Mid-City Neighborhood Organization

Update: The zoning meeting planned for this Thursday evening has been canceled, as Jesuit has just notified MCNO that the purchase has been put on hold indefinitely. We don’t have details beyond this. We will keep the community abreast of any changes.
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The Zoning Committee of Mid-City Neighborhood Organization (MCNO) is holding a meeting on Monday, July 28th to consider a requested variance for the Office Building at 3400 Bienville (Bienville and N.
Jefferson Davis Pkwy) to:

1) Reduce the required off street parking from 17 to 14.
2) Reduce the required set back from 20 feet to 0 feet on the front
3) Reduce the required set back from 10 feet to 0 feet on the sides
4) Reduce the required set back from 10 feet to 5 feet in the rear

There is a sketch of the proposed building.

[click to enlarge]

More detailed plans will be available at the meeting.

The architects will present the plans for the building at the meeting. Neighbors are encouraged to attend and express their opinion.

The meeting is Monday, July 28th at 6:30 pm. Location is the Bayou Coffee House at 326 N Jeff Davis.

If you are unable to attend or if you want more information, you can leave a comment on this post.

For more information about what’s happening in your neighborhood, contact the Mid-City Neighborhood Organization at www.mcno.org or come to the monthly meetings on the first Monday of each month from 6:30-8:30 at Grace Episcopal Church at 3700 Canal St.

A neighborhood meeting will be held Saturday, Oct 27 at 12 noon at Bayou Coffeehouse (326 N Jeff Davis) to discuss a request for zoning variances at 118 S Jeff Davis.

Discovery Kids, Inc operates a daycare center at 128 S Jeff Davis. They are seeking to expand the facility to 118 S Jeff Davis. Four variances are being requested:

1. Allow a daycare center within 300 ft of an existing daycare center
2. Waive two of the three off-street parking spaces
3. Waive the requirement to enclose a front yard parking space
4. Waive the requirement for an on-site drop off zone

Because of the variances, this is also a conditional use. The City Planning Commission voted to disapprove the variances. One nearby neighbor opposed the variances at the CPC meeting. The matter is to be heard by the City Council on November 1st.

The MCNO Board voted to support the variances provided 13 conditions were met. Seven conditions were proposed by the City Planning Commission staff (#1-7); six additional conditions were proposed by MCNO
(#8-13).

1. Rear yard shade device to code
2. Play equipment located above a soft surface to code
3. Minimum 6 ft opaque fence around play area
4. Trash storage area enclosed with minimum 6 ft fence
5. Participation in a litter abatement program
6. Remove and landscape an 8×18 ft section of paving in front yard
7. Curbside drop off zone, subject to approval by DPW
8. The owner to lease two additional off-street parking spaces
9. The owner to provide an off-street drop off zone or provide van service
10. Hours of operation at one daycare center be limited
11. The owner cannot further expand daycare in the block
12. The owner cannot apply for any other conditional use in the block
13. The conditional use cannot transfer to a new owner/tenant

Discovery Kids agreed to all of the conditions. Since then, additional nearby neighbors have expressed opposition and asked MCNO to reconsider its support. MCNO and Councilmember Head are seeking neighborhood input on this matter.

MCNO Board Members Doug Pease and Brenda Napolitano will be facilitating the meeting.

If you are unable to attend, and have specific issues you would like to raise, please leave a comment.