Four-hour meeting ends with many issues tabled
Community news report
It took Zachary City Council members four hours on May 27 to wade through a lengthy agenda that featured controversial planning and zoning matters, proposed changes to contract procedures, new rules regarding street parking and more.
ZACHARY CITY COUNCIL
many of them returned to reiterate those points to the council.
Leila Pitchford AROUND ZACHARY
Help with school window coverings sought
The Zachary Community School District School Resource Officers are seeking help for a big project
They hope to make 95 covers for classroom windows in Copper Mill Elementary A news release said window covers are an important tool to keep students and educators safe on campus. They conceal classroom occupants and allow educators to verify who may be outside their door prior to allowing entry into their classroom. Those who can sew are invited to bring their sewing machine and join in person at 2 p.m. June 8, 5160 Old Slaughter Highway, Zachary, to make window covers for classrooms. Others are invited to donate supplies: needs include thread, magnets, 28-48 inch tension rods and fabric. All patterns and colors are welcome so clean out that fabric stash. Donations can be brought to the front office of Copper Mill Elementary School from 7:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., Monday through Thursday See the Zachary Police Department Facebook page for details.
Many in the audience had turned out to voice their opposition to Sherwood Park, a 144-unit apartment complex planned for 9 acres on Lower Zachary Road.
The council ended up tabling the matter — delaying a decision on a site plan that has already been before the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission four times in recent
The meeting, which went until 10:30 p.m., sparked lots of detailed and, at times, contentious discussion including comments from members of the public and backand-forth among council members and city officials.
months, each time ending with the commission either deferring a vote or recommending denial of the plan.
Residents are worried about how the complex will affect their neighborhood, pointing to the potential impact on their property values and the likelihood of increased traffic on an already-busy two-lane road. They spoke about their concerns at commission meetings, and
Byron Burkhalter, the project applicant, tried to reassure the audience and council that Sherwood Park would be an asset to Zachary
“I think if you give us a chance, you’ll be very pleased with this development,” Burkhalter said “This is a $38 million development, which is really hard to put all those sources together to make it work. We really want this to move forward and everybody to be proud of it.”
Officials have questioned whether the complex would comply with city development standards and have raised safety concerns over its configuration. Some variations of the site plan have included just one entrance Burkhalter said the version being presented to the council called for a main entrance plus an emergency-only access. Tom Easterly, an attorney with Taylor Porter representing the project, insisted that the plan
ä See MEETING, page
BRADY
then and years later he is still special. Before delving into his journey home, it is important to bring those who may not be aware of how special he was before he left. Most of the teams he played on in youth football and in middle school were undefeated. He was also one of the most critical offensive components of the back-to-back state championship teams of 2017 and 2018.
He was the slot receiver that always got open and drove West Monroe crazy before Chris Hilton stuck in the dagger Ask any ardent Bronco football fan and they will tell you he is probably the best they have ever seen at the inside receiver position, fearless across the middle on crossing routes and fielding punts.
After high school, he accepted a football scholarship to ULM and went to Monroe, where he suffered through the worst football season of his life as the Warhawks went 0-12.
I have coached or watched Whitfield since he was 8 and I can tell you that he has never been on a losing team before much less a team that did not win a game. Home was calling. He entered the transfer portal after that horrible year and coach Dawson Odums at Southern leaped at the chance to bring Whitfield home and make him a Jaguar
“I told my parents I envisioned coming home to Southern and making big plays in the Bayou Classic,”
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follows all city codes. He said the situation bears similarities to a 2013 court case, Zachary Housing Partners v. City of Zachary, that stemmed from the council voting down an apartment complex despite it complying with rules. The city lost that case.
“I think that this one, as much as people may not want it, it’s not a situation where the five people voting have discretion,” Easterly said. Because the plan meets all requirements, “if you don’t like it for some reason, that doesn’t mean you can deny it.”
Some council members said they were confused about which version of the plan they were voting on. This prompted a several-minute pause and eventually a recess of the meeting. After reconvening, council member Brandy Westmoreland made a unanimously supported motion to table the plan.
Another agenda item that generated debate was a request to split a lot on Newell Street into two — which the council, on a 3-2 vote, ultimately rejected. The Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended denial, saying the divided lots would be smaller than others in the area and could affect the character of the neighborhood.
Some council members shared that view Others
it never crossed my mind,”
Whitfield said.
He prayed about it and was asked a similar question by his father a few days later The idea picked up steam as friends and family all (absent of the knowledge of his meeting with Brewerton) independently came to the same conclusion.
AROUND
Also, new and gently used Zachary Community School District uniforms will be accepted during this event on behalf of ZEPTO. District approved jackets, pants, skirts, shorts, polos, belts and shoes will be accepted, along with new underwear and socks.
Whitfield said. He fought through injuries and capped his college career in the Bayou Classic, where he was named the outstanding performer after he made the play of the day with a one-handed 41-yard touchdown catch and finished with 134 yards and a touchdown on five catches. What a way to finish a career On his last game
Whitfield indicated that “winning the Classic was coming full circle for me and I told my dad that this was what I always dreamed and visualized.”
Whitfield will let you know that between his time at Zachary and Southern “I’m undefeated in the Dome.”
After graduation from Southern, Whitfield indicated that he was still trying to figure out his next steps when he received a blast from his past.
Coach Brewerton reached out to his cousin who was attending ZHS and indicated in no uncertain terms that Whitfield needed to come by and talk.
“Coach Brew asked me if I ever thought about coaching and to tell you the truth
didn’t.
“This council gives everyone such a hard time, and people are putting for sale signs on their property because it’s such a pain to deal with the City of Zachary Council and some of the other stuff,” said council member James Graves. “We are losing businesses left and right because of small stuff.”
