Board approves after‑the‑fact variance allowing rock pad at Goodby substation

The Saint Tammany Parish Board of Adjustments on July 1 approved an after‑the‑fact variance allowing a rock pad to remain within a required street‑planting area at the Goodby substation and granted a waiver of fill‑mitigation requirements, subject to conditions.

Matt Thornton of T Baker Smith, the engineering firm representing the utility, said the pad was installed to allow bucket‑truck access to two lines feeding the substation and was not included in the original permitted plans. “The pad was installed for access,” Thornton said, adding the substation serves about 1,200 customers. He said soils on the site are soft, drainage pools at the front of the parcel, and there was no practical room on the site to relocate the maintenance access without compromising stormwater detention.

Parish staff described the rock pad as critical for safe, timely access to restore power and perform routine and emergency electrical work. The pad is roughly 20 by 40 feet and surfaced with a larger, permeable limestone material rather than concrete; board member Bloch said he was satisfied the material was permeable and not cemented in place.

The board approved the after‑the‑fact variance and the waiver on the condition that the applicant submit an updated as‑built plan and a finalized as‑built cut/fill calculation documenting current site conditions. The applicant confirmed the required fees, including a double impact/application fee, have been paid and was instructed to send the as‑built documents to Theodore Reynolds in the parish engineering office.

The motion to approve was made and seconded on the record; the chair called the vote and the motion carried.