A master plan, sometimes called a comprehensive plan, sets out a strategic framework for making decisions about the long-term physical development of a community. When complete and adopted, the Shreveport-Caddo 2030 Plan will define a vision for the future linked to overall goals and policies, and will contain strategies and action items for achieving the goals. Like one’s own life goals, a master plan usually has a longer term horizon – twenty years or more.  It also usually includes shorter term steps or actions to be taken towards achieving the longer term vision.  Master plans tend to be updated every 5-10 years, to re-set the course as situations change or new opportunities present themselves.

During the Great Expectations Shreveport-Caddo 2030 planning process, residents and others with a stake in Shreveport’s future will have many opportunities to articulate and review community values through public discussion, create a vision for the kind of place they want for their children and grandchildren, and identify the key areas where the city must act – both to preserve enduring character and to shape change so that our vision for Shreveport’s future can be achieved. Shreveport- Caddo 2030 will...

• •  Provide policy and strategic guidance on the physical development and redevelopment of the Shreveport area
• •  Guide the city to actively seek positive change and deflect negative change, rather than simply react after change has occurred.
• •  Provide predictability for developers, businesses and residents.
• •  Help the city save money because it plans for orderly investment in services, facilities and infrastructure.
• •  Enable the city and parish to be more competitive in attracting state and federal grant funds.
• •  Help Shreveport – Caddo preserve and enhance the sense of place and identity that makes it unique. 

Frequently asked questions 

WHAT IS THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA COVERED BY THE SHREVEPORT CADDO 2030 MASTER PLAN? 

The area includes all of the City of Shreveport and those portions of Caddo Parish that fall within the yellow and green areas in the map below. (Click on the map to open a larger view of the planning area)

WHAT WILL BE IN THE SHREVEPORT–CADDO 2030 MASTER PLAN? 

A shared community-wide vision and goals.  Through the survey, Great Expectations Visioning Forum, public workshops and open houses, Shreveporters from every neighborhood and every livelihood will discuss and develop the elements of a vision for the future linked to the goals they want to achieve for the community.

Citywide development and redevelopment strategies covering: downtown and the riverfront, housing and revitalizing neighborhoods, landscape and natural resources, historic resources, culture and arts, neighborhood and district commercial areas, transportation and circulation, green infrastructure (parks, trails, natural areas), public facilities, services and infrastructure (water and sewer). In addition the plan’s foundation will build from strategies for growing economic base industries and reinforcing the building blocks of the community’s economy. Finally, all strategies will be informed by fiscal analysis of the public costs of alternative development patterns.

Incentive-based strategies for managing development that encourage investment, build value and promote quality of life. 

Alternative scenarios for future development and redevelopment patterns. What will happen over the next generation if current trends continue? What if the pace of development or redevelopment is faster or slower? Where should future development go, if it is to optimize the community’s desired future? What are the alternatives? Researched-backed scenarios will provide a foundation for discussions about the future.

HOW WILL WE MAKE SURE THIS PLAN IS A SUCCESS? 

Shreveport- Caddo last created a master plan in 1957 and has succeeded in accomplishing most of the recommended policies in the plan. The community’s extensive network of roads and streets is a visible achievement that underpinned generations of prosperity in an era of growth. It is time for a new master plan that reflects contemporary challenges, opportunities and civic climates.  The Shreveport-Caddo 2030 Master Plan process will feature:

Participation.  The 2030 Master Plan will be based on extensive community participation and dialogue.  A public opinion survey, Visioning Forum, public workshops, special area workshops, and numerous other opportunities will enable hundreds – even thousands – of people to participate in and monitor the planning process.

Transparency. Plans that move successfully into implementation enjoy public trust and confidence and reflect the contributions of many, many voices.  All meetings for Shreveport Caddo 2030 are open to the public, all presentations, interim reports, meeting notes and draft materials will be posted on the website.

Visualization.  Maps, illustrations, photographs and other graphics will help Shreveporters to understand the choices they face in planning for the future.

New approaches and alternatives. The planning consultants will bring to the community a range of new approaches being used around the country as well as alternative scenarios for Shreveport-Caddo’s future so that Shreveporters can decide what fits with their vision for the community’s future.

Most effort on the hardest questions. The city and parish already do many things well. Shreveport-Caddo 2030 will cover all plan elements typically included in a comprehensive master plan, but the most effort and attention will be focused on issues which need greatest planning attention.

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.

WHEN WILL THE SHREVEPORT-CADDO 2030 MASTER PLAN BE FINISHED? 

A draft plan will be ready in the summer of 2010 and then go through public review and revision. Final adoption of the plan is expected in Fall 2010.

HOW DOES THE MASTER PLAN BECOME OFFICIAL? WHO ADOPTS IT?
The Metropolitan Planning Commission of Shreveport and Caddo Parish (MPC) is sponsoring the planning process for the area of the MPC’s zoning jurisdiction on behalf of both the City of Shreveport and Caddo Parish. When the plan is complete and approved, MPC will recommend its adoption by the two legislative bodies, the Shreveport City Council and the Caddo Parish Commission.  

