Calcasieu planning board rejects request to allow barn as reception venue at North Claiborne property

The Calcasieu Parish Planning & Zoning Board on Feb. 10 rejected a zoning exception that would have allowed a 1,700-square-foot barn at 2763 North Claiborne Street to operate as a reception facility.

The denial followed a public hearing in which the applicants, Thomas and Kathy Bourgeois, and supporters described the proposal as a small, rural venue for "intimate" gatherings and said they would limit events to about 100 people. Neighbors and several nearby residents urged denial, citing privacy, noise, late-night traffic and public-safety risks from potential unregulated alcohol service.

"I live at 2753 North Claymore Street immediately adjacent to the property being considered," neighbor Wesley Pago told the board, asking members to "consider whether granting their rezoning fairly accounts for the impacts on surrounding homes." Pago said the rezoning would reduce his family's privacy, increase nighttime noise and strain narrow rural roads.

Applicant Kathy Bourgeois said the barn would not be expanded, that it had been used for storage, and that the family planned only modest exterior lighting and screening. She told the board they had proposed additional trees and fencing to improve screening and planned for a 25-car parking limit. "We're not gonna let hundreds of cars in," Bourgeois said, adding the 100-person figure was tied to the existing sewer capacity.

Several opponents raised enforcement concerns. "Once granted, the exception is attached to the property permanently and could be used far more frequently than promised," resident Travis Smallberger said, calling approval "illegal spot zoning." Jason Robbins, who lives directly east of the parcel, said the community meeting earlier included a proposed 11 p.m. shutdown time and warned that post-event departures and congregating in parking areas would still create disturbance.

Planning staff recommended approval with conditions, noting the site plan requirements, inward-facing exterior lighting, potential runoff management, compliance with parish code provisions for signage and screening (section 26-50), and conditioning zoning approval on Louisiana Department of Health sanitary requirements, an elevation certificate and an occupational license prior to operations.

Board members questioned how the conditions would be enforced for future owners and whether occupancy limits would be enforced by the fire marshal, which staff said had not yet provided a final occupancy determination. Planning staff said any increase in sewer capacity (and therefore occupancy) would require returning to the board.

Miss Cobb moved to approve the request with conditions; Miss Hyatt seconded. In the roll call, Miss Cobb voted yes. Miss Dickerson, Mister DeBrock, Miss Hyatt, Mister Art Little, Mister Porsche, Mister LaSalle Williams and Vice chair Diane Wayne Whiney voted no. The motion failed.

The board notified the public of recent police jury approvals on unrelated items and set its next regular meeting for March 24, 2026. The hearing record includes applicants27 revised screening map and several photo exhibits submitted by neighbors.