Public gets look at plans for subdivision on Shannon property

Nobody got everything they wanted.

But at the Morgan City Planning & Zoning Commission’s meeting Tuesday, members of the public got their most detailed look yet at the city government’s still incomplete plans for a residential development on the M.D. Shannon school property.

As plans move forward, Mayor Lee Dragna and Chief Administrative Officer Charlie Solar were hoping to have the 1.6 acres where 15 lots would be located rezoned to R-1E Residential. That would limit the property to single-family dwellings, prohibiting mobile and manufactured homes, containerized homes, accessory buildings, temporary portable covers and detached garages.

But commission Chairman Frank Judycki sought advice from legal counsel Paul Landry on whether the legal advertising for the agenda was specific enough about the rezoning proposal. Based on that advice, the proposal will be resubmitted at a future meeting.

In the meantime, Solar and Dragna had the opportunity to describe their vision for the project. Neighborhood residents had the chance to express their concerns about traffic, the financial viability of the development and the fate of the historic school, which once housed Morgan City High.

The St. Mary Parish School Board closed what was by then an elementary school in 2015. Dragna, hoping to keep the Shannon gym available for activities such as Biddy Basketball with plans for more, proposed the purchase of the school property by the city for $100,000 with plans for the residential development.

The 15 lots in the current plan would be owned and then sold by the city’s development district, which would also be in charge of developing detailed plans.

The income from the lot sales would be used to pay for the upkeep on the Shannon school building.

“By saving it,” Dragna said, “we said we could build a neighborhood.”

He and Solar described the development as progress for Morgan City.

“We have to move the city on,” Solar said. “We don’t have a choice.”

Neighborhood resident Greig Chauvin said she likes the idea.

“I think the mayor and Charlie are trying to make things happen,” Chauvin said.

The minimum size of the lots would be 3,500 square feet — 47 feet by 75 feet — laid out in two rows parallel to Wise Street.

A common area would run between the two rows with artificial turf, a walking path and, possibly, playground equipment.

The price of the lots would be in the $35,000 to $50,000 range.

Requirements for the homes aren’t finalized, but Solar said there would be no metal roofs, and rules would be in place for siding.

The homes would be 1,200 to 2,000 square feet, which Solar said is an attractive size for people whose children are grown or are looking for a place that’s easy to maintain. He’d like to see plans for five or six homes from which lot-buyers would be required to choose.

“These garden-type homes are springing up across the country,” Solar said.

Objections from members of the public included concern about the loss of use of the Shannon playground.

“If you save the gym to play,” asked resident Virgil Allen, “why don’t you save the playground to play?”

Residents noted that Morgan City no longer has a public pool. Drake Stansbury of Second Street spoke in favor of a recreational use for the property.

“I find it a little upsetting …,” Stansbury said. “I think it would be better for a recreation complex.”

Paul Rappmundt, a Cedar Street resident, owns apartments in Morgan City.

He said the occupancy rate is currently 70%, so housing is already available in Morgan City.

The lots may be a tough sell, Rappmundt said. He said in an email Friday that buyers may feel they won’t be able to get wind and hail damage insurance, or the price of the insurance will be more than their mortgage payments.

“Is it going to be a white elephant when we could do what Drake’s talking about?” Rappmundt said.

Dragna said the city has no recreation tax to support expensive projects like operating a pool, he said.

Carrie Stansbury said she’s concerned about traffic on Wise Street, which she said frequently includes people speeding through the neighborhood.

This story originally put Paul Rappmundt's comments about insurance affordability in the context of rising flood insurance costs. He wrote us to say that his comments actually referred to the potential inability to obtain wind and hail damage coverage, or that homeowners might be asked to pay premiums for that coverage that are higher than their mortgage payments.