Council approves Old Town ‘plan of development’ and forms Lafayette Downtown Development Authority

The Lafayette City Council on Feb. 18 approved the Lafayette Downtown Development Authority’s plan of development — a document the meeting called the Old Town Tomorrow Action Plan — formally setting the DDA’s guiding menu of projects and enabling the district to begin establishing its tax‑increment financing base.

Background: Voters in November approved the formation of a downtown development authority and the use of tax‑increment financing (TIF) for that district. The DDA is a quasi‑governmental entity similar to the city’s prior Lafayette Urban Renewal Authority (LURA); it can capture incremental sales and property tax collections inside a defined boundary and reinvest them into district projects.

Plan highlights: Economic development director Bridget Keating said the action plan groups the Old Town area into six character areas and identifies six priority topics for the DDA: small‑business support and retention; land‑use and character; marketing and activation; connectivity and infrastructure; public space and place‑keeping; and creativity and culture. Examples of potential DDA activities included anti‑displacement tools for small businesses, partnerships for affordable pathways to ownership, gateway and streetscape enhancements, adaptive reuse of underused sites and coordinated marketing and events.

Why it matters: Approving the plan of development establishes the DDA’s policy framework and, when the council formally sets the TIF base, will allow the district to capture incremental tax revenues to finance projects and programs. Keating said the plan “is a collaborative action plan that looks to implement the work that the city has already done” through the comprehensive plan and other adopted strategies.

Board recruitment and next steps: Keating said the city conducted a recruitment process for the DDA board and will forward mayoral appointments to council in a future meeting; the DDA is expected to hold an initial meeting in April. The plan was reviewed by the planning commission, which recommended approval. Council approved the plan by roll‑call vote; the motion was recorded as Resolution 2025‑14.

Council comment: Council members praised the outreach and emphasized the DDA should coordinate closely with city departments and community groups to ensure projects align with adopted policy and neighborhood goals.

Outcome and timing: With council approval of the plan of development, the city will set the TIF base and the DDA can begin evaluating and financing approved projects, subject to board decisions and contract processes.