2025 Donaldsonville Master Plan
The 2025 Donaldsonville Master Plan
Abstract
In the fall of 2025, Donaldsonville, Louisiana, is embracing a future as promising as its distant, early past; as it is in the crosshairs of one of the largest, enhanced, strategically-planned, industrial development sites in North America; the otherwise sleepy, historic river town is poised for a precipitous return to growth and prosperity. Converging national industries, leveraging generous state and local tax credits, promised infrastructure improvements, tariff incentives, clean energy credits and a favored, geocentric position on a bustling Mississippi River Corridor, are bringing billions in new investment into the seat of parish government with the construction of multiple ammonia, steel, battery and advanced manufacturing plants, spawning opportunities for economic growth, population increases and an improved quality of life for the region. Anticipating these trends, city leaders commissioned a random, quality of life survey focusing on selected community indicators, with full importance and satisfaction considerations, resulting in a deliberate ranking of citizen preferences. The following master plan and its targeted recommendations, speak directly to these genuine, significant, citizen concerns.
The Strategic Planning Committee
The planning process began with the input of the 15-member Strategic Planning Committee convened by Mayor Leroy Sullivan on August 21, 2025. The committee produced a number of concerns that were recorded and the mayor selected from them the indicators put into the Quality of Life Survey for citizen input.
The citizen-driven master plan emphasizes quality of life concerns cumulated via scientific survey community engagement, and leverages existing assets to imagine and create a future Donaldsonville community that entails the hopes and aspirations of its taxpaying residents; which will in turn spur an improved quality of life and new business and residential growth and development, as well as the increased tax revenues they manifest.
In order of perceived importance, the survey results defined the citizenry’s chief concerns.
Quality of Life is defined as “The gap between what you want and what you have.”
Survey Results
Issues Ranked by Citizen Importance via Quality of Life Survey, Followed by Satisfaction ratings (both out of ten)
And the gap (QOL) between the two
Citizens polled ranked ten indicators in order of importance:
1) Beautification
9.79 Importance
5.95 Satisfaction
4.74. QOL Gap #2 - Outlier
2) Blight
9.77 Importance
4.38 Satisfaction
5.39 QOL Gap #1 - Outlier
3) New Business 9.69 Importance
5.33 Satisfaction
4.36 QOL Gap
4) Public Transportation
9.66 Importance
5.33 Satisfaction
4.33 QOL Gap
5) Job Market
9.27 Importance
5.11 Satisfaction
4.16 QOL Gap
6) History
8.97 Importance
5.66 Satisfaction
3.31 QOL Gap
7) Flood Control
8.55 Importance
6.55 Satisfaction
2.00 QOL Gap - Lowest
8) Housing.
8.47 Importance
4.27 Satisfaction
4.2 QOL Gap
9) Commute Times
8.33 Importance
6.33 Satisfaction
2.00 QOL Gap - Lowest
10) Homeless Shelter
7.69 Importance
4.52 Satisfaction
3.17 QOL Gap
___________________
Comments on The Survey Results
Topping the Importance List are 1) Beautification and 2) Blight. These two indicators also possess the top two QOL gap scores, meaning there is distance to be covered regarding what Donaldsonville citizens want with respect to what they currently have in the beautification of the city and the waning condition of its many blighted and unkempt properties.
Ending blight lends to the beautification of Donaldsonville. The two are deeply inter-related.
The clamor for new businesses came in at #3 on the importance list, followed by public transportation at #4.
Traffic and commute times are not yet a problem in Donaldsonville.
Conclusions
Donaldsonville’s best attributes are that it is a small community with a slower pace of life and has less crime than its urban neighbors on each end of Interstate Ten. While it lacks amenities that these big cities possess, if it can clean up its blighted homes, cluttered streets and unkempt properties, it will give itself a chance to succeed, as billions of dollars of investment await. The city must put its best foot forward to capture its fair share of the impending bounty.
The upper level managers and operators of these industrial firms being built in Modeste will consider Donaldsonville as their home. It is up to city leaders to act—and to entice new businesses, residents and dollars. This can only be achieved through action. This plan must be worked for the city to prosper going forward—as it is the will of the people.
In late August, Mayor Leroy Sullivan convened the Strategic Planning Committee—15 business, government and community members selected for their leadership capacities. During that three-hour exploratory meeting, there was frank discussion regarding the future of Donaldsonville. Participants stated the city’s image needed a “rebranding,” and it was evident there is much shared community pride for the city and its close-knit neighbors. Notably, citizens imagined a much cleaner, brighter and better Donaldsonville.
City leaders have an opportunity to position Donaldsonville for future successes. Massive investment is imminent next door. Donaldsonville must embrace the makeover and the coming flow of money. Making the city open for business should be the paramount goal of the municipality, as prospectors will be sure to find Donaldsonville and its many investment opportunities.
By focusing on these recommendations and embracing a collaborative approach, the City of Donaldsonville can build a strong foundation for sustainable growth, create a vibrant and welcoming community, and improve the quality of life for its residents.
Attracting new human capital and businesses brings to Donaldsonville ideas, amenities, possibilities and importantly— hope—that firm belief that if the people’s intentions and their plans are respected and followed, better days are certain—for everyone; as a rising tide lifts all boats.
About the Planner:
Chris E. Warner holds an urban planning doctorate from the University of New Orleans College of Urban and Public Affairs, operating under the late, founding Dean, Dr. Fritz Wagner. A former high school instructor, college professor and published author, Chris taught at Southern University in Baton Rouge and the United States Coast Guard College in Mobile, Alabama, before engaging his expertise in Quality of Life Issues via consulting roles across the gulf coast, improving livability in small-town communities through Citizen-Driven Municipal Planning. Chris, a New Iberia native, moved to Donaldsonville’s Historic District in March 2023, returning to his South Louisiana roots.
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