Covington planning panels approve multiple lot consolidations and school-campus revocations; PUD for West Thirties recommended to council

The City of Covington's planning and zoning bodies on July 23 advanced a slate of property actions that city staff said will clear alley encroachments, consolidate irregular lots and enable redevelopment in the West Thirties area.

At the start of the Planning Commission meeting, members adopted minutes and heard a private-owner request (case 26-07-13) to consolidate Lots 4 and 5 in Square 1815 into a single lot so a buyer can build one home. Petitioner Mike Clark said the buyers plan to use an existing gravel lane and will secure right-of-way and utility permits during building-permit review. The commission moved and approved the administrative consolidation.

The commission then considered case 26-07-04, a request by West Thirties Redemption Company for the city to exchange a 300-by-20-foot alley in Square 2810 for Lot 10 or, alternatively, to sell the alley. City staff told commissioners that recent appraisals were delivered to council and that public works and engineering raised no objections. Brian Burns, representing the petitioner, said the alley is unlikely to be needed for future public access given an undeveloped Pierce Street and the bayou adjacency; commissioners voted to recommend the exchange/sale to the council.

The panel also reviewed revocation and subdivision requests tied to the Saint Tammany Parish School Board affecting William Pitcher Junior High (cases 26-07-03 and 26-07-15). Attorney Jeff Shane described the requested revocations of several 20-foot alleyways and portions of South Monroe and South Madison rights-of-way so the school board can consolidate parcels, eliminate interior lot lines and carry out campus improvements. The commission recommended the revocations to council and approved a contingent administrative resubdivision (WP-1 and WP-2) subject to council action and title transfer.

Commissioners approved case 26-07-16, an administrative subdivision requested by Collins and 31 LLC (William Kingsmill) to combine multiple lots and a revoked portion of Joiner Street to create a more developable parcel; petitioner Boat Bryant said retail uses were being considered.

Later, sitting as the Zoning Commission, members took up case 26-07-01, a planned residential development proposed by West Thirties Redemption Company to replace 11 blighted homes with 12 new single-family condominium-style homes and shared greenspace called Mile Branch Place. Burns said the nonprofit's mission is to improve the West Thirties block adjacent to a middle school and that two residents still living on the parcels had relocation arrangements. Staff clarified that the commission's role was a zoning recommendation and that the alley exchange or sale must be approved by council before the PUD can proceed. The Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of the PUD to the city council, conditioned on council approval of the alley sale or exchange.

Staff closed the meetings with an administrative reminder about outstanding ethics and harassment-prevention training for commission members.

What happens next: zoning recommendations and the requested property exchanges and revocations will go to the Covington City Council for final action. The PUD approval by the council will be conditioned on completion of any alley sale or exchange and any required resubdivision.