Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Variance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Covington board denies side-yard variance for Darlington homeowner
Summary
The City of Covington Board of Adjustment denied a request by homeowner Asa Ackerson for a side-yard setback variance to add a lean-to and concrete pad beside his garage after commissioners cited self-inflicted procedural failures and drainage concerns.
Asa Ackerson of 1541 Darlington asked the City of Covington Board of Adjustment on May 19 to approve a side-yard setback variance to add a lean-to on the left side of his garage and pour a concrete pad to park a golf cart and store trash bins.
Ackerson said the work was done by a contractor he identified as Adam Martin of DMM Construction and that the contractor told him a concrete permit was not required in St. Tammany Parish; Ackerson said that advice was “a little bit, misinformed.”
The request prompted questions from commissioners about homeowners association approval, city permits and neighborhood impacts. Commissioner Roberts, who moved to deny the variance, said he saw no “real hardship” arising from the lot that justified a variance and noted the work drains onto a neighbor’s property. Roberts told Ackerson he believed the difficulty was “self inflicted” because the work was done without prior permits or HOA approval.
Commissioners asked whether Ackerson had sought HOA permission; Ackerson replied he had not. Ackerson said a servitude and drainage ditch behind his lot — a 20-foot servitude he described as unusable land — was a factor in his decision to site the lean-to on the garage side rather than behind the house.
After discussion, the board voted to deny the variance. Roll call recorded: Miss Butler — yes; Mr. Gilley — yes; Ms. Williams — yes; Mr. Lucas — yes; Mr. Jenkins (alternate seated) — yes. The motion to deny carried.
Why it matters: The board’s decision enforces zoning performance standards for single-family districts and underscores the risk homeowners take when making exterior alterations without prior permits or HOA approval. Commissioners flagged both stormwater/drainage impacts to neighboring yards and the procedural issue of doing work before securing required approvals.
Discussion vs. decision: Commissioners’ remarks and Ackerson’s explanation were recorded as discussion; the denial is the board’s formal action. The board did not adopt any conditions or direct staff to pursue remediation beyond standard code enforcement options.
Details and context: Ackerson said the concrete and lean-to were intended to store a golf cart and trash bins. He said he and his contractor believed parish practice did not require a concrete permit; he later learned City of Covington permits are required for that work. Commissioner Roberts said the new slab directs runoff to a neighbor’s yard, creating a potential code violation. Ackerson also described a 20-foot servitude behind his garage that he said limited alternative locations on his lot.
Next steps: The variance denial means the addition is not authorized; the petitioner may pursue remedies established by city code (e.g., apply for a permit and approved variance if available, or remove the work) or appeal per municipal procedures. The board did not set follow-up deadlines or conditions.
