Federal Conspiracy? Or Land Use Planning?

RE: Public meeting on September 15th at the Oak Grove Community Center (the new spray park) at 6:30pm

I just got back from the Galvez meeting on the Comprehensive Plan. If you were to believe all of the people there (led by the same people we see at every meeting and talk so much that no one else gets a chance to ask questions) you would think there was huge conspiracy to urbanize our entire parish and build tons of HUD housing that was subsidised by the federal gov't . If you believed them, you would think that our parish government is socialist and has a shadow government running behind the scenes that was both malevolent and all powerful. If you believed them, you would think that it was a religious imperative to keep those poor, low income types out of our parish. If you were to believe them, you would think that high income planned neighborhoods that are both beautiful and walkable - are NOT what the people of this parish want or need.

All we really want to do is guide the growth that is happening (and will happen) in our parish. The Comprehensive plan will be a tool that our councilmen and Planning Commission will be able to use in order to make better land use decisions in the future. All we want is to be able to plan where to put new roads and where to put in a parish wide sewer system so we can stop having 1/2 treated fecal matter running in our open ditches and put an end to needless traffic jams. All we want is for there to be a vision for the parish that allows us to accommodate new growth while trying to maintain a rural character. All we want is to have housing for people in all stages of their life and affordable housing for people like teachers and firemen. All we want is to end the practice of building strip malls all over the place when 1/2 of them lay empty.

We want to get control over our traffic. We want connectivity, sidewalks and bike paths.. and one day, when our density requires it - mass transit. We can also plan for the possibility that we will get a passenger rail from New Orleans to Baton Rouge with a stop in Gonzales.

Change will happen and people will move here whether or not we have a plan. Developers will continue to build here as long as people sell them their land. Do we do business as usual, or do we embrace the Smart Growth Practices that have created some of our country's most beloved communities? (http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/)

For more information, please read this:
http://www.businessreport.com/news/2010/mar/22/sprawl-peace/

Mid-Week Thoughts

Comparing High and Low Residential Density: Life-Cycle Analysis of Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

J. Urban Plng. and Devel. 132, 10 (2006)

http://link.aip.org/link/?JUPDDM/132/10/1

Recently, I ran across an article titled: "Comparing High and Low Residential Density: Life-Cycle Analysis of Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions" What I love best about it is that it’s not written by environmentalists or urban planners. It’s published by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Much of the criticism we "progressives" get seems to come from retired engineers. I'm not sure why. Most of my family members are all engineers, yet they seem to all put up with my ideas and political views quite well. Maybe they are just being polite...

Anyway, it’s nice to finally have a paper that says what planners and environmentalist alike have been saying for years - that city living can actually be a more energy efficient and sustainable lifestyle than a sprawling suburban one. By concentrating most of our infrastructure in one area - we not only keep down on the costs of building said infrastructure - but we also are able to keep more land outside of the urban area open and undeveloped.

This leads me to another topic… the Ascension Parish Comprehensive Plan and the front page of The Advocate (“Growing Pains in Ascension, July 25th). Do me a favor, and read this article closely. I’ll be commenting on that whopper soon.

Off to tame the wild rug rats upstairs and make them go to bed. Before I go, here is your parting thought for the day: “Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.”

Goodnight!
Ann

Welcome!

Before I explain the title of this blog (Tin Foil Hats) I'd like to share with you a bit of our philosophy here at Ascension Forward. Basically, we are a soon-to-be-incorporated non-profit organization headquartered in the fastest growing parish in Louisiana.

The mission of Ascension Forward is to promote sustainable development concepts in North Ascension Parish that would benefit the quality of life and health of its citizens. Our goal is to help make this part of Ascension Parish an attractive place for people to live, work, shop and play by helping to increase investment in amenities such as sidewalks, parks, trails and bike paths, while working to maintain the rural character and rich cultural heritage of our parish. Ascension Forward believes that through citizen education and careful planning, we will create a means for embracing our future as one of the fastest growing parishes in the country. Ascension Forward will:

• Work to maintain green spaces and improve outdoor recreation opportunities
• Educate the press, community and developers on sustainability and the principles of smart growth and how they can improve quality of life and increase property values, while attracting the right kind of businesses and investment
• Regularly meet with government and planning officials to educate them on proper land use practices and sustainability (including but not limited to storm water management, renewable energy and energy efficiency)
• Facilitate individual communities in the planning process by encouraging its citizens to work together to develop their own visions for future growth and development
• Foster better communication between the government and its citizens
• Promote the use of renewable energy and educate the community on available tax credits and practical applications of the different options available to them
• Promote and increase public participation in recycling programs while working with the parish to expand services with the ultimate goal of having curbside recycling throughout the parish
• Promote and support the development of a comprehensive transportation plan for the parish

So, what do you think? Want to help us bring Ascension Parish up into the 21st century? Tell me what your vision of an ideal Ascension Parish would be…
Ciao! ~ Ann