CBD Zoning Reform

OCAI is working to propose changes to support commericial vibrancy in the Central Business District.

On Thursday, April 10th from 6PM-7PM, OCAI is hosting a virtual Neighborhood Participation Plan meeting. Please see the Zoom information below, alongside the letter sent to neighborhood associations in the affected area.

You and your neighbors can access the virtual meeting, which will be held over Zoom, either by:

  1. Following the instructions below:
    1. Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/95528690848?pwd=bnHUD8DLnfXYXDzcZkr4ojG9UxmaMz.1
      1. Meeting ID: 955 2869 0848
      2. Passcode: 504
    2. Click here for phone call:
      1. +13092053325,,95528690848#,,,,*504# US
      2. 13126266799,,95528690848#,,,,*504# US (Chicago)
  2. Scan this QR code to directly access the virtual meeting:

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Dear Neighborhood Leader,

The City’s Office of Community Assets and Investment (OCAI) will be holding a virtual Neighborhood Participation Plan (NPP) community meeting on Thursday, April 10th from 6PM to 7PM to solicit input and discuss potential text amendments to revise zoning and land use regulations in sections of the Central Business District. OCAI has developed this proposal in conversation with the Downtown Development District, arts and culture advocates, and community organizations.

The purpose of this proposal is to modernize and streamline CBD zoning to address vacancy, particularly for small-scale commercial development and residential development. Following this meeting, the City Planning Commission will review input received and make recommendations on potential revisions. Final recommendations must be consistent with the Master Plan and Future Land Use Map.

This letter is going to all contacts for neighborhood associations in the affected area registered with the City of New Orleans. At the NPP meeting, we will collect contact information for attendees to keep them updated. If you have any questions prior to or following the meeting, please direct them to OCAI@nola.gov. Following the Neighborhood Participation Plan community meeting, the City Planning Commission and City Council may consider a text amendment to adopt the proposed changes.

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Given the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, cities around the country are now pursuing legislation to revitalize and stabilize their central business districts through zoning reform and office-to-residential conversions.

As seen below, New Orleans has seven CBD zoning districts, and each district currently prohibits or requires a conditional use permit for many uses that otherwise support a healthy economy. The patchwork of use permissions in CBD zoning districts can lead to confusion for businesses and residents when working to open a business or to redevelop vacant property. Additionally, many of the prohibited or conditional uses are types of businesses that provide opportunities for culture bearers and artists.

This proposal excludes the CBD-5 zoning district (Lafyette Square) from proposed changes, due to its purpose as a lower intensity commercial use district.

The proposed text amendment may have the following effects:

Where otherwise prohibited or conditionally allowable by the base zoning, the following are permitted uses in CBD-1, CBD-2, CBD-3, CBD-4, CBD-6, and CBD-7:

  1. Auditorium
  2. Community Center
  3. Cultural Facility
  4. Dormitory
  5. Educational Facility, Primary
  6. Educational Facility, Secondary
  7. Indoor Amusement Facilities
  8. Live Entertainment – Secondary Use
  9. Live Performance Venue
  10. Manufacturing, Artisan
  11. Manufacturing, Light
  12. Movie Studio
  13. Recording Studio
  14. Research & Development
  15. Social Club or Lodge
  16. Wine Shop

Where otherwise prohibited by the base zoning, the following are conditionally allowable in CBD-1, CBD-2, CBD-3, CBD-4, CBD-6, and CBD-7 per Section 17.3 and Table 17-1 of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (czo.nola.gov):

  1. Hospital
  2. Outdoor Amphitheater
  3. Micro-Breweries
  4. Micro-Distilleries

Additionally, the proposal would ask the City Planning Commission to consider exempting the on-site open space requirement in the Central Business District zoning districts in 17.4.B of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for renovations. This requirement makes it significantly more difficult to conduct office-to-residential conversions.