Dying oak can be cut now, but replacements cannot wait for elevation project completion
Bechac, planning director clash at P&Z
Email chain details efforts to get Bechac funded
MANDEVILLE — Former City Councilman Denis Bechac appeared before the Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday seeking permission to remove a large live oak, deemed dying by a local arborist, at his family’s historic Marigny-Bechac House property, the longtime site of the former Lakehouse Restaurant.
The property, heavily damaged by Hurricane Ida in 2021, has remained in disrepair as Bechac continues navigating the lengthy Federal Emergency Management Agency elevation grant process. He told commissioners that FEMA recently notified him that the property is on the award list, though he has not yet received a formal grant. Under FEMA rules and city code, the building must be elevated before it can reopen for business.
Bechac asked the commission to allow removal of the oak immediately but requested to postpone replanting the required replacement trees until after the elevation project is complete — a process that could take years. The Comprehensive Land Use Regulations Ordinance requires four new Class A trees of a specific size and age to be planted within about 30 days of removal, depending on planting seasons.
The discussion turned tense when one commissioner asked Bechac why the project had dragged on for so long.
(Watch Bechac and Bartholomew’s exchange.)
“It’s been four years since Hurricane Ida,” Bechac said. “We’d have liked to have done this a long time ago, but of course, issues with the city and getting things done…”
“Dennis, there’s no issues with the city,” Director of Planning Cara Bartholomew interjected. “We applied for it. I’m just not—”
“I’m sorry,” Bechac interrupted. “You’re not gonna interrupt me. It’s my time speaking. I’m sorry. No, my time.”
“Excuse me,” Commissioner and Chairman Brian Rhinehart said, gaveling. “We will maintain civility here.”
“That’s right, my time.” Bechac shot back.
Rhinehart again restored order, stopping Bechac mid-sentence. He then told Bechac, noting that while members were generally supportive of allowing the tree’s removal, they shared concerns about delaying replanting. “We don’t know when you’ll receive your financing or when construction will begin,” Rhinehart said. “It could be two years from now, and I don’t see us letting you cut down the tree and wait that long.”
The exchange underscored Bechac’s ongoing friction with city officials. He has publicly accused Mayor Clay Madden of hindering his FEMA approval — a feud that spilled into the public eye ahead of the March 2024 city elections, when Bechac hung a large banner across the damaged restaurant’s balcony reading, “ASK MAYOR CLAY MADDEN WHY! CALL [Madden’s cell phone] TODAY!”
Mandeville Daily obtained through a public records request a long email chain among Bechac, city officials and other consultants spanning the four-plus-year struggle to get FEMA funding from 2021 to 2024.
(Download the entire email exchange here.)
In an email that is dated November 1st, 2023, Bechac appears to grow frustrated with the city’s efforts, writing in-part:
“Since the city had hastily shut the building down after Hurricane Ida in September 2021, there have been very few conversations from city officials (can count them on one hand) in the past two years – as the city has been disengaged, absent, and apathetic. The city has not made this elevation project a priority nor has it shown any sense of urgency since.” [Page 40 (numbered page 12)]
Kyle Jones of Rostan Solutions, LLC, who was contracted by the city to handle working with FEMA to expedite grant money, not just for Bechac but for all applicants for the city, took issue with Bechac’s assessment, responding:
“I believe that my team and I have been overly communicative with Denis throughout this entire process since we took over. We had enormous success on our first go round with this last FMA cycle and unfortunately, even despite our best efforts, the Bechac property did not get selected. I can say this…the city – Cara/Lauren, and my team have really gone to bat for this project and we understand the importance of it, especially from a severe repetitive loss payout standpoint. I truly believe in this project and we are doing everything we can from our end to ensure we see it through.” [Page 39 (numbered page 11)]
Bartholomew concurred with Jones in the following response two days later:
“In your email dated 11/1/2023, you stated the City ‘hastily shut the building down’ after Hurricane Ida in 2021 and that there have been very few conversations with City Officials. However, the City met with you 7 times in the year following Hurricane Ida, in addition to the plethora of phone calls you had with our team, former consultants, and ROSTAN. Indeed, everyone involved has been very supportive of your efforts and could hardly be perceived as ‘disengaged, absent and apathetic.'” [Page 37 (numbered page 9)]
More than a year after this exchange, Bechac was cited by the city on November 8th, 2024, for violation of section 5.1.15 of the CLURO, pertaining to:
- Failure to conform with structural strength
- Unsafe, damaged, or non-inspected utilities system
- No “Certificate of Occupancy” after substantial storm damage
- No active building permits for repair or renovation
After discussion, the commission voted to allow the tree’s removal but denied Bechac’s request to postpone replanting, requiring that the new trees be planted now in accordance with city code. If replanting on-site proves unfeasible, Bechac will be required to plant the replacement trees at a location designated by the city.
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