St. Charles Parish Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Summary – February 5, 2026

On February 5, 2026, the St. Charles Parish Planning Board of Commissioners convened to consider four applications, an ordinance amendment, and a resolution. All votes were unanimous, and items were forwarded to the Parish Council or legislative committee for further action.

Consent Calendar

• 2026-1-MIN: Requested by ICG Investing LLC and Blake Lorio for a resubdivision of two lots at 313 & 315 River Ridge Drive, Boutte (R-1A zoning). The lot line shift corrects an existing setback encroachment. One proposed lot (48.74 feet wide) is 1.26 feet deficient from the required 60-foot minimum width. A waiver for the width requirement was requested; the department did not object. The commission approved the waiver and the resubdivision unanimously.
• 2026-2-MIN: Requested by Gaynell Ayo for a resubdivision of one lot into two on Luke Drive, Bayou Gauche (R-1A(M) zoning). Both resulting lots meet all area, width, and geometric standards. An existing structure slated for removal remains on site but does not affect the subdivision. Approved unanimously.
• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the January 8, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously.

Discussion Items

• 2026-1-SPU: Requested by GM Elite Co. for an Automobile Fleet Services operation (office and truck maintenance) at 150 Almedia Plantation Drive, St. Rose (C-3 zoning). The site does not meet required landscaping standards; a waiver was requested and approved. The department recommended additional plantings where feasible. Public Works raised roadway concerns, requiring a traffic impact analysis during permitting. The commission approved the special use permit with the landscaping waiver and recommendations, noting the traffic study would be handled at the permitting stage. Forwarded to the council for final decision.
• 2026-1-ORD: Proposed by Councilman Walter Pilié and Councilwoman Michelle O’Daniels to amend the Zoning Ordinance regarding Large Solar Energy Systems (LSES). The parish opted out of updated state regulations to maintain local control. Key additions include landscaping and buffer requirements, minimum solar farm size, and a glare evaluation requirement. Commissioners asked about comparisons with state and neighboring parish standards; Councilman Pilié presented a comprehensive comparison matrix. The ordinance was approved unanimously and forwarded to the council. Staff noted that future updates may address decommissioning penalties once state committee guidance is issued (expected February 2026).
• 2026-1-RES: A resolution to update C-2 commercial zoning provisions (unfinished business from prior meetings). Changes broaden definitions and uses (e.g., contractor shops) and add potential design standards for special permits. Commissioners discussed whether hard regulations were appropriate; staff suggested submitting substantive comments to the legislative committee. The resolution was approved unanimously to forward to the legislative committee for further review and potential refinement.

Other Business

• Staff announced plans to clarify the zoning classification for data centers (currently considered industrial) by specifying their placement in the code, likely as part of the upcoming legislative package.

Key Outcomes

• All four applications (2026-1-MIN, 2026-2-MIN, 2026-1-SPU, 2026-1-ORD) and the resolution (2026-1-RES) were approved unanimously.
• Items requiring council action were forwarded accordingly; the ordinance and resolution will undergo additional committee review before returning to the commission.
• No public comments were received during any of the public hearings.