MASTER PLAN AMENDMENT PROCESS: A GUIDE FOR SUBMITTING AMENDMENTS TO THE MASTER PLAN
The City Planning Commission (CPC) announces the opening of a Master Plan amendment application period. According to the City Charter “at least once every five years, but not more often than once per calendar year… the Commission shall review the Master Plan and shall determine, after one or more public hearings, whether the plan requires amendment or comprehensive revision.” This year’s application period will run through August 5, 2011. The Master Plan can be reviewed and downloaded from the CPC website or the Master Plan website: www.nolamasterplan.org. Please review the following information pertaining to the amendment process.
1. What are the different types of amendment requests?
Proposed amendments may include changes to policies, the Future Land Use Map (FLUM), appendices or other components of the Plan.
2. Who may propose an amendment?
Anyone may propose an amendment to the Master Plan’s text. However, changes to the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) must be submitted by the owner of the property for which the change is requested. More sizable areas for possible amendment may be requested by a City Councilmember. An application form can be obtained from the City Planning Commission at 1340 Poydras Street, 9th Floor NOLA 70112.
3. When must a proposed amendment be submitted to the City?
According to the City Charter, the City Planning Commission may consider plan amendments once every year. As part of the first annual review, Master Plan amendments will be accepted June through August 5, 2011.
4. How is an amendment submitted?
A proposed amendment is submitted in writing to the City Planning Commission. A pre-application conference is required prior to submitting an amendment request to confirm that the request is germane to the Master Plan.
The proposed amendment must consist of at least:
a. A reference to the Master Plan chapter that is proposed for amendment and/or a map of the boundaries
b. Proposed amendment language
c. An explanation of why the amendment is being proposed
For more information on submittal requirements please
CLICK HERE.
5. What is the cost for filing an amendment?
In 2011, the first year of accepting applications, the City Planning Commission will not charge a fee for amendment requests or submissions.
6. What will happen once the amendment is proposed?
Once the amendment application packet is submitted for review, the City Planning Commission will schedule a public meeting and publish a notice a local newspaper of general circulation at least fifteen days in advance of the meeting. For public benefit and convenience, these meetings may be combined with meetings to revise the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance. In addition to the public meetings, the City Planning Commission will hold a formal public hearing. A staff report evaluating the requests according to criteria noted in the application will be available to aid the discussion. The Planning Commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for final disposition.
Paul Cramer
Assistant Planning Administrator
New Orleans City Planning Commission
1340 Poydras Street # 900
New Orleans, LA 70112