Master plan draws sharp discussion

Talk of a master plan for Eunice elicited a sharp response from Jack Burson, alderman at-large, even as the council approved naming steering committee members by Aug. 18.
“I’ve been kind of storing up a few remarks to make about the approach that has been made toward us, which I find kind of condescending from people that didn’t grow up around here,” Burson said. “Obviously, they must like it or they would be living in Alabama or Iowa or wherever they come from.
Burson’s comments came after Don Reber, chairman of the Eunice Economic Development Committee, spoke about the need for a master plan.
A master plan is a document charting future development.
The South Central Planning and Development District 4 had given the city a price of $95,000 to develop a master plan.
At Tuesday’s Board of Aldermen meeting at City Hall, Reber said a new group, Acadiana Planning Commission, has offered to assist the city in developing a master plan over a year for $26,000.
Alderman Scott Fontenot said the city should be able to work with the latest offer. “I can tell you we are ready to put a foot forward.”
Burson vented that a $220,000 master plan for Sunset included about 40 percent public records.
One of the recommendations in the Sunset plan is for a zoning board, he said. “We are the only town in St. Landry Parish that has one and we’ve had it since 1960. That would indicate we’ve had some mayors in office and councilmen in office that had a pretty good eye to the future.”
The city has a softball and baseball park and walking park.
“The point is I think it is a little condescending,” he said. “I think that is the proper word I want to use to suggest that people in this community have had their eye on the future from way back.”
In response to signs in the audience that stated, “Pass the Plan,” Burson said no plan has been presented.
And an old issue surfaced.
“I would like to suggest when Mr. (Bill) Rodier showed up here that’s the first time in 21 years on the council I remember seeing anybody from the St. Landry Economic Development Board that was the president come here for a meeting,” Burson said. “So, we haven’t been high on their list of priorities prior to now.”
Reber said he gave a tour of Eunice recently to a man representing developers of full-service hotels and upscale apartment complexes.
“He liked the city, he liked the culture,” Reber said. “I mentioned to him that we were in the process of developing, trying to develop, a long term master plan for the city and when I said that it was like I turned the light switch on. He became very interested and he told me that without a plan they are really not interested in relocating.”
Reber, asked Wednesday for comment via email about Burson’s remarks, replied with the following.
— Neither I nor the Economic Development Committee is trying to write a Master Plan for the city.
— We are trying to get a master plan process going that allows the citizens of Eunice themselves to write the plan.
— We need this as a tool to help grow our economy by bringing jobs to the city.
— The city needs this as a tool to protect the lifestyle and heritage of the city while increasing the economy.
— I don’t think the city should take the position of not wanting people from the “outside” telling Eunice “what to do.”
— We should take advantage of the resources available to us (St. Landry Parish, Acadiana Planning Commission, SLED, etc.).
— Keep in mind that when we attract a business to set up in Eunice, they are going to be “outsiders”. Should we tell them we want their business but keep your opinions to yourself?
— I find it ironic that Jack would say what he said about “outsiders’ yet at the same time continue to remind us that he is from Basile.
— The city needs opinions and input from everyone who lives here whether they were born here or are from Basile, Alabama, Ohio, Montana or anywhere else.
In other business, the council:
— Approved an agreement with the St. Landry Parish Government to grade, Goose, Carol, Lloyd, Stone and Goldman streets.
— Set a public hearing and introduction of an ordinance to sell North Park Baseball Park.
— Approved the rezoning of the north part of 1700 West Laurel from residential to commercial.
— Approved a resolution to increase Department of Motor Vehicle service fee from $3 to $4.50.