STARC Moves Forward With New Residential Community Home Project In Slidell

Parish Zoning Records And STARC Announcements Show Plans Advancing On Shamrock Road Near U.S. 190

A new STARC residential community home is moving closer to construction in Slidell, according to St. Tammany Parish zoning records and public posts from the nonprofit.

Parish documents show STARC of Louisiana, led by Executive Director Mark Baham, sought to rezone a 1.767-acre parcel at the northeast corner of U.S. Highway 190 East and Shamrock Road from HC-2 and NC-4 to A-3 suburban zoning. The zoning case, listed as 2024-3690-ZC, states the property is intended to be used as a residential group home for STARC of Louisiana.

The matter appeared before the St. Tammany Parish Zoning Commission in March 2024 as a recommendation for approval before later Parish Council action. A separate parish meeting packet in April 2024 also references the same case and site.

STARC’s own program materials describe its residential community homes as family-style homes in typical neighborhoods for people age 16 and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization says trained staff provide support around the clock.

More recently, STARC social media posts described a groundbreaking ceremony on Shamrock Drive for what the nonprofit called its new residential home. In those public posts, speakers said the project would provide shelter, care and support on the site.

STARC has been part of the Slidell and St. Tammany Parish community for decades. The nonprofit says it provides services including early intervention, day programs, work training, home care and residential living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in St. Tammany and nearby parishes.

Why This Matters In Slidell

For Slidell families, the project points to additional residential support options for people with disabilities who want to live in a neighborhood setting with structured care. The site’s location near U.S. 190 East and Shamrock Road also places it in a familiar corridor for many east Slidell residents, close to major travel routes and everyday services.

The project also reflects a broader local need for long-term housing and support services that allow residents with disabilities to remain connected to the community instead of leaving the area for care.