[StBernard] Planning Commission Drafting SmartCode for Council's Consideration

[Westley Annis]

November 15, 2006
Contacts: 	     Earl Dauterive, Chair  504-430-3790 (cell)
                             Deborah Keller, Vice-Chair 504-473-3470 (cell)

**** Media Advisory ****
 
Planning Commission Drafting SmartCode for Council's Consideration


Chalmette-The St. Bernard Parish Planning Commission held its November
special public meeting on November 7 to finalize its draft of the first
chapter of the St. Bernard SmartCode. Such special meetings are in addition
to the regular monthly meetings the Commission holds for routine matters
such as zoning changes and re-subdivisions. The special meetings, which are
also open to the public, allow the Commission to work on other planning
matters, such as tailoring a SmartCode specifically for St. Bernard Parish.

In March 2006, the Parish Council passed resolutions addressing community
development. One resolution was to enact a regulating plan in principal,
including its subdivision of the land into neighborhoods, with the
understanding that the neighborhoods will subsequently further adjust the
regulating plans through a detailed public process in each neighborhood.
Another was to enact in principal a unified development code, referred to as
SmartCode, subject to adjustment by the Parish Council before adopting as an
ordinance. Only ordinances carry the force of law .
Once adopted as an ordinance, the St. Bernard Parish SmartCode would replace
the parish's current ordinances and regulations that affect such community
development issues as zoning, subdivisions, signage, noise, parking,
landscaping, and lighting. 

At the November special meeting, the Planning Commission finalized its draft
of Article 1 of the SmartCode. It will be submitted to the Parish Council
for review and consideration for future adoption.  Subsequent sections of
the SmartCode will likewise be sent to the Parish Council as the Planning
Commission completes its drafts. 

"Local communities around the country are adopting their own versions of
SmartCode," says Lydia Jemison, incoming president of the New Orleans
Chapter of the American Planning Association.  "SmartCode encourages that
old-time neighborhood feeling where people live, work, shop, and recreate in
neighborhoods.  SmartCode communities are attractive, pedestrian friendly,
and foster a sense of community." 
Deborah Keller, vice-chair of the Planning Commission said at a recent
public meeting, "Somewhere between Hurricane Betsy and Hurricane Katrina,
America changed the way its people live, work, and play.  We regulated away
the corner grocery store, merchants that lived above the shops with their
families, schools and playgrounds within a bike ride of home, and a mixture
of apartments and houses of various sizes, all in close proximity. The land
use patterns in the past 40 years have created large, isolated residential
subdivisions and big box retailers that depend exclusively on cars. Both
older communities wanting to revive themselves and new suburbs are reaping
the benefits of returning to a former lifestyle."
Upcoming meetings of the Planning Commission are scheduled for December 5
(special meeting), and December 12 (general meeting). All meetings are open
to the public and begin at 4 p.m. at the government complex, either the
second floor or the Council trailer, depending upon availability.

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