Planning commission recommends annexation, I‑3 zoning for 783‑acre Riverport area despite neighborhood objections

The Little Rock Planning Commission on June 12 recommended annexation of roughly 783 acres into the city and concurrent establishment of the I‑3 Heavy Industrial zoning district for the area (file A‑350 / Z‑10172). The recommendation passed on a 6–4 roll‑call vote after more than an hour of public comment and questions from commissioners.

Staff said the annexation petition met state statutory requirements, citing a May 12 letter from the Arkansas Geographic Information Systems office confirming the petition’s compliance and a Pulaski County judge’s order filed May 14 that set the annexation boundaries. The staff report explained that the area is designated industrial in the city’s land‑use plan, that portions of Riverport Road and related rights‑of‑way (about 9,044 linear feet) are already dedicated, and that the city would become responsible for ongoing maintenance of those public road and drainage facilities upon annexation.

The annexation would bring the port‑area land under the city’s jurisdiction so future development would be reviewed under city regulations (including site plan review, stormwater controls and applicable state environmental review). Staff and applicants said water and sewer extensions to future development must be coordinated with Central Arkansas Water and the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority;…