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Commission approves Michie’s Bridal Club & Lounge at downtown Spring Street after neighbors raise parking concerns
Summary
The commission approved a conditional use permit for Michie’s Bridal Club & Lounge at 617–619 S. Spring St.; a nearby church and residents raised concerns about parking, trash and safety and staff noted UU zoning has no off-street parking requirement.
The Little Rock Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit on May 14 for Michie’s Bridal Club & Lounge at 617–619 South Spring Street, a private-membership club and lounge proposed for a one-story commercial building in the UU zoning district.
Staff presented file Z1000152A and recommended approval subject to standard conditions and the staff analysis. Applicant Demetrius Randall described the venue as an upscale, membership-based club with key-fob access, private membership applications, a private security team, cameras and limits on admission intended to reduce loitering and nuisance behavior.
Stark Ligon, a nearby resident and attorney who said he represents the First United Methodist Church’s interests, raised concerns about parking supply, trash and safety close to the church and a child development center he said serves more than 250 children. “There are 36 marked, striped and numbered parking spaces to the east of the building,” Ligon said, and he argued that tenants in the block do not have shared off-street parking available to the proposed use. He asked that commissioners study potential impacts and noted the building appears to require significant build-out.
Commissioners and staff questioned whether the proposed use complied with distance rules for alcohol service near churches; staff and the applicant said the UU zoning district permits bars and lounges and that there is no off-street parking requirement in UU. The applicant said he is working to secure parking agreements for members and that he intends security measures and noise controls; he also said membership and ticketing will limit access.
A motion to approve Z10152-A subject to the conditions outlined in the staff report carried by recorded vote. Commissioners recorded affirmative votes and the motion passed. Staff reminded the applicant that separate state or city alcohol permits (ABC) may be required and that final licensing depends on those additional approvals.
