
The need for a Resilient Housing Plan is dramatically revealed each hurricane season. Unfortunately, for communities that find themselves dealing with the aftermath of a destructive storm, making a plan can't wait for the next disaster. The motivation to help cities, counties and parishes produce a Resilient Housing Plan is apparent in the too often repeated situation of a municipality being unprepared for a disaster and thousands of people being left without the leadership, assurance and financial assistance that they need in the challenging work to repair and rebuild lost and damaged housing.
After securing a grant from Smart Home America funded by US EPA, Planning & Zoning has contracted the Louisiana-based consulting firm Desire Line, LLC to develop a Community Resilience Housing Plan. The goal of the Resilient Housing Plan can be simply explained in three statements: reduce damage and loss of current housing; effectively apply for, receive and use funding after a storm; and, improve planning and building standards for new and renovated housing to reduce damage and loss in future storms.

Utilizing a Conservation and Restoration Partnership Award from the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, St. John the Baptist Parish will plan, design, and restore Sunset Park to include rip rap for the first layer of shoreline protection, backfill bank stabilization, and the planting of native marshland plants to further stabilize the northern portion of the park.
The objectives of the restoration include:
- Restore 1.5 acres on the western side of Pass Manchac to include 650 linear feet of shoreline protection measures.
- Plant native tree, grass, and flowering species.
- Conduct public outreach with stakeholders, residents, local fishermen, and businesses.