Calcasieu Parish planning board approves variances, borrow-pit extensions and rezoning request

The Calcasieu Parish Planning and Zoning Board on Sept. 16, 2025, approved a variance to reduce the side-yard setback for an accessory building on Spruce Street, granted two exceptions for borrow pits (one new 18-acre pit and a 10-year extension for a 104-acre pit) and recommended approval of a rezoning that would allow construction of three warehouse buildings on a 5.51-acre tract on Mossville Way.

The board voted on the items during a regularly scheduled meeting in Lake Charles. Planning staff presented each application and recommended approval with conditions; no members of the public registered opposition for any of the items on the record. The board's chair announced that rezoning decisions are forwarded to the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury for final action; the rezoning referenced at the meeting was scheduled to go before the police jury on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025.

Minutes and procedural approvals The board approved the minutes of its Aug. 19 regular meeting without recorded opposition. The chair noted the board is 11 members and that a majority of members present is required to grant or deny requests; Vice Chair Sharon Gleeson was absent for this meeting.

Variance at 5706 Spruce Street (Ward 3) The board approved a variance to allow an existing accessory building at 5706 Spruce Street to remain 1 foot from the side property line where a 3-foot side-yard setback is normally required. Planning staff recommended approval, describing the expected impacts as minimal and listing conditions: adherence to the site plan on file (with the director or designee authorized to make technical adjustments), issuance of a permit within five days of zoning approval, and installation of a guttering system within 30 days to contain rainwater and ensure runoff remains on the applicant's property.

Exception and new borrow pit at the 1300 block of Helms Road (Ward 5) The board granted an exception to allow an approximately 18-acre borrow pit and to reduce the east side-yard setback from the required 50 feet to 0 feet for property described in the 1300 block of Helms Road (applicant listed as Rosie Shetler, application EX08250010). Staff said the applicant intends to sell the tract to a third party (identified in the record as “Mister Doohan/Duhon”) who previously received an adjacent borrow-pit approval. Staff recommended approval with conditions, including: adherence to the site plan on file (with technical adjustments permitted by the director or designee); compliance with section 26-1-22-1(h)(4)(x)–(xii) of the Calcasieu Parish Code of Ordinances; completion of excavation within 10 years per the borrow-pit application; submission of a letter of no objection from Consolidated Gravity Drainage District No. 2, Calcasieu East, prior to issuance of a development permit; a runoff-management plan unless waived by the division of engineering; and execution of a road user agreement before a development permit is issued.

Extension of existing borrow pit at Mossville Way (Ward 4) The board approved a 10-year extension for an existing borrow pit covering about 104 acres on the 2300 block of Mossville Way (applicant listed as Kraus and Manning and Lumber Company LLC, application EX-0825-0011). Staff noted the pit had originally been approved in February 2013 for a 10-year period and recommended a 10-year extension with conditions mirroring those above: adherence to the site plan on file (with the director or designee allowed to authorize technical adjustments), compliance with section 26-1-22-1(h)(4)(x)–(xii) of the parish code, completion of excavation within 10 years, and potential requirement of a road-damage bond submitted before issuance of a development permit.

Rezoning on Mossville Way to light industrial (Ward 4) The board recommended approval to rezone a 5.51-acre parcel on the northern portion of the tract discussed above from Agricultural (A-1) to Light Industrial to allow warehousing (applicant recorded as Krause and Mannegan Lumber Company LLC, RZ-0825-0005). Planning staff said the applicant intends to construct three buildings, each 60 by 335 feet, for indoor warehousing with no outside storage. Staff recommended approval with conditions: adhere to the site plan on file (director or designee may authorize technical adjustments); orient exterior lighting inward so light sources are not visible to adjacent properties; require a runoff-management plan unless a waiver is granted by the division of engineering; and make permitting subject to approval by either the Louisiana Department of Health and Sanitation or Sewer District No. 8 of Ward 4 (Bossville).

Votes and public input For each item described above, planning staff presented the application and the board moved, seconded and voted to approve with the staff-recommended conditions. No blue cards (public-comment forms) were filed opposing any of the items, and no on-the-record public opposition was recorded.

What’s next The board chair said variances and exceptions are final at the board level, while rezoning decisions are forwarded to the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury for final action; the rezoning item on Mossville Way was scheduled for the police jury on Sept. 18, 2025. The board set its next regular meeting for Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, and then adjourned.