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NEW ORLEANS - Today, Council President Helena Moreno and Vice President Donna Glapion announced they have pre-filed legislation announcing their intention to require any relocation of City Hall to go through a "conditional use" process with mandatory Council approval.
The At-Large Members would require such a process through a text amendment to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (CZO), making any relocation of City Hall subject to the same inclusive, community-centric approach required of other land-use decisions. A motion spelling out these changes was pre-filed for the June 15, 2021, Council Meeting.
"For our citizens, our city employees, our neighborhoods, and our future, we must have a holistic and inclusive approach to building a new seat of government," said Council President Moreno. "Our legislation will create a set of checks and balances that puts the community in control of any relocation of City Hall.”
“Major decisions impacting the future of communities and government cannot be made lightly and must always consider if existing disparities will be worsened," Councilmember Glapion said. "The approval process instituted by amending the CZO will ensure an opportunity for the community to be heard and have their feedback thoughtfully considered prior to breaking ground on such an important or significant project.”
Today's resolution spells out the beginning of a process to create a text amendment to the CZO, which defines City Hall and makes any relocation a conditional use. Conditional use processes provide early public input and require several public hearings and approvals before a project may move forward. Any such application would have to be made in public and prior to any planning or public expenditure.
You can read the resolution here.
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