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Planning commission postpones 53‑acre commercial‑excavation permit after staff flags missing engineering documents
Summary
The commission delayed consideration of a 53‑acre commercial excavation conditional‑use permit for one month after staff said the applicant’s drainage, hydraulic and cut/fill documentation were incomplete; the applicant said documents were submitted that morning and nearby residents urged caution over wells and erosion.
The St. Tammany Parish Planning & Zoning Commission voted to postpone a decision on a 53‑acre commercial‑excavation conditional‑use permit for one month after staff said key engineering documents were missing.
Staff told the commission that the application lacked sealed and dated drainage and fill plans, an identified stream on the plans, outfall and haul‑road details, hydraulic calculations to show compliance with chapter 900 of the Unified Development Code (UDC) and a certified cut‑fill report verifying excavation volumes. “Until we have all that information, we don't feel comfortable making a determination that this could meet the unified development code,” a staff member told the commission.
Attorney Jeff Shane, representing Wallheim Materials LLC, said the applicant submitted the requested materials the morning of the meeting and was prepared to proceed if the commission wished. “We submitted what we believe are all of the answers to those requests,” Shane said. He asked that, if possible, staff return comments sooner than “a week before next meeting.”
Residents who live near the proposed site urged a postponement to allow scrutiny of erosion control and groundwater impacts. “We are tired of sort of being called back,” public commenter John Adams said, urging the commission to give staff time to review the 300‑page submittal. Commissioner Robert said his “main concern is the temporary erosion control plan because everyone in this room is terrified that this is going to contaminate their well and their drinking water.”
Robert moved to postpone the item for one month; the motion was seconded and carried. The postponement gives staff time to complete its review and return comments the commission said it expects to receive and circulate in advance of the next hearing.
No formal recommendation to the parish council was made; the commission will revisit the conditional‑use permit after staff completes its review and the applicant addresses any deficiencies.
