OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

New Orleans City Planning Commission Meeting - April 22, 2025

City Planning Commission — Tuesday, April 22, 2025
BodyNew Orleans, Louisiana
SessionCity Planning Commission
DateTuesday, April 22, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 29:19

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Formal business.

0:02

So Commissioner Johnson?

0:07

Commissioner Lund?

0:09

Yeah.

0:09

Commissioner Josh Guta?

0:11

Here.

0:12

Commissioner Flick.

0:13

Present.

0:13

Commissioner Jordan here.

0:15

Commissioner Brown.

0:16

Here.

0:16

Commissioner Steeg.

0:17

Here.

0:18

And Commissioner Stewart.

0:19

Here.

0:21

Okay.

0:22

So the formal public hearing rules reads as follows.

0:25

The City Planning Commission has established certain rules governing the procedures to be followed at public hearings.

0:31

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

0:37

Proponents for the proposal will speak first for a period of 10 minutes.

0:41

Each speaker shall be allowed a maximum of two minutes.

0:45

Opponents or other interested parties will speak second for a period of 15 minutes.

0:49

Each speaker shall be allowed a maximum of two minutes.

0:52

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

0:56

Each speaker shall be allowed a maximum of two minutes.

1:00

Opponents will not be allowed to rebut.

1:04

No material, including written matter, photographs, maps, or other items, will be accepted by the commission or its staff at any time during this public hearing.

1:13

This procedure shall be followed at except at such a time when the presiding officer shall, with the approval of the commission members present, extend such time.

1:23

And with that said, we will start first with the adoption of April 8th meeting minutes.

1:33

Commissioner Flickle second.

1:37

Okay.

1:38

We have a motion on the floor from Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Flick.

1:42

Are there any questions?

1:44

If not, we will vote our machines.

2:14

Oh wait, uh oh.

2:25

Is it frozen?

2:29

Okay.

2:30

Should we call this vote?

2:32

Okay.

2:32

So uh because the machines are frozen.

2:34

I'm gonna go ahead and call the vote.

2:37

Um Commissioner Johnson?

2:38

Yes.

2:39

Commissioner Lund, Commissioner Josh, yes, Commissioner Flint, yes, Commissioner Jordan, yes, Commissioner Brown, yes, Commissioner Steve, yes, Commissioner Stewart, yes.

2:50

The meeting minutes are adopted.

2:53

Uh next is zoning docket item 01925.

2:59

And that one has been withdrawn by the applicant.

3:04

Okay.

3:06

All right.

3:06

So we will move forward to zoning docket item 0225.

3:13

Uh this item creates a interim zoning district that would uh function as essentially a temporary measure while the text amendment that is considered on the next item, which is zoning docket 2325, is uh considered by the council.

3:43

And again, this is a bridge to the regulations that are proposed in in the next item, which would modify the definition of hotels to require uh on-site staffing at all times.

3:54

Uh the the staff finds that this is an appropriate measure while the definition changes considered and recommends approval.

4:05

Okay, we have uh one comment card in support from Aaron Holmes.

4:16

Good afternoon, Commissioners.

4:18

My name is Aaron Holmes.

4:19

I'm executive director of ECPORA.

4:21

Um I'm here to speak in support of this uh measure today, and along with the following one, uh both the IZD and the following text amendment.

4:31

These two measures are are needed to codify common sense business practices that savvy land use consultants have sought to undermine.

4:38

Um having on-site staff at a hotel of any size is a hundred percent necessary to protect not only the guests but also the surrounding neighborhood for issues related to um security, fire safety, and quality of life, just as any public facing business requires staff during operating hours, so too should uh a hotel or any other type of lodging establishment.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use███████████████████████████████31%
Procedural█████████████████████21%
Short Term Rentals█████████████████17%
Parks and Recreation███████████████15%
Historic Preservation██████████10%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████6%
Summary of Proceedings

New Orleans City Planning Commission Meeting - April 22, 2025

The New Orleans City Planning Commission met on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 1:30 PM in Council Chambers. The Commission considered nine agenda items, including two zoning dockets to close a loophole regarding hotel staffing, multiple subdivision requests, and a park name change. All actions were approved unanimously.

