OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

City Planning Commission Meeting - July 9, 2024

City Planning Commission — Tuesday, July 9, 2024
BodyNew Orleans, Louisiana
SessionCity Planning Commission
DateTuesday, July 9, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
1:02

Good afternoon everyone.

1:03

Thank you for coming today.

1:04

We're gonna get started.

1:06

Uh it is now one thirty-eight, and we'll begin today's city planning commission meeting.

1:13

Uh first I'll call uh call uh the roll and then we'll follow that with the approval of the meeting minutes and uh continue on with the docket items after that.

1:30

Okay.

1:32

So Commissioner Johnson?

1:35

Commissioner Josh Gupta?

1:37

Here, Commissioner Flick.

1:38

Present.

1:39

Commissioner Jordan here, Commissioner Steve, here.

1:41

Commissioner Stewart.

1:42

Present.

1:43

Uh next I'll read the f formal public hearing rules.

1:46

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

1:53

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

2:01

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

2:04

Each speaker shall be allowed a maximum of two minutes.

2:08

Opponents or other interested parties will speak second for a period of fifteen minutes.

2:13

Each speaker shall be allowed a maximum of two minutes.

2:16

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

2:20

Each speaker shall be allowed a maximum of two minutes.

2:23

Opponents will not be allowed to rebut.

2:45

And with that said, we will start with the adoption of meeting minutes from the June twenty-fifth meeting.

2:53

Commissioner Flick will make a motion for approval of the June twenty-fifth meeting minutes.

2:58

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

3:02

Are there any questions for staff?

3:06

If not, we'll vote our machines.

4:03

Okay, so you have the the votes recorded.

4:08

Can we do a roll call vote since it's not appearing on the screen?

4:12

That's fine.

4:13

So we'll we'll do a roll call vote.

4:16

Uh Commissioner Johnson?

4:18

Oh yes.

4:20

Commissioner Josh Gupta?

4:22

Yes.

4:22

Commissioner Flick.

4:23

Yes.

4:23

Commissioner Jordan, yes.

4:25

Commissioner Steve.

4:26

Yes.

4:26

Commissioner Stewart.

4:29

The meeting minutes are adopted.

4:31

Uh next up is our executive session.

4:37

I'll make a motion that we go into executive session.

4:41

Second.

4:44

Are there any questions?

4:49

Uh I'm wondering if if our deputy director could give some context as we Do I need to state the purpose of that?

4:55

Yes, please.

4:56

Yes, please.

5:00

So um it's our understanding that there's some litigation that we need to be advised on before we hear the flum uh proposals for district thirteen.

5:09

So that's the reason to go into executive session.

5:14

And there's a motion on the floor from Commissioner Stewart.

5:17

I mean Commissioner Steve.

5:19

Commissioner Flex Are there any questions for staff?

5:27

Okay, if not, we'll do a roll call vote again.

5:30

Commissioner Johnson?

5:31

Yes.

5:32

Commissioner Josh.

5:33

Yes.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████████58%
Procedural█████████11%
Pending Litigation█████6%
Urban Planning█████6%
Affordable Housing███4%
Transportation Safety██2%
Public Engagement██2%
Infrastructure And Public Works██2%
Housing Density██2%
Summary of Proceedings

City Planning Commission Meeting - July 9, 2024

On July 9, 2024, the New Orleans City Planning Commission met in Council Chambers starting at 1:38 PM. The meeting covered adoption of minutes, an executive session on pending litigation, five zoning dockets, and seven Future Land Use Map (FLUM) amendment requests for Planning District 13 in Lower Coast Algiers. The Commission also ratified subdivision approvals.

Consent Calendar

  • Adoption of Minutes: Unanimously approved the minutes from the June 25, 2024 meeting via roll call vote (6-0).
  • Subdivision Ratification: Unanimously approved staff's determination that listed subdivisions are eligible for administrative review.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • ZD 044/24 (Harrison Avenue restaurant): Susan Johnson (2822 LePage St) voiced concerns about parking and drainage, supporting neighbors.
  • ZD 057/24 (Marigny Street parking lot): Applicant Ron Lazel spoke in support; no opposition comment cards.
  • ZD 058/24 (Freret Street fast food): Applicant Rebecca Geiger spoke in support.
  • ZD 059/24 (Ninth Street art studio): Applicant Mike Ballard spoke in support; no opposition.
  • ZD 060/24 (I-10 Service Road rezoning): Applicant Ron Lazel spoke in support; no public opposition.
  • FLUM items (PD13-05 through 13-14): Multiple speakers. Lee DuPont (Lower Coast Algiers Association) supported downzoning to lower density, citing infrastructure limitations. Thomas Guinan (property owner) opposed changes to his properties. Renata Collins (1349 Annunciation St) opposed downzoning, arguing it would limit affordable housing. Reagan Wilty (Stanton Square, LLC) opposed changes, citing a federal lawsuit and lack of required studies. Dr. Sing Hung Jiang (48 English Turn Parkway) presented evidence of existing sewer/water infrastructure. Eric Jarrell (property owner for PD13-14) proposed a compromise to keep portions of his property as commercial and single-family, changing only the multifamily section.

