City Planning Commission Meeting Summary - May 14, 2024
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City Planning Commission Meeting Summary - May 14, 2024
This meeting of the New Orleans City Planning Commission, held on May 14, 2024, at 1:41 PM in the Council Chambers, addressed several zoning and subdivision dockets. The commission heard public testimony, deliberated on affordable housing, zoning text amendments, conditional uses, and subdivision requests, ultimately rendering decisions on each item.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of the minutes from the April 23, 2024 meeting was moved, seconded, and passed by unanimous vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Zoning Docket 034/24 (Affordable Housing PUD): Public comment was divided. Supporters, including the applicant's representative Ron Loisel and Onyx Burrow from Housing NOLA, emphasized the need for affordable housing and praised the addition of three more affordable units (totaling five). Opponents, including neighbors Miles Traplin, Caitlin George, Marie Fowler, and Jared Frank (representing Morris Jeff Community School), cited concerns about density, parking, encroachment on the school, and the developer's financial liabilities. The school official noted the school's population is about 700 students with 63-69% on free/reduced lunch.
- Zoning Docket 038/24 (Wine Shop Definition): The applicant, Leslie Parasso, and Catherine James (owner of Foberg Wines) spoke. Parasso supported the amendment to allow wine shops to sell beer and liquor. James expressed support but suggested adding restrictions to prevent abuse, such as prohibiting tobacco and lottery sales.
- Zoning Docket 039/24 (Bar in Tremé): No applicant testimony; multiple neighbors spoke in opposition, including Diane Hying (neighbor), Ken Mitchell, William Hofstadter, Misha Kachkachishvili (Grammy-winning engineer), Alex Rubets (property owner), and Eric Farrellette Sr. and Jr. They cited concerns about noise, parking, trash, and quality of life. The applicant, Brian Knight, and architect Daniel Waker responded, stating there would be no live music and offering to work with neighbors on sound mitigation.
- Zoning Docket 040/24 (Standard Restaurant): David Halpern, representing the applicant, spoke in support, noting the property had been a restaurant and the NPP meeting had no opposition.
- Zoning Docket 041/24 (Child Care Center): Lynette Gordon, representing the applicant, spoke in support, noting the NPP meeting was successful and the project addresses a need for child care.
- Zoning Docket 042/24 (Commercial Use on Magazine): Rebecca Geiger and Joe Mann spoke in support of redeveloping the former Harry's Ace building, highlighting community support.
- Zoning Docket 043/24 (Hotel on Oretha Castle Haley): Missy Quickly (Sherman Strategies) and Ujal DasGupta (on behalf of his son) spoke in support, noting the historic significance of the building and community backing. Commissioner Lund asked about the difference between a hotel and short-term rental; staff explained the requirement for a lobby and 24-hour staff.
Discussion Items
- Zoning Docket 034/24: Staff recommended approval with exceptions, noting increased affordable units (from 2 to 5) and additional parking. Commissioner Brown motioned to deny, citing adverse impact on the school. The motion to deny passed (4-1), sending the docket to the City Council with a denial recommendation.
- Zoning Docket 038/24: Staff recommended modified approval. Discussion centered on allowing wine shops to sell beer and liquor, with enforcement based on floor area rather than revenue. Commissioner Steeg motioned to approve with an additional condition prohibiting tobacco and lottery sales. The motion passed.
- Zoning Docket 039/24: Staff recommended approval with provisos, but after extensive public opposition and concerns about noise mitigation, Commissioner Steeg motioned to deny. The motion failed (4-1). A subsequent motion to defer to the June 11, 2024 meeting passed unanimously.
- Zoning Docket 040/24: Staff recommended approval with three provisos. Commissioner Johnson motioned to approve; motion carried.
- Zoning Docket 041/24: Staff recommended approval with five provisos. Commissioner Johnson motioned to approve; motion carried.
- Zoning Docket 042/24: Staff recommended approval with two provisos. Commissioner Steeg motioned to approve; motion carried.
- Zoning Docket 043/24: Staff recommended approval with three provisos, but recommended striking proviso one regarding the roof deck due to ambiguity. Commissioner Lund motioned to approve with the staff modification; motion carried.
