Developer Sean Meenan said just three words after the Vieux Carre Commission voted Wednesday to approve his proposed French Quarter restaurant, Habana Outpost: "It feels great." By a 7-1 vote, with only commissioner C.J. Blanda opposed, the VCC approved Meenan's architectural plans and a change-of-use request for three buildings at the corner of Esplanade Avenue and North Rampart Street....
Developer Sean Meenan said just three words after the Vieux Carre Commission voted Wednesday to approve his proposed French Quarter restaurant, Habana Outpost: "It feels great."
By a 7-1 vote, with only commissioner C.J. Blanda opposed, the VCC approved Meenan's architectural plans and a change-of-use request for three buildings at the corner of Esplanade Avenue and North Rampart Street.
The commission's vote was met with raucous applause from an audience in the City Council chamber heavily in favor of Habana Outpost.
Ron Bienvenue, who owns investment firm Louisiana Buyout Fund, told the commission before the final vote that by approving the project the panel could send a message to entrepreneurs around the world that Louisiana is open for business and a great place to pursue their dreams.
"Two weeks ago I was in New York trying to convince 100 employees whose average pay is $80,000 to relocate to Louisiana," Bienvenue said of his attempts to purchase the financial media firm The Street. "This issue kept coming up over and over again: Does Louisiana welcome outsiders? I assured them it does. People are watching, and I encourage you to support this project because it sends a very positive message to the country."
While the VCC's vote was a significant victory for Meenan, it is unlikely to bring the matter to an end. Attorney Sonny Shields -- who represents several neighbors of the proposed restaurant and was a fixture at all of the commission's meetings on it, questioning the legality of the review process and the project -- said he would consult with his clients on how best to respond.
Meg Lousteau, executive director of the Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents and Associates organization, a vocal opponent of Habana Outpost, declined to say whether the group will appeal the issue to the City Council. "We're going to regroup," she said.
During Wednesday's meeting, Shields said the VCC didn't have the right to approve the project since it is the subject of ongoing litigation. Several neighbors and the VCPORA group have sued Meenan over his continued use of a pre-existing billboard on the site. Their lawsuit, filed May 20 in Civil District Court, claims the billboard violates the city's zoning ordinance and that Meenan attached lighting and new signage to it without proper permits. The suit also says the billboard has "irreparably harmed" the neighbors' property values, is an annoyance and inconvenience, and interferes with their enjoyment of their homes.
The city joined the lawsuit Aug. 30 on behalf of Meenan. It argued that the suit should be dismissed because the director of the Safety and Permits Department has not yet ruled on the billboard's legality and the suit therefore bypasses the authority of the city.
The VCC's Architectural Committee approved use of the billboard after Meenan agreed to use it only to advertise local nonprofit groups.
While the opponents decide on their next move, Meenan is free to complete his construction documents, which he must again present to the VCC for approval before he can secure his permits.
Blanda voted against the project after questioning whether Meenan plans to make additional changes to his design without VCC approval.
Habana Outpost will occupy an abandoned gas station at 1040 Esplanade Ave. and a vacant building at 1310 N. Rampart St. Meenan purchased the buildings for more than $1.7 million and bought an additional property at 1036 Esplanade Ave. for $510,000 that will be used for residential and commercial purposes.
The business will have a seating capacity of between 205 and 223 customers. Meenan said he has an agreement in place to use the former site of Ty's Auto Sales in the 1400 block of North Rampart Street as a parking lot for up to 50 vehicles.
Meenan first presented his proposal to the VCC's Architectural Committee on July 24, 2012. It was deferred numerous times by committee members who requested significant design revisions including the removal of solar panels.
Dozens of people spoke for or against the proposed restaurant Wednesday, making much the same comments that have been heard repeatedly over the past year.
Opponents said the project is out of scale with a largely residential section of the French Quarter and would irreparably damage the historic nature of the neighborhood. Supporters of Habana Outpost said it would increase security and continue the revitalization of North Rampart Street.
Chairman Ralph Lupin kicked off Wednesday's proceedings with a broadside against tarot card readers in Jackson Square who have up to seven chairs around their tables. He said the people who occupy those chairs "look like trash" and are "ill-dressed and ill-washed." They curse, drink alcohol and "I'm told they use drugs," said Lupin, who urged members of the audience to contact city officials and urge them to run such people out of the square.