[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6277244,"mediaKeyId","2656400-3cf1057e6352828c03845f0ce702be5c","parentId",2656400,"title","Planning Commission approves Gonzales open-air market PCD with conditions after neighbor concerns","audioSeconds",1754,"startMs",3898000,"endMs",5652000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2656400-3cf1057e6352828c03845f0ce702be5c&start=3898&end=5652","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2656400-3cf1057e6352828c03845f0ce702be5c/thumbnail_3898000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6277244/Little-Rock-City/Pulaski-County/Arkansas/Planning-Commission-approves-Gonzales-open-air-market-PCD-with-conditions-after-neighbor-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277244-319aad5a1f7602fbe82aed311fd980f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770443053&Signature=ilU3XqLBHH8i43PYWzzqRyCPnh9iBd-TjW3VYuOYGMGvhbNsl9Ctz0NiNbuGi4aZ037MkapnHcQ2iCoSlZvcNp0jHQTw1C2Xqn6LxApkb59loIiu-cnGVV-fAfvBuspn4y11aU1k~wRAGzoARL0bxsYkkXkn0oJ8GCKcyrakQ5~d9A~CLKJvE~VRw-V-hUYoUQpENqL8hKsEDLhGUKD7u4~A0zVgnjDPiIAEQuYt2vlxIJyQZ4qlmQtXI0YmihSvGkVaxJSfXXXIxIH70NMQpdJV~nknJ283z0UgEL0Y1FSMNcXPPChtW8YuGT1Z3Kxwoslo7eJ40gHXSC~sgFNYGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Little Rock","date","2025-03-13T00:00:00Z","article","The Little Rock Planning Commission voted March 13 to rezone a 32-acre property on the west side of Geyer Springs Road to Planned Commercial Development (PCD) to allow an open-air market and soccer field in phases (file Z1000104).

Planning staff described the concept as using roughly the northern 11 acres for an open-air market with four 40-by-100-foot open metal pavilions, a restroom building, trash area, food-truck parallel parking along the entry drive and a soccer field on the southwest portion of the site. The plan includes multiple parking areas: 56 spaces adjacent to the pavilions (with a number of accessible spaces), additional gravel/compacted-aggregate parking to the west and southwest and a small across-street lot. Staff recommended approval subject to standard PCD conditions and specified that low-impact development (LID) measures must be used for parking and drives; “gravel alone will not be accepted as a parking material.”

Owner representative Joe Lopez and Vianney (Vianne) Gonzalez said the market is intended as a family-friendly gathering place with food trucks and limited pavilion activity. At the hearing the applicants said they do not plan permanent on-site alcohol sales, plan security and gated hours, will require food vendors to be permitted and certified, and will phase the project. The applicants said their intended public hours would be limited (Thursday–Sunday) and they offered to close earlier in the winter and keep gates secured when not open.

Nearby Southwest Christian Academy and several residents opposed the rezoning at the hearing, citing traffic and safety concerns because school drives are adjacent to the proposed market entry; worries about illegal dumping and trash accumulation along the road; and the potential for late-night activity and alcohol consumption. James Stewart, representing Southwest Christian Academy, asked whether any alcohol sales would be permitted and whether the market’s entry drive location could be offset from the school driveway to reduce conflict; city staff noted the right-of-way and driveway location are subject to engineering review and that drive alignment often is preferred opposite existing drives to reduce hazardous turning movements.

The applicant clarified during the hearing that notices had been mailed to property owners within the 200-foot notice radius and that the applicant had provided an affidavit authorizing the applicant-agent to act for the owner. City counsel also reminded the commission that under city code section 4-93, alcohol sales near churches and schools are restricted and an ABC permit would be subject to distance limitations enforced by the ABC board.

