Developer gets PC nod on Garden City project

A controversial housing development slated for construction beginning in 2016 near Garden City was given preliminary approval by the St. Mary Parish Council at their regularly scheduled meeting last night in Franklin.
The development, known as Garden City Apartments, has generated backlash in the past from community members who have publicly objected to an apartment complex they view as a possible eyesore and a drain on local resources they say are already being pushed to their limits.
Real estate developer Lloyd Harris had received preliminary approval from the St. Mary Parish Planning and Zoning Commission. Harris declined to comment on the subject after that meeting last month. Harris was on hand Wednesday night to urge council members to approve the development.
“I am asking for support in approving this project,” Harris said. “I’ve gone through preliminary approval again and I just want to be a good neighbor to the parish.”
While the preliminary approval measure passed, there were three nay votes: Councilmen Glen Hidalgo, David Hanagriff and council Chairman Kevin Voisin all voted against the development. Hanagriff and Hidalgo both said construction of the housing complex was not in the best interests of the parish and many in the community don’t want the project to go forward.
“I voted no because most of the constituents in that area still believe that apartment complex is too large a development for the area,” Hanagriff said. “The area cannot support it. I voted with what the people in the area want. I represent them.”
Hidalgo also voiced opposition to the development. He said, although the apartment complex is not proposed for construction in his district, it is not the right project for St. Mary Parish.
“I’ve been voting no from the beginning,” Hidalgo said. “The residents in that area are totally against it. When I ran for this office, I ran on a platform to be a voice for the people. I can’t go against what so many people want. I’ve never had a call in support of this from the public. Even though that’s not my district, I represent all the people in the parish.”
Other business included the adoption of a number of ordinances. The first two included one adopting the 2016 Combined Budgets of Revenues and Expenditures for the Parish of St. Mary as well as one adopting the proposed Five Year Capital Outlay Program through 2020.
An ordinance amending a previous ordinance setting the salary of the Clerk of Council was also adopted. Another ordinance passed authorized the parish president to execute the ‘First Amendment to Lease Agreement’ with New Cingular Wireless.