Spearheaded by Councilmember Kristin Gisleson-Palmer, the New Orleans City Council has asked the City Planning Commission to hold a public hearing to consider stripping the developer of the collapsed Hard Rock Hotel site at 1031 Canal Street of their conditional use permit.
In 2011, the Council approved a conditional use ordinance with five waivers and 18 provisos for a proposed multi-use development at 1031 Canal Street during Councilmember Palmer's first term. The terms of this development later changed once Councilmember Palmer was out of office, leading to the Hard Rock Hotel construction site collapse.
Palmer contends the development violated the terms of conditional use permit, New Orleans’ land use laws, and the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance. If the CPC agrees that the terms were violated, the Council can go on to revoke the conditional use approval.
Any future use of the property for development would have to fall inside the current zoning laws for size and standards.
The Hard Rock Hotel structure was greatly beyond these current laws.
In a press release, Palmer stated "I strongly believe the owners of 1301 Canal Street have violated provisions of their conditional use and the CZO, which is why I am requesting that CPC formally evaluate whether any of these violations exist.”
If found to be in violation of these ordinances, the development and its developer could find their use permit revoked by action of the City Council.