Calcasieu planning board approves rezoning for Houston River Road rail-served aggregate yard after resident concerns
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Summary
The Calcasieu Parish Planning and Zoning Board voted to recommend rezoning a 166-acre tract at 3979 Houston River Road to heavy industrial (I-2) to permit rail-served bulk material storage. Applicant pledged dust controls and a 50-foot undisturbed buffer; nearby residents urged traffic studies and stronger stipulations.
The Calcasieu Parish Planning and Zoning Board voted Oct. 21 to recommend rezoning a 166‑acre tract at 3979 Houston River Road from Agricultural A‑1 to Heavy Industrial I‑2 to allow rail‑served bulk materials storage and sales.
Josh Noratsky, the applicant representing Sprint Real Partners LLC, told the board the site is designed to accept unit trains carrying aggregates needed for local infrastructure projects including the I‑10 bridge. He said the facility would reduce truck miles by allowing material to be delivered closer to project sites and described planned controls: “we’ll have a water truck on‑site…we have a large detention pond…we also have a 50 foot buffer,” Noratsky said. He added the company plans to keep unloading to daytime operations and would comply with DOT standards for tarping and road cleaning.
The board’s staff presentation described conditions the applicant must meet if approved, including adherence to the site plan, submission of parish road permits, and drainage measures. Staff noted that traffic and drainage mitigation often are resolved through subsequent permitting with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) and parish engineering rather than by this board.
Resident Tammy Cole, who lives at 3605 Houston River Road, opposed the rezoning and pressed the board to require additional protections. “There’s a lot of noise out there already…that 50 foot buffer is not gonna do us any good,” Cole said, urging the board to require a traffic impact analysis, stronger berms and enforceable replacement requirements for vegetation. Cole also asked that an opposition letter from Pat Bradley be placed in the record.
Board members asked a series of follow‑up questions about hours of operation, the nature of the buffer, runoff containment and whether prior stipulations at the site had been waived. Planning staff said a parish road permit will be required and DOTD will determine whether traffic mitigation such as turn lanes is necessary; engineering review may require a drainage impact analysis or allow a waiver in limited cases. Several board members observed that much adjacent property already carries industrial zoning from earlier actions tied to large projects like Sasol.
After discussion, the board took a roll‑call vote and recorded seven votes in favor and the remaining votes opposed or absent; the motion passed and will move to the police jury for final action in the next steps of the process.
The board’s action is a recommendation; permits and any DOTD or parish engineering requirements will be determined through subsequent review. The police jury will be asked to consider final action at a later date as noted in the meeting packet.