Commissioners pressed the applicant on operational details; in response, the applicant committed to gated hours, vendor permitting, site security, trash collection and no permanent alcohol sales. After discussion the commission voted to approve the PCD rezoning with the staff-recommended conditions (including right-of-way dedications, LID design for parking and driveway improvements) and the operational clarifications offered at the hearing. Recorded votes included yes votes from Commissioners Brown, Hodges, Person, Russell, Trimble, Baxter and Vickers and a no vote from Commissioner Hart; the motion passed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning Commission Meeting 3_13_25","oneSentenceSummary","The commission approved rezoning 32 acres for a phased open-air market and soccer field (Z100104) on Geyer Springs Road, subject to right-of-way dedications, low-impact development for parking, limits on hours/days, and other staff conditions. Neighbors and nearby school raised traffic, trash and safety concerns during the hearing.","taxTitle","Little Rock City, Pulaski County, Arkansas","taxId",3741,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6277248,"Planning Commission approves conditional use permit to convert barn to accessory dwelling on Rinke Road",585,5610000,6195000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2656400-3cf1057e6352828c03845f0ce702be5c&start=5610&end=6195","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2656400-3cf1057e6352828c03845f0ce702be5c/thumbnail_5610000.jpg","/articles/6277248/Little-Rock-City/Pulaski-County/Arkansas/Planning-Commission-approves-conditional-use-permit-to-convert-barn-to-accessory-dwelling-on-Rinke-Road","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277248-a90f0c029110823fe794a1971e62b931/orig.mp4?Expires=1770443053&Signature=lJkrwk6AnImEpWzrntG1H8tIso~Hs9Kd3ehslNoQk8lCREdn6OY1Vp5DnoCRNv8bEcX74MxlmMthLe3w1FPsJ~Hxv0JjY6MyOWQ9ZboQfvx--F32tEBkWcwXOonIwHhktVvFyIhN7O8jJQp3jykzSsSJRpUTkAZmefkcPzYR~1vCXf6BQLbpa0gYPaLK5gLNbhJjXacOGiY922WeLYQ8zjHnt8magHi2-w5bX4mtDHkgiUtzaoc1AJE711LOoF7NDll4wHN0~SU5wXpHy6ZYm53AzYSGY7kXGE1OWHBzEZRLgJB9DaindjTiJbEpVieKSrViKXyVGUj9lmQ80l1UhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Planning Commission on March 13 approved a conditional use permit to convert an existing accessory structure into a second-story accessory dwelling unit at 5301 Rinke Road (file Z1000122).

Staff described the property as an R-2 lot with an existing 32-by-54-foot accessory structure and a 1,296-square-foot single-family residence. The applicant proposed a second-story addition to create a three-bedroom, two-bath accessory dwelling; staff recommended approval subject to compliance with the conditions in paragraphs D, E and F of the staff report.

Applicant Steven Casa (Renaissance Construction) told the commission the structure would be used for family housing, not short-term rental, and that the site is gated and set well back from the public road. Pam Noble, president of Southwest Little Rock United for Progress and a Rinke Road resident, opposed the request citing local flooding, the narrow and partially uncurbed road, and concerns about whether utilities and access are adequate. Noble said the immediate area floods at times and asked the commission to consider drainage and road conditions before approving new residential units.

