Published: Thursday, October 06, 2011, 4:08 PM
By Bob Warren, The Times-Picayune The Times-Picayune Follow
Its request for a new, larger church shot down by the Mandeville Zoning Board late Wednesday night, representatives of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church said they aren't sure what their next step will be.
Joe Chautin, a parishioner and lawyer who represented the church's proposal, said just minutes after the board's decision that the church would consider its options. But he said he didn't have much confidence that the Zoning Board would look favorably at any construction proposal the church pitches.
And asked if he thought the board might have left some room for negotiating a modified church proposal, Chautin answered simply, "No."
The church had sought a zoning permit for a new, 16,715-square-foot structure that would seat 1,028 people. The current church holds 465 people. Chautin and the Rev, John Talamo had urged the board to approve the $13 million project, arguing that it did not represent a more "intense" use of the site because the new church would replace the current Masses held in both the existing church and nearby Chotin Center gymnasium.
On the contrary, Chautin and other supporters said, the new site plan would better manage area parking and traffic congestion by relocating some school buildings and opening new off-street parking and bus-loading areas. He said the site plan, including the church, new parking and classroom relocation, was put together in a "collaborative" effort with the city and surrounding community in mind and met all the requirements of the city's zoning code.
"There is an opportunity for there to be a win-win situation," he said.
Other supporters said the church was a vital cog in the city's economy and culture. They said the congregation, which the church says has nearly 3,000 families, has long-ago outgrown the church and that most parishioners are relegated to attending Mass in the Chotin Center.
Opponents had fired at the proposal on a number of fronts, from traffic and drainage to aesthetics. They said old Mandeville residents would have to bear the burden of a church built for a congregation largely of non-old Mandeville residents.
But two issues seemed to most vex board members: old Mandeville's traffic and parking headaches; and questions over future growth of Our Lady of the Lake's congregation.
"I feel certain that we have a (traffic and parking) problem there" and the board must make certain it doesn't allow anything that will make it worse, board Chairman Nixon Adams said.
Board members also asked Our Lady of the Lake representatives several times if the church or archdiocese had a plan for how to handle future growth. Chautin said church planning is essentially based on current congregation size.
Board member Terri Bewig said church officials seemed to be saying "we're going to do what we want to do, when we want to do it," which provides neighbors no "certainty" about the church's future plans.
Adams and other board members also said the church had been in violation of its 1999 zoning permit, in which it said it would only use the Chotin Center for Mass on certain busy holidays and had said it would load and unload school buses on-site and not on the streets.
Under the board's unanimous vote to deny the permit for the new church, Our Lady of the Lake will be allowed to continue regular use of the Chotin Center for Mass. Board members also want the church and school to address the issue of loading and unloading school buses on public streets.
Joe Chautin, a parishioner and lawyer who represented the church's proposal, said just minutes after the board's decision that the church would consider its options. But he said he didn't have much confidence that the Zoning Board would look favorably at any construction proposal the church pitches.
And asked if he thought the board might have left some room for negotiating a modified church proposal, Chautin answered simply, "No."
The church had sought a zoning permit for a new, 16,715-square-foot structure that would seat 1,028 people. The current church holds 465 people. Chautin and the Rev, John Talamo had urged the board to approve the $13 million project, arguing that it did not represent a more "intense" use of the site because the new church would replace the current Masses held in both the existing church and nearby Chotin Center gymnasium.
On the contrary, Chautin and other supporters said, the new site plan would better manage area parking and traffic congestion by relocating some school buildings and opening new off-street parking and bus-loading areas. He said the site plan, including the church, new parking and classroom relocation, was put together in a "collaborative" effort with the city and surrounding community in mind and met all the requirements of the city's zoning code.
"There is an opportunity for there to be a win-win situation," he said.
Other supporters said the church was a vital cog in the city's economy and culture. They said the congregation, which the church says has nearly 3,000 families, has long-ago outgrown the church and that most parishioners are relegated to attending Mass in the Chotin Center.
Opponents had fired at the proposal on a number of fronts, from traffic and drainage to aesthetics. They said old Mandeville residents would have to bear the burden of a church built for a congregation largely of non-old Mandeville residents.
But two issues seemed to most vex board members: old Mandeville's traffic and parking headaches; and questions over future growth of Our Lady of the Lake's congregation.
"I feel certain that we have a (traffic and parking) problem there" and the board must make certain it doesn't allow anything that will make it worse, board Chairman Nixon Adams said.
Board members also asked Our Lady of the Lake representatives several times if the church or archdiocese had a plan for how to handle future growth. Chautin said church planning is essentially based on current congregation size.
Board member Terri Bewig said church officials seemed to be saying "we're going to do what we want to do, when we want to do it," which provides neighbors no "certainty" about the church's future plans.
Adams and other board members also said the church had been in violation of its 1999 zoning permit, in which it said it would only use the Chotin Center for Mass on certain busy holidays and had said it would load and unload school buses on-site and not on the streets.
Under the board's unanimous vote to deny the permit for the new church, Our Lady of the Lake will be allowed to continue regular use of the Chotin Center for Mass. Board members also want the church and school to address the issue of loading and unloading school buses on public streets.
Our Lady of the Lake ChurchRendering of the proposed new Our Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic Church in old Mandeville. 
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