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Commission approves private drainage servitude waiver for Vincent Heights subdivision
Summary
Vincent Heights developer won a waiver to place private drainage servitudes and garden drains on lots; staff described a plan of grates and 8-inch pipes that will move water from green buffers to roadside ditches, with maintenance assigned to the homeowners association and a $20,000 funded maintenance obligation.
The Planning and Zoning Commission approved a waiver Thursday allowing private drainage servitudes in the Vincent Heights subdivision plan, after staff and the developer described how surface buffers would be drained to roadside ditches.
Paul Maroon, attorney for the developer, told commissioners the team is addressing staff comments and expects to complete engineering approvals. He said the private servitudes and garden drains are limited measures to drain natural buffer areas and will be maintained by the homeowners association. "These areas will continue to remain private and will be maintained by the association," Maroon said.
Planning staff explained that the design uses small yard drains and grates — "12x12 in at the edge of the green space" — connected to 8-inch PVC piping that will carry water into the roadside ditch. Staff said the system is not intended to create major off-site infrastructure but to ensure buffers remain drained and unobstructed; the parish will not assume maintenance responsibility for private servitudes.
Commissioners also noted that Magnolia Utilities and the Department of Utilities must provide approvals for utility connections. The motion to approve included conditions that final engineering, required utility letters and a funded maintenance obligation (reported in the staff packet as $20,000) be completed before work orders are issued.
The waiver grants the developer flexibility to incorporate vegetated buffers while retaining engineered drainage measures; it places maintenance responsibility on the HOA and requires staff verification of the planned details during final plat review.
