The Carroll Cox Show
Carrol discussed contamined soil on military base home sites. Very similar to neighborhoods in the Murphy Oil spill areas.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
preserving R1 zoning
A land use plan to redistribute LLT properties was discussed at District level workshops Saturday. The importance of a stable real estate market and preserving the residential zoning ("R1 - single family houses) were identified as keystone commitments to our community's future and especially for the future of our neighborhoods.
The HRQL commission plans to group some of the continguous lots together and subdivide into larger lots. This will decrease density and allow for more options on the homesites. Some lots along the drainage canals will be used to manage storm water flow and others maybe available for parks and parkways.
The public was assured the existing zoning will be preserved, as many of the LLT lots are residentially-zoned "R1" for single family houses.
Preserving residential zoning is a keystone commitment in another plan, "Our Vision" , presented in 2008 to the parish council. It will be difficult for the councilmembers to preserve R1 on the LLT lots if they begin to take R1 in established neighborhoods and turn it into commercial through spot zoning. It will set precedent.
Recently, the Planning and Zoning Commission conducted a public hearing on a zoning application to change R1 to General Commercial, C2. The council will take its final vote on this Docket 03-12 sometime in the next month or so. The reason for the zoning change request is not clear and the docket lacks enough information for residents to fully participate in this discussion. There is no information on the leaseable warehouse in question, nor the proposed use as a micro-brewery.
The property is a single parcel of land with two different zonings, which reflects the historical commercial depth of 200 feet and the current law prohibiting commercial beyond 250 feet from the highway. In this docket, the request is for commercial incursion of a total of 600 feet.
The abutting properties are all zoned R1 and are beautifully restored homes in an established neighborhood. The R1 property in the docket is part of this neighborhood; for some reason the homesites were never developed and the majority of the land has been vacant for decades. The property owners constructed two apartment complexes and in doing so restricted themselves from accessing the residential property. The property now has a new owner.
On the commercial portion of land on the highway sits two occupied apartments. The rear apartment complex is on both commercial and R1 zones. Behind the apartments, on the R1 land, is a warehouse which was once used only for storage. It is now proposed for any variety of commercial uses which may be allowed in commercial zones. The applicant indicated one of his tenants maybe a brewery which would require Industrial zoning. There is no information on the brewery nor the warehouse in the docket folder.
This type of spot zoning is illegal and the neighborhood is set to fight to preserve the R1 zoning and remain a family orientated neighborhood.
The HRQL commission plans to group some of the continguous lots together and subdivide into larger lots. This will decrease density and allow for more options on the homesites. Some lots along the drainage canals will be used to manage storm water flow and others maybe available for parks and parkways.
The public was assured the existing zoning will be preserved, as many of the LLT lots are residentially-zoned "R1" for single family houses.
Preserving residential zoning is a keystone commitment in another plan, "Our Vision" , presented in 2008 to the parish council. It will be difficult for the councilmembers to preserve R1 on the LLT lots if they begin to take R1 in established neighborhoods and turn it into commercial through spot zoning. It will set precedent.
Recently, the Planning and Zoning Commission conducted a public hearing on a zoning application to change R1 to General Commercial, C2. The council will take its final vote on this Docket 03-12 sometime in the next month or so. The reason for the zoning change request is not clear and the docket lacks enough information for residents to fully participate in this discussion. There is no information on the leaseable warehouse in question, nor the proposed use as a micro-brewery.
The property is a single parcel of land with two different zonings, which reflects the historical commercial depth of 200 feet and the current law prohibiting commercial beyond 250 feet from the highway. In this docket, the request is for commercial incursion of a total of 600 feet.
The abutting properties are all zoned R1 and are beautifully restored homes in an established neighborhood. The R1 property in the docket is part of this neighborhood; for some reason the homesites were never developed and the majority of the land has been vacant for decades. The property owners constructed two apartment complexes and in doing so restricted themselves from accessing the residential property. The property now has a new owner.
On the commercial portion of land on the highway sits two occupied apartments. The rear apartment complex is on both commercial and R1 zones. Behind the apartments, on the R1 land, is a warehouse which was once used only for storage. It is now proposed for any variety of commercial uses which may be allowed in commercial zones. The applicant indicated one of his tenants maybe a brewery which would require Industrial zoning. There is no information on the brewery nor the warehouse in the docket folder.
This type of spot zoning is illegal and the neighborhood is set to fight to preserve the R1 zoning and remain a family orientated neighborhood.
Friday, March 2, 2012
February air quality report
FEBRUARY-2012-St-Bernard-Air-Quality-Report
St. Bernard Parish Air Quality Reports
A monthly report of some of the highest air toxin readings in the ambient air in Chalmette and Meraux, Louisiana as measured by the three community air monitors
St. Bernard Parish Air Quality Reports
A monthly report of some of the highest air toxin readings in the ambient air in Chalmette and Meraux, Louisiana as measured by the three community air monitors
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Quality of Life
The Louisiana DEQ recently designated St. Bernard Parish non-attainment for sulfur dioxide health standards.
