Development halted in northern T’bonne

The Terrebonne Parish Council has declared a moratorium on all development larger than a single family home that use CCC ditch for drainage. The controversial move comes after weeks of heated debate following the December floods and narrowly passed after a 5-4 vote. One area developer has already threatened to file for an injunction against the moratorium, and, although pleased, residents aren’t convinced their drainage problems will be solved.

The development freeze is scheduled to last 120 days, or until work on clearing the CCC ditch can be completed. Councilwoman Teri Cavalier proposed the measure after residents of her district came to council meetings in droves to oppose a new development in Schriever out of fear it would worsen existing drainage problems.

In the midst of protest from constituents, record December rains flooded several areas in the parish, including those along the CCC ditch. The day after flooding occurred throughout the parish, the council erupted into a drainage fracas that saw council members red-faced and pounding on tables.

The moratorium passed over the objections of Councilmen Johnny Pizzolatto, Billy Hebert, Clayton Voisin and Joey Cehan, as well as many contractors and commercial business owners in the parish.

Ronnie Theriot, who owns Evangeline Business Park, said that a proposed $40 million development on his property was put at risk by the moratorium, and the plans to file an injunction to stop the council’s action.

“To a developer or a lender, 120 days is not the point. What is important for them to know is that the council can impose a moratorium on construction at any time it deems necessary, for as long is it deems necessary, for any reason which it deems appropriate, no matter what the consequences are for investors,” Theriot said.

Even residents who supported the moratorium weren’t convinced it would solve their problems.

“I appreciate the idea of the moratorium, but I don’t think it’s inclusive enough to really do what it’s intended to do,” said Southern Estates subdivision resident Jennifer Goulas. “I think it’s really important to address it comprehensively and not just in our section alone if the job is to be done right. “

Many at the meeting questioned whether drainage canals in the parish had been adequately maintained. The parish has known since 2002 the its 1-1B drainage system, which handles areas north and west of Lake Houma, can’t handle a 25-year storm, but work to improve the system has stalled in recent years due to funding.

According to Parish Manager Al Levron, the parish has completed three of eight phases to give the parish’s forced drainage system enough capacity to handle a 25-year storm event. That project is based on a 2002 study by engineering firm T. Baker Smith. Although a fourth phase is currently up for bid, Levron said that the project could not be completed for at least two years.

“I don’t think the new developments are causing the flooding problem, based on what engineering says,” said W. Alex Ostheimer, a member of the parish’s Planning and Zoning Commission. “As opposed to the moratorium, a more prudent solution might be to expedite the projects under way to restore 1-1B arteries to the 25-year design standard.”

The CCC ditch eventually drains into Lake Houma, but before it can get there, it intersects with the St. Louis Canal. As a result, if the water level on that canal is too high, the CCC ditch can’t make it to lake Houma.

“The 1B project was designed and built with a lot of things in mind, and one of them was you’ve got to keep the channels clean and clear. And I can tell you that’s never been done, and I can tell you the water can’t flow,” said Jim Erny, also a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission. “The water can’t get to the pumps fast enough. It’ll drain the canal, but the pumps don’t have no (sic) water to suck up. Isn’t that a problem? We designed and paid for 14 pumps for the whole system, but you can’t run but half of them.”

Despite questions about the efficacy of the moratorium, the legislations marked a victory for Cavalier, who managed to push the moratorium through the council, after a lengthy fight over drainage.

“I have been singing this song for six years. The previous administration did not give me any money, they did not do what needed to be done,” said Cavalier. “I’m just praying that in this amount of time we can get the problem solved and we can alleviate it, because development is coming, but I want to see good development.”