Planning and Zoning Commission approves multiple minor subdivisions, postpones two cases

At its meeting, the St. Tammany Parish Planning and Zoning Commission approved seven minor subdivision requests and voted to postpone two cases for 30 days, granting waivers for lot-width and access standards where applicants asked.

The actions shape proposed lot lines and access for properties across multiple wards and districts and include waivers because some proposed lots lack frontage on public roads or rely on private access servitudes. The approvals included motions to allow subdividing properties along the Pearl River Canal, reconfiguring existing parcels, and creating new lots for sale or family use.

The commission began by taking two postponement requests. Case 20254143PP (Brucer Place Subdivision, Centerfire LLC) and case 20222903PP (Mason Du Village Subdivision, Mid South Developers LLC) were both postponed for 30 days after applicants and their representatives told the commission they were working with staff and the councilmember to resolve outstanding issues. The commission approved each motion to postpone by voice vote.

Votes at a glance: 20254143PP — Brucer Place Subdivision (postponed 30 days); 20222903PP — Mason Du Village Subdivision (postponed 30 days); 20254129MSP — Milton Saba Sr. (approved with waiver, minor subdivision into parcels A, B and C); 20254171MSP — Alan J. LaCava & Victoria LaCava (approved with waiver, lot-width waiver in L1 district); 20254174MSP — Fleming family (approved with waiver for 20-foot access servitude); 20254178MSP — Trey Lee Properties / Laborde parcels (approved); 20254179MSP — Dennis J. Pilote & Patricia Pierre Ferrer (approved with waiver for 30-foot access servitude); 20254180MSP — Vicki Jo Moran (approved); 20254181MSP — Gregory Jacobs (approved).

Case highlights and context

- Case 20254129MSP (Milton Saba Sr.): Staff said the proposal would divide roughly 10 acres into three parcels accessed from the Pearl River Canal and required a waiver because the proposed parcels do not front a public road. Owner Milton Saba Sr. described the parcel geometry and frontage along the canal and river. Commissioner Robert called the application “a no brainer” before moving to approve with the requested waiver; the motion carried.

- Case 20254171MSP (Alan J. LaCava & Victoria LaCava): The commission approved the reconfiguration of two parcels into 1.721 acres and 1.28 acres, with a waiver because a proposed parcel did not meet the 50-foot minimum lot width in the L1 large-lot residential district. A member of the public and staff highlighted that the area is within a critical drainage area and that much of the lot falls in flood zone AE on preliminary flood maps; staff said those conditions affect what will be required to build on the parcel.

- Case 20254174MSP (Fleming family): The commission approved dividing the property into two parcels; the approval included a waiver for Parcel 2 to be accessed by a 20-foot access servitude rather than full road frontage. The applicant said the access width preserves a mature live oak on the site and that the new parcel would be used for a future residence.

- Case 20254178MSP (Trey Lee Properties / Laborde Parkway parcels): The applicant asked to combine multiple parcels to create Parcel B1. Staff noted the parcel previously went through minor subdivision review in 2008 and listed standard conditions; the commission approved the request after the applicant said staff comments had been addressed.

- Case 20254179MSP (Dennis J. Pilote & Patricia Pierre Ferrer): Staff explained the request to reconfigure two parcels into four lots and to move a private access servitude; because the owner is the single property owner for the affected parcels, staff recommended a waiver of the minimum construction standards with the condition that future subdivision would require bringing the access up to standards. The commission approved the motion with waiver.

- Case 20254180MSP (Vicki Jo Moran): The commission approved a proposal to subdivide a remaining large parcel into five sizable tracts (roughly 39 acres each for four parcels, one parcel smaller) intended for future sale. During discussion, a commissioner cautioned about extensive wetlands mapped on the site and urged the applicants to consult Army Corps of Engineers and other regulators before development.

- Case 20254181MSP (Gregory Jacobs): The commission approved a small reallocation of acreage (about 0.93 acres moved) so a future home could meet setback requirements; staff and the commission said they saw no environmental red flags.

Procedure and notes

• Several approvals were granted with waivers because parcels lacked public road frontage or proposed less-than-standard access servitudes (examples: 20-foot and 30-foot access servitudes, and a lot-width waiver under the L1 district). Staff noted that when applicants later subdivide further, construction and frontage standards will apply.

• Where commenters or staff raised floodplain or wetlands concerns, the commission recorded those as conditions to be addressed during permitting rather than blocking the minor subdivision approvals. For at least one parcel staff identified preliminary flood zone AE on FEMA mapping and warned that future building will require adherence to floodplain requirements.

• Postponed items (20254143PP and 20222903PP) were delayed 30 days at applicants’ requests while they coordinate with staff and council representatives.

Ending

The commission carried the motions by voice votes and will revisit postponed cases at the next meeting. Several commissioners and staff emphasized that waivers granted at subdivision do not remove later construction standards or permitting requirements; future development proposals may trigger additional reviews and conditions.