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Record of Proceedings

New Orleans City Planning Commission Meeting - April 9, 2024

City Planning Commission — Tuesday, April 9, 2024
BodyNew Orleans, Louisiana
SessionCity Planning Commission
DateTuesday, April 9, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:24:35

Original source
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5:37

Good afternoon, everybody.

5:38

We're gonna get started.

5:41

I thank you for coming.

5:43

Today is April 9th, 2024.

5:46

It is now 135.

5:49

Before we get started, we're gonna call roll and then follow with the adoption of our meeting minutes from the last meeting and the reading of the public hearing rules.

6:05

So Commissioner Johnson.

6:10

Here.

6:11

Commissioner Joe Shagupta.

6:14

Present.

6:15

Commissioner Flick.

6:16

Present.

6:17

Commissioner Jordan here.

6:18

Commissioner Steag.

6:19

Here.

6:20

Commissioner Stewart.

6:21

Present.

6:23

Uh next is the adoption of meeting minutes for March 26th, 2024.

6:29

Commissioner Commissioner Fleck will make a motion for approval of the March 26th meeting minutes.

6:34

Is there a second?

6:35

Second.

6:36

There's a motion on the floor from Commissioner Flick, seconded by Commissioner Steag.

6:41

Uh is there any further discussion?

6:45

If not, we will vote our machines when ready.

7:10

Yeah.

7:10

So still working.

7:15

Okay, so we're waiting for the technology, so we'll vote.

7:19

Um all in favor?

7:21

I any opposed.

7:26

Up meeting minutes are adopted.

7:28

We can vote your machines now.

7:31

We're in a time line.

7:32

There we go.

7:35

Okay.

7:36

So now I will read the formal public hearing rules.

7:39

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

7:45

Before speaking, each person shall give their name, address, and state whom he or she is representing.

7:50

Proponents for the proposal will speak first for a period of ten minutes total.

7:55

Each speaker shall be allowed a maximum of two minutes.

8:08

Proponents will be allowed a period of six minutes for a rebuttal.

8:12

Each speaker shall be allowed a maximum of two minutes.

8:18

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

8:35

And now we will begin today's business with zoning docket items 03424.

8:45

Zoning Docket 3424 is a request for an affordable housing plan development in an H U R D two historic urban two-family residential districts.

8:54

This is the reapplication of a request that was previously considered at the CPC January 10th, 2023 hearing under zoning docket 523, and at the October 26th, 2021 hearing under zoning docket 8521.

9:10

The number of proposed affordable units for this request has increased from one under the initial request to two, and now five under the current request.

9:42

Thank you.

9:43

We have a uh information card from the applicant, Ron Luizel.

9:51

Good afternoon, Ron Lazel, one thousand Norman C.

9:54

Francis.

10:00

Uh we were just brought on to this project last week, so we need a 30-day deferral to um understand the project a little bit more, but more importantly, everyone that showed up today and those who have written opposition letters.

10:09

I am going to hold another meeting with them to understand exactly what the dynamics are of the project.

10:14

Thank you.

10:15

Thank you.

10:17

We have no uh we have a few cars uh in opposition.

10:23

Uh if you want to speak, you can first up is Beverly Walker.

10:47

My name is Beverly Walker.

10:49

I live at um 321 South Rendon Street, which is in the next block from uh the gymnasium at 217 South Rendon.

10:59

I'm here to voice my opposition today.

11:01

I'm completely opposed to uh development of this property the way the the plans that we have seen for the past several years.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████████69%
Community Engagement█████████14%
Economic Development███5%
Affordable Housing███4%
Public Engagement███4%
Procedural██3%
Transportation Safety█1%
Summary of Proceedings

New Orleans City Planning Commission Meeting - April 9, 2024

The City Planning Commission met on April 9, 2024 at 1:35 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting covered adoption of minutes, several subdivision and zoning dockets, a retail goods study, and a series of Future Land Use Map (FLUM) amendments for Planning Districts 9 and 10 in New Orleans East. Commissioners voted on multiple items, often after extensive public testimony and debate.

