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Planning commission approves rezoning for indoor golf training facility on Canis Road
Summary
The Little Rock Planning Commission approved a PCD rezoning for a 2.4-acre site at 13608 Canis Road to allow a 12,000-square-foot indoor golf training center with shared office use on the front lot, after neighbors raised traffic and driveway-location concerns.
The Little Rock Planning Commission on June 12 approved a planned commercial development (PCD) rezoning for a 2.4-acre site at 13608 Canis Road to permit a 12,000-square-foot indoor golf training facility and retain an existing professional office on the front lot.
Staff told the commission the request (file Z6831-A) includes a 30-space parking area for the golf facility, 11 parking spaces for the front office (including one ADA stall), 10‑ to 40‑foot landscape buffers around the rear and sides, a 27‑foot driveway onto Canis Road, and a 5‑foot sidewalk connecting the lots. Staff recommended approval, saying the development would not have an adverse impact on surrounding properties and calling the proposal a “quality development for this site.”
Neighbors who live across from the site in the Taylor Park/Taylor Loop area pressed the commission about traffic and driveway placement, saying Canis Road already handles heavy volumes. “Canis Road, if you guys don't live out there, it's just a mess,” Carolyn Hatch told commissioners, citing congestion and difficulty exiting the neighborhood. Several residents urged the applicant to move the driveway away from the Taylor Loop entrance to reduce conflict and queuing.
Applicant representatives, including Brian (Bridal) Dale of Joe White & Associates and developer Scott Hurley, said the driveway was intentionally aligned with the Taylor Loop entrance to avoid competing left‑turn movements that would occur if the access point were shifted east. Hurley said the developer and staff chose the current alignment to reduce the risk of left‑turn conflicts and to allow future signalization to work with aligned approaches. He also noted the facility’s proposed 10 a.m. opening time avoids morning school peak traffic.
Golf coach and proposed operator Patrick Sullivan described the facility’s program as appointment‑based, low‑volume player development: year‑round instruction, high‑tech simulators, a dedicated teaching/club‑fitting studio and an indoor short‑game area. Sullivan said the operator expects two teaching professionals at most and a total of four on‑site employees at peak times. “I believe this facility can be a long‑term asset to the city of Little Rock,” Sullivan said.
Commission discussion focused on driveway safety and whether the proposed parking and operation pattern would produce sustained queuing on Canis Road. Staff said they consider the proposed parking and circulation sufficient. The commission approved the rezoning by roll call; commissioners recorded affirmative votes and the planner noted the approval is “subject to compliance with the comments and conditions outlined in paragraphs d, e, and f in the staff analysis of the agenda staff report.”
Votes at the Planning Commission: the motion to approve file Z6831‑A passed by roll call (recorded as affirmative by the chair and a majority of commissioners). The approval includes compliance with staff conditions listed in the staff report.
The developer will be required to meet the site‑plan and permitting conditions listed in the staff analysis (including the stated landscaping, ADA access and sidewalk requirements) before building permits are issued. The applicant also reserved time to return to answer outstanding neighborhood questions about tenant lease details for the front office space and final interior program details.
The commission moved on to the next agenda item after the vote; the rezoning will advance to any required permitting steps and to the city board as prescribed by local procedure.
