CPEX offers free planning resource
Visit the Toolkit website >
Baton Rouge (February 9, 2011) – Created over the past three years with input from more than 2,000 Louisiana citizens, the Louisiana Land Use Toolkit, a set of adaptable development standards, is now available as a free resource to communities across the state. With the Toolkit, communities have a new option for realizing their own visions for growth through voluntary implementation of this resource. With funding and support from Louisiana Economic Development, the National Realtors Association, EPA and HUD, the Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX) was charged with creating the Toolkit, which provides local jurisdictions with ‘model’ standards for growth.
The Toolkit provides solutions for a number of different contexts and community development needs, like this main street above.
“The Toolkit is the missing link for communities interested in implementing their plans,” Elizabeth “Boo” Thomas, President and CEO at CPEX, said. “We have worked hard testing and refining it with a few different Louisiana communities and believe we are at a point now where more jurisdictions can pick it up and apply it for their own development. We anticipate that many communities will make use of this new resource.”
Developed with the input from elected leaders, planners and realtors, the Toolkit provides a framework for communities while taking into consideration the unique culture and nuances of Louisiana. By creating this outline, communities are able to save on the upfront cost of updating and/or implementing land development standards, which can cost upwards of $250,000. The Toolkit was implemented in the pilot parishes of West Feliciana and Tangipahoa, where it was tailored to fit their individual needs.
”The Louisiana Land Use Toolkit is the perfect progression from planning to implementation for communities,” Camille Manning-Broome, Director of Planning at CPEX, said, “It empowers them with the policy tools to realize their visions for growth.”
The Toolkit was born from Louisiana Speaks, a comprehensive plan for revitalization and recovery across the state following the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. One of the largest planning efforts in U.S. history, Louisiana Speaks aimed to develop a sustainable, long-term vision for southern Louisiana and set out three visionary goals: to recover sustainably; grow smarter; and think regionally. The process identified key priorities for the state including the creation of model development standards for community development.
“Louisiana communities each have their own unique assets and opportunities for economic growth,” said Stephen Moret, Secretary of Louisiana Economic Development, “This toolkit enables them to preserve and nurture those qualities while clarifying community-specific standards of engagement for interested investors and developers.”
As a document that can be downloaded, edited, and printed from www.landusetoolkit.com, the Toolkit is a resource that:
- Municipalities, parishes, corridors and other special districts can tailor according to individual community needs, whether they require a complete development code, individual ordinances for unique cases, or something in between.
- Is easy and affordable to administer and implement in areas with limited resources.
- Is comprised of a variety of standards that can be applied to different types of areas – rural, suburban and/or urban.
- Consists of clear, concise, graphically oriented, user friendly content.
For more information, visit www.landusetoolkit.com, and for specific questions about the Toolkit, call CPEX at (225) 267-6300 or send us a message.
