Calcasieu Parish planning board approves variances, borrow-pit exceptions and a rezoning recommendation

The Calcasieu Parish Planning & Zoning Board approved a series of land-use requests and recommended one rezoning during its meeting.

Planning staff told the board they recommended approval of a variance at 5706 Spruce Street in Ward 3 to allow an existing accessory building to be 1 foot from the side property line instead of the required 3 feet. "Because minimal impacts are to be expected, the staff recommends the request be granted with the following conditions," the staff presenter said, listing conditions that included adherence to the site plan on file, obtaining a permit within five days of zoning approval, and installing guttering within 30 days to ensure runoff remains on the applicant’s property. The board approved the variance by voice vote; no opposition was recorded.

The board also approved an exception for an 18-acre borrow pit on the 1300 block of Helms Road in South Lake Charles, presented as a request to reduce the required 50-foot east side-yard setback to 0 feet. Planning staff said the excavation must be completed within 10 years and recommended several conditions, including compliance with parish code provisions, a letter of no objection from Consolidated Gravity Drainage District No. 2 (Calcasieu East), a runoff management plan unless waived by engineering, and a road-user agreement prior to issuance of a development permit. The motion passed by voice vote.

A separate request from Kraus and Manning Lumber Company LLC to extend a previously approved 104-acre borrow pit on the 2300 block of Veil Way for another 10 years was granted. Staff recommended approval subject to the site plan, compliance with the parish code, and a possible road-damage bond required by the division of engineering. The board approved the extension by voice vote.

On a rezoning request, planning staff recommended rezoning a 5.51-acre parcel on the northern portion of the Mossville Way tract from Agricultural (A-1) to Light Industrial to allow construction of three indoor warehouse buildings. Staff recommended conditions including inward-oriented exterior lighting so light sources are not visible to adjacent properties, a runoff-management plan unless a waiver is granted, and permitting subject to approval from the Louisiana Department of Health and Sanitation or Sewer District No. 8 of Ward 4. The board recommended approval and the item was noted to go before the parish police jury on 09/18/2025 for final action.

All actions taken at the meeting were approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition on the transcript. The board set its next regular meeting for Tuesday, 10/21/2025 and adjourned.