The INDsider -> Walter Pierce WED, NOV 25 8:11AM by Walter Pierce

CPC denies appeal, paves way for subdivision

The Lafayette City-Parish Council Tuesday night denied an appeal by residents in west Lafayette Parish, clearing the way for a subdivision development. Residents living near the unincorporated area close to Scott had appealed to block development of Woodgate Subdivision, a planned 64-home neighborhood on about 15 acres of what is currently open field off Tabb Road.

More than a dozen neighbors attended the CPC meeting to oppose the development and urge council members to grant the appeal. In more than two hours of addressing the council they cited concerns about inadequate infrastructure, increased traffic and flooding in the low-lying area. Their pitch to the council was led by a Power Point presentation by Dr. Darrin Menard, an area resident and family physician, who showed the council photographs of existing drainage problems that he argued would be compounded by the high-density development.

Woodgate’s developer, Steve Montgomery, addressed the council briefly, telling the panel, “We take a lot of pride in what we do, we also understand there’s a lot of responsibility in what we do.” But area resident Suzi Ridge closed her 5-minute comment time with a plea: “I’m begging you guys, step up to the plate, stop all of this, it’s spiraling out of control.”

The council voted 5-4 to deny the appeal. Council members Purvis Morrison (District 1) and Jared Bellard (District 5), who represent the more than 150 residents who had signed a petition seeking to block Woodgate, voted in favor of the appeal. Bellard and Morrison also attended an Oct. 12 Planning, Zoning and Codes meeting to oppose the plan.

The vote clears the way for the developer to begin engineering studies on the area, which will need to be reviewed by PZC. The Planning department has imposed 16 conditions on Montgomery, six of which address drainage issues, before he can proceed with construction.

In other council business, the CPC voted to rezone more than 56 acres to traditional neighborhood development status, clearing the way for what will eventually be a River Ranch-type mixed-use development called Cafferytown on Ambassador Caffery Parkway between Dulles Drive and Guilbeau Road.

Walter Pierce
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written by Plumpy , November 25, 2009 - 09:49 pm

Oh geez...Another subdivision.. More people , more traffic and more noise...When it comes to money. Parish Council doesn't care about the people...

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written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , November 26, 2009 - 01:03 am

AY, it takes money ta dress lak JODU'NT !

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written by PLanIT , November 26, 2009 - 01:25 am

Well Plumpy, this is a money where our mouths are issue. Residents of the unincorporated areas of the parish, must be willing to elect representatives who will adopt a land-usage plan. Any such plan ultimately would offer direction to developers as to where they can and can't develop. More accurately, such guidance through a "plan" of some sort would show what scale and level of development is expected and planned for a given area. Such a plan should be based upon a variety of criteria, such as topography, existing development, farming, urban, greenspace potential and need for each areas.

Basically, I think we have a lot of what I'll term 'unfocused' property development in these parts. When this happens, the public as a whole misses the opportunity to make the best use of our tax dollars. The new residents are equally underserved by moving out to a rural area, driving on the same neglected commons, (i.e. the roads) that the developers are not responsible for upgrading along the miles long length of travel it takes to deliver a resident to their new abode.

Unless such a plan exists, it will be difficult to hold the housing developers accountable to a standard which doesn't exist.

Ultimately, this is what happens when the laissez-faire commercial attitudes of the public towards government manifest themselves in the form of public policy. *Almost* Anything goes anywhere, anytime.
Literally, you get what you vote for. And all the residents politely speaking out reactively, rather than proactively won't get you very far.

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written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , November 26, 2009 - 09:29 pm

The Council Pres. needs new clothes ta cut da ribbons and da lil couille councilmen need freebees meals, and free boudin from Don's Market, wha wants da mo residences ta buy his boudin balls,

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written by Jay Bienvenu , November 27, 2009 - 02:19 am

They certainly care more about building a prosperous Lafayette than you do.

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written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , November 27, 2009 - 07:41 pm

Planit, Your post makes for great read, we deserve just what we elected, and because your statement carries so much truth, IT SHALL BE IGNORED BY THOSE IN A POSITION TO MAKE SUCH A PLAN A REALITY!!

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written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , November 27, 2009 - 07:43 pm

AND you couillie "JAY", "YOU MAY GET IN FRONT OH DA LINE AT DA WELFARE TROUGH"!

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