Commission approves preliminary plat revision and concept site plan for Deer Run development

The Livingston Parish Planning Commission approved a preliminary plat revision for the Deer Run subdivision and concept approval for the Villas at Deer Run on Jan. 8, moving both items forward to the next steps in the review process.

Attorney Tom Easterly, representing Ascension Properties, told the commission the preliminary plat 2 reflects a reduction in single‑family density described in settlement and development agreements and replaces 42‑foot lots with wider lots (the developer described converting narrower lots into 62‑foot lots). Easterly said the preliminary plat 2 implements the density adjustments that were part of the settlement reached in litigation over Deer Run.

Easterly also presented a preliminary site plan for the Villas at Deer Run (Areas 20 and 24 on the plat). The plan proposes freestanding townhomes (labeled as building numbers 1–16 on the plan) totaling 112 townhomes for that portion of the project; Easterly said that layout will require fewer townhomes in another portion of the development so the overall density cap in the settlement and development agreement is preserved. Planning staff and engineering (Morgan and staff) said their review comments had been addressed and recommended approval to move to final submittals.

Commissioners discussed timing and noted the developer’s ability to begin physical construction is limited by the developer’s need to acquire merchantable title and by pending state-court litigation (a claim by an individual about ownership was noted). Easterly said submittals such as construction plans and final plats may proceed, but major on-site construction (pouring concrete, grading outside DOTD rights of way) cannot begin until merchantable title is acquired; the development agreement contains provisions intended to prevent a long-term standstill.

The commission recorded roll-call approvals for both the preliminary plat 2 and the Villas preliminary site plan. Staff said final plats and final site plans will return to the commission for subsequent approvals and that the plat revision was presented to satisfy the “greater than 5%” lot-count change rule in the subdivision ordinance.