City of Slidell Proposed Ordinance 20-07-3334

The Bayou Liberty Association fully supports the immediate moratorium on any review, construction, permitting, or approval of new multi-family dwellings within the City of Slidell. This ordinance is scheduled for public hearing and vote as proposed Ordinance 20-07-3334.

The proposed project, Presidio – Slidell, LLC, poses significant risks to the Bayou Liberty watershed. It also threatens the contiguous residents on the east side who live along Badon Road. So too, the homes toward the south (Huntwyck Village), will be adversely impacted by any increased water runoff. With the destruction of almost 10-acres of wetlands on a 16-acre parcel, coupled with 20,000 cubic yards of fill, these surrounding residential communities will sustain more intense flooding that tragically will occur more frequently.

We applaud the City of Slidell’s efforts to develop a comprehensive master plan.  Our sincere hope is that a well-crafted strategy will emerge that obligates developers and landowners to select alternate water-disposal methods. In all cases, they must cease using Bayou Liberty as a drainage ditch for excess water runoff and petrochemical pollutant discharge. The master plan needs to demand more of developers. Realistically, proposed water detention basins and/or water-injection wells must exist in perpetuity. Factually, all water dispersion systems submitted and approved require upkeep. The developer’s plan must clearly identify the party or entity that will be responsible for all-inclusive long-term maintenance.

We the citizens, together with our elected officials, should strive to preserve our irreplaceable, fragile, strikingly beautiful ecosystems. Bayou Liberty waterway reached capacity decades ago. It can no longer absorb additional water and chemical pollutant discharge.  We suspect other water streams throughout St. Tammany are also colliding with development.