City Planning Commission Meeting - June 24, 2025
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City Planning Commission Meeting - June 24, 2025
The New Orleans City Planning Commission met on June 24, 2025, at 1:39 PM local time. The meeting addressed two zoning dockets, a deferral of an EPA cleanup plan presentation, and the ratification of four subdivisions. All votes were unanimous, with no opposition noted.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Zoning Docket 03125: Two comment cards were submitted in support. James Naylor, co-owner of the applicant Neutron Coffee House LLC, stated the property at 9000 Hickory will operate as a neighborhood coffee house and community space with no alcohol. He confirmed agreement with the three provisos recommended by staff. Ashley Beach, president of the nonprofit Neutral Ground Coffee House, described the space as a community center hosting musical programming, library, and donation-based events. She noted the interior feels larger than the previous location on Daniel Street.
Discussion Items
- Zoning Docket 03125: Request for a conditional use permit to operate a neighborhood commercial establishment (specialty restaurant/coffee house) at 9000 Hickory. The property historically served as a place of worship since 1937. Staff analysis found compliance with use standards and recommended approval subject to three provisos: submission of final drawings, compliance with pedestrian-oriented design standards for the non-residential structure, and provision of bicycle parking (minimum two spaces). The applicant already installed bicycle parking.
- Zoning Docket 03225: Request to rezone a property in the Holy Cross neighborhood from H UMU (Historic Urban Neighborhood Mixed Use) to H URD 2 (Historic Urban Two-Family Residential). The site contains a church and accessory parking lot. The applicant plans to expand the parking lot and renovate the church to add a library and classroom wing. The rezoning was required to resolve a split-zoned lot created by a prior subdivision. Staff noted consistency with the future land use designation and alignment with adjacent zoning. The applicant was not present, but the commission proceeded with approval.
- EPA Cleanup Plan and ABCA for Municipal Auditorium: Staff requested deferral of this item to the July 8 meeting because the presenter was pulled into another meeting. The commission voted to defer.
- Subdivision Ratifications: Four subdivisions were presented for ratification of staff determinations that they are eligible for administrative approval: 5334 St. Charles, 1211 Governor Nichols, 5525 Governor Nichols, and 2418-2420 Marengo Street. No questions or comments were raised.
Key Outcomes
- Zoning Docket 03125: Approved unanimously (Commissioner Brown moved, Commissioner Steed seconded) with the three provisos.
- Zoning Docket 03225: Approved unanimously (Commissioner Johnson moved, Commissioner Steed seconded) without provisos.
- EPA Cleanup Plan and ABCA: Deferred to July 8, 2025, by unanimous vote (Commissioner Johnson moved, Commissioner Lund seconded; roll call: 5-0).
- Subdivision Ratifications: Approved unanimously (Commissioner Lund moved, Commissioner Johnson seconded) to allow administrative ratification.
- The meeting was adjourned shortly after the final vote.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, we're gonna uh get started. Good afternoon, everybody. Thank you for coming to today's city planning commission meeting. Uh it's now one thirty-nine, and I will start first uh by calling role, uh following uh by reading the formal public hearing rules, and then moving on to our order of business. So we will call role, Commissioner Johnson. Commissioner Brown here, Commissioner Jordan here, Commissioner Steve here. Commissioner Stewart. Present. Okay. 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. And now we will begin with the adoption of June tenth. Oh more of the working for you. There you go. Okay. And meeting minutes are adopted. The first official item of business is zoning docket item 03125. Zoning docket 03125 is a request for a conditional use permit to permit a neighborhood commercial establishment at 9000 Hickory. The particular property had a historic use as a place of worship since at least 1937 and presents its suts and its reading. Neutral ground operated for four decorate decades at 5110 to Neil Street, but ceased the use of that location in April 2023 after the building changed ownership. Part of the intended use involves open mic nights according to Article 26 second 26.6 um the CZO musical accompaniment at a standard or specialty restaurant does not qualify as live entertainment as a secondary use. The staff analysis determines that the proposal complies with the use standards for a specialty restaurant uh contained in Article 20, section 3. The staff recommends approval subject to three provisos, notable among them a requirement to add bicycle parking with a minimum of two spaces as required by Article 22 section for a table 22-1. Thank you. We have uh two common cards in support, one from the applicant James Naylor. Good afternoon. I'm James Naylor. I'm one of the uh owners of the Neutron Coffee House LLC. We were in front of y'all about a year ago for a different location, but that fell through. So I recently purchased this building here for the purposes of putting the Neutron coffee house in. And I did just last week put in bicycle parking. So um so our intent is just a open run as the neutron coffee house. It's a community space where anyone and everyone is welcome to join us. We're no alcohol, it's just a meeting meeting place for all of anyone to enjoy. Uh asked y'all to approve it. Thank you. Uh Mr. Naylor, could just quick question. Do you have uh are you in agreement with the three provisos? What were the were they exactly? I'm sorry, it's just staff restate the provisos. Yeah. Um so the first one is the standard one, um, which is to provide drawings before final approval. The second one uh is that the applicant comply with the applicable standards, um that a the existing structure is non-residential, b the existing structure and the proposed use shall be pedestrian-oriented in design. Um the third one being that it provide bicycle parking. So provide drawings and yes, I'm agree with all this. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, we have uh one more common card in support. Uh Miss Ashley Beach.
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