DONALDSONVILLE • DUTCHTOWN • GEISMAR • GONZALES • PRAIRIEVILLE • ST. AMANT
THE ASCENSION
AD DVOCA VOCATE T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
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W e d n e s d ay, d e c e m b e r 25, 2024
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Subdivision could be coming to Ascension BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT
Staff writer
After three years without a new subdivision, the Ascension Parish Planning Commission approved a preliminary plan for a new development in Dutchtown. Proposed for land on Faucheaux Road near La. 74 and Interstate 10, the preliminary plat lays out 77 singlefamily lots. But with a 3-2 approval, the planning board meeting showed that controversy over developments in the parish is still ongoing. The last subdivision approved in the parish was in 2021, Planning and Zoning Director Eric Poche said Thursday. That year, heated battles occurred when the parish council approved several new neighborhoods before a ninemonth moratorium took effect, includ-
ing a 237-home development. Although on a smaller scale, Thursday’s plat and its accompanying maps still caused tension. Presented by Quality Engineering & Surveying LLC, the 77-lot neighborhood will extend Faucheaux Road. According to the plan, it will have two parks, one at 2.02 acres and another at .64 acres. Additionally, the location includes the upper branch of Bayou Goudine and a portion of the New River, which led to flooding concerns from nearby residents. Following discussion with parishhired engineers, the committee approved the pitch for the subdivision with two specific guidelines. The first maintained the widening of Faucheaux Road to 20 feet, which is already required per parish ordinances. The second mandated that if the subdivision were to be built, a two-way turn lane
would need to be constructed on La. 74 following Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and parish guidelines.
Neighbors fear flooding, traffic While the planning commission ultimately approved the proposal, several residents living near the proposed site spoke out strongly against the plan. Catrina Bonomolo said it took her about 30 minutes to travel around a mile from a nearby pharmacy to her home. “We do not want any more development in our area that the infrastructure cannot support,” she said. “... More traffic in this area is not feasible. Nor is more building with the flooding issues in the area where Faucheaux Road is. Please make educated, informed
STAFF PHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
New River, in the foreground, and Duckroost Bayou, on the left, steadily fill with rainwater in front of Holy Rosary Catholic Church and Cemetery as the storm picks up hours before Hurricane Francine makes landfall in Ascension ä See SUBDIVISION, page 2G Parish on Sept. 11.
PHOTO BY WENDY LOUP
Maria, played by Jolie Renee Richard, dances in the Kingdom of Sweets with butterflies Dec. 15 during a performance of ‘The Nutcracker.’ The Tri-Parish Ballet performed two shows at the Price LeBlanc PACE Center in Gonzales. äMore on the event. PAGE 2G
Happiest Holidays stuff, I mean photos and stories, Between the last-minute Christincluding lots of pictures from holmas shopping, throwing up Santas all over the house and planning the iday events and festivities. That big Christmas Day meal, I’ve been makes me happy and reminds me busy with our Christmas Day issue. why I love this time of year. A few things make this time of Seeing the happy faces in all Darlene those photos from holiday parties, year hectic and special in my busiDenstorff breakfasts with Santa, parades, ness. For one, in order to produce AROUND decorated houses and gift givethe four different community news ASCENSION aways brings me joy. Family is sections we publish, we have to plan to make sure we have enough usually at the center of many of news copy to fill the pages a few days those festive photos. Kids sitting on Sanearly. It takes more than a dozen folks to ta’s lap for the first time or a traditional make this magic happen every week. And walk through a brightly-colored light diseach one has an important part in bringplay dot our pages this week. But this time of year also means missing ing information to your doorstep, inbox or loved ones who can’t make it home for the computer. holidays or are no longer with us. I think Those early deadlines mean countless about my mom and younger sister every emails reminding everyone to send their stuff so I can edit and send their copy ä See AROUND, page 4G along for the next phase of production. By
Ascension Christian Lions basketball players hit milestones “I am excited about our team this Scoring 1,000 points in your caseason,” the coach said. “We have reer is a major milestone for any five seniors and three juniors that player, and the Ascension Christian will play a huge part in what we do. Lions’ boys basketball have two We have a talented group that made players with those honors. it to the 2nd round last year, they Senior guard Jack Bready and Troy play for each other and their focus junior guard Dylan Spansel hit the LeBoeuf is to get better each day.” 1,000-point mark in recent games Ascension Christian is 7-2 (as for the Lions. ASCENSION SPORTS of press time) and has victories Bready is averaging 18.7 points over parish teams, Prairieville and per game and Spansel comes in with Dutchtown. Playing a tough scheda 19.2 average. Spansel and Bready are part of a Lions’ rotation that also inule to prepare for district is what Montalbano knows will pay off. cludes junior Trevor Russell (14.3 ppg), “Our district is extremely competitive senior Ryan Trauernicht (6.3 rebounds per game) and senior Tommy Wilson (4.7 ppg). and adding a district tournament makes it Head coach Angelo Montalbano has seen even tougher,” he said. “It is an honor for his team get better each year he has been ä See LEBOEUF, page 4G there.