Covington commissioners approve amended conditional use and site plan for hospital parking garage with heli-stop after split public debate

Covington zoning commissioners voted to approve an amended conditional use permit and a related site plan that allow St. Tammany Health System to construct a five‑story, approximately 400‑space parking garage with a rooftop helistop and a skybridge connecting the garage to the hospital campus. The commission took the votes during its zoning meeting after more than two hours of testimony from hospital representatives, neighbors and city staff. "We have submitted a full and complete traffic impact study," said Jeff Shane, an attorney with Jones Fussell representing Saint Anthony Health System, adding that the hospital also provided drainage, landscaping, lighting and elevation plans that staff had reviewed. Shane said the city council’s earlier appeal decision required construction of a westbound right‑turn lane on West Eleventh Avenue, traffic‑signal adjustments and directional signage; he estimated those conditions could add roughly $600,000 to the project. The hospital told commissioners it relocated the skybridge footprint and moved the garage connection from the third to the fourth floor to avoid needing a variance for bridge footings,…