WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Port Vincent wants out of loop project

Port Vincent wants out of loop project

By Tyana Williams - bio | email

PORT VINCENT, LA (WAFB) - Residents living in Port Vincent are worried a plan to put part of the Baton Rouge Loop corridor right in their backyards will end their country living. 

The Village of Port Vincent is filled with what's called "prime living," green grass, trees, and the occasional roar of a dump truck or two. Port Vincent is a community with about 450 people and sections of farmland. "One fourth of our limits that would be covered under the corridor," said Port Vincent Mayor Laura Savoy. "Now, we're told they can take up to 10,000 feet, that's two miles. We're only 3.6 miles along Highway 16."

Mayor Savoy says her residents want that land left alone. "We already have plans for our green space. We're gonna pass that land down to our families, like it has been for generations now." She says the land is protected from non-agricultural issues under the Farmland Protection Act of 2007.

Livingston Parish President Mike Grimmer says this is an ongoing issue. "Port Vincent does not want the loop in their city limits." Grimmer says he's already assured the residents he will not let the loop run through the heart of the village. Grimmer also says he's told residents in Watson the same thing. As it stands now, Grimmer says the projected path of the loop will not affect a single homeowner. But if it moves, someone may lose a house.

Port Vincent has another solution. A letter and a copy of the Farmland Protection Act were sent to all five parish presidents involved with the loop project, every engineer, and DOTD. The letter asks that the Village of Port Vincent be removed from consideration from any and all Baton Rouge Loop projects. It further states if anyone tries to take the land, the village will resist all attempts by legal means, including litigation. "From what I'm understanding, that protection act is really as strong as they say it is, but I don't know that," said Grimmer. "I've not even seen it, been presented with it, and I don't know that."

Grimmer says the solution is simple. He wants to see a certification stating the land is protected, then everything can be dropped. Engineers on the loop project say the next public input meeting will be around August or September to refine the routes. The people of the Village of Port Vincent say they plan to make noise until someone hears them.

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