Planning Department


Jay J. Hebert, Director
City of Kenner
1801 Williams Boulevard
Building C, 3rd Floor
Kenner, Louisiana 70062
Telephone: (504) 468-7280
E-mail: planning@kenner.la.us

About Us 

The Planning Department is responsible for helping guide Kenner's physical development. We exercise responsibilities affecting the physical appearance of the City. That includes oversight of the recently adopted Pattern for Progress land use plan which establishes a vision statement, and recommendations to help lead and facilitate decision making on land use matters that directly affect the physical improvement of Kenner.

Our Department utilizes the implementation strategies of the land use plan. These include making recommendations to the Mayor's Office, the City Council, the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Board of Zoning Adjustments, the Kenner Tree Board, and to the public on land use and zoning issues involving review of site plans, subdivisions, landscape design, occupational licenses, and other related matters.

The Planning Department's operational goal is to maintain a high quality of public service to the Kenner community through its four organizational divisions. That includes:

• Comprehensive Planning (i.e. Land use and Zoning)
• Landscape Design
• Grant Administration
• Geographic Information System (GIS, i.e. Mapping)

Click here to view the City of Kenner Planning Department's Organizational Chart

What is Planning?

"Furthering the welfare of people and their communities by creating convenient, equitable, healthful, efficient, and attractive environments for present and future generations."
Source: A Planner's Dictionary by the American Planning Association

Why Plan?

Planning helps guide growth and development in ways that are consistent with the community's values and aspirations.

Planning enables your community to develop a consensus vision for its future and to identify the most desirable paths for achieving that vision.

Planning helps direct development to existing areas to optimize the efficiency of existing infrastructure, reduce the costs (financially and environmentally) of creating new infrastructure, preserve natural areas and sensitive wetlands, and provide alternatives to conventional suburban sprawl.

Planning helps your community to draw upon its best traditions and heritage as well as to remedy - and avoid repeating - the mistakes of the past.

Planning provides a basis for smart growth. It helps guide development and redevelopment so that they contribute to the physical fabric of a community. A well-written plan provides a basis for codes that address form and function at all scales - from the whole community down to individual buildings. This allows communities to ensure that even aesthetically unique projects draw from and contribute to the fabric of their neigborhood and respond to the needs of their community.

Planning provides predictability for developers, land owners, and citizens. By providing consistent guidance about where a community wants certain types of uses, planning provides clear information and criteria for proposed developments. This increases the consistency, fairness, and speed of the development review process.

Planning provides some assurance to landowners regarding what might be built on neighboring parcels and helps protect against undesirable types of new development.

Planning helps your community identify opportunities to act responsibly as a steward and consumer of environmental resources. And planning can help you address the complex issues of affordability and accessibility for all citizens.
Source: "Louisiana Speaks: Planning Toolkit"Planning & Zoning Commission

Applications/Fee Schedules

Click here to download and view all applications and fee schedules.

Planning and Zoning Commission

The Planning & Zoning Commission is a seven member board that is regulated by the State. The Commission serves as a citizenry board of the local government consisting of appointed members whose functions include advisory aspects of land use and zoning matters. Prior to any modification to either the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance or Zoning Map, the Commission holds a public hearing to determine if the merits of the case are within State and City guidelines and conform to sound city planning practices. Each case is voted on at the meeting in the form of a recommendation and is then forwarded to the City Council to assist their efforts to render a final decision.

The Board Members are:
Mark Johnson, Chairman
Mickey Giarrusso
John DeHaven
Rita Bezou
Robert Pastor
Rafael Saddy

Board of Zoning Adjustments

The Board of Zoning Adjustments is a quasi-judicial board established in accordance with the City of Kenner Home Rule Charter and regulated by the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance. The Board consists of five members and two alternates appointed by the Mayor with the approval of a majority vote of the Council.

The purpose of the Board is to hear and decide variance requests relating to the application of the zoning ordinance or to appeal a decision of the Director of the Department of Inspection and Code Enforcement.

The Board of Zoning Adjustments holds regularly scheduled meetings on the first Wednesday of each month beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the City's Council Chambers.

Click here for a list of scheduled BZA Meetings

Applications for variance requests may be obtained at the Planning Department, Suite 302, 3rd Floor, Building C.

The Board Members are:

Ken Krobert, Chairman
Ty Decuers, Co-Chairman
Wesley Goodman
Earl Lagrue
Nolan Leger
Marcel Gonzalez, Alternate

Kenner Tree Board

The Kenner Tree Board is a citizenry board established in 2007. It is composed of seven volunteer members. The Board serves as a resource for government and the citizens of Kenner regarding the care, selection, and planting of trees on public land and rights-of-way.

Please browse the Tree Board website for ways to care for our urban forest and the greening of Kenner.