Planning commission approves rezoning at 554 Ingram Street to allow duplex

The Conway Planning Commission voted to approve a rezoning request for 554 Ingram Street, changing the parcel from R-2A to R-2 to permit construction of a duplex, the commission said at its meeting. Planning staff recommended the change and commissioners approved the motion by voice vote.

Planning staff told the commission the parcel is at the northeast corner of Ingram Street and 3rd Street, measures roughly one-fifth of an acre (58 feet by 150 feet) and includes an existing 921-square-foot single-family home and an outbuilding. Staff said the lot is a special‑study area in the city’s comprehensive plan, abuts the old Conway Design Overlay District to the west, is not in a FEMA flood zone, and is surrounded by R-2A zoning. Staff explained that the R-2A zone requires 10,000 square feet and 100 feet of street frontage, while R-2 requires 7,000 square feet and 50 feet of frontage; under current zoning the applicant could not replace the existing home with a duplex, staff said.

Planning staff estimated a single‑family home would generate about 10 vehicle trips per day and that a duplex would roughly double that number to about 20 trips; nearby traffic volume on a street two blocks north was described as roughly 2,800 vehicles per day. Staff also noted that any new utility work would need to be coordinated with Komet Corporation and that no street‑improvement projects are currently planned for the frontage.

Applicant David Perry addressed the commission and confirmed he had received staff recommendations. ‘‘I didn't know and alluded to this and, I called and asked if it was possible before I started the process, and they told me because I wanted to do 2 duplexes. They said, no. You can't do 2, but you can do 1,’’ Perry said. He told the commission he accepted the staff recommendations.

No one spoke in opposition. A commissioner moved to approve the rezoning; a second was recorded, the commission voted by voice and the motion carried with all members present voting in favor. Commissioners recorded as present during roll call were Laurie Quinn, Mark Ferguson, Alexander Baney, Vincent Tookie, Jay Winborn, Brooks Davis, Cassidy Cook and Evan Gamble.

The planning commission forwarded the rezoning recommendation to Conway City Council; staff noted council consideration could occur as early as Oct. 28 and that appeals to council are permitted within 30 days of a denial. The applicant will need to complete required site development review steps before construction.