Meeting Summary

The St. Charles Parish Planning and Zoning Commission met on August 7, 2025 to consider a home occupation request, a lot resubdivision, a special permit use, a rezoning request, and a major subdivision preliminary plat. The most significant development was the withdrawal of the RIVERMIST preliminary plat application after extensive public opposition from Diane Place residents over flooding, drainage, sewer infrastructure, traffic, and school capacity concerns; the applicant agreed to hold a town hall before resubmitting. The commission also denied a resubdivision request due to landlocked-lot issues and approved a home occupation and a special permit use, while a proposed commercial rezoning was withdrawn by the applicant to explore an alternative zoning path.

Watch Items

• RIVERMIST subdivision (2025-1-MAJ): The applicant, J. Breaux Enterprises, withdrew the preliminary plat application for RIVERMIST, a proposed 109-lot residential subdivision off River Road in St. Rose adjacent to Dianne Place Subdivision, following widespread resident concern about flooding, a proposed private sewer lift station and treatment plant, drainage capacity, road access through Diane Place, and school overcrowding. The applicant plans to hold a town hall meeting with residents before resubmitting the plan, which will require a new public hearing before this commission if it moves forward. Residents should watch for details on that town hall and any revised plat.
• Jeffrey Vicknair rezoning request (2025-5-R): The applicant withdrew his request to rezone property at 435 Apple Street, Norco from C-1 to C-3 for an HVAC business after commission staff explained that a C-2 zoning with a special permit use might better fit his needs while limiting future uses of the site. He was directed to meet with planning staff to explore that option, and any new proposal would require its own future hearing.
• Cyril and Gena Favaloro resubdivision (2025-11-MIN): The request to resubdivide a lot on Verdin Lane in Paradis into two lots was denied by the commission due to the lots lacking legal street frontage under parish code. Because the request was denied at this stage, it does not advance to the Parish Council.
• Coastal Zone Advisory Committee: The Parish Council has adopted ordinance amendments creating a seven-member Coastal Zone Advisory Committee with staggered terms, and nominations for those seats are expected to begin soon. The Commission's earlier work serving in that advisory capacity will need formal minutes approval at a future meeting.
• Utility representation at hearings: Commissioners asked staff to look into requiring representatives from the Waterworks and Wastewater departments, and possibly Public Works, to attend future major subdivision hearings so that drainage and sewer questions can be answered directly. Staff agreed to look into making this a formal requirement.