Consent Calendar

  • Adoption of Minutes (March 26, 2024): Approved unanimously.
  • Subdivision Ratifications: The Commission ratified a list of subdivisions eligible for administrative approval.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Zoning Docket 034/24 (217 S. Rendon St.): Multiple residents (Beverly Walker, Jennifer Bysho, Miles Traplin, Patricia Perkins) opposed the proposed affordable housing development, citing density, parking, traffic, and school concerns. The applicant requested a 30-day deferral to meet with neighbors.
  • Subdivision Docket 136/20 (Crowder Blvd.): Marcia McWilliams and Don Abear (East New Orleans Neighborhood Advisory Commission) requested a deferral for more community input, expressing concerns about design and lack of covenant. Applicant Miles Grandison opposed deferral, noting the project had been approved twice previously.
  • Retail Goods Study: Jerry Cook expressed skepticism about the study's impact, suggesting resources be focused elsewhere. Brandon Henry cautioned against narrow analysis, citing policing and other factors.
  • FLUM Amendments (PD 9 and 10): Over a dozen residents and community leaders (Don Abear, Marcia McWilliams, Alvin Cooley, Jerry Cook, Frame Bias) spoke against many of the proposed changes, especially mixed-use high- and medium-density designations, arguing for infrastructure improvements, police presence, and preservation of existing commercial designations. Support came from the Mayor's Office (Henry Walther) and Office of Economic Development (Andrew Bagnato), who argued mixed-use designations would attract investment and development.

Discussion Items

  • Zoning Docket 034/24 (Affordable Housing Planned Development): Applicant Ron Luizel requested a 30-day deferral to study the project and hold another neighborhood meeting. Staff noted the project had changed from 1 to 2 to 5 affordable units and parking from 11 to 13 spaces. The Commission voted to defer to May 14, 2024.
  • Subdivision Docket 017/24 (Feliciana/Clouet): Applicant not present. Staff recommended denial because the proposed through-lot was inconsistent with subdivision regulations. The Commission voted to deny per staff recommendation.
  • Re-application of Subdivision Docket 136/20 (Crowder Blvd.): Staff recommended approval with a waiver for outdated corner-lot requirements. After debate, the Commission voted to approve per staff report.
  • Re-application of Subdivision Docket 187/23 (Conti/White): Request to rescind an unnecessary proviso. Staff recommended approval. Commission approved.
  • Retail Goods Study (M-24-74): Informational only. Staff described plans to study overconcentration of retail uses (tire shops, nail shops, etc.) in New Orleans East, similar to a previous small-box retail study. No vote taken.
  • FLUM Amendments – Planning District 9 (Items PD 9-19 through 9-25):
    • PD 9-19 (Crowder/Lake Forest corridors): Mayor’s Office request to change from General Commercial/Neighborhood Commercial to Mixed-Use Medium Density. After opposition from community speakers, the Commission voted; the item moved forward with no recommendation.
    • PD 9-20 (Reed Blvd. corridor): Request to change from General Commercial to Mixed-Use High Density. An amendment to change to Medium Density was proposed by Commissioner Johnson. After discussion, the Commission voted; the item moved forward with no recommendation.
    • PD 9-21 (Chef Menteur Hwy. – Pines Village/Plum Orchard): Staff recommended modified approval: approval east of I-10, denial west and for General Commercial portions. The Commission voted to deny all three parts.
    • PD 9-22 (Chef Menteur Hwy./Reed Blvd.): Staff recommended modified approval (approve Neighborhood Commercial to MUM, deny General Commercial). Commission voted to approve staff recommendation.
    • PD 9-23 (Haydel Heights, Rosedale): Council District E request to change from Residential Low Density to Mixed-Use Low Density. Staff recommended modified approval to Residential Post-War Multifamily. Community groups supported. Commission approved staff recommendation.
    • PD 9-24 (5400 Reed Blvd.): Council District E request to change from Residential Single-Family to Mixed-Use Medium Density. Staff recommended approval. After discussion with community, Commission approved.
    • PD 9-25 (1760 Paris Rd., near Lincoln Beach): Council District E request to change from Neighborhood Commercial to Mixed-Use Low Density. Staff recommended approval. Commission approved.
  • FLUM Amendments – Planning District 10 (Items PD 10-01 through 10-04):
    • PD 10-01 (Chef Menteur Hwy. warehouses): Staff request to change from Neighborhood Commercial to Industrial to align with existing zoning. Approved.
    • PD 10-02 (Bayou Sauvage area): Mayor’s Office request to change from Planned Development to Industrial for port expansion. Staff recommended Industrial over Mixed-Use Medium Density. Approved.
    • PD 10-03 (former Six Flags/Jazzland site): Mayor’s Office request to change from Planned Development to Mixed-Use Medium Density to facilitate redevelopment. Approved.
    • PD 10-04 (Venetian Isles/Michoud): Mayor’s Office request to change from Neighborhood Commercial to Mixed-Use Medium Density, with staff recommending an exception for a parcel already designated Industrial under PD 10-01. Approved with modification.

