell us, when I was here,
I don't know what hurricane it was,
[1:11:57] but they told me to evacuate my house. I had a fit because I've never been told to leave
My house before.
[1:12:03] I was only 30 years old at that time. I was never told,
Leave the house.
[1:12:08] what are we going to do if tests say y'all have to be out in an hour or two,
Where is everybody going to go?
[1:12:14] we're going to be stuck. We're not going to be able to go anywhere.
[1:12:18] you know, can trucks come back to pick us up? No, because they're not going to be able to make it down the streets. They're not going to
Be able to turn around. I don't know.
[1:12:27] but I know on riverview, in order to turn around,
You got to go up and turn around.
[1:12:32] you can't. I mean, there's no way to get out of there. That's only we only got one way out and one way in.
[1:12:39] that's all I need to say. Thank you. Last call for public comments for
[1:12:48] 2025-1-maj. Thank you. Thank you everyone. At this time,
We'll close the public hearing for
[1:12:56] 2025-1-maj. Mr., I think it's bloss. Do you want to come back up and try to answer some of
These questions?
[1:13:04] and I have a few as well. Can you finish? Yeah.
[1:13:09] so I guess hearing the feedback, I think it'd be best to have a town hall with everyone.
[1:13:17] I've heard just different say, misconceptions are kind of questions that I think we can
Answer in that setting.
[1:13:24] so we'd like to withdraw and schedule a town hall meeting,
So. Okay. Yep. Thank you. Thank you. I guess some some questions before.
[1:13:34] before you depart. I can answer whatever you like. Yeah. So, so I have lots of questions about the privatizing of the sewer.
[1:13:40] and it would be good if, as part of that town hall,
You can answer some of that. Absolutely. What specification do you use? Do they match the parish.
[1:13:47] so if you. It says in the wastewater document that at some point it would be handed over
To the parish,
[1:13:55] but it wouldn't be privately treated. It would be. Once the so that the parish is in the process of upgrading the sewer main that runs along
The railroad there.
[1:14:04] and I guess I don't know if anyone from public works is here can speak to that timeline,
But it would happen within the next 18 to 24 months.
[1:14:11] at that time it would be. Excuse me. I guess at that time it would,
Once that, that would be
[1:14:21] once phase two was constructed, the private treatment would be abandoned and it would be
Pumped into the public system at that point.
[1:14:31] so you would follow us parish specifications or sizing so that it would be compatible?
[1:14:35] absolutely. It would all be designed to where the,
Once that force main was at capacity, right.
[1:14:41] and it could accept the additional flow. The new force main would just be tied.
[1:14:46] the pumps would be upgraded in the lift station. It would be pumped to that that new force band. That's right. Okay.
[1:14:52] and I guess the second part of that plans change. So I get that it's planned to connect in at some point,
But if not, have you done developments like this before where the sewer system is private
[1:15:04] and part of the issue? Yeah, I've, I've done developments all across the gulf coast and
This is extremely common so.
[1:15:10] for privatized sewer. Absolutely. Yes. And I guess the only other question that I
Personally have is the elevation.
[1:15:17] do you know what that looks like in comparison to the neighboring subdivision?
[1:15:22] yeah. So I mean, there again, a portion of this site is within a floodplain in the rear of
The site.
[1:15:28] so the parish ordinance requires you to mitigate for floodplain,
Right.
[1:15:32] so that's going to take place. Actually an increase in floodplain volume would take place
With the with the construction of the pond in the back,
[1:15:39] right. So but, I mean, the grades would vary,
Right, because the site is high in the front at the road,
[1:15:46] right and low in the rear. So, I mean, it basically varies from.
[1:15:50] I think it's up around maybe 12 or 13 in the front. Forget the exact numbers, but it slopes down at the back of the pond and think the top
Bank of the pond is at like seven.
