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Record of Proceedings

St. Charles Parish Coastal Zone Advisory Committee Meeting - May 12, 2026

Parish Council & Boards — Tuesday, May 12, 2026
BodySt Charles Parish, Louisiana
SessionParish Council & Boards
DateTuesday, May 12, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:02:58

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

I like being on the edge so I can see it.

0:08

Good afternoon.

0:09

Call the order.

0:10

Uh coastal zone advisory committee meeting for May 12th 2026.

0:20

Please rise for a moment of silence and a pledge of allegiance.

0:33

Pledge allegiance to the flag and space.

0:37

And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God.

0:42

Indivisible with liberty and trust us for all.

0:52

All right.

0:52

First order is approval of previous meetings, minutes.

1:00

Motion to approve.

1:03

Second motion.

1:06

Alright.

1:07

Need a vote.

1:10

All in favor say yay.

1:16

All right.

1:17

Cast your votes.

1:26

That passes unanimously.

1:29

All right.

1:30

Number three.

1:31

Manager's briefing.

1:37

Hello.

1:38

Apologies.

1:39

I seem to have misplaced my script that I walked in with.

1:45

Donia, did I give it to you by mistake?

1:49

Sorry.

1:49

This is my first meeting.

1:52

And I'll probably screw up, so I apologize.

2:15

Nope.

2:15

We're just gonna we're just gonna go.

2:19

I have the digital copy.

2:20

We're just gonna go through that.

2:21

Apologies.

2:22

Um good afternoon.

2:27

Uh name is Clay Liday, Coastal Zone Manager of St.

2:30

Charles Parish.

2:31

So we're gonna go through these real quick for the agenda.

2:34

For the first three we have on here, they have the applications have already been determined, but just to report on to what we've already received determinations for.

2:43

Uh first item P 2026 0330.

2:47

It was a local concern.

2:49

It was uh Avadi Patel was an RFD, which is a request for determination.

2:54

The request was for confirmation of the existence of wetlands on two parcels off Old Spanish Trail in Parity.

3:01

The site was deemed to have wetlands on it and that a coastal use permit will be would be required should they decide to proceed to do any kind of clearing or construction or any kind of actions on the parcels themselves.

3:13

Um the next one, P2026 0375.

3:17

It was a state concern.

3:18

Energy Waterford 3.

3:20

They are upgrading and rerouting existing water for three transmission lines.

3:24

No excavation or fill will be required, and it's the maintenance of an existing structure, which classifies it as an exemption.

3:32

And the last one, P2026, 0169, another state concern.

3:39

Uh shell proposed maintenance on a project consisting of batcher pipe rack repairs at an existing facility.

3:47

No dredging is required.

3:49

And due to the case of it just being maintenance of an existing structure, it classifies as NDSI or no direct or significant impact.

3:57

Again, that was a state concern.

4:00

And that would conclude the three that have already had determinations for joint permit applications for last month.

4:09

Okay, that's APA.

4:14

Oh no, you were good.

4:15

Uh we'll move on to item three B one.

4:18

Those are the state concerns.

4:19

We have four state concerns that we received from the previous month that are will be open for public comment for this meeting.

4:25

Uh the first one is P 2026 0261.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement█████████████████████████████29%
Water And Wastewater Management████████████████████████24%
Environmental Protection█████████████████████21%
Zoning And Land Use█████████9%
Miscellaneous███████7%
Procedural██████6%
Transportation Safety████4%
Summary of Proceedings

St. Charles Parish Coastal Zone Advisory Committee Meeting - May 12, 2026

The St. Charles Parish Coastal Zone Advisory Committee met on May 12, 2026 at 12:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The agenda included approval of previous minutes, a manager's briefing on joint permit applications (JPAs), discussion of public comments on several permit proposals, updates on coastal zone activities, and introduction of two new Estuary Management Units (EMUs). Key deliberation centered on a barge recycling facility proposed by Modern American Recycling Services (MARS) in St. Rose, which drew extensive public opposition.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of previous meeting's minutes was moved, seconded, and passed unanimously.