Commissioners asked staff about site access, utility requirements and parking; staff confirmed the site has ample on-site parking and that the accessory structure meets the square-footage requirements under the conditional-use rules. On a roll call, the commission approved the conditional use permit with the staff-recommended conditions. Recorded votes include yes votes from Commissioners Brown, Hart, Hodges, McDonald, Person, Russell, Trimble, Baxter and Vickers. The applicant may proceed with permit applications and must comply with the project-specific conditions required by staff.","The commission approved a conditional use permit to add a second-story accessory dwelling unit above an existing accessory structure at 5301 Rinke Road. Staff supported the CUP; neighbors raised flooding and road-width concerns but the commission voted to approve subject to staff conditions.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6277253,"Rezoning request to demolish two Hillcrest homes for church parking fails after strong neighborhood opposition",3783,1862000,5645000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2656400-3cf1057e6352828c03845f0ce702be5c&start=1862&end=5645","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2656400-3cf1057e6352828c03845f0ce702be5c/thumbnail_1862000.jpg","/articles/6277253/Little-Rock-City/Pulaski-County/Arkansas/Rezoning-request-to-demolish-two-Hillcrest-homes-for-church-parking-fails-after-strong-neighborhood-opposition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277253-bced39215d8ff5e0f24cdb3eba1213d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770443053&Signature=okP9-PvymuK3hED1kKHfro9-dbmLD~iz5x5APewyW7kHqSD33YAkkaTG6-U4JyUWLJwQ9CEKEYkUAFZeuNN7C1LSawZvoq~llMfmvSt-pJr92QD1pqFNtCRYKra-yA-1ZQASAdsz8TIk6mI-aPS7KuLf3VbT~s7EKRqZOw~KKAo~vVsUzw0dGAcVUGFET38xb85Uej99ty-1LXa1sA1fbvCj0Wd2rU58v7Ah47ZPFGnckMPiEB8fS5JvDH0dzlh9GmY6~wUQVNEIJKRHTYTrXHpXiWB328JwqO8YlyF6yTzmsTbvujtVDfN3L1G58NH2k9Gh4oY7HvxS0T66l-BKcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Little Rock Planning Commission on March 13 voted down a planned development overlay (PDO) rezoning that would have allowed Our Lady of Holy Souls Catholic Church to convert two houses in Hillcrest into a surface parking lot.

Staff described the project as a two-phase PDO at 1015 N. Tyler Street and 1016–1020 N. Harrison Street that would add 45 parking spaces in Phase 1 and 19 in Phase 2, develop two points of ingress/egress and place portions of the lot within the 25-foot front setback, which triggers the PDO review in the Hillcrest Design Overlay District. The staff recommendation was to approve the PDO subject to the conditions in the staff report.

Church representative Susie Williams said the project would provide parking for daily staff, weekday funerals and school masses and that the parish and school have seen growth. Architect Greg Peckham said one of the two existing homes has a deteriorating foundation and substandard plumbing and electrical and that moving the houses would be difficult; he said the parish had offered the houses to anyone who would move them. Williams said the church revised plans after neighbor requests and agreed to phase the project, with Phase 1 to be built first and the parish evaluating future work.

More than a dozen neighbors and neighborhood organizations opposed the rezoning at the hearing. Speakers included Craig Berry (Hillcrest resident and former planning commissioner), Tricia Bing (Quapaw Quarter Association executive director), Bob Keltner (Hillcrest Residents Association), Clay and Heather Mercer, and Keith Lynch. Opposition arguments emphasized the homes’ architectural and historic value, loss of tree canopy and permeable surface, increased stormwater runoff and the absence of a parking study or exploration of shared parking alternatives. The Quapaw Quarter Association urged denial and asked the commission to require a comprehensive parking study before considering demolition.

Speakers also said the existing church-owned parking is underused during some events and that parishioners prefer to park closer to church entrances, limiting the proposed lot’s effectiveness. Several neighbors asked the commission to require that only Phase 1 move forward and that Phase 2 retain R-2 zoning until later review; the applicant said the current plan already staged construction in phases.

