Parish council to consider Garden City land rezoning

Members of the St. Mary Parish Council will once again take up the issue of the Garden City housing development when they meet in regular session Wednesday.
The council is slated to consider adoption of an ordinance that would rezone a parcel of property located on La. 3215 at La. 182 to an agricultural zone. The property is currently zoned high-density residential and is the site of a proposed gated apartment complex development being opposed by many surrounding residents.
The proposed ordinance was tabled during the council’s last meeting for further review by legal counsel.
The council is being urged by the landowner to leave the current zoning designation, adopted by the council in 2009, in place.
Developer Lloyd Harris, who is African-American, is in a purchase agreement on the property and has filed a discrimination complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Fair Housing Act. The complaint cites “race and familial status” as the basis of the violation of the housing act.
A public hearing on the proposed ordinance will be called at 5:45 p.m.
Other items on the agenda include:
—Guests Sami Riley, executive director of Chez Hope to request funding for the purchase and installation of a new roof on its Children’s Center; and Rudy Sparks, chairman of the Atchafalaya Golf Course Commission to present the annual budget and rate schedule.
—Resolutions on an agreement with the Department of Transportation and Development on a lighting upgrade project at Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport; a plea to the state Congressional delegation to support the Marketplace and Internet Tax Fairness Act; a contract with Patriot Construction & Equipment LLC on the Charenton Canal Industrial Park Project; and retention of William D. Aaron Jr., Aaron & Gianna PLC, for legal services related to the Harris discrimination complaint.
—Funding transfer requests from Councilman Lionel “Butch” Metz in the amounts of $1,500 from the gaming fund to the 100 Black Men of St. Mary for its 17th Annual 5K Run/Walk; and from the Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10 three-tenths sales tax fund in the amounts of $1,700 to the Baldwin Police Department for equipment repairs, and $1,000 to the Town of Baldwin for Baldwin Pee Wee Football League equipment; and also from Councilman Logan Fromenthal for $5,000 from the gaming fund to the City of Berwick for its community celebration.
—Annual funding request from St. Mary Community Action Agency for $69,500 for its transportation fund and elderly nutrition program.
—A request from Verdunville resident Mark A. Bogan seeking an $11 per hour stipend for two people who drive the veterans’ bus to medical clinics out of town. He proposes that the cost be shared among the parish and its five municipalities.
The regular meeting begins at 6 p.m. on the fifth floor of the courthouse in Franklin.