City Planning Commission Meeting – April 15, 2024

The New Orleans City Planning Commission (CPC) met on Monday, April 15, 2024, at 10:00 AM in Council Chambers to consider multiple variance requests, appeals of the Director of Safety and Permits, and the election of officers. The board voted on nine docket items, approving deferrals, granting one variance with conditions, and denying one appeal. The meeting adjourned after the election of officers was deferred to the July meeting.

Consent Calendar

• No consent calendar items were presented.

Public Comments & Testimony

• BZA007-24 (5022 Bienville Ave.): Randolph Waits (311 City Park Ave.) and Alice Gonzalez (4918 Bienville St.) spoke in opposition, citing safety concerns, overgrown property, and the need for a dumpster. Mr. Waits supported the 90-day deferral requested by the applicant.
• BZA109-23 (2319 George Nick Connor Dr.): The applicant (Irma Plummer) addressed the board, explaining her efforts to remove concrete and the financial hardship of further removal. Commissioners discussed the 40% impervious surface limit and stormwater runoff.
• BZA001-24 (5505 Music St.): Kaisha Lyman (applicant’s representative) requested a 90-day deferral to consult with a landscape architect. The board discussed the need to demonstrate that parking cannot be placed in the rear yard due to tree roots.
• BZA022-24 (531 S. Tonti St.): Ron Savell (applicant’s representative) outlined the timeline of the parking lease agreement. Zach Smith (for the owner) argued that the reliance on city staff created a hardship. The board questioned the enforceability of leased parking but approved the variance with provisos.
• BZA023-24 (7417 Burthe St.): The applicant did not object to a 30-day deferral. A neighbor (from 618 Audubon St.) opposed, stating that the site could provide legal parking.
• BZA016-24 (7417 Burthe St. – appeal): Zach Smith requested a 30-day deferral, intending to withdraw the appeal after addressing the front-yard parking issue. Deborah Howell (1538 Adams St.) and Keith Hardy (618 Audubon St.) opposed, arguing that the parking was not legally non-conforming and that the property had a grandfather deficiency.
• BZA024-24 (7417 Burthe St. – appeal): Deborah Howell delivered extensive testimony against the permit, alleging misrepresentation of bedroom counts, improper application of the overlay instead of the Interim Zoning District (IZD), and work done without a permit. Keith Hardy and Susan Johnson (2822 LePage St.) also spoke in opposition. The applicant (Zach Smith) argued that the permit could be reissued under current law.

Discussion Items

• BZA007-24 (5022 Bienville Ave.): Staff recommended denial of variances for ground floor transparency, ADA ramps, and ceiling height. The applicant requested a 90-day deferral due to delays in the owner’s estate. The board granted the deferral (5-0).
• BZA100-23 (1834 Second St.): Staff recommended denial of four variances for an after-the-fact multifamily expansion. The applicant requested a 30-day deferral to complete revised plans. The board granted the deferral (5-0).
• BZA109-23 (2319 George Nick Connor Dr.): Staff recommended denial of variances for impervious surface (40% max, applicant had 68%) and driveway setback. The applicant requested a 90-day deferral to remove additional concrete. The board granted the deferral, suggesting consultation with nonprofits (5-0).
• BZA119-23 (2320-22 S. Derbigny St.): Staff recommended a 30-day deferral because revised plans were incomplete. The board granted the deferral (5-0).
• BZA001-24 (5505 Music St.): Staff recommended denial of a variance for front-yard parking but approval of a variance for zero off-street parking. The applicant requested a 90-day deferral to consult a landscape architect. The board granted the deferral (5-0).
• BZA022-24 (531 S. Tonti St.): Staff recommended denial of a variance for insufficient off-street parking (1 space provided, 3 required). The applicant argued reliance on the city’s guidance. The board approved the variance (5-0) with two provisos: (1) a lease agreement for two parking spaces, and (2) a site plan approved by CPC staff.
• BZA023-24 (7417 Burthe St.): Staff requested a 30-day deferral to analyze additional variances added by Safety and Permits. The board granted the deferral (5-0).
• BZA016-24 (7417 Burthe St. – appeal): The applicant appealed the director’s determination that existing parking spaces could not satisfy overlay requirements. The applicant requested a 30-day deferral; the board granted it (5-0).
• BZA024-24 (7417 Burthe St. – appeal): The applicant appealed the director’s determination that one off-street parking space was required. The department argued the overlay was correctly applied; the appellant argued the IZD should govern. The board denied the appeal and upheld the director’s decision (5-0).
• Election of Officers: The board deferred the election to the July 2024 meeting (voice vote, unanimous).

Key Outcomes

• BZA007-24: Deferred 90 days (5-0).
• BZA100-23: Deferred 30 days (5-0).
• BZA109-23: Deferred 90 days (5-0).
• BZA119-23: Deferred 30 days (5-0).
• BZA001-24: Deferred 90 days (5-0).
• BZA022-24: Approved with two provisos (5-0).
• BZA023-24: Deferred 30 days (5-0).
• BZA016-24: Deferred 30 days (5-0).
• BZA024-24: Appeal denied; director’s decision upheld (5-0).
• Election of Officers: Deferred to July 2024 meeting (unanimous voice vote).