Neighbor raises mailbox, ditch and permitting concerns during hearing on Stafford family partition

At the Ascension Parish Planning Commission meeting, John Stafford presented a family-partition application to create lots for his three daughters and said ‘‘there are no immediate plans’’ to build on the parcels. The commission treated the item as a routine subdivision that meets code and approved it.

Resident Steve Sincari, who lives adjacent to the property, told the commission he was concerned that road changes or construction connected to the new servitude of passage could disrupt mail delivery to an existing mailbox on the street and asked how mail access would be preserved. ‘‘I just want to make sure that that doesn't get affected and any construction doesn't prevent mail from being delivered to that,’’ Sincari said. He also asked how permits and setbacks would be enforced and whether new ditches required for drainage would encroach on neighboring property.

Planning director Eric Poche responded that ‘‘the mailbox . . . is up to the postmaster and that's a federal issue,’’ and that once permits are pulled the building and planning departments will review and enforce setbacks, permits and related requirements. A consultant for the applicant said a ditch already separates the client's property from neighbors and that a new driveway would generally be accompanied by ditches on each side to manage drainage.

Commission members additionally reminded the applicant of restrictions tied to family-partition rules enacted after Jan. 1, 2015: the person who received property under a family partition generally must own and live on the parcel in order to redivide it in the future. The commission then voted to approve the partition.

The planning department is responsible for permit review and enforcement as the project advances; the USPS determines mailbox placement and delivery.