Police Jury approves RV zoning at Acadian Acres

LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC) - The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury voted to approve RV zoning at Acadian Acres in Sulphur.

Again, no one living inside the mobile home park spoke against the zoning change Thursday night. However, owner Mike Clark did send residents another message, asking them to trust him.

"I don't anticipate asking everyone to leave at some point in the future, it could happen, but it would have to be one marvelous deal to ask my business to leave," said Clark.

Mike along with his father Olen Clark want to reassure the residents of Acadian Acres they are not being kicked out.

"We don't want to destroy the business already there," said Olen, "We just want to add onto the business."

However, after empty spaces are transitioned to RV spots, if more are needed the Clarks may ask residents to leave. Even with the promise of $2500 to help move, it's a scary thought for some who've been through it before. One woman who wants to remain anonymous, was moved out of another park just a few years ago by Mike Clark.

"It's not fair to me, it's not right, and I don't have anywhere else to go, this is my home."

For others living across from the park, it's a safety concern.

"You can't monitor, you're saying 274 slots, but if you've got 4 people per RV at 274 slots in that one, then you've got 140 more on the south side, that's a lot of people," said Joe Walker.
 
It got the police jury talking about the regulations that are placed on RVs.

"We do have those provisions in the ordinance that do limit the number of unrelated people in one residence," said Wes Crain, Director of Planning and Development.

The rezoning passed without objection and with praise from some jurors who thanked Clark for his offer to residents.

"If this situation comes up in the future, we can point back and say this is what this group did and other can do it as well," said Nic Hunter, District 5.

The Clarks also promised that no one with any serious medical conditions will ever be asked to move.