MAURICE —Growth in the Village of Maurice during the past few years has been rapid, to say the least.
Numerous developments have brought hundreds of new homes to Maurice, with many still in the works.
While acknowledging that the growth has been a good thing, Maurice Mayor Wayne Theriot said the time is now to ensure that too much growth does not become overwhelming for the village’s infrastructure.
Theriot recommended during the Board of Aldermen meeting on Oct. 17 that a temporary stop be put on permits for new residential developments.
“I would like to take the stance that we suspend issuing permits for any new developments that are connected to our sewer system,” Theriot said.
Theriot’s recommendation is that the suspension of new permits be in effect until the village’s new sewer plant is ready. That plant is expected to be
completed in 2020. The village’s current sewer plant is currently around 80 percent capacity.
The village had the system that came online in 2011 built with growth in mind.
“However, no one could have imagined the kind of growth we ended up having,” Theriot said.
Any permits that have already been issued will not be impacted. This move will also not affect new commercial developments.
“Businesses don’t have the same impact on the system that residential properties do,”
Theriot said.
Theriot’s recommendation is not meant to stymie growth.
“It’s not that we’re against development,” Theriot said. “We just can’t continue to go at the pace we have been going without this new plant online.
“We’re overextending ourselves.”
The Board of Aldermen voted on a motion to suspend permits for both single-home developments as wells as any new subdivisions.
“I agree (with the Mayor),” Alderman Kenneth “Keno” Picard said. “Eventually, we are going to get in a bind.”
The village would face fines from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) should it ever exceed the capacity of its sewer plant.
“It’s better if we slow it down and do it right,” Alderwoman Sherry Howell said.
Theriot said the future remains bright with inquiries about developments continually coming through his office.
“It’s great that we have so much interest in our community,” Theriot said. “I think we just need to grab a handle on it.
“This will give us an opportunity to progress to the new plant. Then we can move forward with the new developments.”