HOW WILL THE MASTER PLAN BE IMPLEMENTED? 

Once adopted, the Master Plan will be an official city and parish document. It will contain policies, strategies and actions that will guide city and parish government policies and practices. However, government alone is only a part of the implementation process. The process of creating the Master Plan with extensive public participation is intended to lead to partnerships involving other key agencies and community organizations involved in economic and community development, housing, human services, neighborhood revitalization, environmental conservation and other aspects of quality of life.  Everyone who lives in and cares about Shreveport-Caddo will have a role in implementing the Master Plan. 

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED? 

Click here for details.

About the consultant team 

Goody Clancy Associates – Team leader, project management

Goody Clancy is an architecture, planning, urban design and preservation firm with a national practice and strong reputation for expertise in public participation and consensus building as well as its capabilities in technical planning. An interdisciplinary team of experienced planners, urban designers, architects and graphic designers staffs comprise the planning and urban design group. Goody Clancy is committed to collaborative planning based on an interactive dialogue with community members and is known for achieving successful outcomes in complex planning environments with multiple stakeholders.

Ron Thomas & Company – visionary engagement

Ron Thomas, AICP has provided the public planning field with over three decades of leadership and innovation focused on sustainability, quality of life, and land use integration from the neighborhood to regional levels. The foundation of his work is founded in vision-driven planning, organizing, facilitating, and managing the inclusive engagement of all sectors of society and community, and is supported by leading-edge technology and communication media.

JaLi'Ve - local coordination

JaLi'Ve is a public relations firm in Shreveport whose role on the team is coordination of local outreach for the Visioning Forum on Saturday, August 22nd.

Franklin Industries – public communications/media

Franklin Industries provides specialized community outreach services to reach wide audiences, including segments of the population not typically reached by traditional media approaches. The firm is skilled in communication and media outreach to specific communities and working with local organizations to create community involvement opportunities for a broad range of stakeholders.

TischlerBise – fiscal analysis

TischlerBise is a fiscal, economic and planning consulting firm with over 25 years experience conducting fiscal impact analyses, developing fiscal and economic models, and preparing impact fee studies for local governments throughout the U.S. TischlerBise has prepared more fiscal impact analyses and fiscal impact applications than any other firm in the country.

Mt Auburn Associates - economic development

Mt. Auburn has worked with scores of urban and rural communities across the country on economic development planning efforts involving workforce and small business development, commercial revitalization, higher education/community partnerships, and arts and cultural development. The firm’s work at the state, regional, and local levels has given it an in-depth understanding of both the dynamics of regional development and the way in which communities function economically within a larger regional context.

W-ZHA - real estate development

W-ZHA has extensive experience in public/private development processes and in creating effective redevelopment strategies. Strong emphasis is placed on translating redevelopment ideas into achievable development projects with the roles of all involved parties clearly defined. Municipalities, redevelopment authorities and private developers have retained W-ZHA staff to create and/or evaluate development opportunities and to identify the appropriate role of the public, private and non-profit sectors.

Kimley-Horn – transportation

Kimley-Horn offers comprehensive transportation planning and engineering services with knowledge of critical planning elements such as public participation, community visioning, regulatory and policy planning, entitlements, land use scenario planning, implementation strategies, cultural and natural resources, and intergovernmental coordination. The firm’s wide range of experience includes comprehensive plans, land development controls and design standards, and master planning for various public clients involving far-reaching municipal issues.

J-Quad – housing

J-Quad provides planning services to assist municipalities with comprehensive and master planning efforts that help direct growth and revitalization opportunities. J-Quad provides research services on a variety of housing issues to clients within larger planning contexts, identifying best practices to provide programmatic targets and as the base for benchmarking efforts.

Neil Erwin Law – land use and regulations

Attorney Neil Erwin has provided a wide variety of zoning and land use regulation legal services for local governments on a regular and outsourced basis for over 30 years. His regulatory practice includes experience in representing governments, large businesses and neighborhood associations, resulting in a unique perspective and understanding of the aims and concerns of different sides.

Providence Engineering – stet

The Providence Planning Group, comprised of certified planners, certified floodplain managers and project management professionals provides a wide range of expertise in urban and regional planning. The firm’s team of water quality specialists has over 70 years of cumulative water/wastewater regulatory experience with capabilities that include regulatory permitting and compliance, treatment system engineering and design and related ecological assessments.

ETC Institute - public opinion survey

ETC Institute specializes in the design and administration of market research for governmental organizations, including community and strategic planning surveys, focus groups, and stakeholder interviews. ETC Institute is a woman-owned company and since 1982 has conducted research for more major U.S. cities than any other firm including projects for over 700 communities in 46 states.