Gulf South Pipeline’s promise to donate $2 million to improve Montz drainage in return for putting Entergy’s gas compressor station in the area got an angry response from residents.
Nearly 75 people attended Entergy’s town hall meeting last Thursday, which opened with Entergy and Gulf South representatives apologizing for not having come to residents about the project from the start.
The move lent to the Parish Council’s Aug. 3 vote that “postponed indefinitely” the request to rezone the area from residential to industrial development.
Residents opposed the zoning change even though Entergy and Gulf South told residents they will prohibit new industrial and commercial facilities on the remaining site.
Both Entergy and Gulf South representatives addressed the crowd because Entergy, which is building a $869 million St. Charles Power Station in Montz, needs Gulf South’s gas compressor station and the high pressure natural gas it will provide to run the power station.
But Montz residents, who organized against Gulf South’s station proposed just off Evangeline Road, say they oppose rezoning their area and believe it will open the door to more industry coming into their residential community. They earlier presented petitions with 269 signatures opposing the gas compressor and pipeline.
Melanie Stewart, of Entergy’s customer relations, said meetings with parish officials and residents focused on several areas of concern: drainage and property values, noise and safety with the project.
“Drainage has been identified as the significant issue affecting the community and the compressor station site,” Stewart said.
Montz resident Marsha Colbert said she doesn’t oppose development in the area, but not in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Colbert also said they’re already contending with falling property values.
Shannie Borne, also a Montz resident, called the drainage upgrade money a good start, but she doesn’t believe they have enough information to move forward.
“They did not answer a lot of questions residents asked,” said Borne of the company representatives.
Residents were asked to submit questions in writing, which were addressed by a panel of Entergy and Gulf South representatives.
“I really don’t think the community is satisfied with what they want to do because I don’t think they want it rezoned,” Borne said. “The community pretty much feels like they’re being bought out.”
Gulf South told the group it’s filing a new special permit use request and re-zoning application on Sept. 12 and will go before the parish’s Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 12.
If approved, the requests will go before the Parish Council on Nov. 13 and, if approved there, will clear the way to start construction in January of next year with startup planned in September.
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