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bobby ardoin
Editor/Consulting Writer
Opelousas Catholic School officials’ rezoning request to potentially install lighting at the Prudhomme Street soccer practice field facility was overwhelmingly denied by Opelousas City Council members Tuesday night.
Opposition to the request by OCS Chancellor Neil Pettit and Principal Matt Citron stems from the potential for increased traffic congestion in the middle of the existing medical zone if more athletic events are held at the stadium. Several board members expressed concerns.
Code Enforcement Director Lance Ned said OCS officials’ request to change the practice field area from a medical zone to a hospital zone received preliminary approval by the City Planning Commission on Monday.
Ned said law enforcement hasn’t received many complaints about the proposed zoning.
But Venessa Sostand, who lives in the constituency that includes the facility, said she was gathering many names on a petition to block plans to add lighting to the facility.
Pettit told the board that installing lights on the field will allow more spectators to attend sporting events, especially soccer games, which are currently being played at the facility in the early afternoon.
OCS Pettit said it was acting in good faith regarding the proposed lighting project. Pettit said the proposed project should be automatically approved because the field was once lit for decades starting in the 1950s.
Citron and Pettit both said there should be enough space for spectators to park adjacent to the stadium, which also borders Weiler Street, to eliminate crowding concerns.
Patey estimated there should be enough space for more than 500 cars to park for sporting events, but there are additional parking spaces near the gymnasium area that could eliminate congestion issues.
Councilman John Guilbeault said the increased number of spectators could increase vehicular traffic and impede emergency traffic down Wyler on its way to Opelousas General Hospital.
Guilbeault added that there is already enough traffic congestion when events are held at the field, and perhaps expanding the venue for more spectators will only exacerbate the problem.
Another city councilor, Marvin Richard, said there are many senior citizens living near the facility who would be affected by the need for more parking.
Richard, Guilbeault, Delita Broussard, Sherrell Roberts, and Chasity Davis Warren voted against the OCS zoning change request. Charles Cummings voted “yes”.
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