St. Charles Parish · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in St. Charles Parish public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
RAD/Section 18 conversion progress
The housing authority is converting its public housing properties through the RAD/Section 18 process, which changes how the properties are financed and managed. HUD sign-offs, tax credit applications, and resident relocation are the big moving parts, with a resident meeting set for September 8.
Parish buys Hahnville property for $243,750
The parish bought the last private piece splitting its courthouse-area campus for $243,750, below appraisal. Access questions about the private street were raised but the parish owns adjacent land.
Redevelopment of St. Gertrude Catholic Church campus, Des Allemands
The hurricane-damaged St. Gertrude property could be redeveloped after planners backed a resubdivision and a rezone to highway commercial. A next-door neighbor worries about drainage onto his ditch and extra traffic on a lane maintained for cemetery access.
Housing Choice Voucher Waiting Lists Closed
Both the low-rent and voucher waiting lists are closed right now. The list was last opened over a year ago, and reopening depends on bedroom-size availability — tough news for families seeking housing assistance.
Home repair and ramp programs for seniors
The United Way ramp money dropped from $100,000 to $35,000, but volunteer crews from St. Charles Borromeo's Labor of Love build ramps, steps and rails for a fraction of contractor cost — letting the smaller budget serve about as many people.
Hahnville Branch Library Project
The $9.04 million Woodward Design + Build contract locked in construction of the parish-seat library, under budget. Debate centered on the CMAR process skipping traditional public bidding.
Marie Keat Lane servitude dispute
A Hahnville family's plan to split their property stalled because neighbors who own the lane as their driveway object to a new lot using the 1968 access servitude. Commissioners told the parties to reach a legal agreement before the September meeting.
Housing Authority policy updates (ACOP and HCV plan)
HUD issued a new procurement handbook, so the Housing Authority raised its purchasing thresholds — micro purchases to $15,000, small purchases to $60,000, public works to $250,000, and RFPs at $350,000-plus — while keeping stricter state limits where they apply.
Housing Authority turnaround and redevelopment
The Housing Authority is out of HUD's 'troubled' status, scores are way up, and a RAD/Section 18 conversion will renovate Boutte and Hahnville properties and rebuild Des Allemands for roughly 300 assisted households.
Des Allemands boat launch groundbreaking
The parish Recreation Department wants waivers from tree planting and dust-free parking rules for a boat launch on WPA Road, but no one appeared to present the case, so it's on hold until next meeting.
Housing Authority vacancies and rent collections
The Boutte property is nearly full — 54 of 129 units leased, with two move-ins February 1 and just three vacancies to fill. Twenty-nine work orders were completed in December.
PHA FY26 Annual Plan and 2026-2030 Capital Fund Plan
The board approved advertising the annual plan and five-year capital fund plan for a required 45-day public comment period before a public hearing and HUD submission. These documents lay out the agency's goals and spending priorities for low-income housing.
Swampland fill for future residential use on East Harding
An applicant wants to fill swampland with recycled concrete and sand, saying it's for a future home, but never submitted a development plan. Staff recommended denial because clearing land with no plan isn't an acceptable use under the coastal program.
MARS recycling barge facility near St. Rose
A barge recycling operation is proposed on the Bonnet Carré Spillway across from Highland Oaks, and neighbors are worried about truck traffic, safety, noise, dust, possible open burning, and riverbank stability. The permit isn't decided yet — public comment runs through June 2 — and residents are pushing for a denial or much tighter conditions.
Resubdivision of lots on Barber Road, Paradis
A family is squaring off a lot line between adjacent parcels on Barber Road to position a new home. The landlocked resulting lot will use a 30-foot servitude through a neighboring lot instead of direct street frontage, which the commission waived.
Department of Engineering creation and leadership confirmations
The parish split engineering out of Public Works into its own department, with Miles Bingham as director and a PE requirement. Supporters say it will bring consistency and checks and balances on outside engineers; the lone dissenter wanted minimum experience qualifications written into law.
Proposed sale of Eastern Greenbelt Park property, Norco
The parish sold unused Norco park land back to Shell for $100,000 total ($20,000 plus $80,000 through the sewer district), well above appraisal. A Norco parent asked to keep the park for kids; the council pointed to its park master plan and sheriff's enforcement on Good Hope Street.
Waiting list reopening for two- and three-bedroom units
The HCV waiting list reopens February 11-12, with details on the authority's website next week. Vouchers leased should also rise as the authority adds roughly two voucher holders a month.
Building elevation requirement for Highway 90 storage buildings
A young local family wants to build a boat and RV storage business on Highway 90 but says the 6-foot elevation rule doesn't fit their site between two different road elevations. Supporters argued the parish risks losing businesses to neighboring parishes with faster permitting.
Residential lot splits in St. Rose, Des Allemands, and Luling
Four routine minor resubdivisions were approved, including a father splitting land to build his daughter a house and two Des Allemands lot splits that could each hold a home.
Parish purchase/expropriation of Luling land on Hackberry Street
The parish can now buy — or force the sale of, if needed — 5.72 acres of the old Gassen Estate at 400 Hackberry Street in Luling. Public Works says the land is needed; neighbors may wonder what will be built there.
Coastal Permit One-Stop Outreach
The parish's Coastal Use Brochure — guidance for coastal development and permitting — was up for changes and approval. It's the kind of document that tells applicants what to expect before they build along the water.
Pecan Grove RV park expansion
A small rezoning fixes a footprint mismatch so the RV park's second phase can include its recreation building.
Heavy-truck fleet services in St. Rose neighborhood
Residents of Almedia Plantation told the council their subdivision has one road in and out, substandard streets that are caving in, chronic flooding, and a past dump-truck crash that took out nine power poles and left a resident stranded. The council rejected the special-use waiver 9-0, with O'Daniels and Fisher citing drainage, traffic and the need for a new pump station.
IMTT pipeline easement under Abadie Lane
The parish granted IMTT a right-of-way to run a pipeline under Abadie Lane in St. Rose — but only after narrowing it to a 10-inch food-grade vegetable oil line from Bunge Chevron, stripping out broad language that could have allowed other substances.
Hurricane Ida Recovery
An update on Hurricane Ida recovery work affecting parish libraries was on the agenda. Recovery projects determine when damaged facilities return to full service.
Landlocked lot access on Vernon Lane private drive
A Vernon Lane property owner's subdivision was denied in August because the private drive can't legally serve new lots. The commission revived it with a fix: a recorded access servitude across the neighboring parcels so future sales can't cut anyone off.
Subdivision Development Moratorium
St. Charles Parish has paused approvals for new subdivisions for now, so developers can’t get new neighborhood plans greenlit during the moratorium. The council says the move could affect how quickly housing and neighborhood growth happen, but the source doesn’t specify how long it lasts or what exceptions apply.