Planning commission approves several minor subdivisions, postpones one amid ownership dispute

At its November meeting the St. Tammany Parish Planning and Zoning Commission approved a slate of minor subdivisions and resubdivisions across the parish and postponed a contested resubdivision while ownership questions are resolved.

The commission approved multiple cases that included waivers for private-drive access or for constructing required drainage before plat recordation, and several petitioners described family-oriented uses or plans for single-family homes. For example, commissioners approved a request to subdivide roughly 4.995 acres in Lacombe into three lots with waivers to include private-drive square footage in lot acreage; petitioner Megan Armstrong said the lots will allow family members to live adjacent to one another.

The commission approved a petitioner’s request to enter Sandy Lane right-of-way to install water and sewer lines to serve a Troopel site and approved a resubdivision to allow North Shore Toyota to expand its service area.

One item (case 20254414 MSP) was the subject of a public ownership dispute. A nearby resident alleged the petitioner did not own the land and urged the commission to delay action; parish staff said the applicant submitted an executed active donation instrument that had not yet been recorded and recommended postponement until ownership status was adjudicated. The commission voted to postpone that item indefinitely pending legal review.

When commissioners voted on routine approvals they often recorded motions with verbal confirmations that "Motion to approve carries," and staff confirmed required waivers or review items would be listed as conditions in the staff report.

The approved minor subdivisions were subject to standard staff conditions noted on the record; engineering review and drainage approvals were repeatedly cited as follow-up items before building permits or work orders would be issued.