Bossier City · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Bossier City public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Fence height variance for Tractor Supply garden center
Tractor Supply wants to surround its outdoor garden sales area with a 16-foot fence or wall — more than double the city's 7-foot cap. The Board of Adjustment hears this variance request at a public hearing, and the decision affects the look and screening of a busy Barksdale Boulevard commercial corridor.
Rezoning of 2909 Old Minden Road to General Business
The family of the late Ronald Mock is seeking to rezone about two acres on Old Minden Road from residential low density to general business, possibly to expand their adjoining strip mall. A public hearing is expected next month.
Rezone at 5301 East Texas Street
A fenced, lease-only truck storage yard near I-20 got its gravel-surface approval, with a concrete apron extended toward the highway; the board flagged concerns about hazardous materials near Barksdale's flight path.
Comprehensive plan and unified development code rewrite
The Planning Commission asked the council to pull the item hiring Halff Associates to update the city's comprehensive plan and unified development code, so that work is on hold.
NCMC South Bossier Clinic rooftop HVAC screening waiver
A new publicly funded clinic at 5668 Barksdale Boulevard wants its rooftop HVAC units unscreened, arguing a parapet wall hides them from the public. The board let the request die without a motion, likely requiring roughly $80,000–$85,000 in screening.
Gas station/c-store at Forest Hills Boulevard and Highway 80
Forest Village LLC wants to lift a self-imposed ban on fuel sales at an already B-3-zoned corner, adding an Exxon c-store. Residents of the 540-home Forest Hills subdivision packed the hearing over traffic, flooding, crime, and notification concerns, though the developer says a new signal — at its expense — will cut the intersection's five-minute peak delays to under a minute.
Rezone and development at Barksdale and Robert E. Lee
Nine vacant acres at a busy South Bossier intersection were rezoned for a physical therapy clinic and child care center serving up to 350 children. A traffic study is required before permits, and the driveway at Barksdale Boulevard won't be allowed.
Alcohol sales at 2125 Old Minden Road convenience store
A Raceway got conditional approval to sell low-content alcohol for off-premise consumption, with conditions requiring a new sidewalk to a crosswalk, a midnight close, and consolidation of the oddly-zoned parcel before any sales begin.
Modular home special exception at 4505 Pine Crest Drive
A homeowner wants to place a modular home on 2.2 acres outside any subdivision, but neighbors in Tall Timbers and Pine Crest subdivisions say it doesn't meet community standards and could depress property values. Neighbors also worry construction will worsen drainage runoff that already hits their yards.
Alcohol conditional use approvals
Three new alcohol permits cleared the council — a sports bar, a liquor store, and an event center. Council pressed the liquor store on its drive-through window, which can't be used at that location.
Digital billboard conversion on Airline Drive
A fight over how the 1,000-foot rule between digital signs is counted — whole sign or per face — sent a billboard case to the Board of Adjustment. The applicant says a Lamar digital sign 500 feet away was approved under the same interpretation he's contesting.
Firearms and ammunition shop rezoning
A 0.512-acre tract on Vanceville Road would be rezoned from office to limited business for a firearms and ammunition shop; the public hearing comes next and the applicant must attend.
Child care and therapy facility rezoning
Dr. Latonya Mister wants to rezone 9.92 acres off Barksdale to build a child care center and a second location of her women's-health physical therapy practice — addressing a chronic local child care shortage.
Fence height variance stemming from ongoing neighbor dispute
The Rosedale HOA built an 8-foot fence without a permit to screen homes from the adjacent Cane's Landing subdivision, but two longtime residents say HOA covenants cap fences at 6 feet and that homes along the Wimple Road walking trail need privacy more. The commission approved the fence on elevation grounds while declaring the covenant fight outside its authority.
Benton Road office warehouse rezoning denied
A plan to rezone 1.837 acres on Benton Road for office warehouses will get a full public hearing, with screening walls planned between the development and nearby residences.
Folia Development rezoning for mixed-use commercial
A 4.3-acre tract in the Folia PUD was rezoned from residential to general business for mixed-use commercial development near Airline Drive, prompting a question from a contiguous neighbor on Old Bramley Road.
Baseball training facility rezoning at Tipton and Nina
Carl Roussel wants to rezone a small corner lot to build a 12,000-square-foot indoor baseball and softball training facility with an outdoor 90-foot infield and a six-foot baseball on the old Ravana restaurant sign structure.
Sign ordinance interpretation for back-to-back billboards
How the city counts square footage on double-sided billboards decides who can build LED signs and where. The board kept the stricter reading, but even billboard industry voices said the rule needs clarifying so it applies the same to everyone.
129 Bobbie Street duplex
A small residential rezoning for a proposed duplex will get a public hearing; Commissioner James Fine recused himself because of his connection to the project.
Rear setback and utility easement encroachment at 409 Gator Cove
A homeowner wanted to add a covered patio that eats into the rear setback and a platted utility easement. The utility company signed off on clearances, so the board let it go forward — with the understanding the structure could be removed if utilities ever need the easement.
Carport design standards enforcement at 1211 Jane Lane
The city's rules require carports to match the house's materials and stay out of the front yard. This owner's new 24-foot metal-roof carport failed both tests; the board denied the exception but showed him the path to compliance by shrinking it to 19 feet.
Boardwalk Open Container District
A new ordinance would let Boardwalk visitors carry drinks between participating businesses, modeled on the East Bank District. Businesses would need separate permits, parking lots and major roads stay off-limits, and the police substation plus private security remain in place.
Alcohol sales at Louisiana Discount Tobacco
A 20-year-old tobacco shop on Highway 80 won permission to sell beer and liquor, saying it needs the revenue after a $1,000 rent increase to stay open.
Swan Lake Road commercial rezone next to a residence
A 28.73-acre tract was rezoned to limited business despite a 45-year resident's plea that commercial activity would sit 50 feet from his daughter's home, where she needs quiet after a stressful corrections-counseling job.
Detached garage setback variance in Autumn Creek subdivision
A homeowner needed to build a garage 4 feet from the side property line because of lot constraints and an unused 10-foot easement. The original subdivision developer supported the request, and the board approved it.
The Bloom House supervised visitation center in Greenacres
The council denied a conditional use permit for a supervised family visitation center in Old Greenacres, siding with neighbors worried about safety, traffic, and kids walking to school. Supporters said the parish has no such facility for families reunifying through foster care.