- Zoning Docket 044/24: Staff recommended deferral to June 25, 2024, pending design review. Commissioner Johnson motioned to defer; motion carried.
- Subdivision Docket 036/24: Staff recommended approval with one proviso. Commissioner motioned to adopt the staff report; motion carried.
- Subdivision Ratifications: Motion to approve all listed subdivisions passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Zoning Docket 034/24: Denied (4-1) and will be forwarded to the City Council with a recommendation of denial.
- Zoning Docket 038/24: Approved with modified approval, including additional language prohibiting tobacco and lottery sales.
- Zoning Docket 039/24: Deferred to the June 11, 2024 City Planning Commission meeting to allow for further noise mitigation discussions.
- Zoning Docket 040/24: Approved.
- Zoning Docket 041/24: Approved.
- Zoning Docket 042/24: Approved.
- Zoning Docket 043/24: Approved with modification (striking proviso one).
- Zoning Docket 044/24: Deferred to the June 25, 2024 meeting.
- Subdivision Docket 036/24: Approved.
- Subdivision Ratifications: Approved.
Meeting adjourned at 3:26 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. Uh, thank you for coming out. Uh today is May 14th, that is now one forty-one, and we'll begin today's city planning commission meeting. The first uh order of business is roll call. Commissioner Johnson, Commissioner Lund, Commissioner Josh Gupta, Commissioner Jordan present, Commissioner Brown, Commissioner Steve, here Commissioner Stewart. Present. Seconded by Commissioner Lund. Is there any further discussion? If not, we'll vote our machines. So the City Planning Commission has established certain rules governing the procedures to be followed at all public hearings. Before speaking, each person shall give their name, address, and state whom he or she is representing. Each speaker shall be allowed a maximum of two minutes. Opponents will not be allowed to rebut. No material, written matter, photographs, maps, or other items will be accepted by the commission or its staff at any time during this public hearing. This procedure shall be filed except at such a time when the presiding officer shall, with the approval of the commission members present, extend such time. And with that said, we will start our business with zoning docket item 03424. Staff would just like to note for this item. Um place a public comment on your desk. This was received before the public comment down uh deadline. Great. So zoning docket 3424 is a reapplication of a request that was previously considered by the City Planning Commission at its January 10th, 2023 hearing under zoning docket 523, and at the October 26, 2021 meeting under zoning docket 8521. So the applicant wishes to convert a vacant gymnasium into a three-story multifamily residence with 24 apartment units. Five of those would be affordable units, and one would be an ADA accessible unit. So staff notes there are two differences in this application as compared to the first one. First, in that the number of affordable units has increased from two to five. And secondly, the applicant proposes 13 off-street parking spaces as opposed to the initial 11 spaces. However, those additional spaces will be located in the front yard of the site. So staff recommends an exception to allow the applicant to provide 11 off-street spaces. So this proposal is consistent with the master plan, will provide much needed long-term housing, will bring a vacant property into commerce, and is located near transit lines, community centers, and other amenities. Therefore, staff recommends approval, subject to four exceptions and six provisions. Thank you. We have a couple of cars in support and in opposition. First is representing the applicant, Ron Loisel. Lazal. Special thanks to CPC staff for their exceptional report and thanks to the commissioners for providing us with a 30-day deferral so that we could get the facts and understand the project. CPC staff has not changed their position on this request. Staff understands the importance of affordable housing and they continue to support affordable housing in the many requests that come to you. In 2021, this request was forwarded to city council with no recommendation as the commission was split on the matter. The commissioners who voted in support of the project did so because they appreciated the applicant was providing affordable housing. Those that voted against it did so because they believed there was not enough affordable housing being provided. Now we come before you with a proposal to add three more affordable units for a total of five units. This is over 20% of the units now being dedicated to affordable housing. This certainly should address any of the concerns that there was not enough affordable units. And if any of you have visited Dr. Gupta's properties, you will see how nice the properties are maintained and landscaped. CPC approved, and City Council unanimously codified the ability to create affordable housing through the AHPD process. Everyone understands the affordable housing crisis that we are currently in. The administration, the city council, your housing advocates. With this tool, the AHPD tool, we still need to fight for every single affordable housing unit. CBC staff states that this proposed development will bring an improvement to the site.
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