Our Projects
Image: 2045 Comprehensive Plan Cover featuring the adopted future land use map illustrating the complicated flood hazard profile of the Parish (left) and Planning Commission motion adopting the Plan (right).
TANGIPAHOA PARISH 2045 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN & CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN (CIP)
PROJECT LOCATION: Tangipahoa Parish, La
PROJECT COST: $199,000
PROJECT DATES OF ENGAGEMENT: 2022 - 2023
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: As a subconsultant to Villavaso & Associates, Desire Line performed more than 90% of the project scope, successfully drafting the 2045 Plan to guide development for the next 20 years, including Plan branding, steering committee management, public outreach and engagement, subconsultant coordination, financial management, and future land use and existing land use map updates. Outreach efforts included multiple digital surveys, a project website, 2 community meetings, 6 Steering Committee meetings, and tabling at local events. The Comprehensive Plan was adopted unanimously by the Planning Commission on November 7, 2023 (within 14 months of project kick-off), followed by a resolution of support unanimously approved by the Council on November 27, 2023 (Resolution No. 23-44.)
FIRM PERSONNEL INVOLVED: Alex Carter, AICP (Principal); Evelyn Campo, CFM (Senior Floodplain Manager); Walter “Eric” Lundin, CFM (Senior Planner); Sarah Bechdel (Planner II & Grants Analyst); Hannah Rachlis (Grants Analyst & Planner); Julia Marshall (Planner II & Designer); Mark Salvadore (Data, IT, and GIS Specialist)
PROJECT OWNER: Tangipahoa Parish Government
PROJECT REFERENCE: Tracie Schillace, CFM; Planning Director; 15485 W. Club Deluxe Rd, Hammond, La, 70403; P: 985-340-9028; E: tschillace@tangipahoa.org
DEMONSTRATED EXPERIENCE: (1) Demonstrated ability to manage changing land development patterns influenced by riverine and coastal compound flood risks; (2) ability to communicate these risks to the public and advance policies that reduce flood risk for current and future development; and (3) ability to develop detailed capital improvement plans that guide immediate plan implementation activities, including project costs, status, funding opportunities, and local entities responsible for next steps.
FEMA POST-DISASTER RECOVERY PLANNING AND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE ESTIMATES (SDE)
PROJECT LOCATION: Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana
PROJECT COST: $270,000
PROJECT DATES OF ENGAGEMENT: November 2021 – ongoing
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Desire Line completed 35,000 FEMA substantial damage determinations (or SDEs) in coordination with Terrebonne Parish Planning Department in fulfillment of minimum FEMA NFIP requirements in the wake of Hurricane Ida (2021), as well as documented recommended recovery programs, unmet needs, and potential sources of grant funding to support long-term recovery efforts. Desire Line utilized Survey123 and innovative in-house software to support expeditious and accurate completion of this work, which was highlighted by FEMA in an APA workshop in 2022 as the highest and best approach to conduct SDE recovery work.
After completing all SDEs in the Parish, Desire Line reviewed and issued over 1,000 recovery permits in less than 2 months. This was accomplished via an innovative, in-house Permit Support Tool that the Parish now continues to use to cut down on permit processing time. Desire Line continues to provide technical support to help ensure FEMA NFIP compliance for over 800 substantially damaged properties.
FIRM PERSONNEL INVOLVED: Alexandra Gelpi Carter, AICP, Program and Project Manager; Evelyn Campo, CFM, Floodplain Manager SME and Senior P lanner; Walter “Eric” Lundin, CFM, Floodplain Manager and Senior Grant Manager; Jared Carter as Senior Field Supervisor, Safety Manager, and Emergency Manager; Dr. Jessi Howard Kenney, Ph.D., Project Control Specialist and Public Health Specialist.
PROJECT OWNER: Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government
PROJECT REFERENCE: Christopher Pulaski, PLA, Parish Planning and Zoning Director, 7836 Park Avenue, Houma, Louisiana 70364; P: (985) 873-6569; E: cpulaski@tpcg.org
DEMONSTRATED EXPERIENCE: Ability to (1) lead, support, and innovate local recovery efforts in the wake of a disaster; (2) collect reliable and consistent disaster recovery data in support of assessing local unmet recovery needs; (3) work directly on behalf of a local agency in a state of emergency to address immediate recovery needs while comprehensively planning for needed CDBG-DR programs to address under-funded long-term recovery needs; (4) effectively differentiate and support alignment of FEMA and HUD agency goals and funding sources; (5) build local capacity to manage recovery efforts more efficiently in the long-erm; and (6) manage subcontractors and Desire Line staff efficiently within tight timeframes and within budget.
Image: Field data collection areas prioritized and assigned to Teams.
Project #3
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Future Projects
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