Discussion Items

  • Executive Session: The Commission entered executive session to discuss pending litigation (Stanton Square, LLC v. City of New Orleans) related to FLUM proposals. After exiting, they resumed the regular agenda.
  • ZD 044/24 – Conditional Use for Restaurant: Applicant requested deferral multiple times due to unclear definition of gross floor area for outdoor space. Staff recommended denial. The Commission voted to deny (motion by Commissioner Steag, seconded by Commissioner Lunn).
  • ZD 057/24 – Zoning Change to SB2: Staff recommended denial due to spot zoning and inconsistency with FLUM. The property, used as a parking lot for Canseco's grocery, was built without proper permit. After debate, a motion to approve passed (6-1) against staff recommendation, citing community benefit and delivery truck congestion concerns.
  • ZD 058/24 – Conditional Use for Fast Food Restaurant: Staff recommended approval with three provisos. The Commission unanimously approved.
  • ZD 059/24 – Conditional Use for Art Studio: Staff recommended denial because the building is residential. The Commission voted 5-2 to approve, citing neighborhood support, no exterior changes, and no parking requirement.
  • ZD 060/24 – Zoning Change to C2: Staff recommended denial due to FLUM inconsistency. The initial motion to deny failed (4-3). A subsequent motion to approve passed (4-3), noting the site's location adjacent to interstate and commercial use.
  • ZD 061/24 – Text Amendment for Vocational Schools in VCE District: Staff recommended approval. The Commission unanimously approved.
  • FLUM Amendments (PD13-05 through 13-14): These items sought to downzone properties in Lower Coast Algiers from multifamily/commercial to lower-density residential. Staff consistently recommended Residential Single-Family Post-War. The Commission voted on each:
    • PD13-05 (English Turn): Motion to deny staff recommendation and maintain multifamily FLUM passed, keeping the existing designation.
    • PD13-07 (Stanton Road/English Turn Parkway): Motion to deny staff recommendation and maintain neighborhood commercial FLUM passed, citing the cleared corner lot's potential for commercial use.
    • PD13-10 (West Turn Parkway): Motion to approve staff recommendation (Residential Single-Family Post-War) passed.
    • PD13-11 (Donner Canal area): Motion to approve staff recommendation (Residential Single-Family Post-War) passed, but the Commission clarified their vote was for Semi-Rural Single-Family (as previously voted).
    • PD13-06 (English Turn Parkway): Motion to approve staff recommendation (Residential Single-Family Post-War) passed.
    • PD13-13 (Between English Turn and Arbors): Motion to approve staff recommendation failed; substitute motion to keep multifamily FLUM passed, noting the site's existing infrastructure.
    • PD13-14 (L-shaped parcel): Commission adopted a compromise motion: keep the neighborhood commercial and existing single-family designations, but change the multifamily portion to Residential Single-Family Post-War. Unanimously approved.

Key Outcomes

  • ZD 044/24: Denied (motion by Commissioner Steag, seconded by Commissioner Lunn).
  • ZD 057/24: Approved against staff recommendation (motion by Commissioner Josh Gupta, seconded by Commissioner Johnson).
  • ZD 058/24: Approved with provisos (unanimous).
  • ZD 059/24: Approved against staff recommendation (5-2).
  • ZD 060/24: Approved against staff recommendation (4-3).
  • ZD 061/24: Approved text amendment (unanimous).
  • FLUM PD13-05: Maintain multifamily designation (motion to deny staff recommendation).
  • FLUM PD13-07: Maintain neighborhood commercial designation (motion to deny staff recommendation).
  • FLUM PD13-10: Change to Residential Single-Family Post-War.
  • FLUM PD13-11: Change to Residential Semi-Rural Single-Family (as previously voted).
  • FLUM PD13-06: Change to Residential Single-Family Post-War.
  • FLUM PD13-13: Maintain multifamily designation (motion to keep current FLUM).
  • FLUM PD13-14: Change multifamily portion to Residential Single-Family Post-War; keep other designations (unanimous).
  • Subdivision Ratification: Approved.
  • Executive Session: Completed; no further action.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon everyone. Thank you for coming today. We're gonna get started. Uh it is now one thirty-eight, and we'll begin today's city planning commission meeting. Uh first I'll call uh call uh the roll and then we'll follow that with the approval of the meeting minutes and uh continue on with the docket items after that. Okay. So Commissioner Johnson? Commissioner Josh Gupta? Here, Commissioner Flick. Present. Commissioner Jordan here, Commissioner Steve, here. Commissioner Stewart. Present. Uh next I'll read the f formal public hearing rules. Uh the city planning commission has established certain rules governing the procedures to be followed at public hearings. Public speaking uh 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. Each speaker shall be allowed a maximum of two minutes. Opponents or other interested parties will speak second for a period of fifteen minutes. Each speaker shall be allowed a maximum of two minutes. Proponents will be allowed a period of six minutes for rebuttal. Each speaker shall be allowed a maximum of two minutes. Opponents will not be allowed to rebut. And with that said, we will start with the adoption of meeting minutes from the June twenty-fifth meeting. Commissioner Flick will make a motion for approval of the June twenty-fifth meeting minutes. There's a motion on the floor from Commissioner Flick, seconded by Commissioner Johnson. Are there any questions for staff? If not, we'll vote our machines. Okay, so you have the the votes recorded. Can we do a roll call vote since it's not appearing on the screen? That's fine. So we'll we'll do a roll call vote. Uh Commissioner Johnson? Oh yes. Commissioner Josh Gupta? Yes. Commissioner Flick. Yes. Commissioner Jordan, yes. Commissioner Steve. Yes. Commissioner Stewart. The meeting minutes are adopted. Uh next up is our executive session. I'll make a motion that we go into executive session. Second. Are there any questions? Uh I'm wondering if if our deputy director could give some context as we Do I need to state the purpose of that? Yes, please. Yes, please.

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