Thibodaux residents do more listening than talking at Louisiana Speaks forum

Although the initial conversation may have been limited to clarifying the process, the dialogue between Lafourche Parish residents, the Louisiana Recovery Authority and Louisiana Speaks is under way.

About 50 people attended the Louisiana Speaks forum Wednesday afternoon at the Thibodaux Civic Center to hear more about the long-term regional vision in the wake of the 2005 hurricane season.

Sponsored by the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce, the meeting is one of many scheduled for the area. The emphasis of the forums scheduled across the Gulf Coast is to encourage residents to complete the Louisiana Speaks survey.

Reaching the various communities affected by the storms promises to be the nation’s largest engagement process ever, said Joe DiStefano, senior associate at Calthorpe Associates, who served as guest speaker at Wednesday’s forum. Along with the Coastal Protection and Restoration Agency, officials with Louisiana Speaks intend to do just that, he said.

Wednesday marked the launch of the outreach phase.

An outline of the program and survey was inserted in many newspapers across southeast Louisiana, and a one-hour program aired on the Louisiana Public Broadcast Station. The TV program explained the regional planning process, and encouraged the public to voice its views.

According to LRA Coastal and Infrastructure Director Patrick Forbes, opinions shared at Louisiana Speaks sessions will benefit the region 20 to 30 years from now. He said by developing a comprehensive plan and long-time goals, the state will speak with one voice, which will move Louisiana in the right direction.

Having a collectively shared view of the state’s future is very critical, according to Houma attorney Daniel Walker, who represents the Morganza Action Coalition. Residents who’ve attended a Louisiana Speaks session, he said, could serve as ambassadors to engage others in the regional vision.

“The process is a long-range planning process for the 35 parishes in coastal Louisiana. The reason this is so important is because Louisiana doesn’t have a long-range plan in place as of right now. When we look at the issues and problems facing our area, they are almost overwhelming. This process is to get a collective effort and input to say, ‘This is what we feel like should guide our actions in the future,’” Walker said.

A shared voice is also essential because so many communities’ needs have changed post-Katrina/Rita, he said, and requests are, at times, contrary to previous requests.

“The purpose of the plan is to pull all those requests together and present a unified central long-range strategic plan for coastal Louisiana,” Walker continued.

The regional plan explores a number of issues facing the 35 parishes hit by the 2005 storms, including rebuilding houses and neighborhoods.

The LRA hired the Berkeley, Calif.-based Calthorpe Associates to gather and research the information and to continue progressing the regional vision, Forbes said. Internationally recognized for its leadership in urban design, community planning and regional growth strategies, the firm has nearly two decades’ experience in shaping growth and redevelopment areas, Forbes said. “These are forms that help reestablish a sense of place, scale, history and environmental balance within the built environment,” he noted.

DiStephano said southeast Louisiana has an opportunity and a number of choices to protect the coast and increase economic development.

“Louisiana Speaks is here to show the potential impact of choices A, B and C and help the community make informed choices. Southeast Louisiana has an opportunity to put choices like land use, coastal protection and restoration, and economic development together and make it work for its people,” he said.

Concerned resident Eddie Hebert asked the panel how this regional plan would directly affect the City of Thibodaux. In response, DiStephano outlined the potential choices that impact Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, including:

• Pursuing new opportunities in traditional industry sectors;

• Fostering knowledge-based businesses;

• Expanding trade and shipping;

• Attracting and retaining companies;

• Nurturing entrepreneurs and small companies;

• Expanding job-skills and vocational training;

• And strengthening colleges and universities.

Louisiana Speaks representatives will be in Houma at the Terrebonne Parish Library System Main Branch Wednesday at 4 p.m. For more information on Louisiana Speaks and the regional plan, call (888) 752-6205 or online at www.LouisianaSpeaks.org.