Parish President's Advisory Committee on Permitting and Planning 5-21-2026

The Jefferson Parish President's Advisory Committee on Permitting and Planning convened on May 21, 2026, to review a draft report from BerryDunn consultants outlining recommendations for improving the parish's permitting and planning processes. Key procurement-related discussions focused on enhancing the customer portal functionality, developing submission guides, expanding GIS integration, establishing governance structures for system improvements, streamlining review processes, and improving communication strategies with applicants. The committee emphasized the importance of implementing these recommendations to improve efficiency and attract development, while also expressing concerns about staffing and budget resources to support the changes. The BerryDunn report is scheduled for presentation to the parish council in June 2026, and the committee plans to send a formal recommendation to the council supporting the report's adoption. Additionally, updates on the Unified Development Code (UDC) rewrite project, branded as JP Next, were provided, including stakeholder engagement and upcoming performance reporting. The committee agreed to meet next on November 5, 2026, with monthly email updates planned on implementation progress.