In the News

from the The Advocate, Baton Rouge, LA 1.17.05

Neighborhood groups mixed in 'Smart Growth' reaction 

By Mike Dunne, Advocate staff writer

Members of the Federation of Civic Associations have graded the idea of "Smart Growth" from flunking to flattering enthusiasm.

Officials from Plan Baton Rouge and the Smart Growth Task Force last week outlined the concept to members of the federation, which is an umbrella organization of civic associations in the parish.

After a 45-minute presentation Thursday night by Smart Growth proponents, the floor was opened to comment.

The first few bashed the idea without saying much specifically against it. One man noted that people don't like change while another groused that no one can trust developers.

Eventually, response turned more favorable.

Advertisement Much of the emphasis on Smart Growth includes redeveloping the areas between the center city and suburbs, called "first ring" neighborhoods, where infrastructure like streets and sewerage are already in place. The concept is called "in-fill development."

Last year, the Smart Growth Leadership Institute chose Baton Rouge for an audit of how its laws and codes compare to the tenets of Smart Growth.

Recommendations included:

• Creating incentives for "in-fill" development and to encourage use of Smart Growth concepts.
• Revising building and zoning codes to encourage the use of what is called "traditional neighborhood design," where homes are close to the street, neighbors are encouraged to walk and rely less on cars, and some commercial and other mixed use property are included in the development.
• Encouraging work centers and living centers to be close to one another, limiting the need for travel by auto. Developments that offer smaller, more affordable housing inside a larger project should get "density" bonuses to encourage such developments.
• Streamlining the permitting process to make it predictable for all developers.

Smart Growth also promotes connecting streets and creation of a hierarchy of transportation routes, while making roads safer for bikes and pedestrians. Connecting streets of one subdivision to another, however, continues to be a controversial issue when the topic comes before the East Baton Rouge Parish Planning Commission.

Councilman Martha Jane Tassin, who serves on the Planning Commission, said: "It is hard to find a compromise" when that issue arises in planning and zoning cases.

Liza Armshaw of the Southdowns area said street connectivity is one of the reasons her neighborhood is so attractive. The key is to not create streets that invite speeders to cut through neighborhoods.
"And we need more sidewalks," she added.

Kevin Thibodeaux, who lives in the Garden District, said he never understood why he liked his neighborhood so much until he realized it epitomized many of the concepts of Smart Growth.

Linda Pace of the Broadmoor Homeowners Association said taxpayers are now paying to build the roads and infrastructure that nourish urban sprawl, or the adding of more and more suburbs to an urban area.
"I see great potential for in-fill development" using Smart Growth concepts, Pace said.

Harvey Landry of the Monticello Civic Association said he was worried about what is called "gentrification," where older neighborhoods once abandoned by middle and upper classes and now home to the poor are renovated and property becomes too costly for the poor to continue to live in the area.

Architect Rex Cabiness said Smart Growth promotes mixtures of affordable housing in developments and is against gentrification.

The proponents offered to make presentation to different homeowner associations and other civic groups if there is interest.

Copyright 2004 Dolan Media Newswires