Promenade Town Hall Meeting
City talks to residents about how Promenade Construction will affect their daily lives.
On Wednesday, June 18, several residents came to D’Iberville City Hall to ask questions about the upcoming construction of the Promenade Retail Development. The development plan calls for the closing of some roads and building of others. Both CBL, the developer and the City of D’Iberville will be working on construction in the area.
Representatives from CBL, included Jennifer Greer and Jarrod Felix project managers as well as Mark Seymour of Seymour Engineering and Council Members Henry Toncrey and Glenn Ellis.
Residents asked several questions about the quality of the temporary roads and the timetable by which the roads will be built, removed or rebuilt. The residents seemed satisfied with CBL’s answers as they were assured that the temporary roads would be compacted gravel and would be maintained to reduce dust. The area north of Bobby Eleuterius Road and west of the I-110 ramp is prone to flooding from the Tchoutacabouffa River north of the neighborhood. Residents expressed their concern about their ability to get out of the neighborhood in flood-prone storms or heavy rains, as they have had to do before. Greer assured them that the roads would be maintained to such a degree that they would always have a way out of the neighborhood.
Another concern for residents was two detention ponds that will be created at the northwest corner of the development. The ponds are designed to take any excess water that flows from the developed area, filter it slowly, trapping any oil, trash and dirt and release it, cleaned into the wetlands area that lies north west, between the development and the Tchoutacabouffa River.
Felix gave a detailed explanation of the workings of the pond and how it both protects the wetland and prevents excess flooding. Joseph Gautier was one of the residents present and he was particularly worried about possible flooding on his property. He left the meeting, satisfied with the answers yet still skeptical about the practical application.
Greer admitted to the residents that problems and discomfort will no doubt arise but promised the CBL was determined to work with area residents and make the transition as comfortable and problem free as possible.
