The New Orleans City Planning Commission convened on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, to address several zoning dockets, a request to reconsider Future Land Use Map (FLUM) amendments in Planning District 13, and proposed revisions to the Subdivision Regulations. The Commission took actions including deferrals, denials, approvals, and a grant of reconsideration.
The applicant proposed an 8,160-square-foot standard restaurant with outdoor seating in the S-LB1 district. Staff recommended denial, citing design inconsistencies with the Harrison Avenue corridor (lack of continuous facade, excessive outdoor space, etc.). The applicant had submitted revised plans but did not fully address staff concerns. The applicant requested a deferral to July 9, 2024, explaining that a recent interpretation from Safety and Permits regarding gross floor area definitions might eliminate the need for the conditional use related to size. The Commission granted the deferral.
Applicants Tien Nguyen and Derek Martin sought a change from S-RS to S-RM1 on 15 vacant lots to permit up to 43 apartment units. Staff recommended denial, noting that the FLUM designates the area as Residential Single-Family Post-War, and that a rezoning would create a spot zone inconsistent with the surrounding single and two-family character. The applicants argued the project would spur economic growth in Algiers and had neighbor support. Catherine Jackson spoke in opposition. The Commission voted to deny the request.
The applicant proposed to replace a retail kiosk with a 1,965-square-foot store and reconfigure fuel pumps, reducing the total number. Because the property is in an HU-B1 district and HUC overlay, the expansion required conditional use approval. Staff supported the proposal subject to two waivers and seven provisos, noting that the redevelopment would enhance the site's aesthetics and compatibility with the historic corridor. The Commission approved the request as conditioned.
A City Council motion (M-24-193) proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance to add maximum length regulations for driveways, using the 1,000-foot block limit as a baseline (with exceptions for industrial districts). Staff recommended approval and proposed two additional amendments: clarifying the definition of a driveway in Article 26, and exempting educational facilities and hospitals from the length limit in Article 22. The Commission approved the amendment with these additions.
Another City Council motion (M-24-204) sought to exclude the area between I-510 and Downman Road from billboard prohibitions in design review corridors. Staff recommended denial, arguing that the proposal would undermine the Master Plan's pedestrian-oriented goals and the 2019 Billboard Study's recommendations. The Commission voted to deny the amendment.
Property owner Thomas Gynen requested reconsideration of four FLUM amendments approved on May 28, 2024, that changed designations from multi-family or commercial to single-family or semi-rural. Gynen stated he did not receive direct notice, presented what he considered new information about the property's elevation and development history, and argued the changes would limit development options. The Commission voted to grant reconsideration and set a hearing for July 9, 2024, noting that other interested parties could attend.
Staff presented the final draft of revised Subdivision Regulations, updated from the 1999 version. Key changes include: enhanced public notification (use of NotifyMe, public application log), shift of interpretation authority from the Commission to the Executive Director (with appeal rights), and a new attestation process for mortgage holder consent to replace the current mortgage certificate requirement. The draft had been vetted through the Zoning and Land Use Committee on June 11, 2024. After public support, the Commission unanimously approved the revisions. The regulations will be transmitted to the City Council, which has 45 days to consider them; if no action is taken, they become effective.
Good afternoon, everyone. We're going to start in just a minute here. Good afternoon. Welcome everyone. Thank you for coming and joining us this afternoon for our City Planning Commission. Tuesday, June twenty fifth, twenty twenty four. 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 shall speak first for a period of ten minutes. Each speaker will be allowed for a maximum of two minutes. Opponents or other interested parties will speak second for a period of fifteen minutes. Each speaker shall be a maximum of two minutes. Oh, we have we just did have everybody here. Where did one? Two? Yeah. Yeah, she just stepped away. I'm going to continue. Okay. Nobody move. Proponents will be allowed a period of six minutes for a rebuttal. Each speaker shall be allowed a maximum of two minutes. Opponents will not be allowed to rebut. No material, written material, photographs, maps, etc. Will be accepted by the commission or the staff at any time during this public hearing. This procedure shall be followed except at a time when the proceeding officer shall, with the approval of the commission members present, extend such time. Commissioner Lund. Commissioner Whitry's present. Commissioner Brown. Commissioner Steag. I'm looking for an adoption of the meeting minutes. I move adoption of the last meeting's minutes. Is there a second? I'm looking for a second. Thank you, Commissioner Lund. All in favor? Any discussion, rather? It was actually was it Commissioner Flick? Commissioner Flick had seconded. The seconder is wrong on the or is my computer just slow. Are you allowed to go? Maybe we can vote by hand. All right. So we have a motion on the floor to approve the minutes. Commissioner Steag made a motion. There was a second by Commissioner Flick. All in favor. All right. Aye. And let the record note that Commissioner Johnson has joined the meeting as well.