City of Central Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Nathan Gaspard, (318) 445-2825
Date: August 28, 2008

City of Central and Moore Planning Group Honored for Overlay Development Plan

The City of Central and Moore Planning Group, LLC were honored by the Louisiana Municipal Association for the City of Central Overlay Development Plan, which will steer development in the state’s newest city. 

The smart growth plan, designed by Moore Planning Group, received a Community Achievement Award at the 71st Annual Louisiana Municipal Association (LMA) Awards Banquet August 9 at the Cajundome Conference Center in Lafayette. The event honors the work of elected officials, planners and others as they work to improve the citizen services, community life and local economies of Louisiana’s towns and cities.

As Louisiana’s newest incorporated municipality, Central faced daunting challenges - managing growth in a hot real estate market while taking on basic services for 27,000 residents across 66 square miles. A community with a great pride in its quality of life and rural character, Central needed a way to encourage positive new development while simultaneously expanding its infrastructure capacity, including water, sewer, drainage and transportation.

Led by Moore Planning Group, the Central Overlay Development Plan used a GIS-based approach to differentiate areas with sufficient infrastructure capacity and those without. Extensive feedback from Central’s residents was also incorporated into the plan. The process enabled Central officials to develop a comprehensive, Smart Growth strategy that ensures both sustainability and fiscal management.

“As a brand new city, we know we have one chance to do this,” says Mayor Mac Watts. “I don’t want folks to drive in to Central and the first thing they see be concrete. We want to do this right. We are very excited -- Moore Planning Group has been great to work with.”

The Overlay Development Plan was initiated in December 2006 and completed in November 2007. Moore Planning Group is currently overseeing the creation of the City of Central’s interim land use plan, which will set land use patterns and establish zoning guidelines.

Renderings of the Overlay Development Plan are available in electronic format.

In its 26-year tenure, the award-winning Moore Planning Group has created designs and community master plans for dozens of private clients, cities, towns and expansive rural areas. Since 2003, MPG has designed plans for Alexandria, Pineville, Lake Charles, Crowley, Central, Plaquemine, Avoyelles Parish, Iberville Parish and others and has helped clients secure more than $50 million in funds for implementation.

For more information, please call (318) 445-2825 or visit www.mooreplanninggroup.com.