[1:15:58] so you would vary between 7 and 13, right? So and you know,
The stormwater management pond itself is going to reduce the
[1:16:08] flow that leaves the site by 33%, so. And add additional floodplain storage,
So.
[1:16:15] but again, I think at the town hall we can kind of walk through all these numbers and show
Kind of where everything would flow,
[1:16:22] what it would tie into, what the existing conditions are,
What the proposed conditions are.
[1:16:28] I'm not opposed to moving the lift station to the other side of the development,
Away from the adjacent neighborhood there,
[1:16:36] but it's still in the interim, it's going to discharge into the pond right until it's
Extended and ties into the actual force mat.
[1:16:44] yeah, but I don't mind moving it away from people's home. It can be flipped. And that would help with. I mean,
Typically there's not much of a, under their they're not going to believe me,
[1:16:55] but, you know, if it's properly maintained, right. Which it would be a large company that does this all across the state that maintains these
Things,
[1:17:06] which is extremely common, that that's what they do,
Right? Okay. Yep. Thank you. Anything else? Any questions from commissioners?
[1:17:14] yes. Is that being maintained? Who? Parish isn't ready for it.
[1:17:21] who pick up that cost, the hoa? Yeah. So, that's right,
The hoa would.
[1:17:26] well it's going to be a builder. I mean there's going to be a builder that's going to
Purchase all these lots once it's sold. Right. So they would maintain it until it would
[1:17:33] transfer to the hoa. At that point there would be maintained by the same company.
[1:17:38] it would just be transferred, that ownership. Like the hoa itself is not doing the maintenance,
It's going to be the company that they're going to hire that does this,
[1:17:47] that maintains lift stations and treatment plants. Which again, they do this all over. I mean, this is extremely common.
[1:17:55] so thank you. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So my background is in real estate.
[1:18:05] I'm a real estate broker. I've worked in construction.
[1:18:09] I've been involved in developments all across southeast louisiana.
[1:18:14] and so from a personal perspective, I'm all about,
You know, let's develop and build houses and let me sell them and,
[1:18:23] you know, those kind of things. But st. Charles parish has had issues all over with,
With flooding and drainage
[1:18:33] and, and I personally have family and friends that,
That live in, dianne place.
[1:18:39] I've actually been there when you just have a quick afternoon shower and the street fills
Up with water.
[1:18:44] so I can certainly understand the perspective of the residents here.
[1:18:49] I'm pleased that you're withdrawing this evening.
[1:18:53] because I think that a lot of issues can be addressed because I've been in the development
Side of things through town halls and communicating with people,
[1:19:01] and then maybe revising plans to understand true issues that are on the ground that maybe
Weren't realized in the initial
[1:19:11] development plan. So, yeah work with the residents who have been there 30 or 40 years that
Understand this is what takes place on a daily basis,
[1:19:21] because I literally have been at both the front and the back,
At the 50 block of dianne and the 250 block of janet drive.
[1:19:30] and I've seen the water and it comes up quick and it comes from that back field,
And it is a problem that needs to be addressed before we develop
[1:19:40] further. Look, I'm all for new houses, shiny new things that I can sell in this in this
Parish.
[1:19:46] I love staying at home. I mean, a lot of my work now is on the north shore,
So it would be great to have a new development,
[1:19:52] but we got to do it responsibly. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Any further questions? I could ask a whole lot of questions,
But I live on that ditch.
[1:20:03] and I know that we have a subdivision that we approved that has not come up yet.
[1:20:09] so whether or not has been taken into consideration,
We don't know how those two things will mesh.
[1:20:15] but with that said, I will make a motion. I'll second.
[1:20:21] a motion by mr. Price, second by mr. Jay. And just some encouragement.
[1:20:27] the minutes of this should be published in a few weeks and online. Good source for
Questions and answers.
[1:20:32] so if you can maybe pick back a peek at that for the tempo for the town hall,
That'd be great.
[1:20:37] absolutely. Yeah. Thank you. All those in favor of postponement?
