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Looking into the future the Pelican feeding its young from a self-induced wound in its own breast (as depicted, mysteriously, on the state flag of Louisiana) is accepted as an appropriate symbol of both self-sacrifice and rebirth. Through his selfless efforts, man is raised from the slavery of ignorance to the condition of freedom conferred by wisdom. Given the current state of affairs in Louisiana, one hopes that the understanding of the Pelican as a symbol shall point the way towards a new consciousness of ourselves as a whole, and lead us to face our futures with strength, grace, wisdom and faith, to learn from our mistakes and carry our successes and zest for living to future generations.

Council Backs Lake Tract Project

  1. June 5, 2004
  2. By Charlie Chapple
  3. St. Tammany Bureau
  4. The Times-Picayune

Zoning change OK’d over activists’ protest

The St. Tammany Parish Council has upheld Zoning Commission decisions to grant zoning and other changes for the continued development of a 2,500-acre tract south of Slidell for residential, commercial and recreational uses.

The council Thursday night unanimously rejected an appeal by Save Our Wetlands to reverse the commission’s May 4 decisions, saying the changes are nothing more than minor amendments to a previously-approved master plan for the eventual development of the property between Lake Pontchartrain, Interstate 10 and Louisiana 433.

The environmental group contends the large tract is an environmentally sensitive area and that continued development of the property with the expansion of Lakeshore Estates and the construction of a new development, Lakeshore Village, will endanger marine and wildlife habitat, increase flooding and degrade water quality.

Save Our Wetlands, who filed the appeal, did not attend Thursday night’s council meeting. But group member Glynn Brock read to the council a lengthy letter written by SOWL outlining the organization’s numerous objections not only to the changes but to the development of the tract in general.

"Out of a vast 5,200-acre wetland estuary (along the lake south of Slidell) criminally diked, dammed and drained, there are now remaining 650 acres of wetlands this project would destroy," SOWL stated in its letter.

Tammany Holding Corp., headed by Robert Torres Sr., began the first phase of Lakeshore Estates in 1998. Several hundred upscale home sites and a large apartment complex were built along and near Lake Pontchartrain.

In 2001, the company got approval of its 25-year master plan for continued development of its adjacent acreage.

And last month, the company was granted permits from state and federal agencies, including the Army Corps of Engineers, for the second phase of Lakeshore Estates and the Lakeshore Village development.

Save Our Wetlands, which has unsuccessfully fought development in the coastal region along the lake south of Slidell for at least 10 years, filed suit against the corps Tuesday, contesting the corps permit.

Councilman Joe "Coach" Thomas, who represents the area, said the property has been part of a drainage district since the late 1920s, with levees and pumps for development.

"The (planning) staff recommends approval" of the changes, Thomas said. "The Zoning Commission unanimously approved it, and I move to concur."

The major changes approved by the Zoning Commission and upheld by the council included rezoning most of the property as two planned unit developments with designated areas for a mixture of uses within Lakeshore Estates and Lakeshore Village.

The new part of Lakeshore Estates envisions 250 single-family homes and 1,000 multifamily units. Plans for Lakeshore Village calls for about 5,000 single-family and multifamily homes. Other uses which will be allowed in the designated areas of the two developments include neighborhood commercial, interstate or highway commercial, medical facilities, professional offices, yacht clubs and marinas, schools, churches and government buildings.

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