FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
> Questions about the Master Plan
> Questions about the Working Draft Master Plan
> General Questions
1. How does this plan ensure that every neighborhood in the city will be included in livability improvements?
As a citywide plan, this Master Plan is committed to the principle of “every place and every person,” and shows future improvements for every part of the city. Every planning district will have a planner assigned to work with the residents and businesses of that district, identify the improvements needed, and coordinate with public and private agencies to get the work done. Community centers, parks and recreation areas, schools and libraries will be the civic heart of every district and accessible from every neighborhood.
As a citywide plan, this Master Plan is committed to the principle of “every place and every person,” and shows future improvements for every part of the city. Every planning district will have a planner assigned to work with the residents and businesses of that district, identify the improvements needed, and coordinate with public and private agencies to get the work done. Community centers, parks and recreation areas, schools and libraries will be the civic heart of every district and accessible from every neighborhood.
2. How will the master plan be approved and how can we change it after it is approved?
Approvals: The master plan has to go through two rounds of public hearings and approvals before it becomes official. First, the City Planning Commission (CPC) will hold public hearings on the plan, make any needed revisions, and then approve the plan. The CPC then sends the plan to the City Council. The Council will hold public hearings and then decide if it wants to send the Plan back to the CPC for further revision or approve it. If it is sent back, the CPC will resolve any questions that came up and send the revised version to the Council. On approval by the Council, the plan is officially adopted.
Approvals: The master plan has to go through two rounds of public hearings and approvals before it becomes official. First, the City Planning Commission (CPC) will hold public hearings on the plan, make any needed revisions, and then approve the plan. The CPC then sends the plan to the City Council. The Council will hold public hearings and then decide if it wants to send the Plan back to the CPC for further revision or approve it. If it is sent back, the CPC will resolve any questions that came up and send the revised version to the Council. On approval by the Council, the plan is officially adopted.
Changes: The law allows and requires opportunities to change the Master Plan to make sure it stays relevant to New Orleans. The Master Plan may be amended once a year through a process that requires public hearings. The Master Plan must be reviewed and, if needed, updated every five years, with even more public participation required.
3. What is the role of elected officials in the implementation and management of the Master Plan?
Elected officials will lead the implementation of the Master Plan. The Mayor and the administration will use the goals and strategies of the Master Plan as a guide in setting priorities and allocating resources to make improvements in the city. The authority to make zoning changes and any other laws will continue to reside with the City Council. As the Council exercises its powers to approve the city budget and the capital plan, the Council will also be making decisions about how the Master Plan is implemented.
Elected officials will lead the implementation of the Master Plan. The Mayor and the administration will use the goals and strategies of the Master Plan as a guide in setting priorities and allocating resources to make improvements in the city. The authority to make zoning changes and any other laws will continue to reside with the City Council. As the Council exercises its powers to approve the city budget and the capital plan, the Council will also be making decisions about how the Master Plan is implemented.
4. How can implementation of this plan make a difference to me and my neighborhood?
The Master Plan calls for a park within walking distance of every resident; strategies to make sure that new development fits in with existing neighborhoods; more transportation alternatives –bike routes and expanded transit—as well as better roads and sidewalks; planting enough trees along sidewalks, in neutral grounds, and elsewhere to bring half the city under shade; and more retail and services to support neighborhoods. The plan contains a framework for implementing a system of neighborhood and community participation in decisions about private and public development, so residents can make their voices heard through a mandated and structured process.
The Master Plan calls for a park within walking distance of every resident; strategies to make sure that new development fits in with existing neighborhoods; more transportation alternatives –bike routes and expanded transit—as well as better roads and sidewalks; planting enough trees along sidewalks, in neutral grounds, and elsewhere to bring half the city under shade; and more retail and services to support neighborhoods. The plan contains a framework for implementing a system of neighborhood and community participation in decisions about private and public development, so residents can make their voices heard through a mandated and structured process.
5. How does the plan give everybody the chance to share in economic opportunity?
The Master Plan focuses on strengthening the “building blocks” of a successful economy, linking education and workforce development, support for small businesses and the cultural economy, cultivation of an entrepreneurial culture, promotion of potential new industries with health science and green jobs, and support for the existing successful sectors of the economy.
