Parish-development plan wins praise from some residents

• By JAMES MINTON
• Advocate Baker - Zachary bureau
• Published: Nov 12, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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ST. FRANCISVILLE — A majority of speakers told the West Feliciana Parish Police Jury and the Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday that they support a recently completed comprehensive plan for the parish’s development.

The document, written with the help of Fregonese Associates of Portland, Ore., and the Center for Planning Excellence of Baton Rouge, was influenced by the input of parish residents gathered in district meetings, two workshops and open houses, said Janet Tharp of Fregonese.

“It addresses the needs of so many people,” said resident Ken Stewart, who said residents want “a beautiful place but also want affordable housing.”

“They want shopping centers, but they still want a beautiful place,” Stewart said.

On the question of whether the plan has the force of law, jury legal adviser Mike Hughes said it does not, while Tharp said the plan is a policy document that guides decisions.

“It’s a guide for thinking people,” added resident Walter Oliveaux.

Parish Manager Ambrose Sims said the first step in implementing the plan will be rewriting the parish’s development codes and ordinances.

Some of the people supporting the plan expressed disappointment that voters turned down a proposed sales tax in the Nov. 4 election that would have helped fund some of the plan’s objectives, including infrastructure improvements that would attract business and industry to broaden the parish’s tax base.

The tax failed by 414 votes. Sims said the tax’s failure was unfortunate, “but it’s more unfortunate that (some) members of the Police Jury did not support it.”

Later, the tax’s failure came up during a discussion about flooding in Turner subdivision on Solitude Road, with Sims telling Juror John Cobb that the tax plan had funds for addressing flooding in that area and in Hardwood.

Sims said the jury’s cash position was severely impacted by spending on Hurricane Gustav recovery and an engineering study will cost $15,000 to $18,000.

“Put a price on a 3-year-old child’s life,” said resident Jerry Landrum, who said he waded out of the area with his young nephew when a “wall of water” hit the subdivision in the hurricane’s wake.