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Parish board denies permanent manufactured-home exception for 900 Baghdad Road
Summary
After residents urged the board to preserve neighborhood character, the Calcasieu Parish Planning and Zoning Board voted down an exception to allow a permanent manufactured home at 900 Baghdad Road, noting a prior temporary exemption had expired and a FEMA unit had been on the site.
The Calcasieu Parish Planning and Zoning Board on Dec. 17 denied an exception that would have allowed a permanent manufactured home at 900 Baghdad Road in Westlake.
Joseph Poussaint, a Westlake resident who said he lives at 340 Baghdad Road, told the board that allowing a permanent manufactured home “would not be in keeping with the nature and character of the neighborhood,” saying the lot sits at the end of Baghdad Road and that neighbors had repeatedly opposed making a temporary installation permanent. Lola Toups, who lives at 935 Baghdad Road, said allowing a mobile home “is going to decrease our values so much.”
Staff told the board the property previously received a temporary, two-year exemption and that the exemption had technically expired in 2023. Planning staff said there is not currently a permanently sited manufactured home on the tract but a FEMA temporary manufactured unit has been on the property and FEMA was working with the owner about removing or allowing purchase of the unit.
Board members questioned staff about the parcel’s zoning and past decisions. A board member asked whether a manufactured home would have to meet flood-elevation rules; staff replied such structures must comply with FEMA rules and the parish’s 1-foot freeboard requirement before utilities are connected.
Miss Latricia Cobb moved to approve the exception and Miss Nell Hyatt seconded. The board conducted a roll-call vote and recorded nine votes against the motion, causing it to fail; the request to allow a permanent manufactured home was denied.
The chair noted zoning cases are scheduled to go before the police jury on Dec. 19 for final consideration where applicable. The board took no further action on the Baghdad Road request at the meeting.
