Even before Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans three years ago, a master plan was being developed for the future.

Eyewitness News

Mayor Ray Nagin and the city’s planning commission made that plan official Wednesday.

Nagin said that the development of the new master plan and comprehensive zoning ordinance will build on previous work done after Katrina.

The plan will focus on the physical development of the city and the policies and actions that drive the recovery.

The team now drafting the master plan also promises to create user friendly zoning regulations that encourage the private sector to invest in New Orleans.

Nagin answered criticism Wednesday that there's been too much planning in the past three years and not enough action.

“Money is the key driver in any recovery. If you do not have money, you can only talk, and you can only count on your citizens to roll up their sleeves and do what they can to get their neighborhoods back,” Nagin said. “It wasn't until this past February that real money started to flow into this city.”

New Orleans voters will go Nov. 4 to the polls to put the master plan in the city charter.   

But drafters admit that the consultants won't start writing the plan until February. The first public review won't come until April.

The city begins the public comment part of the planning with a citywide forum on Sep. 27 at Xavier University.

Mayor Ray Nagin says the plan will not cut out any current part of New Orleans.