New Orleans Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance

Printed: 3/28/2024 10:28:00 AM

5.2 General Standards for Planned Developments

A.  The site of the planned development shall be under common ownership and/or unified control. If there are two (2) or more owners, the application for the planned development shall be jointly filed by all such owners.

B.   Planned developments are allowed within the:

1. General Planned Development Districts

2. Maritime Mixed-Use Districts

3. Historic Core and Historic Urban Districts

4. Suburban Neighborhood Districts

5. Commercial Center Districts

6. Center for Industry Districts

C.   In general, the minimum size considered appropriate for planned developments is five (5) acres, and this minimum size may not be waived by ordinance. However, the following exceptions to this minimum size apply:

1. If it is determined that there are unique or special topographic constraints affecting the property, a planned development may be allowed for tracts of less than five (5) acres, but a planned development shall not be allowed for any tract of less than two and a half (2.5) acres unless it contains an adaptive reuse of an existing industrial, commercial, or institutional structure as described in Section 5.2.C.2.

2. A planned development containing an adaptive reuse of an existing industrial or commercial structure in any district described in 5.2.B, including the Historic Core and Historic Urban Residential Districts, shall not be subject to the five (5) acre minimum if the existing industrial or commercial structure exceeds ten thousand (10,000) square feet in gross floor area. This minimum size for the adaptive reuse of the existing industrial or commercial structure may not be waived by ordinance.  A planned development containing an adaptive reuse of an existing institutional structure in any district described in 5.2.B shall not be subject to the five (5) acre minimum.  There is no minimum floor area requirement for the adaptive reuse of an institutional structure.

3.  A planned development of ten or more units containing affordable housing units as defined in section 5.10.B.

D.  The ordinance authorizing a planned development may grant exceptions to the regulations contained in this Ordinance including, but not limited to, use, density, area, bulk, yards, off-street parking and loading, and signs to achieve the objectives of the proposed planned development. Such exceptions shall be consistent with the procedures and standards of this Article. Use exceptions are prohibited in any single-family or two-family residential district in the Historic Core Neighborhood and Historic Urban Neighborhood Districts with the exception of allowing a multi-family use as part of the adaptive reuse of an existing industrial, commercial, or institutional structure as described in Section 5.2.C.2 or allowing multifamily use as part of a planned development containing affordable housing units in accordance with Section 5.10.

E.    Planned developments shall be compatible with the purpose and intent of this Ordinance and the Master Plan, including the character established within the place districts of the City: General Planned Development District, Maritime Mixed-Use District, Historic Core Neighborhood Districts, Historic Urban Neighborhood Districts, Suburban Districts, Commercial Center Districts, and Center for Industry Districts.

F.  Planned developments shall not adversely affect the natural environment. Natural assets and features, such as existing trees and native vegetation, shall be protected and preserved to the greatest extent practical.

G.  The site shall be accessible to public streets that are adequate to carry the traffic that will be generated by the proposed development. The streets and driveways within the proposed development shall be adequate to serve the uses within the development. The applicant is responsible for the cost and installation of any additional traffic controls and regulating devices that may be required.

H.  All proposed streets, alleys, and driveways shall be adequate to serve the residents, occupants, visitors, or other anticipated traffic. Access points to public streets, and the location of private streets, alleys, and driveways are subject to City approval when granting approval.

I.  The pedestrian circulation system and its related walkways shall be located to provide for separation of pedestrian and vehicular movement and for maximum pedestrian safety.

J.  All planned developments shall provide for acceptable design and construction of all utilities, roadways, parking facilities, landscape, and other site improvements, in accordance with the requirements of this Ordinance and the City Code.
 

March 15, 2019, Zoning Docket 139-18, Ord. 28013 MCS, ยง1