Evening star., 1953-03-15
Planners Informed
i0fCitizens' Role in
New Orleans Growth
BY George Beveridee
Sfor SfoH Correspondent

BY George Beveridoe
Sfor Sfoff Correspondent
NEW ORLEANS. Mar. IA
group Of New Orleans citizens
moving in on professional PLAN
ners and politicians described to-
day how they are getting for the
first time a Step-by-step voice in
the way their city viii expand
and improve.
The citizens group has just
cleared its first hurdle. The re-
suits are impressing city plan
ners attending the annual con-
ference of the American Plan
ming and Civic Association here.
The group. headed by Wayne
Stof1le. an architect, and formed
little more than a year ago, is
filling a gap which exists in
many American cities, including
Washington. Here both the po-
itical leaders and the planning
technicianS say its essential.
Master Plan Is Key.
Behind the movement are two
dynamic city officials. Mayor De
Lesseps S. Morrison and Plan
ming Director Louis Bisso. Its
reason for existence is a master
city plan set up as a guide for
New Orleans development over
the next quarter of a century.
Washington's National Capital
Planning Commission adopted
such a plan in 1850.
In. late 1851. Mr.. Morrison
asked each Of II civic groups to
nominate two citizens to work
with the city planners on each
project as it came along. The
first thing thrown at the citizens
was one of the plans nastiest
jobs-a complete revision of the
city zoning ordinance.
Review All Proposals.
The first task. Mr.. Stofae said,
was to get familiar with the
technical jargon of the planners
and with specific aims Of the
long-range plan. After that,
using as a start a tentative
coming revision drawn up by
Mr.. Bissos' technicians, the citi-
zens went to work.
Operating alone and calling on
the planners only when they had
to, the citizens reviewed every
proposal and, Mr.. Stoff1e stressed,
differed with many. Ironing these
out. the citizens participated in
a series of 10 public hearings
set up for 10 sections of the
city. Now the revision is ready
for adoption. Any insoluble diff
ferences between the two would
have been reviewed by the City
Council.
The whole job took a year.
Wouldn't Be Rubber Stamp.
During that time, Mr.. Stoffle
said this group met for a three
hour session at least once a week.
The members acted throughout
as individual citizens not repre-
sentatives of the groups that
nominated them.
There were two really impor-
tant things we did," the archi-
tect said. "The first was to be
in on the planning from the be-
ginning. The second was to be
autonomous we made it clear
to everybody we wouldn't be a
rubber stamp"
One OF the main accomplish.
ments of the last year in the
view Of Mr.. Blisso is that some
Of the mysteries Of city plan
ming were filtered through to the
public.
His idea is that long-range
city planning can work only if
citizens join the professional
technlcianS and the government
leaders.
Plan Permanent Body.
mo two groups can do it" he
said. Without the politicians no
plan can be put into effect.
Without the citizens there is no
assurance the program will be
kept going after the politicians
leave office. Without he techni-
clans, it's just a case in city
improvement of the wheel that
squeaks the loudeSt getting the
grease"
Mr.. Stoffle said his group has
decided to organize as a perma-
nent body. To keep the member
ship active. it is asking organiza-
tions which nominated members
to replace any who miss three
consecutive weekly sessions.
With the zoning revision out
of the way the citizens soon will
begin to concentrate on another