Director's Biography

Eleanor Bouy, Director of Planning, Zoning and Codes

Originally from New Orleans, Eleanor L. Bouy first came to Lafayette in pursuit of her City Planning degree from the University of Louisiana - Lafayette (then USL). She also did post graduate studies at the University and traveled to Europe with the Foreign Study League. Beginning her career in private planning practice, she later chose the challenging arena of public planning with the City of Lafayette. Eleanor has held various planning and zoning positions throughout the years, becoming the Department Director in 2004.

Through her leadership, the Department has enjoyed many accomplishments. The State American Planning Association (APA) awarded the Department top honors for the Elmhurst Park Neighborhood Plan. In 2005, the Department received the Outstanding Planning Award from APA for the Louisiana Overlay District and Rezoning Plan. During this same time, post-hurricane recovery efforts took a large part of the staff's efforts and energy. Eleanor and her staff were called upon by the Louisiana Recovery Authority to assist in many venues and locations. In 2006, Eleanor was the recipient of the LEDA Commitment to Excellence Award for her service to new businesses.

Eleanor's other interests include historic preservation. She was the author of the City’s first Preservation Ordinance in 1988 and organized the original Preservation Commission. Eleanor remains a seated member of the Lafayette Preservation Alliance. Eleanor also serves on the Acadiana Section of the American Planning Association.

The Department of Planning, Zoning, and Codes is responsible for so many things. "Growth management, zoning, building code enforcement, and historic preservation don’t begin to describe what we do here every day – it is a lot- but never boring!" Eleanor says.