Community Planning and Resiliency

Elizabeth “Boo” Thomas March 18, 2011

Who is CPEX?

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Every Community in Louisiana made extraordinary through planning excellence.

CPEX helps create highly functional, equitable communities throughout Louisiana that capitalize on their unique qualities through community-driven planning and implementation.

What Do We Do?

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Outreach and Education Planning and Implementation

PLANNING IN LOUISIANA

64

54 50

2114

41

18 21 22

10

Source:  Maloney-Mújica, Lynn. 2007. Factors associated with the adoption of land use planning in Louisiana parishes prior to the hurricane season of 2005.  Master's Thesis, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge.

Parish Planning Activities

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PLANNING IN LOUISIANA

40%

60%

Population LossBetween 1990 - 2000

Lost Population Did Not Lose Population

79%

21%

Population of Louisiana Cities, Towns, and Villages

< 5,000 Pop. > 5,000 Pop.

Municipal Capacity

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PLANNING IN LOUISIANA

•  50-year guide for growth and development

•  35 coastal parishes

•  Largest community outreach effort in U.S. History (27,000 citizens) •  Surveys – 2,500+ •  Workshops – 1,000+ •  Regional Polling – 23,000+

•  Engaged people in choices and consequences

Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan

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PLANNING IN LOUISIANA

Implications of Plan on Future Planning: §  Heightened the need for local comprehensive

planning and land development regulations §  Encouraged better coordination across state agencies

for coastal restoration and protection §  Heightened the need to sustain our natural systems at

the state, regional and local levels

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Results of the Process LOUISIANA SPEAKS

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION

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CPEX Community Planning

Adopted Plans Plans in Progress Toolkit Pilots

Jena

Ascension St. Charles

Vernon

W. Feliciana Tangipahoa

Lafourche

Jean Lafitte Lafayette

E. Feliciana

East Baton Rouge

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What is a Comprehensive Plan? §  Shared community vision

§  Policy blueprint – 15-20 years

§  Coordination of government and private programs, major projects and funding opportunities

What is a Comprehensive Plan? Comprised of “Elements”

§  Land Use

§  Transportation

§  Economic Development

§  Public Infrastructure/Utilities

§  Housing and Human Services

§  Parks and Open Space

§  Historic, Environment and Coastal Resources

§  Community Facilities

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Why is Planning Important?

§  Allows the municipality to direct growth rather than simply being the recipient of growth.

§  Consistency and predictability, which leads to economic development.

§  Leverage public investment with private development.

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Why is Planning Important?

“The trouble with land is that they’re not making it anymore.” -- Will Rogers

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Jena’s Vision Town Plan

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IMPLEMENTATION

•  Keep Highway in Town •  Reduce Traffic on Oak Street (Hwy. 84) •  Make Streets More Pedestrian-Friendly •  Preserve Oak Street, Fill in the Gaps •  Offer More Housing Options •  Capitalize on Hunting and Fishing Industry •  Provide Something for Young People to Do •  Accommodate Retirees

Community Visioning Workshop IMPLEMENTATION

Highway 84 DOTD Options

Option 1: Small Bypass Option 2: Two Lane Couplet

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IMPLEMENTATION

Option 3: Large Bypass Option 4: Small Couplet

Highway 84 DOTD Options

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IMPLEMENTATION

Downtown Couplet

Existing Aerial Proposed Downtown Master Plan

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IMPLEMENTATION

Highway 84 Character Map IMPLEMENTATION

Highway 84/Oak Street IMPLEMENTATION

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Highway 84/Oak Street

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IMPLEMENTATION

One Year Later… Over 15 projects underway: •  Grants •  Pilot Streetscape •  City Park Improvements •  Strand Theatre •  Filled Vacant Storefronts •  Town Square •  Low income Housing

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IMPLEMENTATION

COASTAL PLANNING Best Practices Manual and Coastal Ordinances

Why Coastal Communities? •  Need more than just good evacuation plans •  Standard development practices aren’t appropriate in

Louisiana’s Coastal Areas •  Need to develop best practices for coastal

development that is designed for the geography, economy and culture of the coast

•  Need to prepare against the various risks faced by our communities

COASTAL PLANNING

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Coastal Parishes Adopted Comp Plans Zoning Subdivision Regulations I-Codes Only

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PLANNING IN LOUISIANA

COASTAL PLANNING

Coastal Louisiana without Action in 2100

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1,335,000  

The Best Practice Manual •  Strategies that are appropriate to Louisiana’s unique

geographies and cultures. •  Empowering local decision makers •  Community scale tools and strategies •  Building scale tools and techniques

PLANNING IN LOUISIANA

•  Prevent flooding – Build levees; Sediment diversion; Strengthen borders of flood prone areas; Armor and fill

•  Adapt to occasional flooding – Develop community-wide approaches that adapt to occasional floodwaters; Develop resiliency; Minimize property damage from flooding

•  Relocate when absolutely necessary – Relocate part or all of a community to a more stable area

Strategies for Communities STRATEGIES FOR COASTAL PLANNING

§  Grew out of the Louisiana Land Use Toolkit

§  Build upon the research, recommendations and strategies in the Best Practice Manual

§  Focus on Hazard Mitigation and Natural Resource Protection

COASTAL PLANNING

Coastal Ordinances

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How does planning make a community resilient?

•  Rally around common goals •  Proactive, instead of reactive •  More competitive •  Flexible •  Back on feet quicker Resilient in the wake of economic,

environmental, or other disasters

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CHANGE IS INEVITABLE, so plan for it!

If we don’t do anything, the coast will change, the economy will change,

development will happen

•  Use the knowledge we have •  Plan for change •  Keeping our plans flexible •  Use your plan to attract resources

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www.cpex.org facebook.com/centerforplanningexcellence twitter.com/cpex_la

Elizabeth “Boo” Thomas boothomas@cpex.org