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Ascension Parish planning commission approves three family partitions; residents raise mailbox and drainage concerns
Summary
The Ascension Parish Planning Commission unanimously approved three family-partition plats after brief presentations. Public comment on one subdivision focused on mailbox access, drainage and enforcement of permits; staff said the plats met code and explained permit and federal mail rules.
The Ascension Parish Planning Commission approved three family-partition plats at its meeting, voting to approve subdivisions for the Dupri family, John Stafford and William Woodward.
The meeting opened with staff introductions and a brief monthly report. Commissioners then approved the minutes of the April 8, 2026 meeting and left a previously tabled code-amendment item on hold for further staff work. The commission heard three family-partition applications under the public hearing portion of the agenda and approved all three after brief presentation and limited public comment.
On agenda item 10A, Earls and Associates presented a division for Matthew and Jay Dupri. No members of the public signed up to comment, and staff confirmed the plat met code. The commission voted to approve.
Agenda item 10B, a family partition filed by John Stafford, drew public comment from the applicant and one neighbor. John Stafford, the applicant, said the subdivision was intended to create lots for his three daughters for future use and that ‘‘there are no immediate plans’’ to build. Neighbor Steve Sincari said he lives adjacent to the property and asked the commission to ensure that any road work would not disrupt mail delivery or access to an existing mailbox: ‘‘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 about permit enforcement, setbacks and whether new ditches would encroach on neighboring land.
Eric Poche, director of Planning and Development, told the commission that comments had been addressed and that the plats meet code: ‘‘All comments have been addressed and it meets the code,’’ Poche said. On the mailbox issue he said the U.S. Postal Service controls mailbox placement and that permitting, setbacks and code enforcement are handled by the building and planning departments once permits are pulled.
Commissioners also reminded the applicant of limits tied to family-partition rules enacted after Jan. 1, 2015, noting that people who receive property under that process must generally own and live on the parcel to redivide it later.
On agenda item 10C, Earls and Associates presented a subdivision for William Woodward that would create three lots for his sons. Staff confirmed the plat met applicable code and commissioners approved the application. Commissioners noted this parcel is not a flag lot and referenced recent ordinance changes to road-frontage requirements.
The meeting ended after a motion to adjourn by Commissioner Jones.
Votes at a glance: 1) Minutes of April 8, 2026 — motion to approve by Mr. Jones; passed. 2) Item 10A (Dupri family partition) — motion to approve by Mr. Villa; second by Mr. Jones; passed. 3) Item 10B (John Stafford family partition) — motion to approve by Mr. Villa; second by Mr. Jones; passed. 4) Item 10C (William Woodward family partition) — motion to approve by Mr. Jones; second by Mr. Nasser; passed.
What happens next: Staff said permits, setbacks and required drainage work will be reviewed by the building and planning departments as projects move forward. The commission left a separate code-amendment item on the table for further staff work.
