[StBernard] St. Bernard neighbors say new construction is destroying wetlands

[Westley Annis]

If any of these locations are within the levee system (which they are), then
I hate to say it, but the COE was correct in their response to Ms. Arcement
- the developers didn't need a wetlands permit.  Everything inside the
levees is called "fast lands."  Generally (with rare exception) do
developers require 404 permits from the COE when on fast lands.  And elected
officials who have been around for more than a few years know this.



-----Original Message-----
St. Bernard neighbors say new construction is destroying wetlands

by Monica Hernandez / Eyewitness News

wwltv.com

Posted on February 18, 2011 at 10:29 PM

ST. BERNARD, La. -- After two years of heated protests against mixed-income
apartments, St. Bernard Parish issued a building permit this month for the
four complexes. Now, people in the parish are protesting again, this time
saying the construction is destroying vital wetlands.

"I want them to cease and not build these," said longtime resident Diane
Coleman, who participated in a rally Friday evening near the Frederick Sigur
Civic Center in Chalmette.

Neighbors like Dana Arcement said the construction of one of the complexes
has destroyed the wetlands that were once in front of her home.

"Any wetland evidence has been deliberately covered up over the last year
now," said Arcement, president of the Chateau Lafitte Homeowner's
Association.

Arcement showed Eyewitness News photos of the property before construction,
showing a waterway with ducks. Photos also show what appears to be various
stages of wetlands being filled in.

Neighbors said signs were posted around the area, alerting people that the
grounds were indeed designated wetlands, but now those signs have replaced
by construction equipment.

"They didn't even want you to go on that land according to the signs, they
didn't even want you to disturb the animals," said longtime St. Bernard
resident Nicholas Cuccia.

Parish President Craig Taffaro said no wetlands permit was filed with the
parish. Arcement said the corps told her none was needed. Eyewitness News
was unable to confirm because the Corps' point person was unavailable.

But either way, officials are hoping the Corps takes a second look.

"It should have at least been a formal determination, and we've inquired as
well to find out, did the Corps make a determination based on their own
investigation, or did they sidestep a procedure they should have followed?"
said Taffaro.

Neighbors pointed out, the new St. Bernard hospital, being built nearby, had
to apply for a wetlands permit and mitigate their site. And they wonder why
the Dallas-based developer constructing the apartment complexes apparently
didn't have to do that.

"I want to know why is Provident Realty being given the royal treatment, yet
the citizens of St. Bernard are being given the royal shaft," said Arcement.

There's more to this issue than wetlands. For years, neighbors argued the
mixed-income apartments would bring down property values. The parish tried
to stop construction, but ended up losing a federal lawsuit. And after HUD
filed a complaint against the parish's zoning laws, officials gave the
project a greenlight.

Calls to Provident Realty had not been returned.