BERWICK — The Berwick Town Council approved the Berwick Planning Commission’s recommendations for a minor subdivision in which plans are to split a 10-acre tract of land in half and called for a public hearing at its February meeting to discuss a permit for a viewing pond that will be located in the center of the two properties.

Gary Beadle, Berwick’s director of Planning and Zoning, presented the council with two proposals — a minor subdivision approval creating two B-1 local shopping district lots between the addresses of 3353 and 3347 La. 182, and a permit request for a viewing pond.

Michael Smith, developer of the lots — approved by the town as a business district a few months back — plans to sell one five-acre tract, Beadle said.

He said there are possible plans for the lot on the eastern side to be sold for further development into a business, while the remaining five-acre tract could be used for office space or a similar use.

Roughly in the middle of the two tracts will be the pond, which will be located along La. 182 and 1,000 feet west from the intersection of Tournament Boulevard and La. 182. The pond is requested by Southern Equestrian Stables LLC.

Beadle said the pond permit request, is the first of its kind.

The Berwick Planning Commission recommended the town council call a public hearing before deciding whether to grant it.

Also, town councilman Duval Arthur expressed concern with a hole in the ground on Utah Street at Thorguson Drive that still needs to be fixed due to work completed on the street in an overlay project by the Louisiana Department of Transportation.

Arthur said he has received calls from residents concerned about the 18-inch hole, which has prohibited residents from entering Utah Street. They only can exit the street.

Arthur said there was nearly a major accident there the other day because of the hole.

“You couldn’t tell what you were supposed to do,” he said.

Signage has been put up by the contractor saying a left hand turn is not possible.

Town Superintendent Allen Benoit said work has not progressed on the roadway because of the cold weather.

“As far as schedules, I haven’t heard of anything of when they’re going to come” do any work, he told the council.

City officials already have met with the parish about the problem and expressed their concerns.

In the meantime, Mayor Louis Ratcliff said the town will see if the parish can fill up the hole with shells until more favorable weather comes along and repairs can be made.

Arthur lamented that no work had been done to fix the remaining area.

“There’ve been so many good days where they could have done something and have done absolutely nothing,” he said.

“Weeks. They had weeks,” Berwick Police Chief James Richard added.