Challenges With St. Tammany Zoning for Medline Distribution Center
Medline had plans to build a medical equipment distribution company south of Covington. Many homeowners are up in arms about the prospect of such a project being in their community. Judge Reginald Badeaux of the 22nd Judicial District has thrown out the lawsuit filed by a group of residents.
January 12, 2021, the judge upheld the council’s vote to rezone the property for the distribution center. The 70 acres between Interstate 12 and Ochsner Boulevard will be the first project of its kind in the area. Residents are concerned that the project will cause traffic and drainage issues. There is also concern that the project will need its own comprehensive zoning plan.
Many in the parish are hopeful that the original plan to build a 1-million-square-foot center in St. Tammany will still happen. Bruce Wainer of All State Financial Company owns the property and feels the judge made the right decision. He states the decision was “a matter of fact and a matter of law — I think the judge ruled correctly.” St. Tammany Parish Council Chairman Mike Lorino is also in agreement with the judge’s decision and feels the Parish Council did everything correctly in its handling of the rezoning and acted reasonably.
Not all leaders in the community are for the judges ruling. Nancy Wagner, president of the Flower Estates Civic Association is part of those who appeal the ruling. “We have said from the beginning when the council approved the…rezoning without following the law that we would continue to pursue all legal options,” Wagner said in a text message. “We are disappointed that the ruling today mistakenly denies residents a full judicial review of our factual and legal arguments.”