Manager's Briefing

A) Last Month's JPAs with Determinations (Clay Liday, Coastal Zone Manager):

  • P20260330 (Local): Patel, Avadhi – Request for Determination (RFD) on two parcels off Old Spanish Trail. Wetlands found; Coastal Use Permit (CUP) required for any future work.
  • P20260375 (State): Entergy Waterford 3 – Upgrading and rerouting water transmission lines; classified as exempt (maintenance).
  • P20260169 (State): Shell – Pipe rack repairs at existing facility; classified as No Direct or Significant Impact (NDSI) (maintenance).

B) JPAs Open for Public Comment

State Concerns:

  • P20260261 (St. Charles Parish Public Works): Removal of vegetative debris from Destrohan to Cross Bayou Pump Station Canal (approx. 17,176 cubic yards over 5 years; annual or as needed). Recommendation: CUP required. No public comments.
  • P20260270 (St. Charles Parish Public Works): Removal of vegetative debris from Peterson Canal (approx. 10,064 cubic yards over 5 years). Recommendation: CUP required. No public comments.
  • P20260280 (Shell): Anomaly dig along 20-inch delta pipeline near Norco (approx. 259 cubic yards excavation). Recommendation: CUP required. A board member asked about excavation triggering CUP instead of NDSI; Liday clarified due to excavation volume. No public comments.
  • P20260343 (Entergy): Replacement of two wooden electrical poles (approx. 1 cubic yard excavation), part of Louisiana Resiliency Improvements. Recommendation: NDSI. No public comments.

Local Concerns:

  • P20260326 (Modern American Recycling Services, Inc. / MARS): Proposal for a barge recycling facility on the batture across from Highland Oaks Subdivision. Site currently used for gravel storage. Modification limited work to land (no in-water activity). Preliminary determination: upland area (>5 ft elevation), likely NDSI or exempt, pending USACE comments. Public comment period open until June 2, 2026. Public Testimony (see below).
  • P20260073 (Karvon Mitchell): Proposal to fill swampland with recycled concrete and sand for future residential use. Applicant later retracted building plans; only filling and clearing for resale. Preliminary recommendation: DENIAL due to lack of development plan. No public comments.
  • P20260251 (Joe's Rentals / Joe Ancona): After-the-fact permit for rental cabins south of Pier 90 marina on West Bank. Site historically cleared upland. Preliminary recommendation: NDSI. No public comments.
  • P20260357 (Express Container Services): Relocation and expansion of tank truck storage/cleaning facility to 18-acre site on Airline Highway in St. Rose. Upland, previously cleared. Preliminary recommendation: NDSI. No public comments.

C) Update on Coastal Zone Activities:

  • Outdoor Classroom: Ribbon-cutting for Dow Discovery Deck at Norco Park on April 14, 2026. Total cost $210,000 ($162,000 Dow; $48,000 Coastal Zone Management budget). Will serve environmental education, Swamp School.
  • Trash Bash (April 18, 2026): 399 participants filled 251 trash bags, cleaning 884.5 linear miles of parish.
  • Fish Dat Rodeo: Originally May 9, rescheduled to May 30 due to weather.
  • CWPPRA Task Force: Selected 10 projects for site visits in PPL 36 process; phase zero analysis underway. Board received packets.

