Project Status 4: Scenario 3, Neighborhood Unit Development

Scenario 3 provides for new development to accommodate projected growth, as well as additional growth beyond current projections for housing, population, and employment. By focusing on neighborhoods as functional units, Jefferson Parish will promote sustainable neighborhoods, each of which accommodates a broad range of recreational, service, shopping, and residential needs, thereby providing alternatives to automobile dependency of residents. This scenario assumes that new development and redevelopment will compatibly integrate open spaces and neighborhood services and community facilities within each neighborhood. This scenario assumes a completely different development pattern for new development and redevelopment.

The neighborhood unit development scenario will introduce a new residential development pattern to Jefferson Parish. The neighborhood unit scenario represents a development guideline for new residential development. The neighborhood unit developments are intended to be walkable. They should have a strong pedestrian orientation both in street design and connections. Formal sidewalks and/or informal walking paths should be integrated into any street design based on street width, location and desired setting. Neighborhoods should contain a neighborhood core or center. What constitutes that core or center would be largely dependent on the size of the new neighborhood. These should include, at a minimum, some type of active public space, most notably a developed park or public plaza. Some type of institutional or civic use, such as a church, library, post office or school, is also strongly encouraged where appropriate. Additional parks and open space should be required based on some percentage of developable area.

Neighborhoods should contain a variety of lot sizes and building styles to promote economic diversity, affordability and an inclusive community. Blocks sizes should also vary in order to weave new development into the surrounding urban fabric. Building styles should also vary to promote affordability, allow for people of diverse incomes and encourage the continued practice of owner-occupied structures. Finally, neighborhoods should be connected to adjacent commercial areas (or within easy walking or driving distance. They should also be joined to commercial through intermediate scaled buildings.

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