Lafayette Consolidated Government is getting ready for PlanLafayette Week next week when there will be the release of the draft comprehensive plan.

During the meetings next week, the public will be able to give their thoughts on the draft plan.  The process involved multiple meetings and a community effort over two years.

The draft plan will be made available to the public with two events:

  • Tuesday, February 11 at the LITE Center from 5-8 p.m.
  • Wednesday, February 12 at the Acadiana Center for the Arts from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Officials say the draft plan will be organized into four "big ideas", and the events of PlanLafayette Week will be aimed at educating the public about the action items included into the four ideas.

As we head into next week, Consolidated Government will give previews of the four big ideas.

One of the ideas is "Refine Government".  Some of the action items include:

  • Develop a streamlined, easier to use Unified Development Code
  • Improve our transportation network for all users by reducing congestion and improving connectivity
  • Strengthen investment in centers and corridors, including Downtown Lafayette, using innovative strategies such as public-private partnerships
  • Analyze potential return on investment before spending tax dollars on capital improvements

Consolidated Government and other community partners will host other event around the other three big themes.  More information will be coming soon regarding the three other events:

  • Reinvent the Hub City
  • Revitalize Neighborhoods
  • Reenvision Natural Resources.

As part of the promotion of the plan, the Downtown Development Authority is teaming up with LCG to bring in Chuck Marohn who is a nationally recognized leader on how communities can grow smarter and still be fiscally responsible.

Nathan Norris, CEO of DDA, says,

"The Downtown Development Authority is so excited to be a part of bringing Chuck to Lafayette.  Chuck is known nationally as one of the strongest conservative voices about how important it is to think differently about spending our infrastructure dollars as a community, as well as the unintended consequences of many of our existing regulations.  I think many of the principles he advocates are reflected in our comprehensive plan.  The timing is perfect for Chuck to visit and begin to help us understand how we can make wiser spending decisions."

Marohn will host two lunches on Monday, February 10th.  Tickets are available at http://www.downtownlafayette.org/chuckmarohnluncheon, and will sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Marohn is a Professional Engineer and member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. He has a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota's Institute of Technology and a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute.

He is the author of "Thoughts on Building Strong Towns" (Volume 1), the primary author of the Strong Towns Blog and the host of the Strong Towns Podcast and See it Differently TV.

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