OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

City Planning Commission Meeting - September 23, 2025

City Planning Commission — Tuesday, September 23, 2025
BodyNew Orleans, Louisiana
SessionCity Planning Commission
DateTuesday, September 23, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:45:27

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Good afternoon, everyone.

0:02

Welcome to today's City Planning Commission.

0:05

Tuesday, September 23rd.

0:09

We have a quorum, so we can go ahead and get started.

0:13

We don't need to do a roll call because the computer's working.

0:17

Great.

0:18

All right.

0:19

Let's go ahead and read the formal public hearing rules.

0:24

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

0:30

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

0:38

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

0:42

Each speaker will be allowed a maximum of two minutes.

0:47

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

0:53

Each speaker will be allowed a maximum of two minutes.

0:56

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

0:59

Each speaker shall be a maximum of two minutes.

1:02

Opponents will not be allowed to rebut.

1:06

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

1:14

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

1:34

Wow.

1:40

Thank you.

1:40

Is there a second?

1:42

Is there a second for adopting the meeting minutes?

1:45

Thank thank you.

1:47

Everyone signed in.

1:51

Thank you, Commissioner Flick, and Commissioner Brown.

1:55

Let's go ahead and vote.

1:56

Unless there's any questions.

2:04

The motion carries.

2:08

We'll keep going.

2:09

I want him to be here.

2:12

Bye.

2:25

All right, we're gonna move to zoning docket 045-25.

2:33

So zoning docket 4525 is an item that was deferred from the last meeting.

2:39

It's a planned development application uh for this property at 3308 Washington Avenue.

2:45

The site is developed with a mid-uh-century uh apartment building with 20 units in the back.

2:51

The proposal is to do a new construction piece uh containing about eight units in the front, as you can see here.

3:01

Um we've requested uh at staff level several uh redesigns for both aesthetic and functional reasons around traffic circulation.

3:11

We received the uh updated plans last Thursday and haven't had an opportunity uh since these reports went out before that to uh update the report to address the revised plans, and so we are requesting that you defer this until the next meeting on October 14th.

3:29

Is there anyone here to speak on this matter?

3:35

All right, there's no one here to speak if there's um any questions for staff or not, then we're looking for a deferral for October 8th.

3:47

14th 14.

3:49

I assume that the owner is aware of the deferral.

3:52

I'll make a motion for deferral to October 14th.

3:55

Thank you, Commissioner Flick.

3:56

Is there a second?

3:57

Second.

3:57

Thank you, Commissioner Lunn.

3:59

Any discussion?

4:00

Questions?

4:04

If not, let's vote.

4:11

The motion carries and it will be heard on October 14th.

4:15

Thank you.

4:16

Zoning Docket 050-25.

4:19

This is a request by City Council motion number M25396 for a text amendment to Article 18 of the comprehensive zoning ordinance to create an overlay district to be named the fairgrounds obly district to prohibit all usage except fairground and race tracks to require their fairgrounds and race tracks to be conditionally conditional, conditional uses within this overlay as part of the zoning.

4:41

Docket the city planning commission was directed to review prior conditional uses granted to the site as well as custom and best practices to devise use standards for fair grounds and racetracks, which is set for it, which set for allowable accessory uses.

5:03

Uh staff have determined that there's a recommendation for approval for the proposed text amendment.

5:30

Is there anyone an applicant here to speak?

5:33

Everybody that I have in terms of cards are in opposition.

5:37

So if there is an applicant and you oh, there is city council motion, so there is no applicant, but we do have unless you're here.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████████74%
Procedural██████10%
Economic Development████7%
Historic Preservation██3%
Community Engagement█2%
Fiscal Sustainability█2%
Affordable Housing█2%
Summary of Proceedings

City Planning Commission Meeting - September 23, 2025

The New Orleans City Planning Commission met on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, to consider eight zoning and subdivision dockets, adopt a Land Use Barriers Study, and bid farewell to outgoing Commissioner Kathleen Lunn. The meeting included deferrals, approvals, and extensive public testimony regarding a proposed Fairgrounds Overlay District.

Consent Calendar

  • Adoption of Minutes (September 9, 2025): Approved unanimously without discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Zoning Docket 050/25 (Fairgrounds Overlay): Multiple speakers opposed the overlay, representing Fairgrounds employees, a local business owner, and management. Dr. Sandra Hogan Jones (Fairgrounds employee) said the overlay would add restrictions after the loss of historical horse racing machines and urged the commission to study further. Blake Putney (DocuMart Printing) stated the Fairgrounds is a key customer and additional constraints would hurt his business. Donna Britton (OTB manager) described the impact of losing 50 historical horse racing machines at her parlor and asked for city support. Kathy Beading (VP/GM of Fairgrounds) expressed concern that the overlay and staff report omitted slot machines and residential uses currently on site, noting 600 slot machines and housing for horsemen. Jason Boulette (Senior Director of Racing) outlined challenges including a 10-year EPA consent decree and recruitment difficulties. Sheree Timmer (consultant for Fairgrounds) requested a deferral to allow stakeholder discussions, noting they only received the staff report the day before. Matt Ryan (resident) spoke in support of the ordinance, stating it protects against a potential sale or redevelopment of the site. Council District A Land Use Director Claire Bien affirmed the intent was to maintain status quo and protect the neighborhood.
  • Zoning Docket 052/25 (Parking Lot): Matt Ryan, representing the Coliseum Square Association, supported the applicant, attesting to his character and stating the parking lot is an interim use.
  • Land Use Barriers Study: John Sullivan (Enterprise Community Partners) praised the study and highlighted parking reform and bulk/yard regulation changes as key to affordability, citing national examples.

