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Mandeville panels unanimously approve Harold Street revocation and three zoning variances
Summary
On Jan. 27, 2026, the Mandeville Planning Commission recommended City Council adopt Ordinance 25-31 to vacate a portion of Harold Street; the Zoning Commission approved three variances for properties on Montgomery and E. Causeway Approach. All votes were unanimous and drew no public comment.
Planning Chairwoman Claire Durio convened a joint Planning and Zoning hearing in Mandeville on Jan. 27, 2026, where commissioners approved a planning recommendation and three zoning variances without public comment.
The Planning Commission recommended that the City Council adopt Ordinance 25-31 to revoke the dedicated portion of Harold Street between Monroe Street and Livingston Street, declaring the strip surplus and directing its disposal by private sale. Planning Director Cara Bartholomew presented the staff report, citing the legal description and survey prepared by Kelly J. Mchugh & Assoc., Inc., dated Oct. 27, 2025. Commissioner Scott Quillin moved to approve the recommendation; Brian Rhinehart seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
The Zoning Commission then considered three variance requests. For V26-01-01, applicant Robert Brent sought relief to build an addition at 1733 Montgomery consistent with an existing legally nonconforming structure he is preserving rather than demolishing. Bartholomew presented the case and Brent came to the podium for commissioners’ questions. Claire Durio moved to approve the variance; Nicholas Cressy seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
For V26-01-02, Erik Soine requested a variance at 3014 E. Causeway Approach related to protections for key native tree species under CLURO Section 9.2.5.7. Commissioners discussed relocating Magnolia trees from the buildable area into the side setback and queried a no-cut buffer. Bartholomew clarified the no-cut buffer sits on the property owner’s land and is not part of Cleco’s right-of-way. Durio moved to approve; Patrick Rosenow seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
V26-01-03 involved a request by Ramy El Khoury for relief under CLURO Section 8.1.5 to allow an accessory covering for two vehicle spaces at 1823 Montgomery. Staff described the lot-size hardship and the detached carport; Kelly Johnson, the applicant’s architect, said the covering would help the owners load and unload small children. Scott Quillin moved to approve; Durio seconded and commissioners voted unanimously in favor.
Brian Rhinehart, who convened the Zoning Commission portion, reminded attendees that written notice of variance decisions will be filed in the commission office the day after the meeting and that applicable appeal periods begin to run at that time. Bartholomew also informed commissioners about the American Planning Association national conference in April in Detroit. The meeting adjourned at 6:17 p.m.
These actions will generate formal notices: the Planning Commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration on Ordinance 25-31; the Zoning Commission’s approvals will be entered in the official file and trigger the standard appeal window.
