The New Iberia City Council voted Tuesday night to return a 3.62-acre tract of land to Lewis Development Co., which donated the property to the city in 2002, with hopes a business would develop the property.

The land is behind the Walgreens on Lewis Street, next to the Bayou Teche, and was to be used for a park or green space.

City resident Patrick Caffery spoke in the public comment section of the meeting in support of the donation’s revocation. He said a business coming into the area would increase tax base, revenue and provide jobs “in a city that is seeming to lose ground on a daily basis to neighboring communities on projects of this type.”

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Mayor Pro Tem Freddie DeCourt spoke against giving the land back, saying green spaces are about people, community and quality of life.

“We use those buzz words about smart growth — sooner or later we’re going to have to put smart growth into action,” DeCourt said.

He said that as on similar previous votes, he worries about the precedent set by giving away city-owned land.

Mayor Hilda Curry mentioned the Optimist’s Club’s proposed “Circle of Champions” park near the area, and that the city is applying for two grants to improve areas along the bayou at City Park and Bouligny Plaza, similiar to what that property would have been.

The motion passed 5-1, with DeCourt the sole dissenting vote. Councilman Dan Doerle was absent.

The council also voted to introduce five ordinances, for which there will be a public hearing during its Oct. 7 meeting. Three of the ordinances had to do with cable television.

The Louisiana Municipal Association, said Curry and city attorney Ted Haik, recommended in light of a recently passed state law that allows cable companies to be licensed through the state, that the city implement the ordinance changes to maintain control of its rights of way and keep receiving a franchise fee. The franchise fee is 5 percent of gross revenues. The city also will receive 1/2-percent of gross revenues to be used for public education programming purposes.

Haik said it was important to understand the ordinances because they could result in litigation.

Property standards, a part of every council meeting, was unusually charged, with Charles Lewis, who came to represent 708 Field St., claiming someone affiliated with the city is “using this process to confiscate ... property on the West End,” specifically on the 700 block of Field Street. He said he got charged $3,000 for cutting grass, which is more than he believes the property is worth.

Councilman Raymond “Shoe-do” Lewis, in whose district the property lies, said “nobody is plotting.” He said those who are trying to fix up the property, including Charles Lewis’ niece, are his friends.

“I take issue with what you’re trying to imply here,” Councilman Lewis said.

Minister Mary Bashay, owner of 644 E. Pershing, said she does not condemn “the city’s right to do what the city feels it needs to do to maintain properties,” but added there is property in much worse condition than hers and she said she does not think it needed to be placed on the list.

The council voted unanimously to follow Councilman Lewis’ recommendation and remove the property from the list.

The council also voted to demolish properties not repaired by owner Perry Becnell at 600 Lafayette St.

“It takes money and also time,” Becnell said. “I’m just going to board them up until I’m able to get back to it. If I can’t do it, I can’t do it.”

Councilman Lewis said he has received many complaints from neighbors, some of whom can’t sell neighboring properties and some who are worried about traffic into and out of the buildings.

The motion to demolish passed 5-1, with Councilwoman Therese Segura as the sole dissenting vote.