Little Rock board approves Holy Souls parking lot after hours of testimony; opponents cite trees, drainage and historic homes

The Little Rock City Board of Directors voted 6-3 on May 6 to approve a plan development commercial (PDC) allowing Our Lady of Holy Souls Catholic Church to demolish two houses and build a surface parking lot on property at North Harrison and Jay Street.

The vote came after more than three hours of public testimony, with parishioners and parents saying the lot is needed for safety and handicapped access and neighborhood groups and preservation advocates saying the plan would remove mature trees, add impervious surface and destroy two historic houses that could be preserved.

The churches’ representative, Gary Smith, identified himself as a member of Holy Souls Parish and described long-standing parking shortages at weekend Masses and church events. Smith said the parish had reduced the proposed parking from 66 spaces to 58, would phase construction and “has no plans to build beyond our contiguous physical plant,” and asked the board to approve the site plan as modified.

Architect Greg Peckham, of Peckham Smith…