Gisela Chevalier, a Kenner small‑business owner who has operated a driving school for decades, told the council on Nov. 20 that a fire destroyed her former rented location on Oct. 13 and that her equipment and business contents were lost.

She said she secured fire marshal clearance and state DMV inspection for a new space at 1109 Williams Boulevard but was told by city staff that the intended use requires C‑2 zoning because the city’s unified development code (UDC) treats driving schools as vocational/educational facilities that are allowed in C‑2 districts but not in C‑1 districts.

"I have been over a month without working, without income," Chevalier said, describing the impact on her livelihood. She told the council she has operated driving‑school services for roughly 27 years in Kenner.

Planning staff (Mister Skwinski / Mister Slowinski in the transcript) explained that the UDC’s definition of vocational educational facilities specifically references driving schools and that the code does not allow those uses in C‑1 zoning. Staff said they could consider a code amendment to permit driving schools in C‑1 districts but that a change of the UDC would take approximately five to six months. Staff offered to meet with Chevalier after the meeting to explore options and, if necessary, she may return to the council for further action.

The council did not take formal action during the meeting; staff directed the resident to follow up with planning staff to resolve occupancy and zoning next steps.