New homes and better biking are coming to Madisonville

Big changes are coming to Madisonville that will get people excited. On April 24 the public committee met to discuss a variety of different things. The most notable being a new plan for pedestrians and bicyclists, and a new subdivision.

Karen Parson, head of the regional planning commission, offered up a proposal to provide new safety features for the towns bikers and pedestrians.

Parson stated, “This plan will allow a more bikeable and walkable community, with emphasis on Hwy 21 and Hwy 22. We will do this by using deflection curves, a pedestrian path beneath the bridge, a designated bike lane, curbs along Hwy 21 and Hwy 22, extending Cedar St to Hwy 22, 5 foot decorative sidewalks, a roundabout at Cedar St Extension and Hwy 22 and to modify on and off street parking.”

Parson’s proposal was taken well and impressed many members of the committee, but there were still lingering questions.

Louis Ogle asked, “Does the Commission see Madisonville as a priority?”

He was met with Parson’s response of, “once the plan is finalized, it would be submitted to engineering, then the parish and the district office.”

Ogle and other members were satisfied with her answer, but still left wondering how long this project would take to get approval.

Others in attendance still had questions to be answered. Both Joey Mahone and Myron Bourg brought up the issue of streets and vehicles.

Joey Mahone asked, “How will 18 wheelers get in on the proposed narrower streets?”

His question was answered by Parson’s who said, “The streets will not be reduced in size, only the shoulders will be gone.”

Myron Bourg questioned how the St. Paul, Cedar St Extension, Hwy 21 traffic will be addressed.

His question was met with a response by the committee stating, “The Cedar St. Extension will dead end before St. John’s St.”

That answered seemed to satisfy Mr. Bourg and others near him. There will be no congestion if the committee decided to make that area bicyclist friendly.

Councilman Doran asked “what is the dialog with the state about this plan?”

Mayor Pelloat answered that “the state plan was offered first, then sent to CPEX and RPC. Concern was shown for big trucks/ wide load vehicles navigating turns and intersections.

The concern of big trucks and wide load vehicles on narrow roads seemed to pose a small issue with the plan, but Parson’s maintains it will not be an issue

This three tier study was founded by a $45000.00 grant by the Regional Planning Commission.

After the long discussion of a more bikeable and walkable community, Buddy Coates came to the floor to discuss the annexation of a new subdivision off of Hwy 21.

Coates was only at the meeting to see if there would be any interest in a subdivision of he were to build one. There was lots of interest and questions that came along with his idea.

Coates plans are to have 42 home lots, with a minimum of 100 feet-120 feet on 8.62 acres. He was looking to see if this interested anyone. He stated, “This plan was a compromise, making bigger lots with bigger price points.”

He was met with little opposition from the council. Many councilmen saying they were for the new subdivision.

The council asked Coates to come back for the next meeting with his engineer so they could discuss the plan in more detail.