Homewood

Zoning Issues

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Zoning Case 32-07 was passed at the June 20, 2007 Metro Council Meeting. The Anselmo Tract adjacent to Madeira Drive, owned by LevelBR.com, is now zoned A 3.1. For details on this zoning, please refer to the following website: www.brgov.com. The property is slated to be apartments. Flooding concerns can be directed to Mickey at SJB Group Engineers on Anselmo Lane.

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Manchac flood plains have increased the probability of major flooding without being tested by a major storm event.
• A majority of Homewood Subdivision and the adjacent subject property is below 96 feet base flood elevation and within the 100-year FEMA flood plain of Dawson Creek.
• The proposed development requires removing nearly 100% of the trees and vegetation, excavating four to six feet of soil from the low lying Dawson Creek portion of the property, raising the land elevation by two to four feet along a significant portion of the property east of Madeira Drive, paving approximately 90% of the land surface, and installing a ditch to intercept storm water from Homewood Subdivision and conveying it directly into Dawson Creek.

In summary, it is our belief that in addition to the loss of valuable inner-city wetlands, over-developments such as the proposed development adjacent to a pre-existing flood-prone area such as Homewood Subdivision will likely increase the probability and severity of future flood events.

We hope that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will agree with our objections to the proposed development and deny the 404 Wetlands Permit.
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February 20, 2006


State of Louisiana
Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Environmental Services
P. O. Box 4313
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821-4313

Robert Lott, Project Manager
WQC Application Number WQC RL-060207-03

Name of Applicant: Mr. Kelly Sills, TPKB, LLC
Location of Work: Near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in East Baton Rouge Parish
Character of Work: Clear, excavate, grade, and fill 0.5-acre of jurisdictional wetlands for the construction of 14 condominium buildings and parking area. Approximately 1600 cubic yards of native fill material and 194 cubic yards of concrete and asphalt will be placed on the property.

Dear Mr. Lott:

As representatives of the home owners of Homewood Subdivision, the Homewood Civic Association is OPPOSED to the issuance of a WQC Permit for the proposed condominium development due to the loss of valuable inner-city wetlands and increased flooding from Dawson Creek.

We request a PUBLIC HEARING to be held to discuss these issues in more detail and provide supporting information.

Wetlands
• The 0.5-acre area of impacted wetlands as shown on the drawings attached to the WQC permit application drastically underestimates the actual impacted wetlands area.
• A much larger portion of the property has been designated as a “Forested Wetland” by the National Wetlands Research Center.
• The actual impacted wetlands area should be approximately 7-acres, including the 26,300 cubic yard “area to be excavated” and at least half of the Messina tract from Samoa Avenue to Dawson Creek.
• The proposed development will result in the loss of valuable inner-city wetlands.

Flooding
• The proposed condominium development will increase flooding in Homewood Subdivision by destroying the natural forested wetland retention area, raising the land elevation, and increasing the rate of storm water flow into Dawson Creek.
• Homewood Subdivision has a history of flooding. Major storm events in 1990 and Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 flooded many homes along Madeira Drive and Perkins Road.
• Overflowing sewer and urban pollution are a health concern during flood events.
• Storm water from portions of Homewood Subdivision naturally flows eastward over the lower lying adjacent Messina property and into Dawson Creek.
• The wetlands serve as a natural retention area by absorbing a significant portion of the storm water and slowing down the rate that water flows into Dawson Creek.

February 20, 2006
Louisiana DEQ
Page 2

• There is concern that increased storm water flow caused by the proposed development and other recent large developments in the South Baton Rouge area will overwhelm Dawson Creek and reduce its ability to convey flood stage storm water into Bayou Manchac.
• Numerous major developments over the past five years within the Dawson Creek, Wards Creek, and Bayou Manchac flood plains have increased the probability of major flooding without being tested by a major storm event.
• A majority of Homewood Subdivision and the adjacent subject property is below 96 feet elevation and within the 100-year FEMA flood plain of Dawson Creek.
• The proposed development requires removing nearly 100% of the trees and vegetation, excavating four to six feet of soil from the low lying Dawson Creek portion of the property, raising the land elevation by two to four feet along a significant portion of the property east of Madeira Drive, paving approximately 90% of the land surface, and installing a ditch to intercept storm water from Homewood Subdivision and conveying it directly into Dawson Creek.

In summary, it is our belief that in addition to the loss of valuable inner-city wetlands, over-developments such as the proposed development adjacent to a pre-existing flood-prone area such as Homewood Subdivision will likely increase the probability and severity of future flood events.

We hope that the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality will agree with our objections to the proposed development and deny the WQC Permit.

We will only make a difference when people know we are active!

Links

JTS Interests (developers of corner of Perkins & Bluebonnet)
Willow Grove Baton Rouge (Perkins at Oak Hills)
JTS Interests Interactive Prekins Rowe (Perkins at Bluebonnet)