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Coastal advisory committee puts Chauvin borrow‑pit on hold, approves bulkhead and pond permits
Summary
At its May 5 meeting the Coastal Zone Management Restoration Advisory Committee put a Chauvin borrow‑pit permit on hold pending conditions over a Ward 7 levy and Victory Street access, approved a bulkhead on Bayou St. Louis Canal, and approved a private pond on Bay Black Drive while holding several other applications for additional details.
The Coastal Zone Management Restoration Advisory Committee on May 5 put a proposed borrow‑pit in Chauvin on hold over concerns the work would cross the Ward 7 levy and use Victory Street for heavy truck access, and it approved several other routine shoreline and pond permits with conditions.
Committee member Mr. Martin said the permit had been issued previously but not acted on and that staff would meet the applicant’s engineer to set conditions. “They received a permit some time ago, but never acted on it,” Mr. Martin said, adding the committee may require a bond to pay for repairs if Victory Street or adjacent drainage is damaged.
Staff recommended holding the Chauvin permit until the applicant clarifies access and mitigation and until the engineer meeting occurs; the committee moved and carried a hold on that item. Members emphasized that existing levy material around the site must remain in place to prevent flooding.
The committee approved a vinyl sheet‑pile bulkhead and associated bridge on Bayou St. Louis Canal after staff determined the project was urban upland with no direct or significant impact; the committee moved to approve the non‑NDSI determination and the permit. At the same meeting the board approved a proposed private pond on Bay Black Drive conditioned on compliance with borrow‑pit ordinance requirements and standard construction and traffic controls.
A proposed small drive‑in coffee shop near the racetrack on Martin Luther King — sited in bottomland forest — was put on hold because the applicant must show mitigation plans and provide a mitigation‑credit purchase letter before staff will clear the proposal for approval. Staff said the applicant had returned a mitigation intent form but needs a mitigation letter specifying how many credits must be purchased.
A separate application from a property owner identified as Tommy Vice for dredging/ditch work in an emergent marsh was held after staff requested clearer drawings showing how spoil would be spread to allow marsh recovery; staff noted dimensions provided in the application (6 feet wide, 3 feet deep, ~1.12 acres) but asked for a plan that avoids permanent damage or for mitigation if unavoidable.
Votes at a glance - Approval of April 7 minutes: moved by Committee member Jan; second by Committee member Maryland; motion carried. - Chauvin borrow‑pit: motion to hold pending conditions; mover Jan; seconder Merlin; outcome: held. - Bayou St. Louis bulkhead: motion to approve non‑NDSI and permit; mover Jan; seconder Maryland; outcome: approved. - Martin Luther King drive‑in: motion to hold pending mitigation details; seconder Matt; outcome: held. - Bay Black Drive pond (Mr. Moss): recommendation LCU with normal conditions; mover Mickey; second Jan; outcome: approved. - Tommy Vice dredge/ditch: motion to hold until next meeting and updated plats/drawings; mover Jane; second Marilyn; outcome: held.
The committee also noted administrative items: staff reported seven permits in April totaling $9,600 in fees and a year‑to‑date permit count of 28. The next committee meeting is scheduled for June 2, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
The meeting included one public commenter who urged no borrow pits in the southern part of the parish and characterized the proposal as profit‑driven; committee members acknowledged the comment during the public‑comment period. The meeting adjourned after committee announcements and scheduling.
