Meeting Summary

The St. Charles Parish Council held its regular meeting on March 2, 2026, opening with a series of proclamations honoring French heritage, disability awareness, retired teachers, Lions Clubs, kidney health, and problem gambling awareness. The council adopted the SHIELD coastal protection plan and a floodplain management resolution aimed at improving the parish's flood insurance rating, approved several water and recreation infrastructure contracts, and rejected a special use permit for automobile fleet services near Almedia Plantation after extensive opposition from neighborhood residents over flooding and road safety concerns.

Watch Items

• Public hearing scheduled for Monday, March 16, 2026, 6:00 PM, Council Chambers, Courthouse, Hahnville, will consider the following ordinances for final passage:

- An ordinance approving and authorizing the execution of a Contract with Centric Gulf Coast, Inc. for the EADCC Sand Volleyball Courts (Project No. PRSV2025), in the amount of $660,000.00 (already passed at this meeting on introduction; formal public hearing set for March 16) - An ordinance to amend Ordinance 81-10-6, the St. Charles Parish Zoning Ordinance of 1981, as amended, Appendix A, Section VII, Supplemental use and performance regulations: Solar Energy System, Large (LSES), to add development standards - An ordinance to amend the St. Charles Parish Code of Ordinances, Chapter 18 - Personnel, Article I. In General, Section 18-1, Regulations for substance abuse by parish employees - An ordinance approving and authorizing the execution of the purchase and/or expropriation by St. Charles Parish from the owners of a certain 5.72 acre parcel of property described as a portion of Lot 4B, Gassen Estate, owned by LR Gassen Holding, LLC, et al, located at 400 Hackberry Street in Luling

• Almedia Plantation traffic and drainage concerns: The council rejected the special use permit waiver for GM Elite Co.'s proposed automobile fleet services facility near Almedia Plantation Drive in St. Rose, following testimony from more than half a dozen residents describing chronic flooding, substandard narrow roads, and past incidents where trucks blocked the neighborhood's only entrance and exit for hours. Council members noted a new, larger pump station for the Turtle Pond/Almedia Plantation area is in the works with the Department of Transportation and Development, but no timeline was given. Residents and council members flagged that the area's C-3 commercial zoning along a non-highway residential street remains a longstanding planning concern that may need further review.

• West Bank Water Treatment Plant "Plant E" project: Council approved a nearly $4.8 million professional services agreement for design, but the total estimated construction cost is roughly $50 million. The parish has secured $3 million in state funding for design but will need to pursue additional state and federal appropriations, including possible funding through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Section 219 program, to fund construction.

• Bonnet Carré floodgate and tieback levee project: Estimated at $91.5 million for the floodgate plus an additional $50 million for a related tieback levee system to Highway 90, for a combined total near $140-150 million. The Pontchartrain Levee District, not the parish, is managing this project, and Parish President Jewell said he is "not overly confident" of a 2026 construction start since a required permit has not yet been issued.

• River Parishes Transit Authority appointment: Nominations were opened for a vacancy on this board; Nick Nassar was nominated, with the final appointment process continuing.

• St. Charles Parish Communications District appointment: A resolution to appoint a replacement representing Emergency Medical Services, following the resignation of Huey Marcel, is set to have nominations accepted from the Hospital Service District No. 1 Board of Commissioners at the March 16, 2026 meeting.