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Regional planning commission approves industrial lot divisions and hydrant variances for utility substations
Summary
The Houma–Terrebonne Regional Planning Commission approved small-lot divisions to place existing substation assets on separate legal lots and granted variances for fire-hydrant distance after the fire district indicated no objection because oil-filled transformers require non-water suppression methods.
The Houma–Terrebonne Regional Planning Commission approved several minor subdivisions that divide existing utility assets onto separate legal lots and granted variances from standard fire-hydrant proximity requirements for two substations.
Terrell Martin of Red Stick Power (representing the utility Salika/Salica as recorded in the applicant materials) presented two asset-transfer items and requested variances from the hydrant-distance requirement. For one Bayou Lourdes substation property the applicant sought to increase the allowable hydrant distance to 550 feet; staff noted the lot otherwise met subdivision standards. Planning staff said the applicant’s safety rationale is that many substation components are oil-filled transformers and that water-based suppression could be counterproductive; Salika (applicant) maintains on-site Class C-rated extinguishers and other non-water suppression equipment.
The parish received a contemporaneous letter from the relevant fire district (Terrebonne Parish Fire District No. 8 and West Terrebonne Fire & Rescue) stating they "have no objection in allowing a variance of the [hydrant] being located within 50 feet of the property" (staff read the letter and identified the author as District Chief Michael Anthony). With that input, staff recommended approval of the variance and subdivision on condition that municipal addresses, the method of sewage disposal, a permanent benchmark, lot numbers and outstanding utility letters be added to the plat.
Commissioner Dan Rogers moved to approve staff recommendations; the motion passed with one committee member noting a nay on a separate item earlier but the planning actions on these lots were approved. For a Greenwood substation transfer, staff and commissioners discussed hydrant locations; after reviewing the applicant’s map staff concluded a hydrant exists near the parcel corner though the asset location might be further from the hydrant and recommended approval with standard plat modifications.
The commission approved the subdivisions and the hydrant-distance variances with conditions that outstanding utility letters be provided and required plat corrections be made prior to recordation.