On a roll-call vote the commission’s motion to approve the PDO zoning for Z100069 failed. Recorded votes included yes votes from Commissioners Brown, Hart, Person, Trimble and Vickers and no votes from Commissioners Russell, Hodges and Baxter; the motion did not secure a majority. The failure leaves the property’s existing R-2 zoning in place. The church said it had met with neighbors and revised plans but will need to reassess next steps in light of the commission’s decision.","The Planning Commission denied the proposed PDO rezoning for Our Lady of Holy Souls to build a surface parking lot that would have required demolishing two houses. Neighbors and preservation groups urged denial, citing historic character, tree canopy loss and lack of a parking study; the motion to approve failed on a roll call vote.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6277257,"Planning Commission approves Oyster Bar employee parking lot rezoning",936,991000,1927000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2656400-3cf1057e6352828c03845f0ce702be5c&start=991&end=1927","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2656400-3cf1057e6352828c03845f0ce702be5c/thumbnail_991000.jpg","/articles/6277257/Little-Rock-City/Pulaski-County/Arkansas/Planning-Commission-approves-Oyster-Bar-employee-parking-lot-rezoning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277257-e29f5cba6bc11d2c9fc1280fe0d6900e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770443053&Signature=gvZRN1U-zT38DkbLT67txAeefzkRo~TEqkE2eo4sc0obkWTlGor~vGZZ5LYWYZlCadlXo1oSPJvFzJfAUgfbcEN9FptuC2a8cdKuAW~3Jm4IjpJWcq-CAPwnml~wp4V10WYdQsyXGGgzAnACK~5RNyGmOBClAFniGKpOKawKAZrG2ou2nap6ENMoU7Wm6~22C6bACKMxGFL~hyxn2CYKeV5Og0TWRIG2PxsUpydsysReztDauLikxo4haYthYIM94o12TbSLGYu-4k0H1K1RmqB1EOkbEiHIHu4bK9v9B0hXblnan3ajqvO9kspLCVDbryozPxZRnv56GkleaSQqoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Little Rock Planning Commission on March 13 approved a planned development district rezoning to allow an employee-only parking lot for the Oyster Bar at 109 South Booker Street.

Staff and the applicant said the project would convert an existing single-family lot into an asphalt lot with 11 employee parking spaces, a single electronic gate, a 6-foot wood privacy fence on the south property line, and landscaping. Monty, the planning staff reader, described the project as intended to “provide relief from on-street parking along South Booker Street and the general area.”

Supporters said the lot would remove employee vehicles from the public right-of-way. Applicant David Carpenter told the commission “our application is basically for our employees… it’s a private lot, it’s not open to the public,” and that the site had been designed to meet city requirements. He said engineers would address grading and drainage and that the gate would be electronically controlled so only designated staff could enter.

Neighbors raised concerns during the hearing about lighting spill, runoff and drainage onto adjacent property, and compliance with staff conditions. Mark Stowler (opposition), whose client owns a fourplex directly south of the site, urged strict enforcement of signage and drainage: he said a drainage plan must be approved before a building permit so the new hardscape does not increase runoff onto neighboring lots. Carpenter and staff both told the commission drainage and low, downward-directed lighting would be addressed in the permit process. Staff confirmed the requirement for employee-only signage is part of the applicant’s submittal and would be enforced.

The commission voted to approve the PDC rezoning Z1000117 with the staff-recommended conditions in paragraphs D and E of the staff report. The roll-call includes recorded votes for Commissioner Brown (yes), Commissioner Hart (yes), Commissioner Hodges (yes), Commissioner McDonald (yes), Commissioner Person (yes), Commissioner Russell (no), Commissioner Trimble (yes), Commissioner Baxter (yes) and Commissioner Vickers (yes). Motion carried.

The approval is conditioned on the applicant complying with staff comments and meeting the city’s permitting requirements for drainage, lighting, signage and other standard conditions before construction. The applicant said he would follow the city’s direction on outstanding technical items and that the lot is intended only for employee use.","The Little Rock Planning Commission approved rezoning of a single-family lot to PDC to allow an 11-space private employee parking lot for the Oyster Bar, subject to staff conditions including employee-only signage, drainage and lighting controls, and a security gate.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning Commission approves Gonzales open-air market PCD with conditions after neighbor concerns

Planning Commission approves conditional use permit to convert barn to accessory dwelling on Rinke Road

Rezoning request to demolish two Hillcrest homes for church parking fails after strong neighborhood opposition

Planning Commission approves Oyster Bar employee parking lot rezoning