The building at the center of months of rumors and heated council meeting testimony has a confirmed future tenant, and it is not the federal government.

Parish President Jason Manola told the WBR Parish Council last Thursday that the parish's planning and zoning office recently received a zoning determination request from Community Coffee LLC for the property at 2070 Commercial Drive in Port Allen, the former Conn's warehouse. The company plans to use the site for coffee manufacturing, storage, and distribution.

Manola said the application had just arrived at the parish office.

"As you guys know, we've had multiple public comments questioning the planned use of 2070 Commercial Drive," Manola said. "And, you know, several discussions during public comments and some rumors, some rumors even portrayed as facts about a potential ICE facility located there."

He said he wanted to share the news in a public meeting rather than through other channels.

"I mentioned to you guys publicly and to the public that if there was any information that came forward, I would be transparent and actually tell you guys at the council at a public meeting exactly what was taking place," Manola said.

"That should put to rest some of the 2070," he added. The room responded with laughter when someone quipped, "ice coffee."

A zoning determination request asks the parish to confirm whether a proposed use is allowed under the property's current zoning classification. It is not a rezoning application.

Community Coffee LLC did not respond to a request for comment.

What remains unanswered

The property had been the subject of recurring public comments at council meetings after rumors spread that the site was being considered for a federal immigration detention facility. Some residents presented those rumors as confirmed fact during public comment periods. The topic generated enough concern that it became a regular feature of council meeting public comment periods over several months.

Parish officials have said no official application for a federal facility was filed with the parish. WBR Independent has not independently verified that claim.

Manola had repeatedly told the council and the public that he would share information about the property as it came forward. Last Thursday's announcement was his first public disclosure of a specific tenant.

Manola's confirmation addresses what is happening at 2070 Commercial Drive now. It does not address what interest, if any, the property attracted before Community Coffee's request, or why the site drew the kind of attention it did in the first place.

WBR Independent has filed public records requests with state agencies related to the property. Those requests have not produced responsive records to date.

Road overlays begin this week

Chief of Administration Phillip Bourgoyne told the council that road overlays will begin Monday on Treuil Road and work south from there.

The council also approved road material bids for the coming year. Coburn's won the metal culvert bids, and Coastal Culvert won the polyethylene pipe bids. Three companies were invited to bid, but one did not submit a proposal.

Rosedale Road bridge update

Manola provided a brief update on the Rosedale Road bridge replacement over Bayou Chalpin. He said he contacted Archie Chaisson III, executive director of the Office of Louisiana Highway Construction, on July 17 with a potential option the parish had identified. Chaisson responded that he would have his team evaluate whether it was feasible.

Manola said he plans to follow up early this week for a status update.

Zoning map error corrected

The council approved a rezoning from I-1 to I-2 with a special use permit for a property at 838 Highway 190 West in Port Allen. The applicant is Michael Kaufman with MBK Land LLC.

Planning and Zoning Director Brandon Bourgoyne explained that the property was believed to have I-2 zoning when Kaufman and Record Service previously applied for a special use permit in 2025. He discovered the error while updating the parish's GIS mapping system — a neighboring parcel's I-2 designation had overlapped onto Kaufman's parcel, which was actually zoned I-1.

The rezoning corrects the map and restores the zoning the property was thought to have. Planning and Zoning approved the request unanimously.

I-1, or Light Industrial, allows uses like warehousing and light manufacturing with fewer permitted activities. I-2, or Heavy Industrial, allows a broader range of industrial uses including outdoor storage and heavier operations.

2027 budget schedule adopted

Director of Finance Chance Stephens presented the 2027 fiscal year budget schedule. The council approved it without discussion. The budget public hearing is set for August 13.

Other business

The council also noted:

• The August 4 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting has been canceled.
• A new rezoning request from TMI Enterprises LLC for approximately 13.73 acres on Highway 190 was introduced. The property would be rezoned from R-MH, C-1.3, and Agricultural to I-2. The public hearing is scheduled for August 27 as a master plan change.
• Manola asked the council to keep the family of Annie Claire Bass, executive director of the West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce, in their thoughts after the recent passing of her father. Bass had been scheduled to present on West Baton Rouge's economic impact to the Leadership Baton Rouge class of 2026. Manola said he would fill in for her.
• Manola also asked the council to remember the family of Harry Laws, who he said had a lasting impact on the parish's 4-H program and youth development over many years.

The next council meeting is Thursday, August 13 at 5:30 p.m.