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Board rejects rezoning for 3122 Marshall St. neighborhood grocery after heated public comment
Summary
After more than an hour of public comment, the Little Rock Board of Directors voted 5–3 against rezoning 3122 Marshall Street for a neighborhood grocery; supporters said the store would address a food desert and accept SNAP/WIC, while opponents warned of traffic, safety and poor outreach.
The City of Little Rock Board of Directors on Feb. 3 rejected a rezoning and plan development request for 3122 Marshall Street, the proposed site of a neighborhood grocery, after extended public comment and a roll-call vote that failed 5–3. The ordinance required six affirmative votes to pass.
Developer Mel (MW Enterprises) and several residents and local advocates told the board the property historically hosted a neighborhood grocery and that the proposed market would prioritize fresh produce, accept SNAP/WIC, partner with local farmers and provide jobs and youth workforce training. "The store will not sell alcohol, tobacco products, or lottery," Mel said, adding the business intends to operate as a food-first, health-focused market.
Opponents — many of them longtime neighbors — argued the site sits in the middle of a residential block, pointed to nearby existing stores and raised concerns about traffic, noise and public-safety impacts. Asandra Thomas, a resident, told the board: "We oppose because we don't want a store sitting dead smack in the middle of the neighborhood." Several opponents also questioned whether surveys and signature gathering accurately reflected immediate neighbors’ views.
During deliberations, Ward 1 Director Virgil Miller said he had attended a neighborhood meeting and stood with the South End Neighborhood Group, arguing that petition signatures circulating in support came from across the city rather than directly from the adjacent block. Miller urged colleagues to prioritize the neighborhood group's stated preference; he said the Marshall Street site is a neighborhood street, not a major thoroughfare.
The planning staff and the Planning Commission previously recommended approval and the applicant cited the city's consolidated plan and the South End Neighborhood Action Plan in support. Still, the board concluded it did not have the six votes necessary for approval and the motion failed.
With the motion defeated, the applicant may decide whether to revise the proposal, request a future rehearing, or pursue remedies available through city procedures. The board moved on to other agenda items.
