- Send Us Your Letters and Stories
(Trespassing in Audubon Park)
- Final Draft of the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance
SEND US YOUR LETTERS AND STORIES!
First, many thanks to those who have
written in to tell us how much they appreciate our successful effort to save
Hurst Walk!
However, we have also received numerous stories of path
users being harrassed as well, and we want those stories! Have you, or anyone
you know, been stopped by the park security guards while walking on Hurst
Walk? Been told you're trespassing on private property? Been threatened with
a trespassing ticket, either on Hurst Walk or on the periphery of the new
golf course, no matter what time of day, or whether or not there were any
golfers around? Actually had the cops called on you (yes, this has really
happened, folks!)?
We're collecting the stories at saveaudubonpark@yahoo.com; please
send yours on if you have one, and let us know if we can include it in a
compilation on the website.
We have also heard countless stories about
Letters to the Editor, directed to both the TP and the Gambit, that have gone
unpublished, and we want them too! For the SaveAudubonPark.org website to be
a full record of this most recent AC/ANI controversy, every piece of
information and public input is relevant.
FINAL DRAFT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE
How Changes to Park Zoning in the New CZO Could Impact You and Your Favorite
Park!
The City Planning Commission held an Open House on Friday, November
15, in order for citizens to review the Final Draft of the City's new zoning
maps and revised Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance. This draft will soon be
available online on the CPC website at
http://www.new-orleans.la.us/cnoweb/cpc/index.htm
Sometime in December or January, the CPC will present this Draft to the City Council
for approval. After it is approved (as a draft) by the City Council, a round
of public hearings will commence early next year to gather final public input
and commentary, before the new Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance is ultimately
enacted.
There are still a number of problem areas in the Final
Draft:
- "Specialty fast food restaurants" have been added as a new "P"
(permitted) use, meaning they could be constructed in parks without ANY
public input;
- "Cocktail lounge restaurants" have been added as a new "C"
(conditional) use, which would at least require public hearings and citizen
input;
- "Snowball stands" have now been added as a new "P" use, requiring no
public input;
- "Meeting/banquet/reception facility" has been added as a new
"C" use;
Simply put, we believe that any new commercial uses allowed in park
districts, certainly to include banquet facilities, cocktail and fast food
restaurants, should NOT be allowed as "P" (permitted) uses; at most, they
should only be allowed as "C" (conditional) uses, so that the public has an
opportunity to review and challenge each and every such proposal for our
parks.
If you agree, please consider submitting your comments on the
draft CZO to the CPC, which can be done throughout the approval process. They
can be addressed to:
Cathy Sak, Senior City Planner
Suite 9W03
1300
Perdido St.
New Orleans, LA 70112-2123
email: cathys@new-orleans.la.us
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