A standing room only crowd, others tiptoeing to get a view inside the Council Meeting Room at Gonzales City Hall on Monday, anticipating the consideration of Brittany Point, LLC’s annexation hearing. 55.14 acres adjoining Gonzales’ eastern city limits, Doug Diez’s property abuts one of the city’s drainage hotspots where fears of flooding accompany every torrential downpour. Diez is pitching improvements (or trying) to neighboring residents in no mood to hear it, tempers flaring as the annexation petition was referred back to the city’s Planning Commission.
Diez failed to convince the Commission on January 3, when that five-member appointed panel recommended denial of his petition. Planning minutes for the January 3 Public Hearing summarize commissioner concerns:
- Adverse impact on drainage, with corresponding increase in flood insurance premiums.
- Increased fire insurance premiums due to diminished fire rating, due to longer response times.
- Potential negative impact on localized property values.
The meeting minutes include Planning’s recommendation to the city council:
“To deny the petition of annexation…because of the negative impacts on fire and flood insurance and insufficient information on the quality of the product, including square footage, cost issues.”
Doug and Beau Diez at the speakers’ podium on Monday.
Diez believes those stated concerns are unfounded, his argument supported by information not presented to the Commission seven weeks ago. Additionally, he promises to improve persistent drainage issues worrying residents of Pecan Grove East subdivision where Bayou Francois’ deficiencies cannot handle water from regularly occurring rain events. He lobbied Gonzales’ governing authority for an opportunity to make his case to concerned residents, and another crack at the Planning Commission.
The vote was 3-2 for a return to the commission, a recommending body with the final say so retained by the elective City Council. The “yeas” (Councilmen Kirk Boudreaux, Harold Stewart and Johnny Berthelot) had it over the “nays” (Councilmen Tim Riley and Tyler Turner) as an already contentious meeting descended into chaos.
Councilman Tim Riley (l) was a resounding NO! vote on Brittany Point annexation.
NOTE: It is an all-too common feature of Gonzales meetings, where Robert’s Rules of Order are an afterthought and dialogue is allowed between the meeting chair (Mayor Barney Arceneaux) and the audience. Q & A sessions are not envisioned by the Robert’s parliamentary proceedings manual for a reason. We, digress.
Doug Diez requested use of the Council Meeting Chamber (on March 12 or 13) in order to meet with any and all citizens in the hope of resolving any and all concerns.
“Brittany Point will only be built if we can do so without causing adverse impact on the city and any resident. We have said that from the very beginning,” stated Diez. “And we mean it.”
Of all the potential “adverse impact” it is drainage top of mind for most residents. All concerned concede the problem and the simple fact of the matter is that no one is proposing anything like a solution…except Doug Diez. The City of Gonzales has not offered up a fix, not publicly anyway, and East Ascension Drainage Commission is totally oblivious.
Maybe he should be given a fair hearing.
“Keep in mind, there are several more steps in the process before we could even begin building a subdivision,” Diez pointed out. “We are eager to work with the city toward developing the best product possible, and one that improves drainage in the area without adversely impacting any other infrastructure element.”
The annexation petition is going back to the Planning Commission, regularly scheduled to meet on the first Monday of each month (before Diez’s requested use of the meeting room on March 12 or 13). Whatever the Commission recommends, the final decision would be left to the City Council. Assuming ultimate approval of the annexation request, it could only be done by ordinance which requires introduction, then two-weeks notice, public hearing and vote.
If annexed, before Brittany Point’s subdivision plat could be submitted, again to the Planning Commission, drainage/traffic impact studies are required for consideration by the Commission which would make a recommendation to the City Council. Gonzales’ legislative body is the final authority on subdivision plats too.
The project can be killed at any point along the procedural path.
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