The City of Natchitoches has officially adopted its Comprehensive Plan, in a unanimous council vote on Monday, February 26. Known as “Natchitoches Next,” the Comprehensive Plan is a document that will guide progress over the next decade for Natchitoches, Louisiana’s oldest permanent settlement. Tipton Associates and Ashe Broussard Weinzettle were engaged by the City in late 2021 with an eye on intentional growth. Over the next year and a half, the planning team worked closely with Mayor Ronnie Williams, Natchitoches Chamber of Commerce president Laura Lyles, and a steering committee representing all aspects of Natchitoches life, including education, healthcare, tourism, recreation, industry, local business, and economic development. Early on in the process, the committee determined that an economic development strategy would bolster future endeavors, thus a plan spearheaded by the Natchitoches Economic Development Alliance was developed in tandem by New Orleans-based firm DADCO.
The planning process was structured into monthly meetings in which stakeholders shared ideas, questions, enthusiasm, and support. “It was a very collaborative process,” said Mayor Williams.
Natchitoches Next addresses critical housing needs, safety and transportation improvements, street beautifications, and gateway entrances into the city. The plan celebrates the city’s many existing assets in education, healthcare, tourism, industry, and culture with recommendations that encourage partnership among these leading institutions and enhance quality of life for all residents of Natchitoches. “We could not be more excited about this plan and this opportunity,” said Chamber/NEDA president Laura Lyles. “It was a labor of love from so many people in this community. We learned how to work together as a team through this process. I think I can speak on behalf of the entire steering committee when I say we know how to work together now better than we ever have before. We learned how to break down silos and figure out how to put all our aces on the table to make the best hand for Natchitoches. We think this comprehensive plan is going to help us do that.”