by Malcolm Butler
Although the approval of the new Ruston Entertainment District was the most notable item on Thursday night’s Ruston City Council agenda, another topic voted on was the request to approve the fifth and final platt of the Tanyard Creek Subdivision (Unit 5).
Tanyard Creek is a college housing subdivision located on approximately 84 acres on the south side of West Barnett Springs Avenue. The development includes 34 acres of preserved greenspace plus a student center and a dog park and dog wash pavilion.
The inaugural request to rezone the area was approved in 2018 and the development has become a favorite for college students, according to Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker.
“This is an incredible subdivision,” said Mayor Ronny Walker. “The students love it. I can’t tell you how many calls I receive calling me to see if I can get them moved up the (waiting list).
“(Developer/owner) Hank Moore has done an incredible job. This is something a lot of other cities that have colleges have come to look at because it’s an incredible development.”
According to TanyardCreekRuston.com, the area “is the first of it’s kind in the Ruston area! Just west of Louisiana Tech’s campus, our community is specially designed for full-time students. Each home has a warm feel and unique charm to help our residents feel right at home.”
City of Ruston Zoning Administrator Jim Hayes spoke Thursday in regards to the planning commissions thoughts on the final platt of the fifth unit of Tanyard Creek.
“The planning commission reviewed this request and held public hearing in July meeting and voted unanimously to recommend approval for the final platt subject to the suspensive conditions of meeting any appropriate city department head approval and city code requirements,” said Hayes. “There was no (opposition).”
Unit 5 includes 17 lots that have already been completed.
Prior to the vote by the aldermen, Neal DeForest spoke during the public comments portion of the meeting.
“In (2018) when this was approved, some of you were in this room when it was approved and some of you weren’t,” said Neal DeForest of Deforest Engineering Consultants who served as the project engineer for Tanyard Creek. “But it was a really bold move. It was something new. You guys trusted us, took a chance.
“We didn’t really have anything to show you (back then) other than a drawing. It’s not like we had done something like this somewhere else. It was a big chance, and it couldn’t have been done without your approval. So from me and the owners, we really appreciate you guys letting us try something new. I think we all have benefitted from it in the end.”
Alderman Bruce Siegmund also spoke positively about the development, which is located within the geographic footprint of his ward.
“That’s in my ward so I had some people who were opposed to it get mad,” said alderman Bruce Siegmund. “They said it would be a slum neighborhood. They didn’t think it was a good idea. But they have done a great job. I’ve followed along from the beginning and Hank Moore has been great to work with. I love to drive in that neighborhood and see the development. It’s just such a great area. It’s like college Squire Creek.”
Following the public comments and discussion portion of the meeting, the aldermen voted unanimously (3-0) to approve the final platt of the subdivision.
