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Citizen accuses parish of abandoning Tave Drive public access; council refers abandonment ordinance back to committee
Summary
Martin Beasley told the council that private parties blocked a public stretch of Tave Drive and that law enforcement treated the problem as a civil matter; parish attorneys said the road remained public but recommended committee review of a draft ordinance governing abandonment of public servitudes. The council voted to send the ordinance to committee for revision.
During a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to create a formal process for abandoning public servitudes, Budro Canal Rentals representative Martin Beasley accused the parish of effectively ceding public access on a portion of Tave Drive by refusing to clear privately installed obstructions.
Beasley said the Price Brothers had blocked the end of Tave Drive and that, although the parish attorney told him the roadway remains a public street, the parish had not taken steps to restore public access. He described bringing evidence to the sheriff’s office only to be told the dispute was civil and that residents would need to file suit. "If the parish is not going to defend the public's right to use Tave Drive...what good is the dedication at all?" Beasley said.
Parish legal staff acknowledged the broader problem that prompted the draft ordinance: dedications and abandonments had previously been handled without a formal system. The parish attorney advised council members that adjustments might be needed and recommended referring the draft ordinance back to committee for revisions to ensure stakeholder notice and a clear procedural checklist.
Council voted to send the abandonment ordinance back to committee for further work. After the referral, the council restored Beasley’s opportunity to finish his remarks and encouraged parish staff to continue dialogue with affected property owners and law-enforcement partners.
Next steps: parish legal staff will prepare revision language and present it to the committee; residents were told they may return to future meetings to follow the issue.
