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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

City Planning Commission Meeting, June 9, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, June 9, 2026
BodyNew Orleans, Louisiana
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, June 9, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:56:18

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
13:23

Mm.

16:46

Mais Good afternoon, everyone.

29:07

We're going to just start here in hopefully two minutes.

30:24

Good afternoon, and welcome to today's City Planning Commission Tuesday, June 9th.

30:31

We have updated software, but we don't have logins yet.

30:34

So we're going to have to um call vote by name.

30:46

Commissioner Pochet.

30:49

Commissioner Kepper.

30:50

Here.

30:50

Commissioner Abear.

30:52

Commissioner Flick.

30:53

Present.

30:56

Commissioner Jordan.

30:57

Present.

30:57

Commissioner Steag.

30:58

Here.

30:59

Perfect.

31:00

We have a full house today.

31:01

Welcome everyone.

31:03

I'm going to go ahead and read um the formal public hearing rules.

31:08

The city planning commission has established third rules governing the procedures to be followed at public hearings before speaking.

31:41

Each speaker will be allowed a maximum of two minutes.

31:43

Opponents will not be allowed to rebut.

31:46

No material, written matter, photographs, maps will be accepted by the commission or its staff at any time during this public hearing.

31:53

This procedure shall be followed except at such time when the presiding officer shall, with the approval of the commission members, extend such time.

32:03

Our first order of business is to adopt the meeting minutes from May 26th.

32:10

I'll make a motion to adopt a May 26th meeting minutes.

32:14

Thank you, Commissioner Jordan.

32:15

Is there a second?

32:16

Commissioner Flickle second.

32:17

Thank you, Commissioner Flick for making the second.

32:20

Any discussion, Commissioners?

32:23

If not, um, let's go ahead and vote.

32:26

Um, Commissioner Steek.

32:27

Yes.

32:28

Commissioner Jordan.

32:29

Yes.

32:30

Commissioner Whitry, yes.

32:31

Commissioner Flick, yes.

32:32

Commissioner Josie Gupta, Commissioner Abear, yes.

32:35

Commissioner Kepper, yes.

32:36

Commissioner Pochet?

32:38

Yes.

32:38

Commissioner Jackson.

32:39

Yes.

32:40

Alright, the meeting minutes have been approved from May 26.

32:43

The first um zoning docket is 050-26.

32:52

Zoning Docket 5026 is a request for a zoning change from an H U R D1 historic urban too family residential district to an H U R M1 multi-family residential district and a conditional use to permit a principal bed and breakfast.

33:06

Yeah.

33:06

This is a change from the original zoning request, which was to an H U B1A, historic urban neighborhood business district, as the applicant updated the request after learning that the H U R M1 district is the least intensive zoning district to achieve the applicant's goals.

33:22

The site is located at 1731 S18 Avenue and is currently licensed as an accessory bed and breakfast, which with an allowance of five bedrooms.

33:31

This request would allow the entire use of the site as a principal bed and breakfast, which would include seven bedrooms in addition to the operator suite.

33:39

A zoning violation letter was issued March 24th, 2026, reporting the illegal use of the site, operating with more than five bedrooms and advertised as a whole home rental.

33:49

The site has not been adjudicated as the applicant is pursuing the zoning change to rectify the situation.

33:54

Staff is unsupportive of this request as a conflict with the master plan and will create a sponsor.

34:00

Therefore, staff recommends denial.

34:04

Thank you.

34:05

We have one card in support.

34:07

Um, please take your time.

34:20

I would like to introduce you to my new hire, my son Cameron, who is with me for the summer while I am in this little wheelie.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████45%
Economic Development██████████████████████████████30%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████14%
Historic Preservation█████████9%
Affordable Housing██2%
Summary of Proceedings

City Planning Commission Meeting - June 9, 2026

The City Planning Commission met on June 9, 2026, to consider seven zoning dockets and subdivision ratifications. The meeting included public testimony, staff recommendations, and votes on zoning changes, conditional uses, and short-term rental regulations.

Consent Calendar

  • The commission unanimously approved the minutes from the May 26, 2026 meeting.

Discussion Items

Zoning Docket 050-26 (1731 S18 Ave)

  • Request: Zoning change from HURD1 to HURM1 and conditional use for a principal bed and breakfast (to allow 7 guest rooms instead of current 5). Staff recommended denial due to conflict with master plan and spot zoning. Applicant Ron Lanzel argued the property had historically operated as a 7-room B&B. Opponent Wanda Nazarethan (1725 Esplanade, 34-year resident) testified the property never had more than 4-5 rooms and cited noise and overcrowding. Commission voted 9-0 to deny, per motion by Commissioner Steag.

Zoning Docket 058-26 (7979 Earhart Blvd & 3127 Short St)

  • Request: Conditional use to convert an office building into an 8-bedroom hotel in HUMU district. Staff recommended approval with provisos. Applicant Deshaun Davenport and owner Glenn Charles spoke in support, citing job creation and neighborhood beautification. No opposition. Motion to approve passed 9-0.

