Louisiana Speaks

Download the Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan, Pattern Book, and Toolkit on the Louisiana Speaks Downloads page.

The Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan articulates visions and strategies for recovery and growth in South Louisiana. It is the result of 18 months of work facilitated by some of the top planners in Louisiana and the U.S., built upon and validated by the participation of more than 27,000 Louisianians. At the plan''s heart lies a desire to preserve and enhance our distinctive cultures and our quality of life.

What is "Louisiana Speaks"?
Louisiana is facing the largest recovery, redevelopment and planning effort in American history.

With support from the LRA Support Foundation, Louisiana Speaks is working with a team of top national and local experts through a long term community planning initiative.

Planning has been broken into four interlocking tracks: building planning, neighborhood planning, parish planning and regional planning.

To address building level safety and design, Louisiana Speaks has developed the Pattern Book and the Louisiana Land Use Toolkit (download those documents here). Over the coming years, thousands of homes and businesses will be rebuilt in South Louisiana. The architectural "Pattern Book" and planning "Took Kit" are resources for homeowners, builders and developers which include storm-safe techniques, sustainable design, and other innovative building technologies. Urban Design Associates worked with local developers, architects and planners to develop the Pattern Book, which is now available in hardware stores throughout the state.

Louisiana Land Use Toolkit    

The goal of this unique project, recommended in the Louisiana Speaks Regional Plan, is to provide local jurisdictions with an online source for model codes that will facilitate sustainable development and guide improved future outcomes. The Toolkit functions as a shared resource from which parishes and municipalities can adopt a complete development code or select cafeteria-style from individual tools that meet their specific needs.

For more information and to view the Draft Toolkit, click here.