Our Vision

/ OUR VISION A long range plan of our neighborhood's revitalization-What we envision for our grandchildren and future generations and the keystone commitments of this council's decisions to preserve our heritage, our natural resources and our residential neighborhoods for tomorroW .. In District C, we are the subdivisions nestled between our community's only high school,Val Reiss Park and the heavy industrialized refinery. We need a balance. We don't have the luxury of previous land-use planning. What we have is an opportunity to create a balance and to preserve that balance. The Ohio Street area is within a school zone, yet our children have no sidewalks on these four streets (Jacob, Despaux, Ventura, and Lena). Furthermore, these are the very four streets some propose to add more industrial use and industrial traffic. That would not be the proper balance. For the roughly 80 homesites on these four streets, we envision a domiciled next-door-neighbor purchase program to increase lot sizes giving us the opportunity of re-establishing our neighborhood feel. For those properties not offered for residential redevelopment, we would like them dedicated for neighborhood community greenspace, so the children have a place to play other than the in street. For other lots not offered for residential redevelopment, we would like a conservation easement entered on the land title to provide the commitment to a greenspace buffer from this most-hazardous processing side of the refinery. We also envision lots more trees. We need more trees for air purification 1 soil detox and to provide a visual buffer as well as a noise buffer. Further, we need the installation of a noise-abatement wall. We also need Murphy Oil to comply with local performance standards and environmental regulations. Flora Estates, north of the 20 Arpent is progressing and we need the same commitments for residential zoning. We also need for these

four residential streets to remain "open access," with no zoning changes. In this section of the oil spill, the land is cleared and remediated. We see an opportunity for a corporate and community sponsored commemorative and historic parkway, with walking paths and bird areas, with an abundance of trees to further purify the air, ground water and soil. We envision an added mature tree line as a visual buffer to the tank farms and we propose a commemorative sign .... not defining us by this oil spill disaster, but rather as a tribute to the spirit of the people of our parish and the ability of this industry, parish government and our people to come together and implement real solutions. We have recently learned from our distinguished parish historian, Mr William Hyland, that this area is of national historic importance. Villere Plantation is associated with the actual British Invasion Route in the Battle of New Orleans. Not only are there numerous historic trees similar to the Pakenham Oaks at the EXXON/Mobil refinery, but there are remains of a historic brick structure from the plantation. Mr Hyland could elaborate on the significance of this land and how the historic tree line and structure could be placed on the National Historic Registry. The council and residents can work with the industrial property owner to pursue a community benefits agreement, which should include a commitment to our environment, our heritage, our natural resources and our residential neighborhoods. So, we ask the council and administration to: § preserve the integrity of our residential neighborhoods and residential streets, § amend the firestation ordinance to designate greenspa-ce, § commit to our residential district with no zoning changes, § enforce performance standards, § preserve the historic tree line and historic brick structure, § adhere to the master land-use plan of a greenspace non~utilized buffer and § take this opportunity to create the balance we need to protect our children from the hazards of this refinery.

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Memoranda of Understanding

As we restore our homes and revitalize our community, we endeavor to preserve the integrity our residential neighborhoods and improve our quality of life. As residents we are stakeholders in the ever progressing impact of the Murphy Oil Refinery in our subdivisions. As such we respectfully request to have Our Concerns included in the decisions which effect our subdivisions. We propose the following MOU: Memoranda of Understanding By and Between the Residents of the St Bernard Parish Neighborhoods in and around the Jacob, Despaux, Ventura and Lena Drive Subdivisions (North and South of Judge Perez Drive) , the St Bernard Parish Government and Murphy Oil Corporation Meraux Refinery - maintain, repair and vacuum storm drainage system including storm drains, drainage canals, and the ever increasing sand/lot fill runoff - maintain, repair and keep open public access to Our residential streets known as Jacob, Despaux, Ventura and Lena Drives (North and South of Judge Perez) -maintain public access available for services such as U.S. Mail and other deliveries, school buses, fire protection and first responders -maintain repair and restore Our Sidewalks to ADA standards - maintain, repair and supply services from the infrastructure including but not limited to street lights, sewerage system, water supply, water pressure and fire hydrants - maintain fire protection level and first responder response time - restore eligibility for FEMA programs such as drainage canal clearing, removal of dead and dangerous trees, storm debris removal and demolitions - maintain as FOREVER GREENSPACE and common use areas the properties of the remediation and demolition projects In the Spirit of Community with our industrial neighbor we offer assistance in these projects' continual upkeep and maintenance through the residents' volunteer efforts similar to the Beautification (grass and cleanup) and Infrastructure (canals and storm drains) Committees of Rediscover District C

http://docs.google.com/View?docID=dczjt9ww

_20hfmnnb&revision= _latest&spi= 1&hgd= 1 9/13/2007

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