Council member John LeBlanc fired back at Graves, saying the council’s decisions about planning and zoning matters in residential areas shouldn’t be blamed for businesses leaving town
“There’s different reasons,” he said. “Some of them are financial, some of them want to move to other places that may be more convenient.”
Later in the meeting, the council turned to the subject of council member Ambre DeVirgilio’s proposed ordinance that would give the council more power over city contracts It calls for the council to sign off on the majority of contracts — something the mayor currently can do without council approval.
The council tabled the item until its June 24 meeting and agreed to continue working on it after officials including the mayor, chief financial officer, purchasing director, parks and recreation director and a fire department representative — raised questions and said they’re concerned about city operations being hindered.
“The language in the
Whitfield worked with the receivers this spring and his former coach Drew Nettles. Whitfield indicated that in addition to the joy of the spring and coaching that “the old memories creep back of all the things we did when I played here growing up.”
On Nettles, he relayed that they have swapped roles in a way Whitfield was the star when Nettles was in his first year coaching at Zachary and now Nettles is mentoring his former player in his first year of coaching.
Whitfield also has the opportunity to coach his little brother, Skylar
“I asked Skyler if he was OK with it before I took the job. He had no concerns so I am going to hold him to it,” Whitfield quipped.
No pressure, but Skylar wears his brother’s old number 19. So come this fall you there will be a Whitfield roaming the sidelines and on the field. Chandler, a Zachary Legend, and little brother Skylar a sophomore who is aware of the high standard and expectation for wearing both the “Z” on his helmet and his brother’s number
Warren Brady covers sports for The Plainsman. He can be contacted at zachary@theadvocate. com.
limits in the ordinance are confusing to me. We don’t have a clear indication of what a contract would necessarily be,” said Chip Troth, purchasing director “Our fire department and police department enter into contracts with repair people all the time that fall under those limits, so we’re talking about holding up getting repairs done, waiting for a two-week meeting to come up for council in order for us to bring this to you.”
Mayor David McDavid has been opposed to the ordinance since it was first brought up in early May He said he feels he has been open with the council — “If I’m not transparent, then I’ll step down and resign today,” he said and defended the way his administrative team handles contracts.
“I think that this ordinance is stepping into my territory as far as day-to-day operations,” McDavid said.
He continued: “I’ll give you a prime example sewer lift station goes out, we’ve got human waste going in the house. I’ve got to have a motor, but I can’t do nothing for two weeks because I’ve got to call somebody to get approval. That is not right. That is day-to-day operations. I can make them decisions.“
Although it was after 9:30 p.m. at this point, debate and public comments continued for nearly another hour The topic was Graves’ proposed ordinance prohibiting 18-wheelers and other large vehicles from parking
Seeking school items
Rollins Place Elementary is seeking items for its donation closet.
Requested items include shoes in sizes 13, 1, 2, 3, 4; backpacks, theme day items such as Dot Day, 100th day of school, etc.; coats; and sweaters. Make sure the items are clean and stain and rip free. The school has a drop-off bin in front of the library
New utility payment option available
The city of Zachary announced a new utility payment option for residents: e-check payments via mobile and online devices
Features include:
n Mobile e-check payments: Pay securely from any smart device through our userfriendly online portal.
n Online Account Access: Register at https://1.municipal.cc/ZacharyLA/Webportal/ to check balances, view payment history, and manage your account 24/7.
n Technical support: Assistance is available through the website’s support number and live chat feature.
n A $1.50 surcharge applies to all e-check payments.
Other payment options:
n Hand-deliver payments to 4650 Main St.
n Use the self-service kiosk at the City Annex, 4650 Main St.
n Set up recurring bank draft payments by visiting www.cityofzacharyorg
Residents are encouraged to go paperless by signing up for electronic billing This option delivers the same detailed billing information as paper bills, but with added speed and convenience.
Having a summer event?
If you are hosting a summer camp, vacation Bible school or other event open to the public, send us the information to run in this space.
on streets — an issue he and residents said is creating safety hazards in neighborhoods.
In the end, the council tabled the ordinance. Members are going to look into how existing laws on obstructing roadways can be applied to situations where
Emails are zachary@theadvocate.com for the Zachary area and extra@theadvocate.com for the Felicianas.
Restaurant Week coming The Zachary Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Restaurant Week on June 8-14. Participating places include Brunch Junkie, Mami’s Mexican Restaurants, CC’s Coffee House, Café Phoenicia, El Mejor Mexican Restaurant, South Plains Food Company, The Depot Diner, Walk-On’s and Cajun Catch Festival announces music Downtown Live will present the third annual Zachary Really Hot Air Balloon Festival from 5 to 9 p.m. Aug. 8 and from 4 to 9 p.m. Aug. 9 at BREC Zachary Community Park, 20055 Old Scenic Highway DJ Press Play will start things at 4 p.m. each day On Aug. 8, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band will take the stage at 5:30 p.m. followed at 8 p.m. by Lauren Lee Band. On Aug. 9, two Louisiana acts will perform: Adam Leger at 5:30 p.m. and
SummerReading. Track your reading and earn rewards. Sign up at your library branch or online at ebrpl.beanstack.org. Log books there as you read them to earn virtual badges and completion rewards, as well as entries for weekly prize drawings. Program includes kids, teens and adults.
big trucks and trailers are blocking streets. Another item of note on the council’s docket involved the new Zachary Police Department headquarters. At Police Chief Darryl Lawrence’s request, the city has been withholding a final payment to Stuart and Company because of a number of punch-list items that had gone unaddressed. Lawrence reported that those problems have been fixed or will be soon, and the council voted to pay the construction firm the remaining $22,000 owed on the building.
PHOTO BY WARREN BRADY Zachary High coach Chandler Whitfield prepares for the next plan during a recent practice.