Zoning Docket 059-26 (1622 Toledano St)

  • Request: Conditional use for a commercial short-term rental (STR) in HUMU district. Staff recommended approval. Applicant Deshaun Davenport stated the owner (Gregory Johnson) would relinquish an existing non-commercial STR license and that the revenue would support his affordable housing portfolio (90% of his properties are affordable housing). Commissioner Pochet opposed approving commercial STRs while regulations are in flux. Initial motion to approve failed (3-6). A later motion to deny by Commissioner Pochet passed 9-0. However, concerns arose about a two-year bar on reapplying under new laws. A motion to reconsider failed (6-3 against), then a motion to defer to the July 14, 2026 meeting passed 6-3 to allow legal clarification.

Zoning Docket 060-26 (139 Broadway St) [Note: staff report contained location error]

  • Request: Conditional use to reclassify a restaurant as a standard restaurant (allowing alcohol sales) in an HUB1 overlay district. Staff recommended approval with three provisos. Applicant Ron Lanzel supported. No opposition. Motion to approve passed 9-0.

Zoning Docket 061-26 (139 Broadway St) [Note: This is the same address as 060 but different request? Actually 061 is at 139 Broadway - appears to be separate item]

  • Request: Conditional use for a neighborhood commercial establishment in HURD2 district. Staff recommended approval. Applicant Joe Morales (owner since 1923 family) testified the property has been commercial for over 100 years and proposed a dog grooming business. Five support cards filed. No opposition. Motion to approve passed 9-0.

Zoning Docket 062-26 (2659 Treasury St)

  • Request: Zoning change from HURS to HURD2 to allow a two-family dwelling on a vacant lot. Staff recommended denial as spot zone. Applicant Beard argued it would provide affordable housing and that other doubles exist nearby. Opponents (Desiree Washington, Priscilla Lopez, Brian Lopez) cited safety, egress issues, and historic single-family character. Motion to approve against staff recommendation by Commissioner Steag failed (2-7), resulting in effective denial.

Zoning Docket 063-26 (1428 Coronel Ave)

  • Request: Conditional use for an accessory bed and breakfast (4 guest rooms) in HUMU district, with one parking waiver. Staff recommended approval. Applicant Deshaun Davenport for owner Wells (who lives on site). No opposition. Motion to approve passed 8-1 (Commissioner Whitry dissenting).

Subdivision Ratifications

  • Four items displayed on screen were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Individual docket testimony detailed above. Additionally, Priscilla Lopez (Angel House Association president) raised concerns about the lengthy NPP notification process and lack of timely notice to residents.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved (unanimous): ZD 058-26, ZD 060-26, ZD 061-26, subdivision ratifications.
  • Approved (8-1): ZD 063-26.
  • Denied (9-0): ZD 050-26.
  • Denied (2-7 against motion to approve): ZD 062-26 (effective denial).
  • Deferred: ZD 059-26 to July 14, 2026, for legal clarification on reapplication rules.

Meeting Transcript

Mm. Mais Good afternoon, everyone. We're going to just start here in hopefully two minutes. Good afternoon, and welcome to today's City Planning Commission Tuesday, June 9th. We have updated software, but we don't have logins yet. So we're going to have to um call vote by name. Commissioner Pochet. Commissioner Kepper. Here. Commissioner Abear. Commissioner Flick. Present. Commissioner Jordan. Present. Commissioner Steag. Here. Perfect. We have a full house today. Welcome everyone. I'm going to go ahead and read um the formal public hearing rules. The city planning commission has established third rules governing the procedures to be followed at public hearings before speaking. Each speaker will be allowed a maximum of two minutes. Opponents will not be allowed to rebut. No material, written matter, photographs, maps will be accepted by the commission or its staff at any time during this public hearing. This procedure shall be followed except at such time when the presiding officer shall, with the approval of the commission members, extend such time. Our first order of business is to adopt the meeting minutes from May 26th. I'll make a motion to adopt a May 26th meeting minutes. Thank you, Commissioner Jordan. Is there a second? Commissioner Flickle second. Thank you, Commissioner Flick for making the second. Any discussion, Commissioners? If not, um, let's go ahead and vote. Um, Commissioner Steek. Yes. Commissioner Jordan. Yes. Commissioner Whitry, yes. Commissioner Flick, yes. Commissioner Josie Gupta, Commissioner Abear, yes. Commissioner Kepper, yes. Commissioner Pochet? Yes. Commissioner Jackson. Yes. Alright, the meeting minutes have been approved from May 26. The first um zoning docket is 050-26. Zoning Docket 5026 is a request for a zoning change from an H U R D1 historic urban too family residential district to an H U R M1 multi-family residential district and a conditional use to permit a principal bed and breakfast. Yeah. This is a change from the original zoning request, which was to an H U B1A, historic urban neighborhood business district, as the applicant updated the request after learning that the H U R M1 district is the least intensive zoning district to achieve the applicant's goals.

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