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Harahan resident raises repeated complaints about possible duplex conversion and drainage at Stoneleigh property; council asks staff to investigate
Summary
A resident described ongoing renovation work at 7608 Stoneleigh and urged code enforcement to verify whether the property is being converted into a duplex, to confirm whether a gas line remains and to address drainage and yard conditions; council asked staff to inspect and follow up.
A Harahan resident told the council about ongoing construction at 7608 Stoneleigh and urged city officials to investigate whether the work has created a duplex in an R-1 zone and whether code enforcement and building inspections were completed properly.
John Voce, who gave his address as 7612 Stoneleigh, described repeated contact with city staff since 2020 and said he believes the property at 7608 has two kitchens, two entrances and other features consistent with a duplex. "The updated plans that I saw at city hall this week do have 2 kitchens in it," Voce said. He told the council he had been told the gas line to the property would be removed but said he still sees pipe and asked the council to confirm whether a stove or second kitchen is permitted under the current permit.
Voce also raised drainage concerns following recent site work in the alley adjacent to his property. He said contractor backfill and limestone placed in the alley have left the neighboring yard higher than his, causing water to flow onto his property during heavy rains. "The limestone, everybody knows that limestone diverts water, it doesn't drain water," he said, and asked whether the city had performed a promised flood test or dye test; he said the flood test had not been performed to his knowledge and that he had removed limestone from his lot to relieve standing water.
Council members and city staff responded on the record. The clerk and code enforcement staff confirmed no certificate of occupancy had been issued and that final inspections had not been recorded. Council members said closed-wall inspections had been completed but that other final approvals were outstanding. A member of city staff agreed to check the site and to confirm whether the gas line remained and whether the property complied with R-1 zoning. Council members discussed the citycodeinspection authority and encouraged staff to use investigatory entry powers where permitted by ordinance.
No enforcement action was recorded at the meeting; council members asked staff to follow up, inspect the property, and bring findings back to the council. The transcript does not record a final determination about whether the property is or will become a duplex.
