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Planning Department
About Us
The Planning Department is responsible for helping guide Kenner's physical development. We exercise responsibilities affecting the physical appearance of the City. That includes oversight of the Pattern for Progress comprehensive plan which establishes a vision statement, and recommendations to help lead and facilitate decision making on land use matters that directly affect the physical improvement of Kenner.
Our Department utilizes the implementation strategies of the comprehensive plan. These include providing recommendations and advice to the Mayor's Office, the City Council, the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Historic District Design Commission, the Board of Zoning Adjustments, the Kenner Tree Board, and to the public on land use, zoning, and other related matters.
The Planning Department's operational goal is to maintain a high quality of public service to the Kenner community through its four organizational divisions. That includes:
- Comprehensive Planning (i.e. Land use and Zoning)
- Geographic Information System (GIS, i.e. Mapping)
What is City Planning?
Furthering the welfare of people and their communities by creating convenient, equitable, healthful, efficient, and attractive environments for present and future generations.
Source: A Planner's Dictionary by the American Planning Association
Why Plan for a Community?
Planning helps guide growth and development in ways that are consistent with the community's values and aspirations.
Planning enables your community to develop a consensus vision for its future and to identify the most desirable paths for achieving that vision.
Planning helps direct development to existing areas to optimize the efficiency of existing infrastructure, reduce the costs (financially and environmentally) of creating new infrastructure, preserve natural areas and sensitive wetlands, and provide alternatives to conventional suburban sprawl.
Planning helps your community to draw upon its best traditions and heritage as well as to remedy - and avoid repeating - the mistakes of the past.
Planning helps guide development and redevelopment so that they contribute to the physical fabric of a community. A well-written comprehensive plan provides a basis for codes that address form and function at all scales - from the whole community down to individual buildings. This allows communities to ensure that even aesthetically unique projects draw from and contribute to the fabric of their neighborhood and respond to the needs of their community.
Planning provides predictability for developers, land owners, and citizens. By providing consistent guidance about where a community wants certain types of uses, planning provides clear information and criteria for proposed developments. This increases the consistency, fairness, and speed of the development review process.
Planning provides some assurance to landowners regarding what might be built on neighboring parcels and helps protect against undesirable types of new development.
Planning helps your community identify opportunities to act responsibly as a steward and consumer of environmental resources. And planning can help you address the complex issues of affordability and accessibility for all citizens.
Source: "Louisiana Speaks: Planning Toolkit" Planning and Zoning Commission