Jim Ford

The St. Tammany Parish Comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment evaluates the current housing supply and demand to inform policy and investment decisions. It analyzes demographic, economic, and housing trends, identifying critical gaps such as an undersupply of affordable housing, a tight rental market, and increasing housing cost burdens for a significant portion of households. The assessment projects a need for 11,500 to 17,300 new housing units by 2030, predominantly rentals and smaller, more affordable options, and recommends actionable strategies to foster a balanced, inclusive, and sustainable housing market.

This document presents a comprehensive housing needs assessment for St. Tammany Parish. It analyzes the parish's demographic and economic characteristics, the current housing stock, and identifies significant housing gaps. Key findings project substantial population and job growth by 2030, note a housing market dominated by single-family units with rising prices, and highlight a severe shortage of affordable housing for low-income households and seniors. To address these issues, the assessment proposes the need for 11,500 to 17,300 new housing units by 2030, primarily rentals. Recommended next steps include encouraging new housing development near existing or planned infrastructure, supporting diverse housing types, developing new town centers, preserving naturally occurring affordable housing, streamlining review processes, and establishing a Housing Task Force for coordinated development.

The committee held a briefing to review the upcoming agenda, including various ordinances for introduction such as moratorium renewals, development and zoning amendments, finance and public works ordinances, and code amendments. Discussions also covered resolutions regarding the vacation of parcels, election approvals, public service commission requests, and director appointments. Additionally, the committee addressed pull requests for specific ordinances and resolutions, discussed updates on land purchases for drainage improvements, and reviewed a request for funding pump station repairs and the adoption of new fee schedules for permits and inspections.

The board reviewed several variance requests, including buffer reductions for commercial properties, setback variances for residential additions, and the construction of a guest house. Key discussions centered on landscape area requirements, property boundary buffers, parking expansion for a place of worship, and the approval of an accessory building construction project.

The Board of Adjustment meeting agenda included the election of officers, which was postponed, and the consideration of several variance requests. These requests involved property setback reductions, natural and landscape buffer adjustments, and after-the-fact variance applications for residential and commercial projects. Specifically, the board addressed cases related to street and yard setbacks, landscape buffers, the construction of guest houses, accessory buildings, and signage.