THE CITY’S OFFICIAL MASTER PLAN: CREATING NEW ORLEANS FUTURE TOGETHER

1. THE CITY’S OFFICIAL MASTER PLAN: CREATING NEW ORLEANS FUTURE TOGETHER Presentation to NPN: Basics of Planning and Zoning CITY PLANNING COMMISSION | CITY OF NEW ORLEANS | MARCH 24 & 31, 2010

2. Background:Historic context History of planned cities dating back thousands of years (Egypt, Babylon, Greece, Rome, China, Central America, Indus valley, “Laws of the Indies”) Late nineteenth century: cities perceived as overcrowded, congested, polluted, and blighted Urban planning reemerged as discipline combining architecture, engineering, and social sciences Standard state planning and zoning enabling acts City Beautiful movement: Daniel Burnham, civic centers, parks Zoning: Euclid v. Ambler - U.S. Sup. Ct. 1926

3. Background: Your City Planning Commission Nine volunteer citizen members appointed Commissioners by Mayor and approved by City Council Nine year terms, with one new appointment annually Commission “unattached” to Administration Commission appoints Executive Director and Deputy Director who hire staff and manage office

4. CPC Responsibilities Legal foundation: State enabling legislation (La. R.S. Title 33) Home Rule Charter (Article 5, Chapter 4) Four main responsibilities: Master Plan Zoning ordinance Subdivision regulations Capital Improvement Program Also: other studies, as well as…

5. Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) Seven volunteer citizen members appointed by Mayor and approved by City Council Five year terms, with one new appointment annually Board is “attached” to City Planning Commission State law (La. R.S. 33: 4727) Home Rule Charter (Sec. 5-408) “Quasi-judicial”: decisions appealed to Orleans Parish Civil District Court, not City Council Acts on variances, special exceptions, extensions, and “decision appeals”

6. Applications that CPC reviews Zoning text amendments Zoning map amendments Conditional uses and planned developments Site plan reviews Moratorium and interim zoning district appeals Subdivisions

7. What is a master plan? A statement of development goals, objectives, and policies for the physical growth and development of the city Maps and a text setting forth principles, standards, and proposals Includes at least sixelements: Vision, Goals, and Policy; Land Use; Transportation; Housing; Community Facilities and Infrastructure; and Historic Preservation Elements are to be interrelated and are to provide overall guidance for City policy and priorities

8. What is a zoning ordinance? Actual regulations as to: Use (single-family dwelling, retail store, cocktail lounge, ink manufacturing factory) Height, area, and bulk (minimum lot width, minimum lot area per dwelling, maximum building height) Performance standards (smoke, noise, vibration, heat, glare) General standards (off-street parking and loading, accessory buildings, landscaping, etc.) A zoning ordinance is a law that is enforceable, but not by the City Planning Commission.

9. What is a zoning ordinance? Maps… and …text

10. Zoning amendment process Application and pre-filing meeting with CPC staff Notice (newspaper, on-site, adjacent property owner letters, website, information kiosks, neighborhood association letters, email list) Public hearing before CPC Public hearing before City Council Calendar Ordinance, Final Ordinance Recordation of plans (for conditional use and planned development applications only)

11. Other planning and zoning terms Non-conforming use Non-conforming structure Building permit Certificate of occupancy Occupational license Yard (setback) Floor area ratio (F.A.R.) Mixed use Alcoholic beverage outlet Site plan Elevation Local historic district National historic district

12. Other organizations involved in planning in N.O. CPC Planning Advisory Committee CPC Design Advisory Committee Neighborhood Conservation District Committee (NCDC) Chief Administrative Office (CAO) Department of Safety and Permits Department of Public Works Department of Property Management HDLC/VCC Sewerage and Water Board (SWB) Entergy Department of Parks and Parkways Office of Community Development/PDU (Mayor’s Office) New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA) Office of Code Enforcement (Mayor’s Office) Clerk of Civil District Court (Conveyances/Archives)

13. The Master Plan Goal:Preserve, protect and strengthen New Orleans, creating great places to live, learn, work and play. The Zoning Ordinance Commitment Guide the private market to build great places for people to live, work, shop and play.

14. Challenge: Creating consistency between the new plan and the ordinance

16. Key features of future land use map Pre-War and Post-War land use categories Environmentally sensitive development in undeveloped marshlands Mixed-use corridors Preserve existing densities in suburban neighborhoods

17. What does “force of law” mean? Previously, the City Charter required that all public building and infrastructure investments (capital projects) be consistent with a Master Plan, and this remains in effect The Charter amendment requires that all future “land use actions” be consistent with the land use element of the Master Plan Master Plan must indicate which zoning districts can be applied in which land use designations

18. What does “force of law” not mean? That the City Planning Commission will make the final decision on zoning change and conditional use applications That citizens and property owners will not be able to apply to change zoning That every recommendation in the Master Plan will be enforceable

19. Project status update Master Plan adopted by Commission and forwarded to City Council in February City Council now conducting outreach meetings with constituents by District Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (CZO) revision contract extension signed

20. MP Approval Flowchart Timeline City Planning Commission (CPC) adopts Master Plan (MP) by resolution; forwards to City Council (CC) (occurred February 8th) 90 days beginning at date of receipt by CC (May 9th) CC adopts MP Process ends CC rejects MP; forwards action to CPC CC proposes modification to MP; forwards action to CPC 60 days (July 8th) CPC recommends action to CC CPC recommends action to CC 45 days (August 22nd) Failure to act by CC constitutes adoption Process ends CC takes final action on MP Process ends CC takes final action on MP Process ends

21. CZO Work Program • “Staff draft” ordinance review • ZTAC review of draft ordinance • Preparation of popular summary • Community meetings • Refinement of the draft ordinance and map • Community meetings • CPC draft ordinance • Legislative consideration

22. Planning and neighborhood organizations Have regular meetings and invite City Council members Create strong neighborhood outreach program Designate a City Planning point person to keep City informed of neighborhood needs and to monitor CPC and BZA agendas

23. CPC Office Organization

24. CPC Staff Contacts Yolanda Rodriguez, Executive Director ywrodriguez@cityofno.com Leslie Alley, Deputy Director ltalley@cityofno.com Paul Cramer, Planning Administrator pcramer@cityofno.com Geoffrey Moen, Principal City Planner gnmoen@cityofno.com P. 504-658-7033 www.cityofno.com/Portals/Portal52/portal.aspx

25. THANK YOU