Construction firm drops rezoning request for expansion in Louisiana’s Hungarian settlement

A request for rezoning is being dropped after residents of Louisiana’s Hungarian settlement expressed concerns that the move would bring industrial work to their area.

More than 70 people gathered Tuesday for a Livingston Parish zoning meeting, expecting to discuss a proposed rezoning of roughly 37 acres along Strawberry Lane from light commercial to heavy industrial for PALA, an industrial construction firm eying an expansion.

But the item was pulled from the docket a few hours prior and did not go to a vote.

Strawberry Lane is in the largest rural Hungarian settlement in the United States, between the rural towns of Albany and Springfield in the parish. Since discovering the proposal about a month ago, residents have expressed dismay over the potential project and its implications for the future of their settlement.

The day after the meeting, PALA Group President and CEO Scott Barringer said the company will continue to expand but not rezone to heavy industrial in an effort to keep residents happy, which was why the item was pulled from the zoning agenda.

“We didn’t need the zoning … it was just a misunderstanding,” he said.

The rezoning was tied to a proposed expansion for PALA, which specializes in metal fabrication and has its headquarters in Baton Rouge. PALA announced a $1.9 million investment in August to build a new shop and expand operations, with some Livingston Parish leaders celebrating the expansion for adding 14 new jobs and retaining 35 employees.

Next to the proposed rezoning site, PALA already operates a 70,000-square-foot fabrication facility under a light commercial zoning classification, according to the parish zoning map.

This expansion will happen under its current commercial zoning classification, Barringer confirmed.

Joe Erdey, parish councilman for the area, praised PALA’s decision to not change the zoning, but said he would “believe it when I see it.”

“We will be on guard watching for it,” he said. “Only time is going to tell us the answer.”

Many residents said they welcomed businesses, including PALA’s existing site, but were afraid an industrial zoning classification would be a calling card for more industries to come to the settlement.

“Other people are going to come in nearby and get industrial zoning just because they can,” said Nathan Miller, who lives on the road behind Strawberry Lane, on Tuesday.