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Planning Commission approves short‑term rental permit on Cantrell Road over neighborhood objections
Summary
The Little Rock Planning Commission voted 7–3 to approve a rezoning allowing a non‑resident short‑term rental (STR‑2) at 5147 Cantrell Road after residents said the property already functions as a frequent rental and warned of noise, parking and loss of neighborhood character.
Little Rock Planning Commission voted to approve a petition to rezone 5147 Cantrell Road to a PDC designation allowing operation as a short‑term rental (STR‑2) with a maximum stay of 29 days and no owner occupancy.
Neighbors said the property has been used as a rental and urged denial, saying Cantrell Road has an established single‑family character, parking is limited and families — including children who attend nearby Forest Park Elementary — would be harmed by repeated turnover and visitors. Commissioners pressed the applicant on outreach to the immediate neighborhood; the applicant said he lives locally, that the house has been rented since March 2024 and that he uses cameras and guest rules to limit parties.
Staff recommended denial, citing the property’s location within a predominantly single‑family area and concerns about extending commercial zoning. Commissioners split on policy and practice: some emphasized the city’s short‑term‑rental cap and the difficulty of denying applications that meet ordinance requirements; others said the application would erode residential character. The commission approved the rezoning 7–3, with seven commissioners voting to approve and three voting no. The approved permit allows up to the stated 29‑day stays and relies on the applicant’s adherence to the conditions in the staff report.
Why it matters: Little Rock’s cap on short‑term rentals is set by the Board of Directors at 500 units; staff noted the city had 112 approved STRs at the time of the hearing. The Cantrell decision continues a pattern of contested STR requests in stable residential neighborhoods and highlights tension between property owners who operate STRs and neighbors who seek to preserve single‑family character.
What’s next: The applicant must comply with the conditions in the staff report. Neighbors who opposed the rezoning said they may continue to press concerns to the Board of Directors or through other available channels.