Consent Calendar

  • Adoption of Minutes (April 8, 2025): The minutes were approved unanimously via roll call vote (8-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Zoning Dockets 022/25 and 023/25 (Hotel Staffing): Aaron Holmes, Executive Director of ECPORA, spoke in support of both measures, stating that requiring on-site staffing at all hours is "a hundred percent necessary" to protect guests and neighborhoods and to prevent commercial short-term rentals from operating as hotels.
  • Subdivision Docket 023/25 (4400 Gen DeGaulle): Chip Thurge (architect, applicant) answered questions about the resubdivision, explaining that the excess land from a reduced Chase bank branch would be split into two lots.
  • Subdivision Docket 028/25 (1631 Audubon St): Fred Corral (representing the property owner) addressed questions; no public testimony for or against.
  • Park Name Change (Barbara Lacen Keller Park): Three speakers supported the renaming: Chuck Morse (Thrive New Orleans) praised the honoree and noted his team would construct the park; Kelly Bentley Dixon and Cantina Rankins (daughters of Barbara Lacen Keller) expressed gratitude and emotional support for the tribute.

Discussion Items

  • Zoning Docket 022/25 – Interim Zoning District (IZD) for Customary Lodging Services Staffing: The IZD acts as a temporary measure to prohibit hotel/motel permits that do not provide 24/7 staffing. Staff recommended approval, noting it was a response to a Board of Zoning Adjustments decision (BZA 1425) that created a potential loophole. Commissioners asked about interplay with a concurrent short-term rental study and the extent of the problem; staff clarified it was proactive. Approved.
  • Zoning Docket 023/25 – Text Amendment to Define Customary Lodging Services: This amends Article 26, Section 26.6 to explicitly require 24/7 on-site management for hotels and motels, codifying a previous zoning interpretation (Z-18-02) that conflicted with the BZA decision. Staff recommended approval. Approved.
  • Subdivision Docket 023/25 (Major Subdivision, 4400-4440 Gen DeGaulle): Combines three lots on a 2.68-acre site into one lot of record, with no changes to existing buildings or parking. Staff found no negative impacts. Applicant noted the lot would later be split into two for the bank and excess land. Approved.
  • Subdivision Docket 028/25 (1631 Audubon St / 7020 Green St): Resubdivision to transfer an existing pool across lot lines, creating an irregular multi-frontage lot. Staff recommended approval subject to one proviso regarding pool maintenance. Approved with the proviso.
  • Extension Request for Subdivision Docket 192/23 (1301-1333 Carondelet St): One-year extension for a previously approved combined lot; staff supported. Approved.
  • Park Name Change 002/25 – Barbara Lacen Keller Park: The item was formally a "street name change" due to database limitations, but the subject is a vacant lot (former community center) being created and named as a park. Staff recommended approval, noting no negative impacts. Commissioners shared personal memories of Ms. Keller. The approval is tentative, pending final action by the City Council and Mayor. Approved.
  • Subdivision Ratifications: Two subdivision applications (3436 St. Ferdinand and 1122 Forstall) deemed eligible for administrative approval were ratified. Approved.

Key Outcomes

  • All votes were unanimous. No opposition or dissenting votes were recorded.
  • Zoning Docket 022/25 (IZD) and Zoning Docket 023/25 (text amendment) were approved, closing a loophole that could allow unstaffed hotels to operate as commercial short-term rentals.
  • Subdivision Docket 028/25 was approved with a proviso requiring pool maintenance compliance.
  • Park name change was tentatively approved by the Commission; final approval requires the Mayor and City Council.
  • Extension for Subdivision Docket 192/23 was granted for one year.

Meeting Transcript

Formal business. So Commissioner Johnson? Commissioner Lund? Yeah. Commissioner Josh Guta? Here. Commissioner Flick. Present. Commissioner Jordan here. Commissioner Brown. Here. Commissioner Steeg. Here. And Commissioner Stewart. Here. Okay. So the formal public hearing rules reads as follows. 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 will speak first for a period of 10 minutes. Each speaker shall be allowed a maximum of two minutes. Opponents or other interested parties will speak second for a period of 15 minutes. Each speaker shall be allowed a maximum of two minutes. 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, including 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 followed at 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 first with the adoption of April 8th meeting minutes. Commissioner Flickle second. Okay. We have a motion on the floor from Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Flick. Are there any questions? If not, we will vote our machines. Oh wait, uh oh. Is it frozen? Okay. Should we call this vote? Okay. So uh because the machines are frozen. I'm gonna go ahead and call the vote. Um Commissioner Johnson? Yes. Commissioner Lund, Commissioner Josh, yes, Commissioner Flint, yes, Commissioner Jordan, yes, Commissioner Brown, yes, Commissioner Steve, yes, Commissioner Stewart, yes. The meeting minutes are adopted. Uh next is zoning docket item 01925. And that one has been withdrawn by the applicant. Okay. All right. So we will move forward to zoning docket item 0225.

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