The Jeff Davis Parish Police Jury unanimously voted Wednesday to rezone land just off Interstate 10 in Roanoke from agriculture to commercial for a travel center/truck stop with future plans for a hotel.

Local businessman Khaliique Chaudhry wants to build a travel center/truck stop on a 5-acre site on LA 395, just off Interstate 10 in Roanoke. Future plans for the property also include a hotel, according to Chaudhry.

“Our plans are to break ground this year and be up and running in 12-18 months,” Chaudhry told the American Press following the meeting.

The first phase of the project calls for construction of a travel center/truck stop, he said. The second phase will include plans for the hotel.

The project is part of a bigger plan known as “Motorway Field,” to build similar businesses along Interstate 10 throughout the state, Chaudhry said.

Chaudhry already operates several convenience stores and other businesses in Lake Charles, Welsh and surrounding areas.

Chaudhry’s company has owned the Roanoke property since 2010.

“We’ve always had plans for it,” he said. “Now is the time.”

The business will have an economic impact on Jeff Davis Parish, including providing jobs and generating sales tax and other revenues, he said.

In a separate request, police jurors  also unanimously approved a request from Beau and Taylor Fontenot to change the zoning classification from agriculture to commercial for a photography studio on Grand Marais Road, off LA 26, just north of Jennings.

No one spoke for or against the rezoning issues during a public hearing.