Commission approves land-use change and C1 rezoning on Canis Road despite neighbors’ traffic concerns

The Little Rock Planning Commission on Sept. 11 approved a land-use plan amendment and concurrent rezoning for a 1.5-acre parcel on the north side of Canis Road between Pointe West Drive and Atkins Road, changing the site from suburban office (O1) to neighborhood commercial (C1).

Planning staff told the commission the property is well-situated for neighborhood commercial uses because it lies at a major intersection, benefits from recent curb and sidewalk improvements, and would serve nearby residents. “Staff supports the proposed land use plan amendment in the Ellis Mountain Planning District from suburban office to neighborhood commercial and recommends approval,” Hannah, planning staff, said during the hearing.

The rezoning (file Z-10190) was presented as a general framework for future development rather than an approval of a specific tenant or building design. David Watkins, who said he is assisting the landowner, told the commission: “No specific commercial use is being approved today. The city will have to carefully review traffic, drainage, landscaping, building design, and all of those things when actual site plan is submitted.”

Several speakers from nearby neighborhoods urged the city to require traffic mitigation if commercial development proceeds. Bailey Medor, who said she lives in an adjacent subdivision, told commissioners the corridor already carries heavy traffic and requested a traffic signal: “Only thing I’m asking for is a traffic light. It’s very, very high dense population.” An attorney for an adjacent property owner raised concerns about possible commercial uses that might be objectionable to the church and nearby residents; he noted that C1 allows a range of neighborhood-scale businesses and asked the commission to weigh compatibility.

Staff noted that any future site plan would require city review of traffic, stormwater, landscaping and other elements; the commission does not approve site plans as part of the rezoning. Planning staff reported an ArDOT daily traffic count in the corridor of roughly 16,000 vehicles per day, a figure referenced during the hearing as evidence of the corridor’s high volume.

After discussion, the commission voted to adopt the staff recommendation to amend the land-use designation (LU2025-18-01) and, separately, to approve the concurrent rezoning to C1 (Z-10190). Both motions passed on roll-call votes.

What’s next: The zoning change establishes the framework for future neighborhood-scale commercial or mixed uses; any specific development will return to staff for site-plan review, traffic study and public input as required by city processes.