Report on St. Tammany Parish’s Coastal Resilience Zoning and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

In May, the St. Tammany Parish Council unanimously passed a new ordinance establishing a “coastal resilience” zoning area to mitigate flood risks. This legislative action represents a significant step towards aligning local development practices with key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The ordinance, which emerged from a study on land use and flood vulnerability, has garnered support from diverse stakeholders but also raised concerns from the homebuilding industry regarding housing affordability, highlighting the complex balance required to achieve comprehensive sustainability.

Legislative Action and Provisions

The new regulations were prompted by a study commissioned from the planning company Desire Line, which identified significant environmental risks in the parish’s low-lying coastal areas. The study’s findings underscored the urgency for policy intervention to protect communities and infrastructure.

Key Findings from the Desire Line Study

• Significant flood risks from Lake Pontchartrain and local rivers.
• A majority of the area is located within a FEMA-designated flood zone.
• Approximately one-third of the parish’s repetitive loss structures are concentrated in this area.
• Inadequate infrastructure and the prevalence of slab-foundation homes built on fill contribute to flood risk.

Ordinance Provisions: Resilience Overlay District One

The ordinance, now in effect for the area south of Highway 190, establishes new building requirements aimed at creating resilient infrastructure in line with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). The primary provisions include:

1. A mandate for new homes to be constructed 3 feet above the base flood elevation level.
2. A general prohibition on the use of dirt fill for elevating homes.
3. Restrictions on the storage of large equipment in the designated zone.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The parish’s new zoning strategy directly addresses several SDGs, positioning the community to better withstand environmental and economic shocks.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The ordinance is a direct implementation of Target 11.5, which aims to reduce economic losses and protect vulnerable populations from water-related disasters. By mandating more resilient construction, the parish is actively working to create safer and more sustainable human settlements.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The policy serves as a critical climate adaptation measure (Target 13.1) by strengthening the region’s resilience to climate-related hazards like increased flooding and severe weather events.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The initial ordinance received support from an unusual coalition of environmental advocates and development representatives, demonstrating the potential for multi-stakeholder partnerships to advance sustainable policy.

Stakeholder Perspectives and Economic Implications

The debate surrounding the new zoning highlights a central challenge in sustainable development: balancing environmental protection with economic viability and social equity.

Support for Resilient Development

• Proponents, including council members and environmentalists, argue that the long-term benefits of reduced flood damage, lower insurance premiums, and higher property resale values outweigh the initial construction costs.
• This position is supported by a Louisiana State University study indicating a significant net financial benefit for elevated homes, reinforcing the economic case for resilient building practices under SDG 11.
• The administration of Parish President Mike Cooper supports the measures for their potential to improve the community’s rating in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which would lower flood insurance costs for all homeowners.

Concerns Regarding Housing Affordability

• The Northshore Homebuilders Association (NHBA) has expressed concern that the increased restrictions will raise construction costs, potentially impacting housing availability and affordability.
• This concern touches upon SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 11, as ensuring access to safe and affordable housing is a critical component of sustainable communities. The challenge lies in implementing resilience measures that do not disproportionately burden lower-income households.

Conclusion and Future Actions

The St. Tammany Parish coastal resilience ordinance is a forward-thinking policy that strongly aligns with global sustainability frameworks. It prioritizes long-term community safety and climate adaptation. However, ongoing dialogue is necessary to address the valid concerns about housing affordability, ensuring a just transition towards a more resilient future. The Parish Council is set to consider expanding these regulations to a second, less restrictive zone in August, which will continue the critical conversation about balancing growth, safety, and sustainability.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The article focuses on urban planning and development in St. Tammany Parish, a human settlement. It discusses new zoning ordinances and building requirements aimed at making the community safer, more resilient, and sustainable in the face of environmental challenges like flooding. The central theme is the effort to “balance growth with residents’ concerns about infrastructure.”

SDG 13: Climate Action

• The article directly addresses adaptation to climate-related hazards. The new building requirements are a response to “coastal areas prone to flooding,” a natural disaster exacerbated by climate change. The ordinance itself is named a “coastal resilience” zoning area, highlighting its purpose to strengthen the community’s ability to cope with climate impacts. The goal is to “reverse the tide, so-to-speak, on flooding problems.”

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

• The discussion revolves around building more resilient infrastructure, specifically housing. The ordinance introduces innovative building requirements (“new homes to be built 3 feet above the base flood elevation level”) to upgrade construction practices. This reflects a move towards developing “quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure” to protect human well-being.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

1. Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services.
   • The article highlights the tension between creating “safe” housing that is resilient to floods and ensuring it remains “affordable.” Homebuilders express concerns that the new regulations could impact “housing availability and affordability,” which is a central component of this target.
2. Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses… caused by disasters, including water-related disasters.
   • The primary motivation for the new ordinance is to mitigate the impact of flooding. The article notes that a study found “about a third of the parish’s repetitive loss structures… were concentrated in that area,” indicating a focus on reducing direct economic losses for homeowners. The entire initiative supports the goal of “reducing flood risk and protecting property.”
3. Target 11.b: By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards… adaptation to climate change, disaster risk reduction.
   • The article is a case study of a local government, the St. Tammany Parish Council, adopting and implementing an integrated policy—the “coastal resilience” zoning ordinance—for disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation.

SDG 13: Climate Action

1. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • The ordinance is explicitly designed to strengthen resilience. The article describes the creation of a “‘coastal resilience’ zoning area” and quotes officials who support “resilient and sustainable construction practices” to combat the effects of flooding.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

1. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.
   • The new regulations, which require “more resilient housing construction,” are a direct effort to improve the quality and resilience of housing infrastructure. The debate with homebuilders over costs also reflects the challenge of ensuring “affordable and equitable access” while implementing these higher standards.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicators for SDG 11

• Housing Affordability: The article explicitly mentions the concern that new rules will impact “the affordability of homes.” Progress could be measured by tracking housing costs and availability in the new zoning areas.
• Number of Repetitive Loss Structures: The article mentions that a study identified that “about a third of the parish’s repetitive loss structures” are in the affected area. A reduction in this number would be a direct indicator of progress in reducing economic losses from disasters (Target 11.5).
• Flood Insurance Costs: The article states that a benefit of the new rules is “lower insurance rates” and that the parish aims to improve its FEMA rating to “lessen flood insurance costs for our homeowners.” Tracking changes in flood insurance premiums for residents would serve as a key indicator.
• Adoption of a Local Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy: The unanimous passage of the “ordinance creating new building requirements in coastal areas” is itself an indicator of implementing a local disaster risk reduction plan (Target 11.b).

Indicators for SDG 13

• Implementation of a Local Climate Adaptation Strategy: The establishment of the “‘coastal resilience’ zoning area” and its specific requirements serve as a direct indicator of a local government implementing a strategy to strengthen resilience to climate-related hazards (Target 13.1).

Indicators for SDG 9

• Specific Resilience Standards for New Construction: The requirement that “new homes to be built 3 feet above the base flood elevation level” is a specific, measurable technical standard that indicates an improvement in the resilience of new infrastructure (Target 9.1).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nola.com