Board of Adjustments approves variance for carport at 1940 Salt Street in Mandeville

The St. Tammany Parish Board of Adjustments voted unanimously among the four members present to grant a variance allowing a 13-by-15-foot (195-square-foot) carport to extend into the 25-foot front-yard setback at 1940 Salt Street in Mandeville.

The variance reduces the front-yard setback from 25 feet to 18.6 feet so the applicant can attach a small carport to the existing garage. The applicant, Amanda Brammer, said the cover will be long enough to shelter her and her daughter’s vehicles and described the structure as modest and nonpermanent.

“The carport that I'm constructing … is exactly the length of my CR-V and my daughter's Civic,” Amanda Brammer said, explaining she wants covered parking so the family’s vehicles are not exposed to rain. Contractor Dennis Gerard of Gulf Coast Patios said the house sits about 53 feet from the street and that, without the variance, the property could only accommodate an approximately 8-foot patio cover.

Board members discussed safety and sight-line concerns tied to the setback on a semi-major street and noted the setback exists in part to allow for potential future street widening. Board member Daley said he was “struggling” with the balance between preserving sight distance and allowing a modest improvement that matches nearby properties. Several board members noted other similar, unpermitted carports exist nearby; Brammer said she provided letters from two adjacent neighbors indicating no objection.

Board member Swindell moved to approve the variance as requested; the motion was seconded by Board member Sanders and carried unanimously. The approval was conditioned only by the variance request as presented; no additional mitigation or conditions were recorded in the minutes.

The applicant thanked the board after the vote. The case was recorded as BOA2025-4172.