Residents urge Cameron Parish to deny coastal-use permit for proposed 9-acre lay‑down yard
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Summary
Residents urged the Cameron Parish Police Jury Jan. 12 to deny a coastal‑use permit for a proposed nine‑acre gravel lay‑down yard at Austin Road/Albert Little Road, citing flood risk, noise, traffic and incompatibility with the neighborhood. Jurors said the permit application is incomplete and likely will be tabled for further review.
Residents pressing the Cameron Parish Police Jury on Jan. 12 asked officials to deny a coastal‑use permit for a proposed nine‑acre industrial "lay‑down" yard, saying the site is in a residential neighborhood and a flood zone and would bring heavy truck traffic and higher flood risk to nearby homes.
"This proposed project fails that test," said Brandy Brown, a nearby resident, who told the jury the proposal would “fundamentally alter the character” of the area and increase runoff, noise and demands on local roads and emergency services. Brown also cited the site’s location in a flood zone and warned compacted gravel would worsen drainage onto neighboring properties.
Another resident, identified in the record as Blaine Bridal, told jurors the project “creates no jobs, brings no new services, and adds no new value to local families,” saying private investors—rather than local residents—would gain the main benefit. Bridal urged the jury to stand with residents and deny the permit.
Garrett (a proponent on behalf of the applicant) told the jury the developer has not yet finalized specifics and that the application remains incomplete. Garrett said the proposal has been discussed with potential tenants who have expressed interest in options including a lay‑down yard, an RV park or a parking facility.
Jurors and staff said the coastal‑use permit filing is missing required details and that multiple elements—access, road bonding and use of parish roads—must be resolved before a vote. One juror noted that heavy truck access from parish roads would likely require a bond or direct access from the state highway. That juror said, in effect, the permit would be tabled at least until the applicant supplies the missing information.
Speaker 13 and others pressed for locating such operations where they would not burden residential streets; staff reiterated the parish’s authority to require road bonds and to prohibit use of specific parish roads for heavy traffic. The jury did not vote on the permit at the Jan. 12 meeting.
What happens next: Staff and jurors said the application requires completion and additional review before placement on a voting agenda; residents seeking denial were advised the matter will return after the applicant supplies the missing materials.
