Calcasieu planning board approves rezoning for rail-served aggregate yard after resident objections

The Calcasieu Parish Planning and Zoning Board voted to rezone a 166-acre tract at 3979 Houston River Road from Agricultural A‑1 to Heavy Industrial I‑2 on Oct. 21, 2025, clearing the way for a rail-served bulk materials storage and distribution yard intended to support local projects including the I‑10 bridge reconstruction. The motion passed after a roll-call vote and the board chair announced "7 in favor." The item will go to the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury for final action on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025.

Planning staff told the board the applicant, Sprint Real Partners LLC (RZ0925-0006), seeks the rezoning to permit storage and sales of bulk materials — sand, gravel, shale and lumber — and that staff recommended approval with conditions such as adherence to the site plan, an updated runoff management plan or waiver, an approval letter from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) for the existing driveway, and inward-directed exterior lighting.

Applicant spokesman Josh Noratsky said the facility is designed to receive unit trains and to reduce truck traffic across the parish. "We can accept all of the same type of cars in 1 shipment… That's a 100 plus cars of the same material," Noratsky told the board, saying that offloading at a nearby rail facility would reduce truck miles compared with hauling material from sites 20–30 miles away. He said the site would not unload trains overnight as a matter of operations and described measures to limit dust and runoff — a 50-foot undisturbed buffer, water trucks to spray during handling, a large on‑site detention pond, and tarped truck loads to DOT standards.

Several residents spoke in opposition. Tammy Cole, who lives at 3605 Houston River Road, said long-standing noise and dust from nearby industry already affect her neighborhood and argued the 50‑foot buffer and proposed measures would be insufficient. "We need y'all to protect us from this gravel yard, rock yard, whatever he wants to call it," Cole said, urging that the parish require a traffic impact analysis and stronger mitigation measures. Cole also said opposition letters from neighbors should be entered into the record; staff confirmed opposition letters were included in the meeting packet and additional materials could be submitted for consideration.

Board members pressed staff and the applicant on permitting steps. Planning staff said a parish road permit and DOTD review are the next steps for a state route and that the board had included a stipulation requiring evidence of the permit: "We did put a stipulation that we wanted to see the permit," staff said. Staff also noted drainage documentation or a drainage impact analysis could be required in the permitting or engineering review stage unless a waiver is granted.

The board recorded individual votes during the roll call. The transcript shows: Jake Porsche — yes; Kirk Smith — yes; Carl Vincent — no; LaSalle Williams — yes; Diane Whiting — no; Sharon Galicia — yes; (Miss Hobb) — yes; Keith DeBrock — yes; Janelle Hyatt — yes. The chair announced the motion passed with seven in favor.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of Sept. 2025 meeting minutes — approved by voice vote (mover: Latricia Cobb; second: Janelle Hyatt). - Variance (4030 Thornton St; accessory building side-yard setback reduced to 1.5 ft) — approved with conditions (mover: Latricia Cobb; second: Janelle Hyatt). - Variance (2300 block Mossville Way; parking reduction for Kraus and Mannegan Lumber Co.) — approved with conditions (mover: Coach; second: Latricia Cobb). - Rezoning (3979 Houston River Road, RZ0925-0006) — approved by roll call; chair announced "7 in favor"; will proceed to Police Jury Oct. 23, 2025.

Next steps and context: If the Police Jury approves the rezoning on Oct. 23 as scheduled, the applicant will proceed with required state and parish permitting, including DOTD review for the state route driveway and any drainage permitting. Planning staff noted enforcement of any stipulations will be part of subsequent permitting and inspection processes.

Recorded speakers and attributions in this article are taken from the meeting transcript and public comment record.