Ascension Parish, Louisiana

Feasibility Study and Transportation Impact Fee Study
   

Ascension Parish is located to the southeast of Baton Rouge, and is bisected by I-10, which leads to New Orleans. The parish seat of Donaldsonville is located west of the Mississippi River, while the other two cities and most of the growth is occurring on the other side of the River. There are no bridges over the Mississippi within the parish, although there is one just to the south in St. James Parish. The Parish retained Duncan Associates in 2005 to conduct a feasibility study to determine if impact fees were a legal and practical option. The study concluded that the Parish had the authority under its home rule charter to impose

impact fees, and that transportation, parks and law enforcement impact fees would make the most sense. Impact fees for schools, libraries and fire protection facilities were not recommended. The Parish decided to proceed with transportation impact fees. The firm prepared the study and a draft ordinance in July 2005, and began working with a stakeholders group along with attorney Charles Landry. Ultimately, the vote to enact the impact fee ordinance was narrowly defeated in the Parish Council.