Good Morning, St. George: Tiger Bend Closure and a Busy Night for Planning & Zoning
If you travel Tiger Bend Road regularly, there’s an important traffic change beginning today — and it’s going to last for several weeks.
There’s also a busy St. George Planning & Zoning meeting tonight with several development proposals worth watching, including projects involving Long Farm Village, Willow Grove, Perkins and Pecue, and the property associated with the planned VA clinic.
Here’s what St. George residents need to know for Monday, October 5.
Tiger Bend Road Closed Through October 29
A portion of Tiger Bend Road is scheduled to close beginning today, October 5, and remain closed through October 29.
The closure runs between Jones Creek Road and 7262 South Tiger Bend Road while crews with BDG Trees trim branches interfering with Entergy's overhead power lines. Local traffic will still be allowed through the closure to access homes and properties within the affected area.
For everyone else, this means finding an alternate route if you normally use Tiger Bend as a through-road.
It's also worth clarifying that this is not a City of St. George road construction project. The closure is related to vegetation management around Entergy's utility infrastructure.
With the work scheduled to continue for more than three weeks, this could have a noticeable effect on traffic on surrounding roads, particularly during morning and afternoon commute times.
Several St. George Development Proposals Up Tonight
The St. George Planning Commission meets tonight at 6 p.m. at City Hall, followed immediately by the Zoning Commission.
Several of the cases are ones I've been following over the past few days.
Another Restaurant Project in Long Farm Village
A new commercial and restaurant project is proposed for 14637 Village Market Street in Long Farm Village.
This should not be confused with Cheba Hut, which just opened at 14631 Village Market Street. The proposed development going before Planning tonight is a separate project.
So what's the restaurant?
As of this morning, I still haven't found a reliable source identifying the tenant — and I'm not going to guess.
Once additional plans or tenant information become available, this will be one worth revisiting.
Changes Proposed at The Settlement at Willow Grove
Kleinpeter Development Corporation is also requesting modifications to the approved concept plan for The Settlement at Willow Grove.
The proposed changes involve portions of the development designated for common open space, low-density residential development, and commercial/office uses.
Because this involves changes to the larger development plan rather than simply approval of one individual building, I'll be watching the discussion and eventual site-plan details closely.
AT&T Wants a 184-Foot Tower on River Road
Another proposal likely to draw some attention is a wireless communications tower proposed at 16001 River Road.
AT&T is requesting permission for a tower reaching 184 feet.
That's noteworthy because the underlying zoning normally allows a maximum tower height of 85 feet. The applicant is therefore requesting a waiver from the Zoning Commission.
This doesn't mean a 184-foot tower has been approved. It's a proposal going through the City's zoning process, and the Commission will determine whether the requested waiver is appropriate.
Perkins and Pecue Commercial Rezoning Returns
The property at 15222 Perkins Road, near the intersection of Perkins and Pecue, is once again seeking a change from residential to business zoning.
This case has already been deferred twice.
The location helps explain why commercial development interest exists here. The approximately 2.3-acre property sits at a major intersection less than a mile from the Pecue Lane/I-10 interchange and has been actively marketed for commercial development.
This is also the kind of land-use question St. George will increasingly have to address as the City grows.
Transportation improvements create new development opportunities, particularly around major intersections. The challenge is deciding where commercial development makes sense while considering the neighborhoods already surrounding those locations.
The VA Clinic Property Is Back on the Agenda
The property associated with the planned VA outpatient clinic near Rieger Road and Pecue Lane also appears on tonight's Planning Commission agenda.
LRK is requesting to subdivide approximately 15.5 acres at 12500 and 12601 Rieger Road, changing two existing lots into three and dedicating a public drainage servitude.
This is separate from the zoning dispute we've been following involving the VA project, but it's another step involving the same larger property.
The proposed VA clinic is expected to be approximately 120,000 square feet, with around 600 parking spaces, making it one of the more significant development projects currently planned in this part of St. George.
Residents Can Still Comment Today
If one of these cases affects your property or neighborhood, you don't necessarily have to attend tonight's meeting to make your position known.
The City is accepting written public comments until 3 p.m. today, with the Planning Commission meeting beginning at 6 p.m. at St. George City Hall.
I'll be watching for the actual Commission discussion and votes afterward.
That's an important distinction with development news: an item appearing on an agenda means it's being proposed, not that it has been approved.
Fall Events Are Starting in St. George
And finally, something that doesn't involve zoning or road closures.
The City's Sundays in St. George series begins next weekend at Highland Road Park.
The first event is scheduled for Sunday, October 11 from 2–6 p.m., followed by another on October 18. The City also has its Food Truck Festival scheduled for November 21.
It's nice to see some community events beginning to develop alongside all of the government and infrastructure work involved in building a new city.
For today, though, the most immediate advice is pretty simple:
If Tiger Bend is part of your normal route, start planning another way around.
And after tonight's Planning & Zoning meeting, we should know considerably more about several development projects around St. George.
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About David Madaffari
David Madaffari is a Licensed Real Estate Broker and founder of Grassroots Real Estate Group with over 20 years of experience serving St. George and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He helps buyers, sellers, and renters navigate the market with friendly, personal, and honest service.
This article is general information only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Confirm your specific numbers with your title company, tax advisor, or lender. David Madaffari, License #268528, regulated by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission. Equal Housing Opportunity.
