Broussard said his goal when he bought the land on Duchamp Road was to refurbish the property and sell it.

SAINT MARTIN PARISH, La. (KLFY) -- Local serviceman Billy Broussard said he's under fire by Saint Martin Parish government for apparent commercial farming activity without a proper zoning permit after purchasing this 33-acre plot of land back in 2020. Broussard said his goal when he bought the land on Duchamp Road was to refurbish the property and sell it.

"My idea is, you know, have equipment, buy nuisance properties. There's a lot of nuisance properties in Saint Martin Parish and you could probably buy them for cheap," Broussard said.

In the process of being able to achieve his goal, Broussard said he's in the middle of litigation with the parish after being confronted about illegal activity he may have done on his land. Broussard says he was targeted for dumping logs on his property and having cattle for commercial profit.

Broussard said, "There's a couple of different questions in regard to planning and zoning through the zoning issues. They said my property was a nuisance. And the other issue was an ordinance that they passed that you can't bring trees, leaves etc. from one address in the parish to the next."

News 10 spoke with the previous parish administration about the conflict with Broussard. They say the activity on the property was against Saint Martin parish zoning regulations to which they had an obligation to enforce. Broussard went before the zoning commission and was not granted the rezoning he was looking for. Broussard says he understands why the ordinance is in place but says he will continue to fight for what he believes is his constitutional right to facilitate what he wants on his property.

"I respect the government for passing ordinances to protect us from other people that you know your constitutional right stops where mine begins," said Broussard. "If I'm doing something that's hurting you and or your property, I can understand we have to pass ordinances for that."

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