(The Center Square) – Bossier city and parish governments propose to spend nearly $1 million of taxpayer funds for professional planning services to help them manage future growth and development.
While other areas of the state are shrinking, Bossier recorded slow but steady population growth, particularly around Haughton, north Bossier and Benton, according to recent statistical reports.
The Bossier City Council will consider the measure Thursday. The meeting will be held at 10 a.m. rather than its usual 3 p.m. time. The Bossier Police Jury, Metropolitan Planning Commission and city will each chip in $326,667 to fund the new comprehensive plan and updated unified development code.
The Center Square was unsuccessful prior to publication getting the mayor’s office or Planning Commission to provide additional details.
Halff Associates, a Texas-based infrastructure consulting firm with an office listed in Shreveport, is the city’s preferred choice. It’s unclear who made the selection.
Halff is tasked with providing recommendations for updating the city-parish’s land use policies and zoning regulations to reflect “preferred growth scenarios and increased infrastructure demands,” according to the contract, which names the Planning Commission as client.
The project will examine responsible growth, identifying land-use opportunities, strengthening the area’s economic base and protecting existing and future development.
It has been 13 years since the comprehensive plan was last updated. For example, the contract cites the need for an ordinance regulating short-term rentals.
To involve area residents impacted by these proposed changes, Bossier plans to use Franklin Associates to advertise community-wide meetings, surveys and other engagement opportunities through social media, websites and other media outreach tools, the contract states.
That input will be used to develop recommendations, according to the contract. They also plan to collaborate with an advisory committee, appointed by parish and city leaders, to provide “input, strategic direction and general oversight.”
The draft plan and updated unified development code are expected in 18 months to two years.
The Planning Commission manages land use, zoning and development by reviewing building plans, enforcing zoning regulations and issuing permits. It is jointly funded by the city and parish governments, and user fees from developers and applicants.
