Master plan advances, awaits Board action

The push for master plan in 2015 had tracks back to 2014, but 2015 was a break-out year to turn an idea to plan the city’s growth into reality.
In September, the Board of Aldermen approved a group to study the feasibility of a master plan. Fifteen members were named to the study group.
In their first meeting, the group named the Rev. Clinton Sensat, pastor of St. Thomas More Catholic Church, as chairman.
Development of a master plan has been urged by Don Reber, chairman of the Eunice Economic Development Committee, Reber has noted projected growth in southwest Louisiana and in St. Landry Parish demand a plan for the city for growth.
A master plan serves as a guide for public and private decision-makers regarding the future physical development, but may include social factors such as schools, neighborhoods and the population.
In July, the master plan push reached a peak with a meeting attended by about 50 people at City Hall. In a show of hands most of the people supported mapping put the city’s growth in a plan.
Presenters Don Reber, chairman of the Eunice Economic Development Committee; Bill Rodier, St. Landry Economic Development director; Bill Fontenot, parish president; and Sunset Mayor Charles James; made the case for planning.
Jack Burson, alderman at-large, has been something of a skeptic to the plan, particularly its cost, but he has voted for it at key points. At one point a pricetag of $95,000 was placed on a plan. The most recent proposal is for a plan costing $26,000 by the Acadiana Planning Commission.
Burson noted at the September meeting where appointments to a study group were made that discussions on a master plan have been spirited.
“I think some useful information came out in the discussion,” he said “We’ve got to take the next step, however, to get anywhere.”
Concrete action on a plan, if it happens, is poised for 2016.