Case Study
Plan Ascension
Ascension Parish, situated between the metropolitan centers of New Orleans and Baton Rouge, was met with a massive influx of residents after hurricane Katrina. Within the last decade, the population in the parish grew over thirty six percent to around 104,000 people. Boasting some of the state’s best schools and a desirable rural character with large parcels and a relaxed way of life, Ascension become a high-demand destination for displaced New Orleanian professionals coming from one side, and the southern flight of Baton Rougeans on the other.
The result: acres and acres of cookie-cutter subdivisions, commuter traffic jams, drainage issues as the floodplain was developed, and a backlog of open ditch drainage and septic systems. These threats were ruining the quality of life that had brought so many to the parish in the first place.
APPROACH
Parish leaders decided to take action, and through disaster recovery and CDBG funding, along with a grant from CPEX, they embarked on the Plan Ascension planning process. To prepare the area for the potential continued population influx, and to accommodate for the growth that has already occurred, CPEX is facilitating a plan in Ascension Parish to preserve the above mentioned way of life while planning for optimal land uses and infrastructure investments.
PLANNING
In 2009, through an objective process facilitated by CPEX, Ascension parish hired Winston Associates out of Colorado to lead a team with experts in housing, transportation, economics, and infrastructure specialties. Over the last year plus, this team has led a series of public input meetings, developed and solicited feedback on multiple drafts of a plan, and is currently refining and working toward plan adoption.
OUTCOMES
- The process is still underway, but a draft of the plan is available for download here
LINKS
Plan Ascension Website
Plan Ascension on Facebook
Winston Associates
