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Importance of Public Participation
Useful Information | Useful Websites | Questions & Answers
Lead Consultant
Firm | Contact Information
Project Overview
The City of Baton Rouge-Parish of East Baton Rouge is reviewing proposals from professional consulting parties to assist in the preparation of an update to the Master Plan. The
consultant and planning staff will work together to create a comprehensive plan and accompanying communication and interagency coordination plans to address the impact of growth and development in the City of Baton
Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge. The scope of services in the RFP link below details the tasks to be performed by the consultant.
The Mayor-President believes that this is the appropriate time to initiate an overall update to the existing Master Plan to provide direction in the areas of land use, infrastructure, community services, growth management,
and quality of life for the community. The goals and objectives set forth in the new Master Plan will be implemented by modification to the Unified Development Code and other development-related ordinances where
appropriate.
The City-Parish engaged the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to provide an Advisory Services Panel. This panel focused on strategies to identify the elements necessary to serve as the basis for this Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
to update the existing Master Plan (Horizon Plan). The ULI Advisory Services Panel stated that the Planning Consultant responsible for updating the Master Plan should have the ability to create a Master Plan with a “strong
vision which will provide the direction, clarity, and purpose Baton Rouge needs to become America’s Next Great City.”
The ULI Advisory Services Panel expressed the importance to acknowledge that “implementation holds the key to a successful plan.” The Panel identified the following keys to successful plan implementation:
extensive community involvement and education;
priority of action items, based on the Vision of the City-Parish;
constant and careful monitoring of the Plan as it is implemented;
periodic, cautious amendment of the Plan; and
appropriate and adequate resources provided to implement the plan goals.
The selected Planning Consultant must develop a
Master Plan that incorporates all of these keys to successful implementation. Also, the Panel identified the need to focus on comprehensive transportation planning and interagency coordination. Presently, plan implementation is
coordinated by the Planning Commission as the lead agency for the existing Master Plan. Additionally, the new Master Plan must be proactive, not reactive or “Zoning Driven.”
The panel stressed the importance of “crafting a clear vision and creating a simple, usable plan with clear implementation strategies. The plan should be both visionary and simple to understand and implement. The plan should
clearly state a vision, prioritize implementation measures, and recommend specific incentives to achieve the vision.”
Importance of Public Participation as
a Component of this Master Plan
Public participation and outreach is critical to the
Master Plan process. From the outset of the planning process, the citizenry must be thoroughly involved and educated about the process to encourage proactive plan development and implementation. The consultant will be
responsible for developing a user-focused communication plan, conducting public meetings and disseminating information about updates during the comprehensive plan process. This includes preparing agendas and other
materials required for the meetings, attending the meetings, and leading the discussion to ascertain the consensus of the group. The outcome of these meetings is to generate broad community engagement, foster ownership of
plan among all stakeholders, and encourage public and private leadership to shape a bold and focused parish-wide vision.
All concerns and questions regarding the RFP, the selection process, terms, conditions and technical specifications shall be directed in writing to:
Office of the Planning Commission
Attn: Troy L. Bunch, Planning
Director
P.O. Box 1471
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Or email at tbunch@brgov.com. All telephone inquiries should be made to (225) 389-3144.
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