Commission approves rezoning for Our Lady of Holy Souls Catholic Church parking expansion

The Planning Commission of Little Rock convened on March 13, 2025, to discuss several key agenda items, including a proposed rezoning for Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church parking lot and a PDC rezoning application.

The meeting began with a motion to approve the PDC rezoning application, identified as file number ZDash10117. After a brief discussion, the motion received a roll call vote, resulting in approval with a majority in favor. The chair thanked the applicant for their participation before moving on to the next agenda item.

The second item addressed was the rezoning request for Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church parking lot, located at 1015 North Tyler Street and 1016 through 1020 North Harrison Street. The church sought to rezone the property from R-2 to PDO to facilitate the construction of an off-street service parking lot. The proposed plan included two phases: the first phase would involve the removal of an existing two-story residence to create 45 parking spaces, while the second phase would add 19 additional spaces once the current tenant vacated the property.

During the presentation, Susie Williams, representing the church, clarified that the initial submission regarding the phases was inaccurate and emphasized the need for additional parking to accommodate the growing parish. She noted that the church had engaged with local residents to address concerns, resulting in modifications to landscaping and traffic flow.

The commission then heard from several residents who opposed the parking lot development. Craig Berry, a former planning commissioner, expressed concerns about the adequacy of the church's attendance data and the potential violation of the spirit of the Design Overlay District standards. Other residents echoed similar sentiments, questioning the necessity of the proposed parking lot and its impact on the neighborhood.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to further review the concerns raised by residents and to consider the implications of the proposed parking lot on the surrounding area. The commission will continue to deliberate on the matter in future sessions, ensuring that community input is taken into account.