Bearden said the report stated that the 71-acre area was not located on a flood plain, was at least five feet above sea level, and was not a wetlands project. That informatin was just wrong, he said.

The land very likely has abandoned oilfield storage tanks on site, he said.

Experts hired by the citizen group found the property to be a habitat for at least 20 plant species specific to wetland areas. In addition, about 90 to 95 percent of the property is 2-feet below sea level, Bearden said.

“This type of information was used to qualify for federal funding,” Bearden said. “The Department of Housing and Community Affairs had to review this study before they released the funding.”

Port Arthur Housing Authority Commissioner Ronnie Linden explained that conceptually, it is better to build single-family houses as opposed to large apartment complexes because it is safer and generally there is less crime.

Linden said the housing authority had made an all-out effort to find a suitable location for the housing project, but had difficulty finding a continuous property free from title problems.

City Manager Steve Fitzgibbons said the city was a separate entity from the housing authority. Other than the mayor appointing a member to the Housing Authority commission, the city has no say on how the housing authority conducts business.

Contact this reporter at skoonce@panews.com.