New subdivision planned in Berwick

A 57-site subdivision adjacent to Renwick Subdivision is in the planning phase.
Councilman Damon Robison said during Tuesday’s Berwick Town Council meeting that Fernand Privat, owner of Privat General Contractors in Lafayette, is awaiting permission to subdivide the 18-acre parcel adjacent to the western edge of Renwick Subdivision.
The subdivision will be addressed at the Sept. 3 town Planning and Zoning meeting with final approval considered at the Town Council’s next meeting Sept. 9.
Robison said he is unsure if Privat, who develops both commercial and residential sites, will be developing only the land like the town did with the five phases of Renwick or if the contractor will be building houses for sale.
The subdivision will be accessible from Cloverdale and Victoria drives in Renwick and will be developed with the same concept as Renwick, Robison said, adding that the contractor said he wouldn’t change a formula that is working in the community.
In other action Tuesday, the Town Council:
—Learned from Mayor Louis Ratcliff that $1.2 million in capital improvement bonds have been sold by the state to fund sewer and water improvements near Cameron, which will serve the town’s western boundary. The council expanded the agenda to enter into an engineering contract for the work.
—Learned from Councilman Duval Arthur that the state Department of Transportation and Development told Cameron they would reduce the speed limit at the crossing on La. 182.
—Introduced ordinances amending the 2013-14 budget and adopting the 2014-15 budget. Items amended in the current year budget were a $150,000 increase in sales tax revenue in the 1 percent sales tax fund and a reduction in the capital outlay general fund of $100,000 because the Pattie Drive overlay was not completed. A public hearing will be held in conjunction with the next regular meeting of the Town Council.
—Ratcliff said he sent a letter to the transportation department asking them to clean the U.S. 90 bridge once a month instead of only in preparation for Shrimp & Petroleum Festival and Christmas. He said he would ask Morgan City Mayor Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi to send a similar letter.
—Received the 2013-14 Litter Index compiled by the Keep St. Mary Parish Beautiful committee, which ranked all areas of the parish according to the amount of litter, and its strengths and weaknesses. Berwick received a 1, the highest rating.