Council withdraws plan to allow apartments in HC‑2 commercial zones after public opposition
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Summary
An item that would have allowed apartments as a permitted use in HC‑2 highway commercial zoning was removed from the agenda after strong public opposition and a council motion to withdraw the proposal.
After extensive public comment on July 10, the St. Tammany Parish Council removed from its agenda a proposed change that would have permitted apartments as a use in HC‑2 (highway commercial) zoning.
Opponents said permitting apartments in HC‑2 would sharply increase density on major arterial roads, worsen traffic and drainage problems and reduce transparency for nearby residents. “Our roads can't handle it. Drainage can't handle it,” said resident John Vincent, who urged the council to stop revisiting the same issue after prior votes. Several speakers described the proposal as driven by special interests and urged the council to leave current HC‑2 rules intact.
Supporters of retaining the HC‑2 limits argued the council had already voted on the matter in recent months and that the current Unified Development Code and moratoria are intended to regulate growth. Council members indicated procedural concerns about repeatedly reintroducing the same change without broader public notice. Council President Michael B. Cooper’s staff confirmed removing the item restarts the process and would require reintroduction and a published notice period if proponents wanted to pursue it later.
The council approved the motion to remove the HC‑2 apartments item from the agenda unanimously with one absence.