[StBernard] SDT non-processing waste transfer site

[Westley Annis]

'Lets hope this project is approached nonpolitically and that at the very
least the
newly assessed $20 a month garbage fee could be cancelled. '

I would like to know who (if anyone) is going to pay the $20.00 for renters
living in FEMA paid housing (owned by Florida contractors) who do not have a
garbage can & still have their plastic bagged garbage picked up ? They are
not registered as having a can, so how will SDT know to bill them ? On a
related note, SDT is not supposed to be picking up garbage not in cans since
they get paid by the amount of cans that are picked up. BUT if they don't
pick it up, the cats, rats and dogs are getting in it, ripping the bags open
& spreading it all over the neighborhood.  All the neighbors have called
about this disgusting situation, but it seems as if nothing can be done. If
any of the returning original home oners wouldn't have a garbage can, I bet
our garbage wouldn't be picked up. 

Syl


-----Original Message-----
Public Hearing Tuesday September 23, 2008  4pm  
Council Chambers of the St Bernard Parish Government Complex
8201 West Judge Perez Drive
Chalmette, LA

Zoning Change Request from A1 Rural to I2 Heavy Industrial for a
non-processing transfer station waste facility for SDT Waste and Debris
Services, LLC
Docket 15-08 Shevravast Investment LLC represented by Sidney D Torres, IV

Without a municipal address, the best description managed without all the
legal townships and designations is:

The property petitioned to be re-zoned is located south of Bayou Bienvenue
on the east side of Paris Road just north of the St Bernard Parish Sheriff's
Office Substation and behind the old TNT Marine building.  This location is
approximately located at 5433 or 5441 Paris Road, Chalmette, LA.  As viewed
from a google map, it is north of the Marina Road and Paris Road
intersection and seems to be the "lot" that extends farthest east towards
the bayou where Marina Road extends into Marina Estates and curves back
towards the west.

The zoning public hearing scheduled for Tuesday September 23, 2008 at 4pm in
the council chambers is to include a presentation by SDT Waste and Debris
Services, LLC.  Mr Sidney Torres, IV has stated the proposed facility will
be completely enclosed with appropriate environmental improvements.

SJK
my unsolicated two cents worth:  
Trying my darnest to keep an open mind on this particular project and the
current agreement between St Bernard Parish Government and SDT WDS.
reserving comment on the environmental improvements until after the
presentation and the availability to review the wetlands survey and other
materials.  Hopefully the planning commission allows a public comment period
after the presentation and before their vote on any recommendations.  

There is a new LDEQ regulation for non-processing waste facilities that
calls for a 200' buffer zone; one which I am certain SDT has already
incorporated in their proposal. 

LAC 33:VII.508.B  New facilities in which construction has commenced after
June 
20, 2007 shall comply with the buffer zone requirement of not less than 200
feet 
between the facility and the property line.  

Just wondering what the planning commission's definition of buffer zone will
be in this context and would hope it doesnot intend this 200 feet to be
utilized for industrial~commercial buildings to transition from the industry
to the community. HINT: we expect it to be landscaped "greenspace"   ; )

In our community, I see an unfortunate pattern of landuse decisions that go
from R1 or A1 straight to I2 Heavy Industrial.  I2 is always conditional by
definition and yet as we saw in the Murphy Oil Meraux refinery petition for
the petrochemical laboratory, it doesnot take much to continue the I2 from
one heavy waste user to another heavier waste user with or without and
sometimes within the buffer zone.  And once A1 Rural or R1 residential is
gone, its gone.  Our council members are making more and more decisions
which are making us an extremely heavily industrialized region with
recreational and residential usage precariously located too close to the
industry(s).  The residents are the ones who must live with the consequences
of added truck traffic, particulate matter in the air, and the other
consequences to our natural resources, health and environment.  Lets hope
this project is approached nonpolitically and that at the v ery least the
newly assessed $20 a month garbage fee could be cancelled.

SJK