Planning commission approves amendment to resilience overlay to allow administrative waivers and clarify 3‑foot elevation standard
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
The commission amended Chapter 400, section 407 (RES1/RES2 overlays) to permit an administrative process for removing overlay construction standards when properties do not meet mapped criteria, and clarified that buildings must be 36 inches above base flood elevation when applicable, or otherwise 36 inches above the road center line.
St. Tammany Parish planning staff proposed and the Planning and Zoning Commission approved changes to the RES1 and RES2 resilience overlay that create an administrative pathway for property owners to be exempted from overlay construction standards when the overlay does not practically apply to a parcel.
Ross, a planning department staff member, told the commission the change is intended to speed relief for property owners whose parcels do not meet the underlying reasons the overlay was adopted. "Instead of a property owner coming to the zoning commission, taking 4 months and asking for zoning removal of the overlay, this is an administrative process that we can serve the public 4 months quicker and for probably hundreds or thousands of dollars cheaper when it does not apply to their property," Ross said.
Staff proposed criteria tied to the original mapping reasons — critical drainage areas, wetlands and floodplain — and to allow review using best available mapping data. Commissioners discussed technical clarifications: several speakers recommended substituting a standard phrasing ("best available mapping data") and clarifying that the 36‑inch freeboard requirement applies as follows: where a base flood elevation (BFE) applies, the finished floor must be 36 inches above the BFE; where no BFE exists on the property, the finished floor must be 36 inches above the center line or top of curb of the fronting street.
Commissioners also confirmed that small accessory structures (under 600 square feet) remain exempt from the 3‑foot elevation requirement but are still subject to hydrostatic vents if built below the base flood elevation. Staff said the administrative process will mirror existing area‑of‑special‑concern waiver procedures and use submitted surveys and assessments to determine applicability.
The commission adopted clarifying amendments during discussion to reference the US Fish and Wildlife Service wetland mapper, the St. Tammany Parish Wetland Management Mapper and "best available mapping data" in the criteria. A motion to accept commissioner amendments and approve the ordinance changes passed by voice vote.
The ordinance change is intended to reduce procedural burdens for property owners whose parcels are mapped within the resilience overlay but do not possess the mapping characteristics that originally justified the stricter construction standards. The amendment directs staff to assess waiver requests and requires applicants to submit surveys and supporting technical documentation for review.