On a weekly basis residents are forced to deal with the odors emitted from the industrialized plants. It is not unusual for residents to shelter themselves in place and close all outside ventilation or to report being sick from the odors as they drive by these facilities along St. Bernard Highway and Judge Perez Drive. This is not to mention the loss of use of one’s property, the headaches, burning airways and nausea. The air at times is saturated with SO2 (sulfur) and other odors which are hard to describe. There have been incidents where the odors infiltrated homes and it took residents hours to purge. Upholstery, sofas and clothing reek for days.
There is hope as residents ask the new council to address the pollution issues on the grounds of quality of life for its residents. There are records of numerous complaints filed through the decades relating to these businesses. Even the Fire Chief recently filed a complaint pertaining to what he observed emitting from a petroleum coker unit.
In prior years, oily water was discharged into the neighborhood canal, the 20 Arpent Canal, which meanders through neighborhoods before discharging into the nearby estuaries of the Central Wetlands. This still has the potential to occur with rains as little as four inches and it causes many residents to become sick from the petroleum fumes infiltrating their homes. The neighborhood canals have been allowed to be used as an emergency by-pass route for too many years; yet, the Louisiana DEQ does not allow this practice in other parishes.
Another big concern is the LLT property redevelopment plan which will be used as a baseline for changes to the Parish’s Master Land Use Plan. Residents do not want HRQL Commission members (Housing, Redevelopment, and Quality of Life) making decisions based solely on economics; they want someone looking at the overall picture. This picture should include "Quality of Life" for its residents.
We do need jobs but we also need a cleaner environment in St. Bernard. The EDC (Economic Development Commission) recently requested a budget increase to include a lobbyist to help the heavy industries expand in our community. Many believe the monies would be put to better use by funding students to canvas neighborhoods for a health census instead of trying to get more environmental unfriendly businesses here. What good is money if you can't enjoy it because you have to spend it all on health care, incapacitated or deceased from the air one is forced to breathe?
submitted by a concerned resident
On a weekly basis residents are forced to deal with the odors emitted from the industrialized plants. It is not unusual for residents to shelter themselves in place and close all outside ventilation or to report being sick from the odors as they drive by these facilities along St. Bernard Highway and Judge Perez Drive. This is not to mention the loss of use of one’s property, the headaches, burning airways and nausea. The air at times is saturated with SO2 (sulfur) and other odors which are hard to describe. There have been incidents where the odors infiltrated homes and it took residents hours to purge. Upholstery, sofas and clothing reek for days.
There is hope as residents ask the new council to address the pollution issues on the grounds of quality of life for its residents. There are records of numerous complaints filed through the decades relating to these businesses. Even the Fire Chief recently filed a complaint pertaining to what he observed emitting from a petroleum coker unit.
In prior years, oily water was discharged into the neighborhood canal, the 20 Arpent Canal, which meanders through neighborhoods before discharging into the nearby estuaries of the Central Wetlands. This still has the potential to occur with rains as little as four inches and it causes many residents to become sick from the petroleum fumes infiltrating their homes. The neighborhood canals have been allowed to be used as an emergency by-pass route for too many years; yet, the Louisiana DEQ does not allow this practice in other parishes.
Another big concern is the LLT property redevelopment plan which will be used as a baseline for changes to the Parish’s Master Land Use Plan. Residents do not want HRQL Commission members (Housing, Redevelopment, and Quality of Life) making decisions based solely on economics; they want someone looking at the overall picture. This picture should include "Quality of Life" for its residents.
We do need jobs but we also need a cleaner environment in St. Bernard. The EDC (Economic Development Commission) recently requested a budget increase to include a lobbyist to help the heavy industries expand in our community. Many believe the monies would be put to better use by funding students to canvas neighborhoods for a health census instead of trying to get more environmental unfriendly businesses here. What good is money if you can't enjoy it because you have to spend it all on health care, incapacitated or deceased from the air one is forced to breathe?
submitted by a concerned resident
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Mid February Air Quality
Mid February 2012 St. Bernard Parish Air Quality Report
Data Source: St. Bernard Parish's three air monitors
health standards
SO2 - sulfur dioxide 75 ppb EPA health one hour standard
H2S - hydrogen sulfide 1.4 ppb EPA review recommended daily exposure
World Health Organization (WHO 1981) advises ambient concentration levels of hydrogen sulfide "should not exceed 5 ppb (or 0.005 ppm), with a 30-minute averaging time.”
