I JUST WANT THE MONEY! 
This is not a battle of residential versus commercial interests.
This is a battle of historic preservation versus corporate financial gain.
SAVE HISTORIC FREETOWN
I JUST WANT THE MONEY!
On June 27th the Lafayette Parish Council will be asked to
reverse a decision of the Planning Commission denying development of a 142 unit
student apartment housing development proposed by Capstone Dev. Corporation, an
Alabama based company.
This company's proposed development is one of eight apartment complexes - for a total of 1,335 units - seeking approval from the Planning Commission.
While this matter may seem simple on its face, it is
far more complex and involved than it appears. As the issues ferment and
take form, two competing interests are preparing to face-off in a
battle for values at the scheduled Parish Council Appeal Hearing on 06-27-06.
The developer’s position supports a "one firm set of
rules fits all situations”. Their
reasoning given is that one set of rules must be complied with or developers
cannot be secure in pursuing a development project in Lafayette; if a strict set
of rules is not observed, political considerations could intervene and cause an
unstable situation for developers.
The position this developer must convince the Parish
Council to take is one that rubber-stamps approval of all commercial development
if said development complies with current subdivision and Zoning ordinances.
That sounds like a scare tactic statement if I ever heard
one. Our parish council
has never exercised and nor do our subdivision and zoning ordinance require such
absolute adherence.
However, needless to say, no one is opposed to one concise
set of rules that regulates development. Let
there be no mistake, no one is opposed to commercial development in this
Freetown Neighborhood. However,
neighbors do object to student housing in their historic neighborhood.
Student housing they say is totally inconsistent with the historic
significance and character of their neighborhood.
A commercial development that conflicts with neighborhood
plans for the area may be new to Capstone developers but Neighborhood
Plans are not new to Lafayette. Plans
in effect include the Downtown Dev. Authority Plan, Oil Center Plan, Johnston
St. Coordinating Team Plan, Bayou Vermillionville District Plan, Louisiana Ave.
Overlay District Plan, etc. Additionally,
the Laf. Consolidated Government as well as neighboring municipalities is
working toward the creation of several “Tax Incremental Financing Districts",
which also represent a “plan” of development for a specified geographical
area inclusive of residential living accommodations.
Can you imagine a developer building anything inconsistent with these
“plans” and their themes? For
anyone who would question the wisdom of Neighborhood Planning I ask, Would you
rather have another Johnston Street in your neighborhood?
Each Neighborhood Plan represents a piece of a larger
comprehensive plan for the parish. Like
the comprehensive plan, Neighborhood Plans are living plans, flexible and
subject to accommodate a community of diversified inhabitants, residential &
commercial without changing the character of the neighborhood.
The
cultures of our Lafayette Community have put our city and parish on the map.
Our food, music, customs and language represents several cultures of the area that tourists want to see and
learn about and spend their money to explore and experience.
Destroying a historic neighborhood is counter productive and tantamount
to “shooting ourselves in the foot".
This type of intrusion would not be permitted in Sterling
Grove or any other historic area in Lafayette.
This is not a battle of residential versus commercial interests.
This is a battle of historic preservation versus corporate financial
gain.
What is at issue is a challenge to LINC Neighborhood
Organizations in general. If
this developer can ignore the Freetown Neighborhood Plan, he can ignore any
Neighborhood Plan. Neighborhood
Plans are not a product of the Planning Commission or its staff.
These plans are developed by residents of respective neighborhoods.
As a member of the Planning Commission I voted against this
development because I view it as an incompatible project. It is
not surprising that an out of state development company would have little or no
knowledge of a neighborhood's history, culture or future plans, however, to
disregard such factors after learning of the will of neighborhood residents is
disheartening because it sends the message that residents are of no concern to
them. Clearly, Capstone Development
Corp. would not make a good neighbor.
The Lafayette Planning Commission is committed to the
development and implementation of a Parish Comprehensive Plan inclusive of
neighborhood plans as elements. If
a more favorable quality of life is the desired outcome of a neighborhood plan,
then surely the physical, social, economic, health and environmental concerns of
the community is important and necessary.
By: Fred Prejean