Discussion Items

  • Zoning Docket 045/25 (3308 Washington Ave – Affordable Housing Planned Development): Deferred from September 9, 2025. Staff requested another deferral to October 14, 2025, due to revised plans received late. No public speakers. Motion to defer carried.
  • Zoning Docket 050/25 (Fairgrounds Overlay District): Staff recommended approval but clarified the overlay is meant to govern redevelopment if the racetrack ceases operation, not to change current uses. After extensive public opposition and a request for deferral from the Fairgrounds, the commission deferred to October 14, 2025, to allow stakeholders to review and clarify the staff report. Commissioner Brown moved the deferral, noting the need for all parties to participate.
  • Zoning Docket 051/25 (Greater Works Family Life Center – Parking Amendment): Staff recommended approval to expand the off-site parking radius. No public speakers. Approved unanimously.
  • Zoning Docket 052/25 (1300-1316 Prytania St – Parking Lot Conditional Use): Applicant Victor Farrugia stated the lot is vacant and interim, with plans to build in the future. He objected to a proviso requiring subdivision into one lot; staff noted it was not essential. The commission approved with proviso 2 removed. Vote: 7-0 (Commissioner Lunn voted against parking lots in historic districts but the motion carried).
  • Zoning Docket 053/25 (5330 St Claude Ave – Gas Station Conditional Use): Staff requested a 30-day deferral to investigate zoning noncompliance issues. Applicant agreed. Deferred to October 28, 2025.
  • Zoning Docket 054/25 (4500 Woodland Dr – Gas Station Conditional Use): Staff recommended approval. Applicant Maddie Charleston concurred. Approved with three provisos.
  • Subdivision Docket 044/25 (14051-14071 Dwyer Rd – Resubdivision into 17 lots): Staff recommended approval with nine provisos. Applicant Hung Fam explained a temporary T-turnaround until adjacent lot is developed. Approved.
  • Subdivision Docket 075/25 (1600 Stanton Rd – Resubdivision into two lots): Staff recommended approval with one proviso. Applicant Alan Miller described a micro-farm operation. Approved.
  • Land Use Barriers Study: Staff presented a comprehensive study identifying barriers in the land use process, including staffing shortages, permit system inefficiencies, and outdated zoning regulations. Recommendations include process improvements, technology upgrades, and zoning code amendments. Commission adopted the study with a recommendation that City Council form a task force to expedite implementation. Also authorized staff to make non-substantive edits. Vote: unanimous.
  • Subdivision Ratifications: Could not load documents; deferred to October 14, 2025.

Key Outcomes

  • Deferrals: ZD 045/25 and ZD 050/25 deferred to October 14; ZD 053/25 deferred to October 28; Subdivision Ratifications deferred to October 14.
  • Approvals: ZD 051/25, ZD 052/25 (with proviso 2 removed), ZD 054/25, SD 044/25, SD 075/25 all approved with conditions.
  • Study Adoption: Land Use Barriers Study adopted with recommendation for a task force.
  • Farewell: Commissioner Kathleen Lunn was honored for her nine years of service; she noted the privilege of serving and praised staff professionalism.
  • Meeting adjourned at approximately 3:45 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to today's City Planning Commission. Tuesday, September 23rd. We have a quorum, so we can go ahead and get started. We don't need to do a roll call because the computer's working. Great. All right. Let's go ahead and read the formal public hearing rules. The City Planning Commission has established certain rules governing the procedures to be followed at all public hearings. Before speaking, each person shall give their name, address whom she or he are representing. Proponents for the proposal will speak for a period of 10 minutes. Each speaker will be allowed a maximum of two minutes. Opponents or other interested parties will speak for a period of 15 minutes. Each speaker will be allowed a maximum of two minutes. Proponents will be allowed a period of six minutes for rebuttal. Each speaker shall be a maximum of two minutes. Opponents will not be allowed to rebut. No material, written matter, photographs, maps, etcetera will be accepted by the commission or staff at any time during this public hearing. This procedure shall be followed except at such time when the preceding officer shall with the approval of the commission members present extend such time. Wow. Thank you. Is there a second? Is there a second for adopting the meeting minutes? Thank thank you. Everyone signed in. Thank you, Commissioner Flick, and Commissioner Brown. Let's go ahead and vote. Unless there's any questions. The motion carries. We'll keep going. I want him to be here. Bye. All right, we're gonna move to zoning docket 045-25. So zoning docket 4525 is an item that was deferred from the last meeting. It's a planned development application uh for this property at 3308 Washington Avenue. The site is developed with a mid-uh-century uh apartment building with 20 units in the back. The proposal is to do a new construction piece uh containing about eight units in the front, as you can see here. Um we've requested uh at staff level several uh redesigns for both aesthetic and functional reasons around traffic circulation. We received the uh updated plans last Thursday and haven't had an opportunity uh since these reports went out before that to uh update the report to address the revised plans, and so we are requesting that you defer this until the next meeting on October 14th. Is there anyone here to speak on this matter? All right, there's no one here to speak if there's um any questions for staff or not, then we're looking for a deferral for October 8th. 14th 14. I assume that the owner is aware of the deferral. I'll make a motion for deferral to October 14th. Thank you, Commissioner Flick. Is there a second? Second. Thank you, Commissioner Lunn. Any discussion? Questions?

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