St. Tammany News

The final plat approval for Oak Alley subdivision was tabled at the regular meeting of the Covington Planning Commission Monday night until city engineer Tom Schreiner has an opportunity to review changes made to the plat. It was also said a geotech report is needed to fill in the pond areas. Other details on the plat were also unclear to the planning commission.

Also tabled was a final subdivision review of Fauberg St. John Town Homes and a final subdivision review of Pine Crest Apartments. Resubdivision of lots into a less non-conforming lot owned by Shelly and Gerardo Gallardo was approved by the commission, 7-0.

Also approved by a 7-0 vote is a proposed revocation and abandonment of an unimproved street located between Theard Street and the St. Tammany Trace and between factional squares 11 and 12 of the Division of St. John. The fire and city works departments had no objection to the revocation. The matter will now proceed to the City Council for final action.

Former Mayor Keith Villere said the downtown area is listed on the National Register of Historical Places, not for its architecture, but for its layout, and actions like these can set a dangerous precedent, even when the reason is for economic development.

Ted Barkerding said the area in question behind the current Heiner Brau Brewery is landlocked, and therefore is not of value to the city in the long term under current conditions.

During the Zoning Commission meeting, which followed, the request for a conditional use permit for Delta Sod to build in C-3 zoning on Collins Boulevard/U. S. Highway 190 was conditionally granted. In order to not create a traffic hazard with 18-wheelers turning left onto Collins Boulevard, the trucks must turn right onto the property and use an existing servitude to access a traffic light to turn left. City attorney Deborah Foshee will confirm this.

The final case of the night involved a conditional use permit to build an automobile repair shop on Collins Boulevard.

The CUP had previously been granted but expired because the owners could not begin their construction in the allotted time due to rising costs of construction. The permit was granted to this owner only by the commission in a 7-0 vote.