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written by BIZ Magazine October 22, 2026
BENTON, La. — The Bossier Parish Police Jury has approved rezoning more than 118 acres near Louisiana Downs for a proposed manufactured-home subdivision, advancing a project its developer says is intended to provide another homeownership option in a growing Bossier Parish.
Jurors approved the request Wednesday from PBRG Properties LLC to rezone approximately 118.3 acres from Racetrack District to Residential Manufactured Home Subdivision District. The proposal had previously been tabled in September.
Kurt Nixon of Nixon Engineering Solutions, representing the developer, said the project is planned as a single-family manufactured-home development in which individual lots and homes would be privately owned rather than rented.
“We want to encourage private homeownership,” Nixon told jurors, saying the development would offer housing “at a different price point that Bossier needs.”
The zoning approval does not constitute final approval of the subdivision itself. Detailed development plans will have to return through the parish approval process, where issues including lot dimensions, streets, sidewalks and any requested variances would be considered.
Preliminary discussion Wednesday indicated lots could be approximately 50 feet by 100 feet, but those dimensions are not yet final.
Traffic concerns raised
Much of Wednesday’s discussion focused on whether existing roads can accommodate traffic generated by the development.
Parish officials said a traffic study submitted for the project found no improvements or turn lanes were required on parish roadways.
The study did, however, identify existing issues at the U.S. Highway 80 and Bodcau Station Road intersection. Parish officials said the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development reviewed the study, agreed with its findings and has an existing project intended to address problems at the intersection.
No timetable for those improvements was provided.
The study also recommended traffic-signal timing changes, which officials said DOTD agreed could be beneficial.
During the discussion, a juror asked whether the entire subdivision could potentially be developed before the state’s intersection improvements were completed. Officials acknowledged that was possible.
Parish engineering staff nevertheless recommended moving forward with the zoning request, saying the traffic study did not identify improvements needed to parish roads at this stage. Additional infrastructure issues can be addressed when individual phases and subdivision plans return for approval.
Officials also discussed the condition and maintenance status of existing roads serving the property, including portions that may require additional work as development progresses.
Louisiana Downs opposes project
The proposal drew opposition from neighboring property owners and Louisiana Downs.
Willie Miner, director of operations at Louisiana Downs, appeared at Wednesday’s meeting on behalf of attorney Tony Heidelberg.
“Our stance remains the same and we oppose this project,” Miner told jurors.
Nearby property owner Diane Alexander also opposed the development, citing concerns about its potential effect on surrounding property and the amount of additional traffic that could be generated on Riverbend Road.
Another nearby resident, Jonathan Alexander, questioned whether existing roads could safely accommodate the increased traffic, particularly during accidents or other emergencies.
Parish officials noted during the discussion that residential development has previously been contemplated for the area. An existing residential plat involving approximately 180 acres remains on record, and officials said townhouses had been envisioned for portions of the property historically associated with Louisiana Downs.
The property’s existing Racetrack District designation dates to earlier development plans surrounding the racetrack.
Housing affordability enters discussion
The project also prompted broader discussion about housing needs as Bossier Parish prepares for additional economic and population growth.
One juror said the parish may need more housing options such as the proposed development as additional people move into the area.
“There might be some people that are going to be needing these kind of places to live,” the juror said, later pointing specifically to affordability.
The comments come as Northwest Louisiana prepares for significant new investment and employment growth tied to technology, energy, manufacturing, defense and other sectors.
Under the newly approved zoning, manufactured homes would be permitted within the subdivision without separate hearings for each individual home.
The project must still return for additional review as PBRG Properties develops its final subdivision plans and individual phases.
BENTON, La. — The Bossier Parish Police Jury has approved rezoning more than 118 acres near Louisiana Downs for a proposed manufactured-home subdivision, advancing a project its developer says is intended to provide another homeownership option in a growing Bossier Parish.
Jurors approved the request Wednesday from PBRG Properties LLC to rezone approximately 118.3 acres from Racetrack District to Residential Manufactured Home Subdivision District. The proposal had previously been tabled in September.
Kurt Nixon of Nixon Engineering Solutions, representing the developer, said the project is planned as a single-family manufactured-home development in which individual lots and homes would be privately owned rather than rented.
“We want to encourage private homeownership,” Nixon told jurors, saying the development would offer housing “at a different price point that Bossier needs.”
The zoning approval does not constitute final approval of the subdivision itself. Detailed development plans will have to return through the parish approval process, where issues including lot dimensions, streets, sidewalks and any requested variances would be considered.
Preliminary discussion Wednesday indicated lots could be approximately 50 feet by 100 feet, but those dimensions are not yet final.
Traffic concerns raised
Much of Wednesday’s discussion focused on whether existing roads can accommodate traffic generated by the development.
Parish officials said a traffic study submitted for the project found no improvements or turn lanes were required on parish roadways.
The study did, however, identify existing issues at the U.S. Highway 80 and Bodcau Station Road intersection. Parish officials said the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development reviewed the study, agreed with its findings and has an existing project intended to address problems at the intersection.
No timetable for those improvements was provided.
The study also recommended traffic-signal timing changes, which officials said DOTD agreed could be beneficial.
During the discussion, a juror asked whether the entire subdivision could potentially be developed before the state’s intersection improvements were completed. Officials acknowledged that was possible.
Parish engineering staff nevertheless recommended moving forward with the zoning request, saying the traffic study did not identify improvements needed to parish roads at this stage. Additional infrastructure issues can be addressed when individual phases and subdivision plans return for approval.
Officials also discussed the condition and maintenance status of existing roads serving the property, including portions that may require additional work as development progresses.
Louisiana Downs opposes project
The proposal drew opposition from neighboring property owners and Louisiana Downs.
Willie Miner, director of operations at Louisiana Downs, appeared at Wednesday’s meeting on behalf of attorney Tony Heidelberg.
“Our stance remains the same and we oppose this project,” Miner told jurors.
Nearby property owner Diane Alexander also opposed the development, citing concerns about its potential effect on surrounding property and the amount of additional traffic that could be generated on Riverbend Road.
Another nearby resident, Jonathan Alexander, questioned whether existing roads could safely accommodate the increased traffic, particularly during accidents or other emergencies.
Parish officials noted during the discussion that residential development has previously been contemplated for the area. An existing residential plat involving approximately 180 acres remains on record, and officials said townhouses had been envisioned for portions of the property historically associated with Louisiana Downs.
The property’s existing Racetrack District designation dates to earlier development plans surrounding the racetrack.
Housing affordability enters discussion
The project also prompted broader discussion about housing needs as Bossier Parish prepares for additional economic and population growth.
One juror said the parish may need more housing options such as the proposed development as additional people move into the area.
“There might be some people that are going to be needing these kind of places to live,” the juror said, later pointing specifically to affordability.
The comments come as Northwest Louisiana prepares for significant new investment and employment growth tied to technology, energy, manufacturing, defense and other sectors.
Under the newly approved zoning, manufactured homes would be permitted within the subdivision without separate hearings for each individual home.
The project must still return for additional review as PBRG Properties develops its final subdivision plans and individual phases.