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St. Tammany planning commission delays Vincent Heights plat, approves multiple minor subdivisions and waivers
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Summary
The St. Tammany Parish Planning Commission agreed to postpone final plat approval for Vincent Heights for one month at the petitioner’s request and approved several minor subdivisions across the parish, including multiple waivers for private-drive and lot-width standards.
The St. Tammany Parish Planning Commission postponed final action on the Vincent Heights subdivision for one month at the request of the petitioner’s attorney and approved a series of minor subdivisions and associated waivers on its agenda.
Planning staff told the commission it had received a request to postpone Item 8 (final plat 20264596, Vincent Heights Subdivision). Jeff Shane, an attorney representing the developer, said he was filling in for his partner and that the team was preparing a revised plan. “We respectfully request, that you postpone until the May meeting,” Shane said, asking for one month to submit changes and for staff review. Commissioner Martino moved to postpone; a second was made and the motion to postpone carried.
Beyond the postponement, commissioners approved multiple minor subdivisions that would split existing lots or create new parcels. These included: Item 1 (subdivision of Lot 5 into Lots 5A–5C), Item 2 (division of Parcel C into C1–C4 with a waiver for access via a 35-foot servitude rather than parish road frontage), Item 3 (division of a roughly 105.39‑acre parcel in Terry Estates into smaller parcels), Item 4 (split of 13.01 acres with a request to recognize an existing 12‑foot private access), Item 5 (Parcel B into B1 and B2 with a lot‑width waiver), Item 6 (subdivision of parcel D into D1–D4, including a request to allow road/cul‑de‑sac construction timing and to name the right of way Restful Way), and Item 7 (resubdivision of Lots 24 and 25 into Lot 24A for the Johnny F. Smith Memorial Business Park).
Planning staff explained that several of the approvals involved standard waiver requests where existing private drives or long‑standing access servitudes are being recognized rather than newly constructed drives. On Item 4 and related cases staff noted these waivers are “not an atypical request” when driveways have been in existence and use for decades. In the Item 6 presentation staff confirmed maintenance agreements had been submitted for the proposed parcels and identified the proposed 35‑foot right of way name as Restful Way.
Property owner Charles Lowen spoke in support of Item 6, recounting that building permits and a plat were processed years earlier but that a commission signature appeared to be missing from parish records: according to Lowen, a title attorney told him, “I see the plat, but I don't see where the parish commission approved by signing it. Oops.” Lowen said the houses already on the lots meet current standards and asked the commission to approve the plat to clear the title for a pending sale.
Most items generated only brief discussion, mostly clarifying staff explanations of servitude, access, and acreage calculations; commissioners asked clerical and technical questions, and motions to approve (often with waivers or standard submittal conditions) were moved, seconded and carried. The commission also reminded members that it will hold back‑to‑back meetings in May.
What happens next: the Vincent Heights item will return at the May meeting after the petitioner submits a revised plan; other approved plats and waivers will proceed to the usual recordation and permitting steps described by parish staff.
