FERRIDAY – Before developer Craig Smith can build an apartment complex planned for Lincoln Road, the Concordia Parish Police Jury will have to approve a building permit, jury Vice President Melvin Ferrington said Tuesday.

Smith, a Baton Rouge developer, asked the jury to approve the site for apartments two years ago. That was before the jury, in late 1998, passed an ordinance requiring developers of multi-family complexes to obtain building permits.

But in July 1998, the jury voted to oppose development of a complex at the Lincoln Road site due to citizen concerns about the area’s overtaxed sewer system and additional traffic on the road. That means Smith must appear before the jury again to ask for a building permit, Ferrington said.

&uot;But those questions (about sewer service and traffic) have now been answered,&uot; Ferrington said. &uot;There shouldn’t be any problem with the permit.&uot;

Construction should start in 60 to 90 days and should take six months to complete, Smith said Monday. But he could not be reached for additional comment Tuesday afternoon.

Before Smith’s permit application can be considered by the jury, he will have to get approval from the Office of Public Health and show Police Jury staffers whether the site is located in a flood plain, said jury Secretary-Treasurer Robbie Shirley.

A Police Jury file containing the developer’s permit application shows that other needed approvals have already been received, Shirley added.

And on July 11, Ferriday’s Town Council approved water and sewer service to Smith’s planned 40-unit complex as well as 38 apartments the Macon Ridge Economic Development Region plans to develop on Lincoln Road for the elderly.

Smith and Macon Ridge have promised to give the town $20,000 and $25,000, respectively, to upgrade a sewer lift station serving the area. And Spillers said Macon Ridge will help the town find government funding for the remaining $31,000 cost.

Meanwhile, Parish Engineer Bryant Hammett has stated in a letter to the jury that the street can handle the extra traffic. And the jury has already erected speed limit signs and signs warning of a sharp curve in the road.