PM - particulate matter 35
Date Time Monitor Hourly Reading Particulate Matter
PM10
2/1/2012 7am Ch_Vista 5 ppb H2S
8am Ch_Vista 5 ppb H2S 35
Ventura 35
9am Ventura 41
2/3/2012 8pm Ventura 39
Ch_Vista monitor not working
2/4/2012 11am Ch_Vista 71 ppb SO2
noon Ch_Vista 122 ppb SO2
1pm Ch_Vista 139 ppb SO2
2pm Ch_Vista 211 ppb SO2
3pm Ch_Vista 141 ppb SO2
Ch_Vista monitor down for PM10 and Methane
Particulate Matter PM10
2/6/2012 6pm Ventura 36
2/7/2012 6pm Ventura 47
7pm Ch_Vista 37
Ventura 61
8pm Ventura 48
2/8/2012 1pm Ch_Vista 44
2/9/2012 6am Ch_Vista 35
1pm Ch_Vista 36
2p Ch_Vista 35
2/10/2012 1pm Ch_Vista 40
Ventura 35
2/13/2012 1am Ch_Vista 5 ppb H2S
Ventura 5 ppb H2S
2am Ch_Vista 10 ppb H2S
Ventura 11 ppb H2S
3am Ch_Vista 12 ppb H2S
Ventura 10 ppb H2S
4am Ch_Vista 14 ppb H2S
Ventura 12 ppb H2S
5am Ch_Vista 7 ppb H2S
Ventura 6 ppb H2S
noon Ch_Vista 40
2/14/2012 12am Ch_Vista 82 ppb SO2
11pm Ch_Vista 6 ppb H2S
PM10 Monitor down at Ch_Vista
health standards
SO2 - sulfur dioxide 75 ppb hourly average
H2S - hydrogen sulfide 1.4 ppb recommended daily exposure
PM10 - particulate matter 35
For more information on St Bernard Parish's three air monitors
Data Source: St. Bernard Parish's three air monitors
health standards
SO2 - sulfur dioxide 75 ppb EPA health one hour standard
H2S - hydrogen sulfide 1.4 ppb EPA review recommended daily exposure
World Health Organization (WHO 1981) advises ambient concentration levels of hydrogen sulfide "should not exceed 5 ppb (or 0.005 ppm), with a 30-minute averaging time.”
PM - particulate matter 35
Date Time Monitor Hourly Reading Particulate Matter
PM10
2/1/2012 7am Ch_Vista 5 ppb H2S
8am Ch_Vista 5 ppb H2S 35
Ventura 35
9am Ventura 41
2/3/2012 8pm Ventura 39
Ch_Vista monitor not working
2/4/2012 11am Ch_Vista 71 ppb SO2
noon Ch_Vista 122 ppb SO2
1pm Ch_Vista 139 ppb SO2
2pm Ch_Vista 211 ppb SO2
3pm Ch_Vista 141 ppb SO2
Ch_Vista monitor down for PM10 and Methane
Particulate Matter PM10
2/6/2012 6pm Ventura 36
2/7/2012 6pm Ventura 47
7pm Ch_Vista 37
Ventura 61
8pm Ventura 48
2/8/2012 1pm Ch_Vista 44
2/9/2012 6am Ch_Vista 35
1pm Ch_Vista 36
2p Ch_Vista 35
2/10/2012 1pm Ch_Vista 40
Ventura 35
2/13/2012 1am Ch_Vista 5 ppb H2S
Ventura 5 ppb H2S
2am Ch_Vista 10 ppb H2S
Ventura 11 ppb H2S
3am Ch_Vista 12 ppb H2S
Ventura 10 ppb H2S
4am Ch_Vista 14 ppb H2S
Ventura 12 ppb H2S
5am Ch_Vista 7 ppb H2S
Ventura 6 ppb H2S
noon Ch_Vista 40
2/14/2012 12am Ch_Vista 82 ppb SO2
11pm Ch_Vista 6 ppb H2S
PM10 Monitor down at Ch_Vista
health standards
SO2 - sulfur dioxide 75 ppb hourly average
H2S - hydrogen sulfide 1.4 ppb recommended daily exposure
PM10 - particulate matter 35
For more information on St Bernard Parish's three air monitors
Saturday, February 11, 2012
land use plan
This Waggoner and Ball Plan was used as a framework for the Waggoner and Ball LLT Property redevelopment plan, presented in Fall 2011 and proposed for amendment in this week's HRQL meeting
http://www.scribd.com/doc/69265973/St-Bernard-Parish-Proposed-LLT-Property-redevelopment-ideas
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
sulfur dioxide levels make resident sick
Incident 135699 EDMS document 8267114 Pages 36 and 37.
http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8267114&ob=yes&child=yes
Yet, the DEQ inspection states both nearby industries, Rain CII Carbon and ExxonMobil Chalmette refinery, were operating within air permit limits (which is mostly likely true AND those permit limits should be lowered). However, the DEQ inspection does not include information from the plant operating logs to see what units were operating at that time. Were any operations bypassing pollution controls, even if within the permit limits? Were there malfunctions? What part of the processes is causing this?
We cannot solve this public health problem caused by the sulfur dixoide levels in Chalmette until the source is identified. Sulfur Dioxide levels continue to exceed the health standards, as shown in Air Quality readings In January 2012 from St. Bernard Parishes three air monitors .
Rain CII Carbon is a petroleum coke plant located adjacent to the Chalmette Vista neighborhood and in between the National Historical Park at Chalmette (Battle of New Orleans 1814) and ExxonMobil's Chalmette refinery. Rain CII operates on a variance which allows operational bypasses up to 500 hours annually. Rain CII recently applied for an additonal 350 hours bypass time to accomodate repairs and maintenance. The additional particulate matter discharges are estimated at 4.64 tons PM10.
http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8262032&ob=yes&child=yes
http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8262326&ob=yes&child=yes
http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8227048&ob=yes&child=yes
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
