Data center highlights Caddo Parish zoning limits
Caddo Parish is addressing its lack of a comprehensive land-use planning blueprint for unincorporated areas, a need highlighted by industrial developments like a massive data center campus by Amazon and STACK Infrastructure. The parish's Special Projects Committee voted to request a cost study for developing a master plan, which is necessary to enforce zoning regulations and manage future growth. Without such a plan, the parish attorney stated that regulating temporary housing and other developments effectively is not possible.
Caddo Parish in Louisiana is currently without a comprehensive land-use planning blueprint for its unincorporated areas, a situation that prevents the enforcement of practical zoning regulations for proposed development projects. Parish leaders are keen to attract more industrial development for economic growth, but the absence of zoning means industrial operations can be built directly next to residential areas, schools, or parks.
The discussion was prompted by an ordinance from Commissioner John-Paul Young, aimed at regulating temporary workforce housing camps, a concern raised by constituents. Parish Administrator Erica Bryant emphasized the urgent need for a master plan, noting that current statutes only cover building codes and sanitation, not land use. Parish Attorney Donna Frazier clarified that a master plan is legally essential for the commission to regulate zoning effectively.
The large data center campus under construction in rural Caddo Parish by Amazon Web Services and STACK Infrastructure, known as the Stateline Road Data Center, serves as a prominent example of the industrial growth driving this need. The Special Projects Committee unanimously voted to request a cost study for developing a master plan, with preliminary estimates suggesting a cost upwards of $500,000. Neighboring Bossier City-Parish is already in the process of updating its land-use policies and zoning regulations, incurring costs close to $1 million.