Planned Garden City apt. complex draws opposition

Parish council members have been put on warning: La. 182 residents east of Franklin are opposed to a plan to construct an apartment complex in their area.
The council heard from some of the opposition Wednesday during their monthly meeting prior to voting on approval to subdivide the property at 120 La. 3215, the access road that runs between La. 182 and U.S. 90 near Garden City.
Len Klutts of 10240 La. 182 presented a petition with 165 signatures of residents he said were from “up and down the highway” who are opposed to the development.
The property being considered was zoned high density residential in December 2009, according to Zoning Director Tammy Luke.
The developer, New 90 LLC, proposing a Phase 1 construction of a 168-unit complex, has not yet purchased the property. The subdivision being requested parcels out an 11-acre plot for the initial construction site.
Klutts said the apartment addition would have the potential to add as many as 500 vehicles to local traffic.
“It would increase traffic tremendously,” he said. “We’re here to let you know that as citizens and voters, we plan on fighting this all the way to the end not to have this there.”
He added that it would also “tax all the resources of the parish” such as police protection and water and sewer utilities.
“We all bought out here because it’s a nice quiet place … it’s been that way for a long time,” he said of the highway that is the site of many of the area’s plantation homes.
“We just want to let y’all know that as citizens and voters, we don’t want it,” he said. “We’re going to be back.” Klutts said the council also may hear from national historic preservation representatives who he thought “have a say in what can be built and put in around there.”
“Right now the infrastructure is not there to support 356 apartments,” said Randy Nixie of 10071 La. 182. “For 150 years, Francis Plantation has been overlooking cane fields. … It does have historic value. It does have a scenic highway that’s nationally recognized.
“It’s that historic value that you’re going to lose forever,” Nixie said.
After being assured by Luke that the subdivision request meets all zoning code provisions, the council approved the item on an 8-1-2 vote, with Kevin Voisin opposed and Ken Singleton and Lionel “Butch” Metz absent.
Councilman Randy Hanagriff told La. 182 residents in the audience that he would keep them informed of upcoming meetings as the plans go through the development process.
In other business the council:
—Passed resolutions on execution of an agreement with the lowest bidder on the Yellow Bayou and Hanson Canal floodgates and levee improvements project, and a change order on same; execution of a mowing and litter pickup agreement with Department of Transportation and Development; a change order reducing the price by $20,268 on the Plantation Inn Pump Station replacement, project; a service agreement with Moreau & Associates Auctioneer for auction of surplus equipment; execution of bill of sale with Conrad Aluminum LLC on certain equipment and other items; a contract with Glenn Lege Construction Inc. on the patch and overlay of Iberia Street in Franklin; a change order reducing the cost by $37,996 and notice of substantial completion on road and drainage improvements to Labau, Jolivette, Ninth and 10th streets in Baldwin.
—Approved a request by Councilman Charles “Butch” Middleton to transfer $4,000 each to the City of Franklin and the St. Joseph community from the Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10 three-tenths sales tax fund for summer youth programs.
—Deferred to finance committee financial allocation requests from Community Outreach for $15,000 in supplemental funding for its 232-HELP program; and the St. Mary Parish Fire Association in need of $27,125 for the purchase of various supplies and equipment.
—Postponed appointment of the official journal until the first meeting in June as is specified in state law.
—Appointed Wanda Childers and Deena Savoie to the Mosquito Control District 1 board; and Gerren Thibodeaux to the Recreation District 2 board; and reappointed Tad Blevins and Joseph Tabb to the West St. Mary Port commission.