St. Tammany Parish residents came out en masse to Northshore High School in Slidell in early April for the kickoff LA SAFE meeting. Attendees shared their concerns for increased coastal flood risks in communities like Avery Estates and Eden Isle, and other residents offered input on increased riverine flooding hazards experienced in March and August of 2016. St. Tammany Parish residents stressed the value they place on the quality of life, including education and living near the water. Residents also noted the need for improving drainage, implementing smart growth strategies and regulating development, and promoting economic development and creating job opportunities.

Meeting Summary Packet

In early June, St. Tammany residents attended three Round 2 community meetings in Slidell, Covington and Mandeville, and offered additional input on community adaptation in the context of a changing environment over 10, 25, and 50 year intervals. Residents stressed the importance of enhancing stormwater management and preserving the quality of life in St. Tammany, while noting the need for minimizing development in high risk coastal areas but still promoting access and recreational activities. Residents also noted challenges for development in low and medium risk areas around traffic congestion, and offered ideas for bus services, passenger rail, or creating more remote working opportunities to reduce commuter traffic.

Meeting Summary Packet 

The latest Round 3 parish-wide meeting was held at Lakeshore High School in Mandeville, which was utilized as a centrally located gathering space in a growing part of the parish. St. Tammany residents offered input on their vision for the future of St. Tammany Parish, expressing support for complete streets and public transit options and voicing interest in seeing job opportunities around alternative energy.Residents noted that regulating development in flood-prone areas was very important, indicating that incentivizing rainwater harvesting at the residential level and green street concepts would help reduce stormwater management challenges. St. Tammany voted on preferences for housing and community development strategies, expressing interest in two to three story medium density housing within walkable communities close to amenities like public transportation and greenspaces as an ideal typology.

Meeting Summary Packet

ROUND 4: COMMUNITY MEETINGS

In this fourth round of engagement, residents had the opportunity to review and provide feedback on the draft strategies developed by the LA SAFE team after several rounds of collaborative meetings over the course of the year. These draft strategies were presented in a variety of settings included focused discussions with participants from previous meetings, including public and elected officials; casual open-house gatherings; and table presentations at local festivals and other public spaces. The planning team has taken these final suggestions into consideration as they completed the design of the potential adaptation strategies for each parish that addresses challenges and opportunities unique to that parish.

Meeting Summary Packet

ROUND 5: COMMUNITY MEETINGS

In this fifth round of engagement, residents had the opportunity to offer their preference on the final product of our collaboration together, learn more about what is next for their parish’s adaptation strategy and celebrate everyone’s hard work with music, art, food and other staples of your parish’s diverse culture.

During our fifth and final round of meetings, residents also had the opportunity to rank their favorite projects that have come as a result of our work together. Preferences provided by parish residents will be a key component in determining which catalytic project or program will be implemented in your parish.

St. Tammany Parish Pilot Project Boards

Meeting Summary Packet