Neighbors continue to question Three Oaks

Residents of the Southern Estates subdivision have raised ethical complaints and flood concerns in their efforts to halt a planned mixed-use affordable housing complex in their neighborhood. An ethics inquiry has been launched by the parish council into the potential sale of the property part owned by former parish manager Barry Blackwell.

At last Monday’s parish council committee meetings, dozens of often-unruly residents from Gray packed the meeting room in Government Tower to voice their concerns about the proposed Three Oaks Subdivision.

The development would include 229 lots, an apartment complex, 2 hotels, retail spaces and a golf course on 144 acres near the intersection of La. 24 and U.S. 90. The developer, Coastal Phoenix of Mississippi, would be awarded $10 million in community block development grants, and was subjected to a selection process that residents have called into question.

Jennifer Goulas, a resident of Southern Estates, presented the council with a homemade chart showing alleged conflicts of interest with the blue ribbon committee tapped to select one of four properties submitted for the CDBG funding. The proposal that was selected would be built on land owned by Blackwell and former Terrebonne Economic Development Authority President Henry Richard.

The committee used to select the proposal included TEDA members Michael Ferdinand and Morris Coats, as well as parish Planning and Zoning Director Pat Gordon and Housing and Human Services Director Daryl Waire.

Goulas argues that these four members may have been biased because they used to work under both owners of the property. She also pointed out a tertiary connection between Blackwell and Catholic Housing Services Director Paula Ringo, who works closely with the parish. The only member she could not connect was MidSouth banker Troy Cloutier.

“Federal regulation says that grants cannot be awarded when there is a real or apparent conflict of interest. In my opinion, this is a conflict of interest.”

At last Monday’s meeting, the parish council passed a resolution to seek an attorney generals input regarding all the members of the blue ribbon committee.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong, but I just want to make sure that everything is above board here,” said Councilman Kevin Voisin. “I’d rather include everybody on the committee so it doesn’t seem arbitrary.”

Michel Claudet felt that the matter was unnecessary, and asked the public, “Do you not trust administration to resolves these issues in a competent manner?”

He was met with a resounding chorus of, “no” from the gallery.

The most pressing legal concern for the parish is a state law that says parish employees are barred from profiting from dealings with the parish for two years after they stop working for the parish.

It is unclear whether, as a third hand party, the law would apply to Blackwell’s stint as parish manager. Claudet also pointed out that the two-year period would lapse in January of next year, before Blackwell would actually profit.

The resolution became mired in legal definitions before it could be implemented, and was amended at Wednesday’s general council meeting. The council had requested the state’s attorney general weigh in, but used the word ruling and opinion somewhat interchangeably, which have two different legal implications.

According to Parish Attorney Courtney Alcock, “a ruling is handed down by an administrative law judge as the result of an ethics complaint and an investigation,” whereas an opinion is an answer to a hypothetical legal question.

Voisin bought the motion back to the council at Wednesday’s general council meeting to clarify, where it faced stiff opposition.

“I don’t care if you have a red ribbon, a blue ribbon, or a pink ribbon committee. No one’s going to want to be on them if they volunteer for them and then get investigated,” said Councilman Alvin Tillman.

Coastal Phoenix, the developer of Three Oaks, was represented at the meeting by attorney Berwick Duval, who questioned the investigation.

“The Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government was in charge of the whole thing. The council unanimously accepted the proposal. We played by the rules and did exactly what you asked us to,” said Duval. “Now you want to investigate Mr. Blackwell and, by extension, my client and not investigate yourselves?”

The resolution was clarified as an opinion from the attorney general regarding Blackwell alone. It appears as if Goulas’ other complaints will be set aside.

The amended resolution passed 6-3, with Tillman, Johnny Pizzolatto, and Joey Cehan voting no.

Blackwell, who now runs the parish’s waterworks, didn’t mind council’s actions, but also thought there was no conflict of interest.

“To be honest with you, I didn’t even know who was on the committee. It’s just strictly a land sale. I’m not in touch with the people that purchased the land on a regular basis,” said Blackwell.

“I fully support having the opinion rendered. I’m sure there’s a lot more intelligent person than my self that needs to look into it,” he added.

Goulas, however, was not deterred by the setback.

“I think one way or another we will get this stopped. If the administration doesn’t want to investigate it, there are other people that will,” said Goulas.

Drainage Debated

Last Monday, residents argued that adding such a large development would worsen flooding in the area by creating more runoff into the already strained CCC drainage ditch.

The next morning, their neighborhood flooded.

The project has had strong support among councilmembers, who believe in the merits of the project and support affordable housing.

Last Monday, Alvin Tillman argued that the parish needs to adjust to the needs of those who are moving from down the bayou.

“We’re asking people to come up from the bayous, but when they get here you say, ‘I don’t want them here,” said Tillman. “We have to understand that sooner or later people are coming up here, but we want to make sure it’s done right.”

Teri Cavalier, who represents Southern Estates and the Three Oaks area, was sympathetic to her residents needs, but cautioned that development of some form was imminent.

“If I had it my way, none of the developments in the area would be going in,” said Cavalier. “These people don’t buy the land to cut the grass. They bought the land to make money, and they’re going to build something.”

The Southern Estates Residents Association was issued a letter by the property owners on Dec. 12 stating that the alternative plan to the Three Oaks development was a 1,100-space trailer park.

Last Tuesday’s flooding precipitated a change of heart for some councilmembers, and the next day, Cavalier introduced plans to discuss a moratorium on all development along the CCC drainage ditch at the next council meeting. It’s too early to tell how the Three Oaks plan would be affected.

Tillman also may be changing his position on the matter, as he read into the record a letter from Southern Estates resident Jason Baker at Wednesday’s meeting.

“I’d like you to come to Southern Estates and see the third 100 year rain we’ve had this year,” quipped Baker. “It will do no good to move residents from lower Terrebonne here when we’re also flooded.”

Residents who live near the proposed Three Oaks subdivision have fought the parish council to keep the development out, sighting drainage issues and fears that it will lower their property’s value. * Pphoto by MICHAEL DAVIS