Amendment to New Orleans Home Rule Charter
Status: Passed
The amendment to the Home Rule Charter of the City of New Orleans would give the city's forthcoming master plan the force of law, therefore requiring that all zoning and land-use decisions conform to the plan.
Expected to be completed in late 2009, the new master plan will guide development in New Orleans for the next 20 years by creating a framework for decision-makers to promote certain goals (economic development, better housing, improved infrastructure, environmental quality, etc.) while preserving the city's architectural and cultural legacies.
Additionally, giving the master plan the force of law will make it more difficult for the city council to change zoning laws or grant exceptions so as to advance or block specific projects. The charter amendment also would create for the first time "a system for organized and effective neighborhood participation in government."
Local Commentary
New Orleans City Charter Amendment Would Give Master Plan Force of Law
The Times-Picayune, October 27, 2008
New Orleans voters will decide Nov. 4 whether to amend the City Charter to give the city's forthcoming master plan the force of law, meaning that all zoning and land-use decisions would have to conform to the plan.
Willard-Lewis Now Opposes Amendment
The Times-Picayune, October 29, 2008
A week before New Orleans voters decide whether to amend the City Charter to give the city's yet-to-be-written master plan the force of law, a City Council member changed her position Tuesday from support to opposition.
Debating the Master Plan Ordinance
The Times-Picayune, October 30, 2008
New Orleans needs a master plan; on that all parties agree. We need to put an end to zoning by surprise whereby well-connected developers convince the City Council to override the rules of good planning and good sense.
New Orleans City Charter Amendment
ABC26 News, October 30
"Citizens For The Right To Vote" is urging New Orleans voters to vote no on proposition that would make a proposed Master Plan the force of law.
Public Views Crucial to Master Plan
The Times-Picayune, November 10, 2008
When I heard the reasons folks opposed last week's charter-change vote, I got scared.
Updates & Results
New Orleans voters approved the amendment by a narrow margin of 51% on November 4, 2008.