Public Comments & Testimony

On P20260326 (MARS Barge Recycling Facility):

  • Ralph Scheid (Highland Oaks resident): Expressed strong opposition, citing environmental hazards (slag, open burning, hazardous waste), noise, dust, traffic, bank instability, and inadequate permit diagram. Raised concerns about pre-existing damage from current gravel operations (truck rutting over private infrastructure). Questioned the proposed ramp's impact on levee integrity. Noted equipment already staged on site (propane tank, containers labeled MARS). Urged denial or at minimum detailed analysis before approval.
  • William Ortiz (HOA President, Highland Oaks, representing 124 homes): Focused on safety, reporting that heavy trucks turning left from the site onto River Road are damaging property maintained by the HOA. Requested finding responsible party for damages and suggested safer egress. Concerned about risk of trucks breaching fence into homes.
  • Wendy Carter (Highland Oaks resident): Stated MARS has already placed containers and equipment on site without a permit. Questioned the method of dragging barges up the batture and potential riverbank damage. Asked if the permit application includes structures for hauling barges. Staff clarified modification was submitted; work must occur only on land; all necessary non-coastal permits still required.

No other public comments were received on other items.

Discussion Items

  • Board members asked for clarification on elevation of MARS site (Liday stated 18 ft in middle, drops sharply at river edge). A member noted if river reaches 12–17 ft, the batture may be underwater, creating environmental risk. Staff to investigate.
  • On Karvon Mitchell, board noted denial recommendation due to lack of development plan.
  • On Joe's Rentals and Express Container Services, board had brief questions about relocation vs. expansion; no opposition.
  • EMU 1 Discussion: Previously introduced; final discussion and vote expected in October/November 2026.
  • Introduction of EMU 5 (New Sarpy Swamp) and EMU 6 (Ormond Swamp): Members asked to review; questions deferred to future meetings.

Key Outcomes

  • Previous minutes approved unanimously.
  • For MARS (P20260326): Public comment period remains open until June 2, 2026. Final determination pending USACE comments and further staff review. Board asked for additional analysis on elevation/flooding risks.
  • For Karvon Mitchell (P20260073): Staff recommendation is denial. Awaiting applicant response to request for additional information (needs and justification). No board action taken.
  • For other JPAs (state and local): No votes taken; staff recommendations (CUP or NDSI) will proceed after public comment period closes.
  • Coastal activities noted: Outdoor classroom operational; Trash Bash results recorded; Fish Dat Rodeo rescheduled.
  • EMU discussion to continue at future meetings, with final decisions expected late 2026.

Announcements

  • BTNEP Q2 Management Conference: May 14 (Thursday), at Nicholls State University Coastal Center.
  • Election Day: May 16 (early voting closed).
  • Memorial Day: May 25.

Meeting Transcript

I like being on the edge so I can see it. Good afternoon. Call the order. Uh coastal zone advisory committee meeting for May 12th 2026. Please rise for a moment of silence and a pledge of allegiance. Pledge allegiance to the flag and space. And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God. Indivisible with liberty and trust us for all. All right. First order is approval of previous meetings, minutes. Motion to approve. Second motion. Alright. Need a vote. All in favor say yay. All right. Cast your votes. That passes unanimously. All right. Number three. Manager's briefing. Hello. Apologies. I seem to have misplaced my script that I walked in with. Donia, did I give it to you by mistake? Sorry. This is my first meeting. And I'll probably screw up, so I apologize. Nope. We're just gonna we're just gonna go. I have the digital copy. We're just gonna go through that. Apologies. Um good afternoon. Uh name is Clay Liday, Coastal Zone Manager of St. Charles Parish. So we're gonna go through these real quick for the agenda. For the first three we have on here, they have the applications have already been determined, but just to report on to what we've already received determinations for. Uh first item P 2026 0330. It was a local concern. It was uh Avadi Patel was an RFD, which is a request for determination. The request was for confirmation of the existence of wetlands on two parcels off Old Spanish Trail in Parity. The site was deemed to have wetlands on it and that a coastal use permit will be would be required should they decide to proceed to do any kind of clearing or construction or any kind of actions on the parcels themselves. Um the next one, P2026 0375. It was a state concern. Energy Waterford 3. They are upgrading and rerouting existing water for three transmission lines. No excavation or fill will be required, and it's the maintenance of an existing structure, which classifies it as an exemption. And the last one, P2026, 0169, another state concern. Uh shell proposed maintenance on a project consisting of batcher pipe rack repairs at an existing facility.

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