The Baton Rouge City Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 20 approved a conditional use permit (CUP 725) allowing a retreat center and associated cabins at 18222 Stony Pointe Birch Road, an agricultural-rural parcel in Council District 1.

Applicant representatives described plans for a small retreat facility intended for entrepreneur training and professional development. Dan Decote identified himself and business partner Rich Major, saying the project would feature a roughly 2,900-square-foot central building and up to six small two-bedroom, two-bath cabins (each with an estimated footprint of 50000 square feet). The applicants said retreats would typically host 80 participants, with occasional events pushing toward 15 but that the primary use is a small, multi-day training retreat rather than a reception hall.

Several neighbors raised concerns during public comment. Theodore Powell, a nearby resident, said some properties adjacent to the site did not receive mailed notice and that the site backs up to flood-prone areas; he reported prior drainage problems at a nearby ditch and said his flood insurance costs had risen. Powell also expressed worry about hunting and firearms safety on the property and asked whether hunting would be allowed.

Director Ryan Holcomb clarified that the application under consideration is a conditional use permit, not a rezoning; the property’s rural zoning remains unchanged. Holcomb said the Planning Office posted the required yellow notification sign on the property (Sept. 22), mailed notice cards to adjacent property owners within 300 feet, and ran the required legal advertisement in The Advocate in October. He said notification mailings are a matter of public record and staff would meet with neighbors who said they had not received notices.

Commissioners and the project designer confirmed that all proposed development is sited outside the FEMA AE flood zone and that final construction would require more-detailed permit submissions and any required drainage studies before permitting work could begin. The applicant and project designer said drainage and flood-mitigation are primary concerns and that required technical studies and permitting steps will be completed during the permit stage.

On other neighbor concerns, applicants said the property is intended for limited, supervised retreats; they denied plans for a hunting club, said they would mark trails and boundaries for guests, and described intentions to preserve and manage the natural habitat. The applicant invited neighbors to visit the property.

Commissioner Addison moved to approve CUP 725; Vice Chairman Grout seconded. Seeing no objections, the commission approved the conditional use permit. Staff noted that building permits, drainage studies and other technical approvals remain prerequisites to construction and occupancy.