Woodland Highway subdivision deferred after council and neighbors raise sewer, water and traffic concerns

The Plaquemines Parish Council deferred consideration of a proposed subdivision off Woodland Highway after multiple council members, the parish engineer and residents expressed concerns about sewer capacity, water tie‑ins and highway access.

Developer representative (Hero Lands Company) presented a resubmission of plans approved in 2022 but delayed by permitting and a longstanding turn‑lane negotiation with the state. The developer said the plans had been reviewed by parish departments and that the project team believed remaining issues could be addressed, but council members said outstanding technical questions needed firm solutions before approval.

Key concerns raised by council members and staff included: - A memo from Inframark (the parish water/sewer contractor) noted that a new lift station or force main for the subdivision “may affect the operation of the existing lift stations” tied into the same 8‑inch force main used by Chapel Hill, Pleasant Ridge and Noble Manor. Council members said the developer had not provided a mitigation plan or an engineering solution that would prevent overload or backups in those neighborhoods. - Water‑system tie‑in points were not fully resolved; Inframark and parish engineering requested an identified alternate tap location if the existing tie cannot be used. - Woodland Highway access, including a state‑required turn lane and the condition of the highway itself, was raised repeatedly; council members said traffic studies from 2021–2022 may no longer reflect the post‑bridge traffic patterns and asked for updated DOTD coordination and an updated map that shows the turn‑lane plan.

Developer testimony in the meeting said the subdivision’s plan had previously been approved (February 2022) and that delays stemmed from slow DOTD responses on the turn lane; the developer said he was willing to work with the parish to address current comments but asked for clarity on what follow‑up was needed. Council members pressed for parish departments (permitting, Inframark, engineering) to meet with the developer and District council members and return with specific fixes.

Outcome: The council voted to defer the item for further technical review and interagency coordination. During the meeting council members asked permit staff and Inframark to identify specific fixes for the sewer lift‑station concern, to propose an acceptable water‑tie solution and to provide updated traffic maps and a timeline for any required DOTD turn‑lane work.

Why it matters: If a new subdivision forces additional sewer flow into aging lift stations, neighborhoods already experiencing overflows could face worse backups and health risks. Highway access and DOTD requirements could affect construction sequencing and safety.

Next steps: Councilmembers requested a follow‑up meeting with the developer, parish engineering and Inframark to produce written mitigation plans before the item returns for a vote.