City Planning Commission Meeting - July 22, 2025
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City Planning Commission Meeting
Date: July 22, 2025
Time: 1:35 PM
Location: Council Chambers
The City Planning Commission (CPC) convened on July 22, 2025, at 1:35 PM. The meeting covered adoption of previous minutes, two zoning dockets, two subdivision dockets, and subdivision ratifications. All votes were unanimous.
Consent Calendar
- Adoption of Minutes (July 8, 2025): Motion by Commissioner Flick, seconded by Commissioner Josh Gupta. Approved unanimously (4-0; Commissioner Lund not voting? Roll call listed 4 yes votes).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Zoning Docket 036/25: David Bottner (1134 Baronne Street, New Orleans), representing applicant New Orleans Mission, spoke in support. He stated that the project provides affordable housing for men and women transitioning from shelter programs, noting that 27 individuals had recently graduated from their vocational program and need housing. No opposition cards were filed.
- Subdivision Docket 051/25: Jansen Hubbard (1766 Pratt Drive), a resident and licensed realtor, expressed unanimous support among affected property owners. Peter Raymond Grafiel (1760 Pratt Drive), on behalf of applicant Joshua Terry, explained the resubdivision formalizes previous land sales and consolidates parcels for tax purposes. No opposition cards were filed.
Discussion Items
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Zoning Docket 036/25 – Affordable Housing Planned Development (AHPD): Request by 1122 OCH, LLC for a 30-unit affordable housing building with first-floor office space at 1122 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard. The site is currently vacant. Staff recommended approval subject to two exceptions and four provisos. The Design Advisory Committee (DAC) granted conceptual approval on July 16, 2025, with conditions on color palette, landscaping, and pathway definition. The project decreased floor count but maintained 30 units. No commission discussion beyond staff presentation.
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Zoning Docket 037/25 – Rezoning of Former Agricultural Street Landfill / Gordon Plaza Site: Request by City Council Motion M-25-289 to rezone from S-RD (Suburban Two-Family Residential) to BIP (Business-Industrial Park) for a solar farm development. The site is a Superfund hazardous waste site, acquired by the city in October 2024. Staff noted that the rezoning is technically a spot zoning due to incomplete prior Future Land Use Map amendment, but it aligns with land use patterns and converts the site to sustainable infrastructure. Staff recommended approval with a note to exclude 3251 St. Ferdinand Street (apartment complex owned by Peter Gardner) from the rezoning map. Commissioner moved to approve with that exclusion; motion carried.
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Subdivision Docket 051/25 – Resubdivision of Lots at Pratt Drive: Request to reconfigure seven existing lots into six lots. Previously approved in January 2023 under Docket 147-22 but expired. The request is identical and staff again recommended approval subject to one waiver and one proviso. Approved unanimously.
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Subdivision Docket 052/25 – Resubdivision at Joliet and Sycamore Streets: Request to reconfigure three lots (Lots 11, 12, 15A) into Lots 11A and 15A1. The irregularly shaped lot 15A1 does not meet 40% conformity threshold, requiring discretionary review under Section 4.3.2. Staff found standards met. No public comment. Approved unanimously as recommended.
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Subdivision Ratifications: List of administrative approvals was ratified unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Zoning Docket 036/25: Approved (motion by Commissioner Flick, seconded; all in favor).
- Zoning Docket 037/25: Approved with the exclusion of 3251 St. Ferdinand Street (motion by Commissioner [?], seconded by Commissioner Flick; all in favor).
- Subdivision Docket 051/25: Approved subject to one waiver and one proviso (motion by Commissioner Flick, seconded by Commissioner Lund; all in favor).
- Subdivision Docket 052/25: Approved as recommended (motion by Commissioner Lund, seconded by Commissioner Flick; all in favor).
- Subdivision Ratifications: Approved (motion by Commissioner Flick, seconded by Commissioner Stewart; all in favor).
- Adjournment: Motion by Commissioner Flick, seconded by Commissioner Lund; all in favor.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, good afternoon, everyone. It's now one thirty-five PM. We're going to go ahead and get started. First, we're going to call roll followed by uh reading out the four formal public hearing rules. And that will follow uh what will follow that as our regular business. So we will call roll Commissioner Lund. Commissioner Josh. Commissioner Jordan present, Commissioner Flick. Present. Commissioner Stewart present. Okay. The formal public hearing rules are 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 ten minutes total. Each speaker shall be allowed a maximum of two minutes. This procedure shall be followed except at such a time where the presiding officer shall, with the commission members present, extend such time. And with that said, we will start first with the adoption of our meeting minutes from July 8th. Commissioner Flick will make a motion for approval. Meeting minutes July 8th. Okay, we have a motion on the floor for approval from Commissioner Flick, seconded by Commissioner Josh Gupta. If there's no further discussion, we'll vote our machines. Okay, I think we're having a little bit of a tech issue. Okay, so and in lieu of our machines, we're gonna call the vote. Um Commissioner Lund. Commissioner Josh Gupta. Yes. Commissioner Jordan, yes. Commissioner Flick. Yes. Commissioner Stewart, yes. Okay, the meeting minutes are adopted. Uh next up is zoning docket item 03625. Zoning Docket 03625 is a request for an affordable housing plan development located in an MU-2 high-intensity mixed use district at the corner of Aretha Castle Haley Boulevard and uh Calliope Street in the central city neighborhood. The site is currently undeveloped and has been prior to Katrina. Surrounding the site are New Orleans Mission Offices, Shelter, and Food Distribution Center. The applicant proposes the construction of a three-story 30-unit building with office space on the first floor for nefor for affordable housing developer New Orleans Mission. Staff finds that the requested AHPD at this location fits within the scope of an MU2 district as a proposal will bring a vacant site back into commerce with the long-term benefit of affordable housing for the greater New Orleans community. Updated plans were provided by the applicant on the 30th of June, noting a decrease in the numbers of floors while maintaining the original number of proposed units. This request was reviewed by the design advisory committee on the 16th of July. The DAC granted its conceptual approval, provided that the color palette be amended to better reflect the character of the corridor, that options for the landscaping and open areas to the rear of the building to be improved for future tenants be explored, and that the pathway to the mission campus courtyard abutting the subject site be more clearly defined. Staff recommends approval of zoning docket 3625, subject to two exceptions and four provisos. Thank you. We have uh one common card representing the applicant, David Bodner. Yep. You could just state your name and address for the record. Yes, my name is David Bottner, and I'm at 1134 Barone Street, New Orleans, 7013. Okay. Thank you all very much for allowing us to be here today. Um the New Orleans mission obviously serves the homeless in our community through the process of rescue, recovery, re-engagement, and reunite. We believe that this part of it having more affordable housing for those men and women that are with us is just a great need.
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