Three months ago the St. Tammany Parish government administration denied a land-clearing permit for the Medline distribution center located close to Covington. All State Financial Co., the landowner, got an early Christmas gift from the parish. The St. Tammany Parish government reversed its decision to deny the permit.

The company and parish agree that during the land-clearing they will preserve more live oaks and enlarge a detention pond, according to the records. “We’re happy to put in behind us and to be moving forward,” Bruce Wainer, whose family owns All State Financial, said Friday.

Mike Cooper, Parish President, encourages economic development in St. Tammany. He believes there are safe ways to develop the land. The property owners agreed to ensure protective safeguards. The completed project should not have an adverse drainage or flooding impact on surrounding properties when the development is complete.

The approved permit will allow the company to clear 47-acres of the total 70-acre property. The site is located between Ochsner Boulevard and Interstate 12. All State Financial also agreed to add a regional detention pond on the site which will allow additional stormwater storage. Fifty percent of the live oak trees will now be saved on the property as well as planting new live oaks which will equal 25% of the oaks that are removed. The company will also pay into a mitigation fund for the other 25%.

Once the 800,000-square-foot center is complete, the project will total $54 million. The project will be a great asset to the St. Tammany job market and local economy.

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