[StBernard] Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan Calls for Sweeping Proposals to Manage Coastal Risk, Reinvest in Comm

[Westley Annis]

Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan Calls for Sweeping Proposals to Manage Coastal Risk, Reinvest in Communities, and Create Regional Transit 


BATON ROUGE, La. (May 2, 2007) - The Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan, which was announced today by members of the Louisiana Recovery Authority and citizen leaders, includes more than 100 recommended strategies and actions aimed at comprehensively managing future risk, reinvesting in existing communities, and creating a regional transit system. 

"Katrina and Rita are not the last hurricanes to ever hit Louisiana, but we can take steps to make them the last storms to devastate us like they did," said Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco. "The people of Louisiana recognize that we live in a coastal environment and must continue working to limit our exposure to damages from future storms. They have called for this plan and formed these ideas. And now, if we can work together - citizens, businesses, elected officials, and community and faith-based leaders-to begin implementing the recommendations proposed in this Regional Plan, we can, and we will, realize our vision for a safer, stronger, smarter Louisiana."

"This is not another 'do-gooder' planning exercise; this is a plan for action. This plan includes specific infrastructure recommendations that we can act on now to create a seamless regional and local transportation network across South Louisiana," said Donna Fraiche, Chair of the LRA's Long Term Community Planning Task Force. "It proposes steps that we can take immediately to focus land development and public investments in existing communities and discourage land use and new development in unprotected, environmentally sensitive areas; and it outlines a very detailed risk management strategy aimed at helping us improve the overall accessibility and affordability of insurance." 

The Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan, which has been developed over the last 18 months using scenario planning, world- class computer modeling and technical analysis, and extensive public input from tens of thousands of citizens and stakeholders, will be unveiled at 5:30 today at a town hall meeting held at the Shaw Center for the Arts Manship Theater in Baton Rouge.

This is the first of a series of public meetings that will be held across South Louisiana to present the Plan throughout the month of May. 

*	Visit www.louisianaspeaks.org <http://www.louisianaspeaks.org>  to download an online copy of the Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan or click here <http://www.louisianaspeaks.org/calendar.html>  to check for upcoming events in your area. 

Spanning parishes from the Texas to Mississippi border (including the Houma/Thibodaux, New Orleans, North Shore, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, St. Bernard and Plaquemine areas), the Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan provides a broad strategic framework and priorities for moving Louisiana forward. 

"It's projected Louisiana will gain substantial population and economic growth over the next 30 years, and you must have a plan that will guide Louisiana's long term recovery and accommodate for this new growth. This roadmap for the future is the Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan," said Peter Calthorpe, lead planner for Louisiana Speaks and principal of Calthorpe Associates. "The Plan recommends steps Louisiana must take to recover sustainably over the next five to ten years; it proposes actions you must take to grow smarter, foster healthy communities and create a diverse, resilient economy; and it includes recommendations to establish a structure that will enable you to plan, implement and think regionally over the long run."


"The tens of thousands of citizens that weighed in on the regional poll told us they want more transit options, more economic development and better ways to reduce risk from future storms," said Elizabeth "Boo" Thomas, President of the Center for Planning Excellence. "Well we were listening when Louisiana spoke, and this regional plan is the result."

Highlights of the Regional Plan

Key proposals include recommendations to:

Manage Storm and Flood Risk-The Plan proposes a multi-pronged risk management strategy which includes recommendations to support the restoration of our wetlands, construction of strategic levees, investment in systems of secondary defense, enforcement of building codes, implementation of coastal zoning ordinances, efforts to focus new development in low-risk areas, management of watersheds and the acquisition of high-risk environmentally sensitive land.

Reinvest in Existing Communities-Because many of our communities have seen decades of declining populations and employment, we now face an urgent need for reinvestment. As a solution, the Plan proposes specific recommendations to immediately focus infrastructure and development in existing communities, reduce financial and regulatory barriers to infill development, and create local capacity for spurring reinvestment.

Build the Transportation Network of the Future-The Plan also calls for the development of a cutting-edge transportation network, including a rail line between Baton Rouge and New Orleans along the 1-10 corridor, which will support communities and robust goods movement across the region. 


>From Plan to Action


Louisiana Speaks immediately will begin working with the Louisiana Legislature to consider resolutions to study and implement several key recommendations from the Plan. These include:

*	Create the "Louisiana Community Reinvestment Trust Fund"-This fund would provide grants to work in tandem with Louisiana's Main Street program to support plans and projects that reinvigorate existing commercial and civic streets, spaces, and corridors, including downtowns, historic districts, and main streets. 
*	Establish the "Louisiana Conservation and Mitigation Trust Fund"- This program would provide the structure for Louisiana to begin working with nonprofits such as the Trust for Public Land and the Nature Conservancy, and leveraging federal, state, local and private resources to purchase high-risk and environmentally sensitive areas.
*	Create an Office of State Planning-This office would be responsible for integrating and coordinating state-level planning for risk management, emergency planning, economic development, housing, conservation, community growth, and transportation. 
*	Identify and Remove Obstacles to Infill Development
*	Identify Financing Mechanisms for Transit
*	Identify Financial Incentives for Building Code Compliance and Voluntary Mitigation Measures

The LRA is also supporting the implementation of strategic local recovery projects by setting aside $200 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds that are currently available to local and parish municipalities. The LRA has also stated its goal of expanding this pool of funds by $550 million to support implementation of local plans for Louisiana's long-term recovery if Congress appropriates additional funds or waives the 10 percent FEMA match requirement. 

The LRA will also take up a resolution in support of the Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan at its upcoming Board Meeting, on May 10, 2007, at Baton Rouge Community College. Visit www.lra.louisiana.gov <http://www.lra.louisiana.gov>  for event details.

Louisiana Speaks is the long-term planning initiative of the Louisiana Recovery Authority that is supported with private funds provided by the LRA Support Foundation.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated South Louisiana, claiming 1,464 lives, destroying more than 200,000 homes and 18,000 businesses. The Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) is the planning and coordinating body that was created in the aftermath of these storms by Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco to lead one of the most extensive rebuilding efforts in the world. The LRA is a 33-member body which is coordinating across jurisdictions, supporting community recovery and resurgence, ensuring integrity and effectiveness, and planning for the recovery and rebuilding of Louisiana. 

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