New Orleans City Planning Commission Meeting – November 12, 2024

The City Planning Commission convened on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 1:37 p.m. in Council Chambers to consider a lengthy agenda dominated by reconsiderations of Future Land Use Map (FLUM) amendments for Planning Districts 12 and 13, the Lower Coast Algiers Impact Study, and several zoning and subdivision items. The meeting included extensive public testimony and multiple votes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Lee DuPont (Lower Coast Algiers Association) expressed support for low-density FLUM revisions, citing infrastructure limitations and the staff impact study. He urged the Commission to base decisions on facts, not lawsuits.
• Darlene Thomas (English Turn Drive) supported rural/semi-rural designations, highlighting roadway deficiencies and evacuation route concerns on English Turn Parkway.
• Singhung Jiang (48 English Turn Parkway) opposed the FLUM and zoning changes, arguing the master plan encourages multifamily development and that infrastructure can support it. He criticized the impact study’s density assumptions.
• Renata Collins (New Orleans) requested maintaining multifamily zoning, citing fair housing concerns and potential loss of federal funding.
• Sharonda Williams (attorney) raised legal concerns about pending federal litigation and a Department of Justice investigation, stating the city may be ineligible for HUD funding due to the IZD and FLUM actions.
• Reagan Wolffe (paid attorney) argued the impact study’s hypothetical max development was unrealistic and that utilities confirmed capacity. She opposed the bundled zoning vote as procedurally improper.
• Ella Strahan (Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center) opposed the FLUM changes as violating the Fair Housing Act, noting the city’s obligation to affirmatively further fair housing.
• Karen Ford (Algiers resident) described inadequate infrastructure in Lower Coast, including unpaved roads and lack of services.
• Dr. Dropadi Keval Ramani and others supported low-density development for environmental protection.

Discussion Items

Adoption of Minutes – The minutes from October 22, 2024 were unanimously adopted.

Street Name Change 001/24 (General Meyer Avenue) – Deferred to December 10, 2024 per Council Member King’s request, after suspending rules.

Master Plan FLUM Reconsiderations – Planning District 12 (Items PD12-03 through PD12-17): The Commission considered 13 council-requested reconsiderations. Staff presented each, often recommending denial of reconsideration based on existing land use patterns and recent CZO text amendments allowing mixed-use in commercial districts. Votes resulted in:

• PD12-03, 04, 07, 10, 13, 16, 17 – Denied reconsideration, maintaining previous CPC recommendations.
• PD12-05, 09, 14, 15 – Approved reconsideration, retaining current FLUM designations (Neighborhood Commercial, General Commercial).
• PD12-12 – Modified approval per staff.

Master Plan FLUM Reconsiderations – Planning District 13 (Items PD13-06, 09, 10, 13, 14): The Commission heard detailed presentations and public comment. Staff recommended semi-rural (RRE) for sites without improved road access, but suburban single-family for properties fronting English Turn Parkway. Key votes:

• PD13-06 – Motion to retain original recommendation failed (tie? no second? resulted in no recommendation).
• PD13-09, 10 – Approved staff recommendation to change to Residential Semi-Rural Single-Family (RRE).
• PD13-13 – Motion to deny reconsideration carried, maintaining multifamily designation.
• PD13-14 – Motion to deny reconsideration carried, maintaining previous CPC recommendation (suburban single-family and neighborhood commercial).

Lower Coast Algiers Impact Study (Item 14): Staff presented the study, concluding that infrastructure and service capacity are inadequate for high-density development in SRM1 and SB2 districts. Public comment divided, with proponents citing environmental and capacity concerns, opponents arguing the study exaggerated density. The Commission voted to adopt the study consistent with staff recommendation.

Zoning Docket 085/24 (Rezoning for PD13 properties): This bundled request sought to align zoning with FLUM changes. After considerable debate about timing and due process, Commissioner Stewart moved a two-part motion: approve zoning changes for parcels with final council-adopted FLUMs, and deny for those still in reconsideration (PD13-06, 09, 10, 13, 14). The motion carried with modified approval.

Subdivision Docket 098/24 (2401 Humanity Street): Approved subject to two provisos, expanding the school site into adjacent open space.

Business not on deadline (Items 23-30): Zoning Dockets 093/24 through 100/24 and Subdivision Ratifications were considered. All zoning dockets were deferred to December 10, 2024, except Item 30 (ZD 100/24) was initially deferred but later the applicant arrived; no reconsideration occurred. Subdivision Ratifications were approved.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted minutes from October 22, 2024.
• Deferred Street Name Change 001/24 to December 10.
• FLUM Reconsiderations: For PD12, 4 approved (retaining current designations), 7 denied (maintaining original CPC recommendations). For PD13, 2 approved (to semi-rural), 1 denied (maintaining multifamily), 1 no recommendation (PD13-06), 1 denied reconsideration (PD13-14).
• Adopted Lower Coast Algiers Impact Study.
• Approved Zoning Docket 085/24 with modified approval (denied zoning changes for parcels in PD13-06, 09, 10, 13, 14).
• Approved Subdivision Docket 098/24.
• Deferred all remaining zoning dockets (093-100) to December 10, with one exception.
• Ratified subdivision ratifications.