The New Orleans Board of Zoning Adjustments convened on February 23, 2026, beginning in the morning with a scheduled recess from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. The board addressed multiple variance requests, appeals, and deferrals, covering fence heights, parking, subdivision, mechanical equipment, and landscaping.
Applicant Ron Lazell requested a 10-foot fence (3-foot waiver) for a short-term rental property. Staff recommended denial. The board approved a modified waiver allowing 10 feet on interior side and rear yards only, not extending past the building face, subject to HDLC review. Motion by Commissioner Richards, second by Commissioner Diaz; vote 5-0.
Similar request for rear yard fence. Approved with clarification that the waiver applies only to the rear property line and subject to HDLC approval. Motion by Commissioner James, second by Commissioner Alvarez; vote 6-0.
Corner property. Approved waiver for rear yard and corner side yard only to the depth of the rear yard, subject to HDLC approval. Motion by Commissioner Richards, second by Commissioner James; vote 6-0.
Applicant absent. Denied request for variances to permit a parking pad in front yard, finding criteria not met. Motion by Commissioner James, second by Commissioner Gonzalez; vote 6-0.
Applicant requested waivers for screening and landscaping. Denied, with board clarifying that landscaping (shrubs every 36 inches, trees every 25 feet) is required along fence lines. Motion by Commissioner James, second by Commissioner Richards; vote 6-0.
Applicant Renata Malasa sought to subdivide a parcel with two existing homes. Approved all requested waivers (lot area, depth, permeable open space, setbacks, off-street parking) with one proviso. Motion by Commissioner James, second by Commissioner Gonzalez; vote 6-0.
Applicant requested waiver for 4 bathrooms under University Area Overlay. Approved, finding criteria met, subject to one proviso. Motion by Commissioner James, second by Commissioner Alvarez; vote 6-0.
Applicant Amber Babin requested variances for pool and HVAC equipment placement. Approved with one proviso. Motion by Commissioner James, second by Commissioner Gonzalez; vote 6-0.
Applicant sought to subdivide a 57-foot lot into two 28.5-foot lots. Approved with two provisos including maximizing on-street parking. Motion by Commissioner James, second by Commissioner Richards; vote 5-1.
Applicant Charles Clark requested a 10-foot rear setback on a shallow lot. Approved, finding hardship and neighborhood character support. Motion by Commissioner Richards, second by Commissioner Gonzalez; vote 6-0.
Applicant Shilin Cia Jones sought to retain 90% impervious surface after SWBNO repairs. Deferred 60 days to explore green infrastructure options with Urban Conservancy. Motion by Commissioner Diaz, second by Commissioner James; vote 6-0.
Deferred 30 days at staff request for further review. Motion by Commissioner Gonzalez, second by Commissioner James; vote 6-0.
The meeting adjourned after a motion by Commissioner Gonzalez, second by Commissioner James; vote 5-0.
Good morning. I would like to call the Monday, February 23 Board of Zoning Adjustments meeting to order. We will begin with roll call. Oh. Tamara Agans. Jaime Ramiro Diaz. Presented. Alfonso Gonzalez. Present. Jason Richards. Present. At this time, would the board make a motion to adopt the minutes from the February special meeting? I'll feel a little slighted that there wasn't any accent provided on my name. The lack of accent is the accent. We appreciate the flourish. I move so it's been moved by Commissioner. Thank you. Alvarez seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez to adopt the minutes from our special meeting. Um I don't know if the screens is not letting us sign in. Yes. Well, all in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Please note that the board will recess at approximately one PM if the meeting has not already been adjourned, and we'll reconvene at approximately two PM. As a reminder to applicants, action that the board takes today will be released in the form of a disposition notice by March fifth and sent via email and mail to applicants, as well as posted on the one-stop app for other interested parties. Requests that the board votes to approve must show compliance with any noted provisos before the case is finalized and granted final approval. The rebuttal shall be limited to a cumulative maximum of three minutes. The next item is BZA Docket 126 for a property at 3513 Charter Street. This is one of three adjacent properties under common ownership, each developed with a single family residence that operates as a commercial short-term rental. These properties are all being considered for variances of fence height. This request has been modified since the February 9th hearing. The applicant now proposes a 10-foot fence height, an increase from the original nine-foot fence height request. The comprehensive zoning ordinance requires a maximum fence height of seven feet. The applicant is seeking a waiver of three feet. The staff believes that the requested waiver of Article 21, Section 21.6.1.A. Fence height fails to meet standards 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the standards for variance per Article 4, Section 4.6. Therefore, the staff recommends denial of the requested variance. Good morning. Could you give you a name and address for the record? Ron Lazel, 1000 South Norman. See Francis. Um again, thank you, Commissioners and staff. As there are three dockets, as you know, as we went through this couple weeks ago that are pertaining to the same issue. I'm only going to talk on this one issue and ask if I just need a little more time. If you would be uh granted, I have four minutes right as of now. In October of last year, we submitted a BZ application for a fence height waiver at 3134 Royal Street, a property located just three blocks away from these three charter properties. In that staff report, our 11-foot nine-inch waiver request received an approval recommendation by CPC staff stating that all nine criteria had been met. The board unanimously approved the request. I will now review the staff's responses from that prior application on Royal Street, as the two situations are nearly identical and highlight how those same standards are met in our current requests.