Key Outcomes

  • Deferral: Zoning Docket 034/24 deferred to May 14, 2024.
  • Denials: Subdivision Docket 017/24; PD 9-21 (all three parts) denied.
  • Approvals: Subdivision Docket 136/20 (Crowder Blvd.); Subdivision Docket 187/23 (proviso removal); PD 9-22 (modified approval); PD 9-23 (staff alternative); PD 9-24; PD 9-25; PD 10-01; PD 10-02; PD 10-03; PD 10-04 (modified approval).
  • No Recommendation: PD 9-19 and PD 9-20 moved forward without a specific recommendation from CPC.
  • Next Steps: Staff will schedule PD 12 for the next meeting; PD 13 to be scheduled later. The retail goods study is ongoing with a draft due May 28, 2024.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon, everybody. We're gonna get started. I thank you for coming. Today is April 9th, 2024. It is now 135. Before we get started, we're gonna call roll and then follow with the adoption of our meeting minutes from the last meeting and the reading of the public hearing rules. So Commissioner Johnson. Here. Commissioner Joe Shagupta. Present. Commissioner Flick. Present. Commissioner Jordan here. Commissioner Steag. Here. Commissioner Stewart. Present. Uh next is the adoption of meeting minutes for March 26th, 2024. Commissioner Commissioner Fleck will make a motion for approval of the March 26th meeting minutes. Is there a second? Second. There's a motion on the floor from Commissioner Flick, seconded by Commissioner Steag. Uh is there any further discussion? If not, we will vote our machines when ready. Yeah. So still working. Okay, so we're waiting for the technology, so we'll vote. Um all in favor? I any opposed. Up meeting minutes are adopted. We can vote your machines now. We're in a time line. There we go. Okay. So now I will read the formal public hearing rules. The city planning commission has established certain rules governing the procedures to be followed at public hearings. Before speaking, each person shall give their name, address, and state whom he or she is representing. Proponents for the proposal will speak first for a period of ten minutes total. Each speaker shall be allowed a maximum of two minutes. Proponents will be allowed a period of six minutes for a rebuttal. Each speaker shall be allowed a maximum of two minutes. No material, written matter, photographs, maps, etcetera, will be accepted by the commission or its staff at any time during this public hearing. And now we will begin today's business with zoning docket items 03424. Zoning Docket 3424 is a request for an affordable housing plan development in an H U R D two historic urban two-family residential districts. This is the reapplication of a request that was previously considered at the CPC January 10th, 2023 hearing under zoning docket 523, and at the October 26th, 2021 hearing under zoning docket 8521. The number of proposed affordable units for this request has increased from one under the initial request to two, and now five under the current request. Thank you. We have a uh information card from the applicant, Ron Luizel. Good afternoon, Ron Lazel, one thousand Norman C. Francis.

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