[1:20:42] I'm sorry. Withdrawal. Sorry. Withdrawal. Waiting on me.
[1:20:50] and that passes unanimously. And so town hall will be up to the applicant encourage you to
Work with mr.
[1:20:59] daniels on that, and then there will be a resubmission if decided and a new public hearing
For that.
[1:21:09] thank you, everyone. We know about the town hall. Are we going to be notified as residents? Well make sure that happens through the council
Member,
[1:21:17] council person for your district. Yeah. We don't have a formal process for notification
For a town hall,
[1:21:24] but we'll try to see if we can get the council person to help with that.
[1:21:28] yeah. If it sounds like it's going to be privately sponsored town hall. So the council won't be doing the advertisement,
It'll be on the applicant to make.
[1:21:36] the applicant. It'll be on the applicant, basically to reach out to the residents.
[1:21:45] thank you very much. I appreciate you having us.
[1:21:50] give everybody a minute or two to exit. Marty,
We need to approve these as well?
[1:22:13] all done. Oh.
[1:22:24] thank you. They're not going to. We're not going to get.
[1:22:29] it's one way to clear the room, everybody.
[1:22:46] we can't tell what you know about us. Not in the throat. Sir, do you mind closing that. Got it. Thank you.
[1:22:53] it's got it, got it. Oh. Thank you. Paul.
[1:23:06] yeah. All right. Thank you. That's the end of the agenda items.
[1:23:12] any old business? Yes, sir. Oh, any new business?
[1:23:16] go ahead. Marty. Thanks. Mr. Chair, I just wanted to thank the commission for stepping up
At your last meeting to serve as the interim coastal zone advisory committee.
[1:23:27] the parish council adopted the ordinance amendments that you guys recommended approval of.
[1:23:33] so thank you for that. That sets up a coastal zone advisory committee of seven members to
Start up with staggered terms,
[1:23:42] we're excited about them being set up for success.
[1:23:46] and the council also announced all of the vacancies for those positions.
[1:23:53] nominations will start hopefully at their next meeting,
Which means we could have a coastal zone advisory committee seated,
[1:24:02] maybe even before y'all's next meeting. But be that as it may,
I've got your minutes from the work that you did at your last meeting,
[1:24:13] and we'll have to advertise y'all as the coastal zone advisory committee one more time
Just to approve those minutes and get those over to the new
[1:24:22] committee. Thank you. So, I guess new news, old news,
Michael, so is
[1:24:32] there a amendment to the major subdivision ordinance in progress right now?
[1:24:37] no, sir. No. There's nothing. She was speaking about the large amendment we did in 2020.
[1:24:43] yeah. Okay. Where we front. Like, we front loaded a bunch of information into the
Preliminary plat phase.
[1:24:51] like you were able to read reports and things from the directors that had been submitted.
[1:24:57] like, you didn't have those. Right. Prior to that amendment,
So. Yeah. Yeah. What would it take if we were to request some representation from waterworks,
Wastewater to be here?
[1:25:09] required them to send a representative for these types of major subdivisions so that we
Can do a better job of answering questions.
[1:25:18] I can try and arrange that. Yeah. It would be nice to see that be formal,
Where it's a requirement,
[1:25:25] not just a request. I agree, yeah. And I don't know that we need the full board,
But we do need obviously for wastewater,
[1:25:33] for drainage. Public works would be helpful,
At least for just the major subdivisions.
[1:25:39] I will look into that for you and try and get that to happen. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. It's hard. Hard for us to answer those questions,
And I know.
[1:25:50] certainly. Okay. Have a motion to approve the minutes from the july 10th,
2025, planning board of commissioners meeting.
[1:26:00] mr. Price. Mr. Frangella.
[1:26:15] and that passes with petit and jay abstaining since they were both absent.
[1:26:21] anything else? Motion to adjourn. Motion. Second.
[1:26:27] vice president.