New Orleans City Planning Commission Meeting April 7, 2025: BZA Variances and Appeals
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New Orleans City Planning Commission Meeting Summary (April 7, 2025)
The New Orleans City Planning Commission (CPC) held a public hearing on April 7, 2025, to address zoning variance requests and appeals of Safety and Permits decisions. The board heard 12 docket items, including one withdrawal, one deemed improper, and several deferrals. Actions taken will be released in disposition notices by April 17, 2025. The meeting was chaired by Commissioner Todd James, with Commissioners Tamara Agins, Ramiro Diaz, and Alfonso Gonzalez present; Commissioners Candace Forrest, Jose Alvarez, and Jason Richards were absent.
Consent Calendar
- Adoption of the minutes from the March 10, 2025 meeting was moved and seconded, and passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- BZA 019-25 (8313 Panola St): Homeowner Adam Yacine Whitley-Sebti expressed support for the intent of the overlay regulations but argued that the bathroom limit created an unintended hardship for his family. He noted that he could not claim a homestead exemption until after renovation, making compliance impossible.
- BZA 028-25 (6325 Caldwell Dr): Ashley Haspel, president of the Lake Terrace Property Owners Association, opposed the variance, stating that no one in the neighborhood has an eight-foot fence, and that six feet is the maximum allowed. She also mentioned that the fence was cited via 311 and that the property owner had been informed of the rules.
- BZA 025-25 (1500-02 Pine St): Susan Johnson of Town of Carrollton Watch argued that Safety and Permits failed to review plans that added bedrooms without required parking. She also noted 25 letters of support and one letter of opposition from the previous owner.
Discussion Items
- BZA 008-25 (5007 S. Tonti St): Withdrawn by applicant.
- BZA 009-25 (2816-18 Saint Louis St): Applicant provided updated survey on April 4, 2025; staff needed more time to review. Board approved a 30-day deferral.
- BZA 019-25 (8313 Panola St): Request for variance to allow 4 bathrooms in a 5-bedroom home in the University Area off-street parking overlay (max 2.5). Staff recommended denial, but the board approved, citing hardship and precedent, subject to a proviso.
- BZA 020-25 (4301 Reynes St): Request for 4 variances to subdivide a lot with two principal structures. Staff recommended approval; board approved with one proviso.
- BZA 021-25 (901-903 Second St): Request for variances to create two lots from a condominium regime. Staff recommended approval; board approved with one proviso.
- BZA 022-25 (732-736 Ninth St): Request for variances for lot width, depth, and area to subdivide. Staff recommended approval; board approved with one proviso.
- BZA 023-25 (1474 Magazine St): Request for variance to place a pool with zero setback from lot line. Staff recommended denial. Initial motion to deny failed (4 votes, needed 5). A substitute motion for 30-day deferral was approved.
- BZA 024-25 (1925 N. Derbigny St): Request for variances for rear yard setback on a nonconforming lot. Staff recommended approval; board approved with one proviso. Neighbor Willie Woods voiced concerns about the new owner's plans.
- BZA 028-25 (6325 Caldwell Dr): After-the-fact request to retain an 8-foot fence (max 5 feet). Staff requested a 30-day deferral due to public noticing; board approved deferral.
- BZA 026-25 (620 Louisa St): Deemed improper; applicant withdrew after failing to state a zoning basis.
- BZA 027-25 (4400 General Meyer Ave): Appeal of a permit issued for an athletic facility. Safety and Permits conceded the permit was issued in error; board granted the appeal and rescinded the January 14, 2025 permit.
Key Outcomes
- Approvals: BZA 019-25, 020-25, 021-25, 022-25, 024-25, and 027-25 (appeal granted).
- Deferrals: BZA 009-25 (30 days), BZA 023-25 (30 days), BZA 028-25 (30 days), BZA 025-25 (30 days).
- Denied/Witheld: BZA 008-25 withdrawn, BZA 026-25 deemed improper.
- Next Steps: Decisions will be sent via disposition notices by April 17, 2025. Applicants must comply with all provisos to finalize approvals.
All votes were unanimous where taken, with the exception of the failed denial motion on BZA 023-25.
Meeting Transcript
We'll begin with roll call. Candace Forrest is absent. Todd James. Present. Tamara Eggins. Present. Jose Alvarez is absent. Ramiro Diaz. Present. Alfonso Gonzalez. Present. And Jason Richards is absent. At this time, would the board make a motion to adopt the minutes from the March 10th meeting? So moved. We have a I'll second her motion. All right, thank you. We have a motion and a second to accept the uh meeting minutes from last month's meetings. Tomorrow's mover second was consult. Please note that the board will recess at approximately 1 p.m. if the meeting has not already been adjourned and will reconvene at approximately 1 30 unless the board makes a motion to skip the recess. As a reminder to applicants, action that the board takes today will be released in the form of a disposition notice by April 17th and sent via mail and email to the applicant as well as posted on the one-stop app for other interested parties. Request that the board votes to approve must show compliance with any noted provisos before the case is finalized and granted final approval. One item on today's agenda has been deemed improper. Item number 11, BZA 026-25 for the property at 620 Louisa Street. In addition, one item on today's agenda has been withdrawn. Item number one, BZA Docket 008-25 for the property at 5007 South Taunty Street. We will now begin with unfinished business for variances. Will the chair please or will the vice chair please read the hearing rules for variances? Thank you. And I know that everybody's been waiting in chambers patiently, so we're going to try to be as efficient as possible to uh get through the agenda today and make sure uh we cover what's before us. Uh going over rules and procedures for the public hearing on variance requests. The following procedures shall be observed during the hearing. Each speaker shall give their name and address prior to speaking on the proposal. The applicant or representative will speak first. Representative shall be the presentation shall be limited to a maximum of three minutes with each for each applicant or representative speaker. But in no event shall the cumulative presentation total by applicants or their representatives exceed 10 minutes. Proponents or persons in favor of proposal will speak next and be allowed two minutes per speaker. Opponents or persons in opposition to the proposal will speak next and be allowed two minutes per speaker as well. The applicant or representative will be allowed to rebut that rebuttal shall be limited to a cumulative maximum of three minutes. Additional information for any exceptional case, the time limitations may be extended by the presiding officer with approval of the board. As the board deems necessary, the case may be acted upon at this meeting or deferred for additional information or review. If the case is deferred, it will be acted upon at a subsequent meeting as provided by law. All proper parliamentary procedures shall be followed, including recognition of speakers, relevance of argument, and absolute prohibition of applause or demonstration. Standards of review. Item number one, BZA docket 008-25 for the property at 5007 South Taunty Street was withdrawn. Item two, docket number BZA 009-25. BZA 009-25 is a request for variances from the provisions of Article 12, Section 12.3.8.1 of the comprehensive zoning ordinance to permit the creation of lots with insufficient lot area. The current development include of the site includes a two-family development on lot six A with an adjacent vacant lot comprising of lot seven. The current lot configuration shows that a portion of an egress from the structure on lot six A is located on lot seven. At its February meeting, the board deferred this matter 60 days to allow for the applicant to update the survey to create a new configuration with new access to the existing duplex based off of the existing layout, reinstating the center cut line with documentation of easement to the neighboring property line to increase the potential square footage of proposed lot 7a.
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