LIVINGSTON — The developers of the proposed Deer Run development in Livingston Parish and the set of parish officials who stopped work on the project this year have reached a tentative agreement to resolve their dispute.

U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick announced the settlement Friday but said it was conditioned upon agreement by all parties. She included documents signed by representatives of the parish and Ascension Properties, but the judge herself had not signed them. She scheduled a hearing for Monday, when a trial on Ascension's lawsuit was set to begin.

The developers began seeking approval in 2022. The 2,000 acres of Deer Run were to have included 400 apartments and 689 lots. Subsequent changes to the plan reduced the proposed density and the parish gave its go-ahead.

But Livingston Parish President Randy Delatte issued a stop work order this year after taking over the parish government — saying he was worried the developers weren't following parish development rules and didn't pay the requisite fees. Ascension Properties sued, saying the parish had unfairly shifted zoning regulations to target the development. 

In a statement Friday, Delatte said he concurred in the settlement, which is set for a review by the parish ordinance and planning committee on Aug. 22. Either way, he said, the parish was between a rock and a hard place.

“If we win the suit, the only outcome would be that they could resume work as if the stop work order had never been issued by paying fees owed to Livingston Parish. If we lose, the parish could face over $1 million in attorney fees and a substantial judgment in the millions of dollars funds that Livingston Parish Government simply does not have,” he said.

Under the proposed pact, the parish will pay $125,000 in Ascension legal fees and give the company a $275,000 credit toward future parish fees.

“This was a complex decision by the Council members who had to make a difficult decision. Every single one of them wanted to vote against the settlement because, like the residents of our parish, they believe this development is not suitable for this location,” Delatte said.