BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
Opelousas Catholic School officials had their rezoning request to potentially install lighting at a Prudhomme Street football practice field facility denied overwhelmingly Tuesday night by the Opelousas Board of Aldermen.
Opposition to the request made by OCS Chancellor Neil Pettit and Principal Matt Citron originated from several Board members who expressed concerns that increased traffic congestion could occur in the middle of an existing medical zone if more athletic events are held at the field.
Code Enforcement Director Lance Ned said the request by OCS officials to have the practice field area changed from a medical zone to a hospital zone had received preliminary approval on Monday by a municipal planning Commission.
Ned said Code Enforcement has not received a large number of complaints about the proposed rezoning.
However Venessa Sostand, who lives in the election district that includes the facility, said she has accumulated a number of names on a petition that advocates blocking any plans for adding lights to the facility.
Pettit told the Board that providing lights at the field will enable more spectators to attend athletic events, especially soccer matches, which are now played at the facility during early afternoons.
OCS Pettit said, is acting in good faith with the proposed lighting venture. Since the field was once lighted for several decades beginning during the 1950’s, Pettit said he feels the proposed project should be automatically approved.
Citron and Pettit both said there should be sufficient room for spectator parking adjacent to the field, which is also bordered by Waillor Street, eliminating any concerns about congestion.
Peitti estimated there should be enough room for over 500 vehicles to park for athletic events, while there is additional parking space near the gymnasium area that would eliminate any congestion issues.
Alderman John Guilbeaux said that more vehicle traffic attributed to the increased number of spectators could inhibit emergency traffic moving down Waillor during an approach to Opelousas General Hospital
Guilbeaux added that there is already enough traffic congestion when events are held on the field and that expanding the venue for possibly more spectators would only exacerbate the problem.
Marvin Richard, another alderman, said there are a large number of elderly residents living near the facility who would be impacted by a need for more parking.
Richard, Guilbeaux, Delita Broussard, Sherell Roberts and Chasity Davis Warren voted against the OCS zoning change request. Charles Cummings voted “yes.”