The Master Plan focuses on strengthening the “building blocks” of a successful economy, linking education and workforce development, support for small businesses and the cultural economy, cultivation of an entrepreneurial culture, promotion of potential new industries with health science and green jobs, and support for the existing successful sectors of the economy.
6. How will the plan help our city bounce back quickly from hurricanes, floods and other disasters?
First, the Master Plan recommends that the City take the lead, through a strong Department of Environmental Affairs, in understanding, communicating, and coordinating everything to do with protecting the city from natural disasters, adapting to climate change, and becoming more resilient. The Plan calls for making evacuations a thing of the past with public facilities that can withstand a 1 in 500 year storm at a minimum and a community discussion on the role that every level of government and every household can do. The new agency will explore the feasibility of following Dutch models of living with water through a system of beautiful open canals. Finally, the Plan calls for New Orleans to lead American cities in securing a new minimum 1 in 1,000-year storm standard of protection and resilience comparable to the minimum standard in Europe and Japan.
First, the Master Plan recommends that the City take the lead, through a strong Department of Environmental Affairs, in understanding, communicating, and coordinating everything to do with protecting the city from natural disasters, adapting to climate change, and becoming more resilient. The Plan calls for making evacuations a thing of the past with public facilities that can withstand a 1 in 500 year storm at a minimum and a community discussion on the role that every level of government and every household can do. The new agency will explore the feasibility of following Dutch models of living with water through a system of beautiful open canals. Finally, the Plan calls for New Orleans to lead American cities in securing a new minimum 1 in 1,000-year storm standard of protection and resilience comparable to the minimum standard in Europe and Japan.
1. The Master Plan recommends taking down the elevated I-10 expressway, yet there has been no public meeting about it. I’ve heard legislation may be introduced to require a referendum on the Master Plan because of this.
The Master Plan is a long range plan, with goals for the city to work towards over the next twenty years. A number of the strategies for achieving the goals involve major projects, one of which is to STUDY THE BENEFITS AND COSTS OF REPLACING the elevated highway and, like other cities are doing, replace it with a TREE-LINED URBAN boulevard. THIS SUGGESTION ARISES IN PART FROM THE FACT THAT THE CURRENT ELEVATED HIGHWAY IS IN SUBSTANDARD CONDITION AND HAS REACHED A POINT IN ITS LIFE CYCLE WHERE IT WILL REQUIRE VERY SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN ANY EVENT.
The Master Plan is a long range plan, with goals for the city to work towards over the next twenty years. A number of the strategies for achieving the goals involve major projects, one of which is to STUDY THE BENEFITS AND COSTS OF REPLACING the elevated highway and, like other cities are doing, replace it with a TREE-LINED URBAN boulevard. THIS SUGGESTION ARISES IN PART FROM THE FACT THAT THE CURRENT ELEVATED HIGHWAY IS IN SUBSTANDARD CONDITION AND HAS REACHED A POINT IN ITS LIFE CYCLE WHERE IT WILL REQUIRE VERY SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN ANY EVENT.
Endeavors of this scale not happen overnight, in fact, they will require public support to happen at all. And, all projects of this scale will have significant opportunities for public participation BEGINNING AT the earliest stage AND CONTINUING THROUGH EVERY STATE OF PLANNING AND DESGIN. Federal laws require it, so will the Community Participation Program in the Master Plan.
2. How can I obtain a hard copy of the Draft Master Plan for my personal use?
Unfortunately due to printing costs and the labor-intensive nature of putting together the documents, we are not able to provide copies of the entire Draft Plan to individuals. You can view the plan by downloading individual chapters as pdf’s on this website under the Documents and Resources page. Hard copies of the Draft Master Plan are also available for viewing at several locations, click here to view the Master Plan Distribution list. The City Planning Commission can also burn a disc of all the Draft Plan chapters as pdf's for anyone who would like to come to the office and pick one up. Please call beforehand to arrange pick-up.
