Kenner council approves changes to Unified Development Code to clarify setbacks, uses and signage

The Kenner City Council on July 10 approved Ordinance 13,845, a set of seven amendments to the city's Unified Development Code intended to correct errors from the 2016 code transition and to clarify development rules for future projects.

Planning Director Chris Sklinski told the council the package was "fairly straightforward" and said the changes fall into four broad categories: fixing drafting errors carried over from the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, protecting the visual character of major commercial corridors, clarifying language, and providing special exceptions to avoid undue burdens on residents.

The ordinance makes these principal changes: it restores a rear-yard setback to the RMF (multifamily residential) district (a minimum of 20 feet was noted by staff); removes "trade service establishments" (HVAC installers, electricians, plumbers and similar) from certain neighborhood and general commercial districts and adds them to industrial districts; updates the map for the Rivertown Historic District to match a 2023 boundary change; revises how required parking is calculated for places of worship (staff said the prior language had produced extremely large requirements in at least one case); makes gas stations a conditional use in the C-2 General Commercial District so they must seek planning commission review and council approval; clarifies how window signs are counted toward a building's total allowable signage; and creates limited exceptions so uncovered front steps and temporary handicap ramps that otherwise would encroach into required yards do not require a variance (ramps with coverings would still need a variance and temporary ramps must be removed when no longer needed).

Sklinski illustrated the parking change by saying one proposed larger church under the prior wording would have needed "nearly 800 parking spots," a figure he said resulted from a drafting change that counted gross floor area instead of auditorium area. Council members said the package largely restored the city's previous, intended standards and made routine clarifications for code enforcement.

Councilman Joey Lahat moved to open the public hearing on the ordinance; Councilwoman Dunn seconded. After the planning department presentation and brief member questions, including a question from Councilman Mohatt about how window signage would be enforced, Lahat moved approval and Dunn seconded. The council approved the ordinance on a 5-0 vote.

Because the amendments change permitted uses and review processes along main commercial corridors such as Williams Boulevard and West Esplanade and clarify development rules across multiple districts, Planning recommended the changes and the planning commission had previously reviewed the package.

The ordinance takes effect per the city's standard schedule unless otherwise noted in the final adopted text; the council did not specify an alternative effective date at the meeting.