Little Rock board defers Pirate/"Pirani" PDC rezoning after sewer and health concerns

The Little Rock Board of Directors deferred action on a rezoning application for 12223 Colonel Glen Road (the Pirani PDC) after engineers and neighbors raised concerns about sewage overflows and the property's lack of connection to the city sewer system.

Akbar Pirani, identified by the clerk as a resident with a stake in the application, said the site had been a store and the rezoning request is intended to permit a different commercial use. "So that we can change the business from a grocery store to something else ... where it can be more profitable," Pirani said in support of the application.

Tim Daters, a consultant engineer with White Daters and Associates, told the board the property is not connected to Little Rock City sewer even though the city sewer line is within roughly 300 feet. "The State Board of Health requires connections to city sewers when they're within 300 feet," Daters said, adding that the application did not require connection as presented and that the city's wastewater staff should review changes that increase restrooms or food service.

Neighbor Jesse Munn said the adjacent properties have experienced sewage overflow when the site previously served food and asked the board to defer the matter until plumbing and sewer connections are addressed. Board member Director Hines said she would not support allowing a pool hall with food service unless the applicant agreed to connect to city sewer and suggested returning the application to the planning commission for further review.

The board voted to refer the application back to the planning commission to allow staff and the commission to assess sewer-connection requirements and any revisions to the plan that would address public-health concerns. The transcript records the motion to return the item and its approval; a named roll-call tally was not recorded in the transcript.