WHAT IS A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN?

Comprehensive Plans are devised as blue prints, so that leaders can better plan for

social, economic, physical, political, aesthetics, and any other issues that help

achieve the community’s goals.

WHY PLAN?

People plan to make a special event successful.

Businesses plan so their products and services sell.

Farmers plan when to plant and harvest.

Why shouldn’t communities plan to be successful and sustainable?

“When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened.”

John M. Richardson, Jr.

TOWN PLANNNG HAS AN ANCIENT TRADITION

PEOPLE PLANNED EARLY TOWNS TO … Take advantage of

resources (water, arable land, etc.),

Defend themselves against invaders (defensible positioning of town or walled cities), and

Ensure location along trade routes.

WHAT DOES A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PROVIDEIt establishes an Overall Community Vision with

long term Goals and Strategies to achieve the goals.

Plan for public infrastructure and facilities to handle population needs.

Protect and enhance the environment, historic structures and special places.

Maintain and expand the commercial and economic base.

Promote development of housing to meet community needs.

Addresses other specific community needs.

ADVANTAGES OF AN OFFICIAL COMPREHENSIVE PLANPlanning commission can review and approve

plans for consistency with the Comprehensive Plan

Local ordinances must be considered for consistency with Comprehensive Plan

State agencies must consider the Comprehensive Plan prior to undertaking any activity that would impact it.

COMPREHENSIVE PLANS PROVIDE FUTURE INSIGHT

Inventories available community assets and resources.

Identifies deficiencies and needs.Identifies growth trends and locations where

the population is expected to grow.Determines public facility capacity needs to

handle growth in these area (roads, water, waste water treatment, schools, etc.).

Identifies service needs of a growing population (education, transportation, housing, etc.).

CREATES A VISION FOR THE COMMUNITY’S FUTURE

Gives elected officials, appointed boards, State agencies and community groups an agenda of steps they can work on to achieve the future.

Helps to allocate resources efficiently in order to achieve the vision.

Gives direction for expenditure of public funds on infrastructure, services and programs.

STEERING COMMITTEEDuties of the Steering Committee …

To oversee the drafting of the Comprehensive Plan.To help to obtain public participation in the development

of the Plan.To coordinate with the Parish Council and other public

agencies pertinent to Comprehensive Plan development.To receive periodic progress reports from SCPDC and

deliver to the Planning Commission and Parish Council.To present the Council with a recommended

Comprehensive Plan containing direction for implementation.

OVERVIEW OF PLANNING PROCESS

PROCESSInventory parish resources in

order to assist in developing an analysis of community strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT).

Form Focus Groups to look at specific issues (infrastructure, public facilities, housing, aesthetics/community design, land use).

Develop a vision statement for the future.

Develop goals and objectives necessary to achieve the vision.

PROCESS CONTINUED …Develop strategies and identify possible

tools to use in accomplishing the goals. Identify which implementation tools are

appropriate for St. James Parish.Draft a plan that includes all of the required

and appropriate elements. Hold public hearings.Present final recommendations to the

Planning Commission and Parish Council.

FOCUS GROUPSPUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE

Where do we have or need sewerage, drainage, transportation, water, etc.?

PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES Where and what kind of facilities and services do we need to

serve the present and future population? (public health clinics, public safety services, libraries, parks, educational, etc.

HOUSING What is available and is it attainable for ownership or rental?

What is the quality and cost of housing?AESTHETICS AND COMMUNITY DESIGN

What do we like about our community and want to preserve? What do we want to change and improve?

LAND USE Where and what kind of development is here today and what is

planned?

INVENTORY: WHAT TYPE OF INFORMATION IS NEEDED?Population and growth trends.Planned and proposed developments and

public works projects.Infrastructure capacity assessments.Maps of population densities, resources,

existing land uses and other pertinent information.

Identify resources and assets.Human resource and economic needs.

SWOT ANALYSISSTRENGTHS

What makes our community work?

WEAKNESSES What’s holding us back

from achieving our shared goals?

OPPORTUNITIES What’s in the future that

will help us reach our community vision?

THREATS What challenges do we

face in realizing our vision?

This will be a guided process and will occur as part of the Focus Group meetings

PLAN CONTENTMaps, plats, charts and descriptive matter, andRecommendations from Focus Group meetings

for the future development of the community. Expressed in terms of …A vision statement for the future of St. James

ParishGoals and objectives necessary to achieve the

visionAppropriate strategies and tools to use in

accomplishing the goals

IMPLEMENTATION:TYPICAL TOOLSRegulatory Codes

Floodplain Management CodeSubdivision CodesBuilding CodesLand Use Regulations Aesthetic, Historic And Other Codes

Capital PlanningFederal, State And Nonprofit GrantsPartnerships Between Governments, Nonprofits And

Private BusinessesLocal Revenue Initiatives

Tax and Business Incentives For Economic Development

EXISTING ST. JAMES PARISH IMPLEMENTATION TOOLSFloodplain Management CodeVarious Nuisance Abatement CodesLand Development (Subdivision) CodeCommunication Tower RegulationsSolid Waste and SubstancesState Building CodesFair Housing and Minimum Housing RegulationsState Tax Incentive ProgramsSCPDC Revolving Loan Program

OTHER IMPORTANT POINTSSteering Committee meetings are open to the

public.Periodic updates will be available on a website, at

the Parish office and at the Parish library.There will be a public hearing on the draft plan.The plan may be published in parts by element or

geographic area.

TIME FRAME

Initial Steering Committee Meeting

March

Steering Committee meets & organizes

April- May

Kick Off Meeting June

Focus Group Meetings July

Draft Plan January

Public Hearings February

Revisions of Document March

Final Document to SC April- May

Delivery of Document to Planning Commission and Parish Council

June- July

CONTACT INFORMATION & RESOURCESSOUTH CENTRAL PLANNING AND

DEVELOMENT COMMISSIONWWW.SCPDC.ORGP. O. BOX 1870 GRAY LA. 70359985-851-2900

AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATIONWWW.PLANNING.ORG

QUESTIONS?