Unfortunately due to printing costs and the labor-intensive nature of putting together the documents, we are not able to provide copies of the entire Draft Plan to individuals. You can view the plan by downloading individual chapters as pdf’s on this website under the Documents and Resources page. Hard copies of the Draft Master Plan are also available for viewing at several locations, click here to view the Master Plan Distribution list. The City Planning Commission can also burn a disc of all the Draft Plan chapters as pdf's for anyone who would like to come to the office and pick one up. Please call beforehand to arrange pick-up.
3. How do I post a comment about the Working Draft?
There are several ways you can post a comment about the Working Draft Master Plan.
• Attend a meeting: Make your voice heard by attending one of our District Meetings. The second round of meetings will be held in April 2009. Click here to see a list of dates and locations.
• Send an email: Email a member of the New Orleans Master Plan & Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Planning Team by sending an email to cpcinfo@nola.gov. To view more information on the Planning Team click here.
• Post a comment: Get inspired by what others have to say about the Master Plan on the What Do You Think page. Read up on what people are saying and post comments on the issues that matter most to you.
There are several ways you can post a comment about the Working Draft Master Plan.
• Attend a meeting: Make your voice heard by attending one of our District Meetings. The second round of meetings will be held in April 2009. Click here to see a list of dates and locations.
• Send an email: Email a member of the New Orleans Master Plan & Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Planning Team by sending an email to cpcinfo@nola.gov. To view more information on the Planning Team click here.
• Post a comment: Get inspired by what others have to say about the Master Plan on the What Do You Think page. Read up on what people are saying and post comments on the issues that matter most to you.
General Questions
1. We’ve been planning a lot since Katrina. What’s different about this plan – the Master Plan/CZO project?
• A 20-year plan and agenda. The Master Plan has a long term horizon. The post-Katrina planning efforts were focused on recovery from the Katrina disaster and rebuilding of the city. The Master Plan will create a clear, multi-year agenda for the City to focus its own resources and to advocate effectively for the additional resources it needs.
• An integrated citywide approach. The Master Plan will integrate neighborhood goals into a broader plan for balanced growth and municipal systems across the city.
• New approaches and alternatives. The plan consultants will bring to the community a range of new approaches being used around the country as well as alternative scenarios for New Orleans’s growth so that New Orleanians can decide what fits their vision for the city’s future.
• Implementation from the beginning. Implementation strategies and action steps will be discussed as the plan is developed and opportunities for early actions and early successes will be identified.
• Zoning compatible with the plan. The Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance will implement the Plan, translating Master Plan policies into user-friendly city land use and development regulations.
2. What about the UNOP plans, neighborhood plans and other plans that New Orleanians have worked on during the last three years? Are they going to be superseded by the Master Plan/CZO project?
No – they will not be superseded; rather they will be incorporated. The recovery plans are focused on the rebuilding process after Katrina, but they also contain many valuable ideas for the future. These plans will be the foundation of the Master Plan and new CZO. The first task of the planning team is to review all the UNOP and other plans and make sure that this Master Plan builds on all the work that has already been done. This plan will take all that work, add new policy and strategic approaches, and put it all together for a citywide plan with a long term perspective. The Master Plan focuses especially on providing long term guidance to city decision makers – elected officials, appointed officials, city staff – and providing a framework for them to work in partnership with community leaders from neighborhoods, the business sector, and nonprofit organizations.
3. How is the adopted charter amendment for a “Master Plan with the force of law” related to this project?
The current city charter requires, in general terms, that the City Planning Commission must prepare a citywide master plan and that land use actions should be consistent with the Master Plan. Among other changes, the adopted amendment specifies the legal relationship between the Master Plan, the CZO, and the city capital plan and budget:
• The Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (CZO) must be consistent with the Master Plan.
• Any amendments to the CZO must be consistent with the Master Plan
• The capital improvement plan and capital budget must be consistent with the Master Plan.
• The City Council must establish a system of neighborhood participation.
• The Master Plan must be reviewed for possible amendments or a comprehensive revision at least once every five years, but no more often than once a year, with public hearings and consistency with a neighborhood participation system to be adopted.
The Master Plan/CZO project will create a Master Plan and a new draft CZO reflecting the Master Plan’s policies regardless of action on the proposed charter amendment.