Nationally Renowned Land Use and Urban Planning Experts to Present Future Vision on December 11

For more information, contact: Robert Krueger at 202-624-7051

WASHINGTON (December 3, 2015) – Next week a panel of nationally renowned land use and urban planning experts will begin a five-day study of southcentral St. Tammany Parish, providing strategic advice for resilient redevelopment that addresses the vulnerability of the region’s communities. The advisory services panel, convened by the Urban Land Institute (ULI), will provide recommendations that address the southcentral study area plan, watershed management study, and water quality improvement program.

The southcentral area of the Parish has been projected for future build out and the subject of several infrastructure planning studies. In addition to studies regarding the area’s infrastructure needs, the Parish recently completed a watershed management study which sets forth findings and recommendations with respect to a storm water management program to improve water quality in impaired water bodies.

The panel is being sponsored by the St. Tammany Parish Government as well as Greater New Orleans, Inc., a regional economic development alliance serving the 10-parish region of Southeast Louisiana. Next week the panel will evaluate how the area can best position itself to ensure that the investment in multi-layered projects will be successful in protecting residents, preserving quality of life, protecting property values, and making the local community less vulnerable when disaster strikes.

The panel will examine a range of development issues, including:

• The best program needed to provide the necessary storm water detention in the study area along with water quality improvements.

• Cost effective options to address increased traffic, including both road improvements and alternate transportation options.

• Development strategies that address the lack of affordable workforce housing, housing for an aging population, and the relocation of populations.

• Methods for funding the construction and maintenance of regional ponds or other natural systems infrastructure.

• Water quality improvements that the Parish should encourage property owners to incorporate in the construction of local infrastructure.

• The feasibility of a program for water quality credits within the area and if the Parish should provide credits for the donation of property for development of a regional pond or other natural systems infrastructure.

Next week’s panel will spend five days touring the subject study area as well as meeting with stakeholders and members of the local community. After carefully analyzing the area and interviewing up to 100 individuals, the panel will then spend two days framing their recommendations and drafting a report that will be presented to the public.

The panel assignment is part of a series of advisory panels being supported by a generous grant from The Kresge Foundation to advance the institute’s pursuit of urban design and development practices that are more resilient and adaptable to the impact of climate change. With the support from The Kresge Foundation, ULI is leveraging the substantial expertise of its members to provide guidance on community building in a way that responds to inevitable climate change while helping to preserve the environment, boost economic prosperity, and foster a high quality of life.

Next week’s advisory panel is chaired by Jim Heid, founder, UrbanGreen, Inc., Healdsburg, California.  He is joined by Margaret Kaigh Doyle, senior manager, Gas Technology Institute, Skillman, New Jersey; Tracy Gabriel, associate director for neighborhood planning, District of Columbia Office of Planning, Washington, DC; Ladd Keith, planning lecturer and coordinator of sustainable built environments, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona; Alan Razak, principal, AthenianRazak LLC, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Michael Stern, principal, Strada, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Lindsey Willke, urban designer, HKS, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Now in its 68th year, the ULI advisory services panel program assembles experts in the fields of real estate and land use planning to participate on panels worldwide, offering recommendations for complex planning and development projects, programs and policies. Panels have developed more than 600 studies for a broad range of land uses, ranging from waterfront properties to inner-city retail.

According to Thomas Eitler, vice president of ULI’s advisory services program, the strength of the program lies in ULI’s unique ability to draw on the substantial knowledge of its 36,000-plus members, including land developers, engineers, public officials, academics, lenders, architects, planners and urban designers. “The independent views of the panelists bring a fresh perspective to the land use challenge,” Eitler said. “The advisory services program is about offering creative, innovative approaches to community building.”

Past sponsors of ULI advisory services panels include: federal, state and local government agencies; regional councils of government; chambers of commerce; redevelopment authorities; private developers and property owners; community development corporations; lenders; historic preservation groups; non-profit community groups; environmental organizations; and economic development agencies.

NOTE TO REPORTERS AND EDITORS: The ULI panel’s recommendations will be presented at 9 a.m. on Friday, December 11 at the St. Tammany Parish Council Chambers located at 21490 Koop Drive, Mandeville, Louisiana. The event is open to the public.

About the Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute is a nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the Institute has more than 36,000 members worldwide representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines.