Planning commissioners approve pocket-neighborhood plan for 333 Leonard Street; item heads to Board of Directors

The Hot Springs City Planning Commission on May 14 approved a plan development application for part of Lot 13 of the Brown Subdivision at 333 Leonard Street that would renovate a 1921 farmhouse and add three small cottages to create a four-unit "pocket neighborhood." The commission voted to approve the plan development with staff findings and recommendations and will forward the item to the Board of Directors for final action on June 2 at 6:00 p.m.

Director Selman summarized the staff report, citing Hot Springs code provisions authorizing plan development exceptions (Hot Springs code section 16-2-14.4 and related RN2 provisions). Staff said the proposal aims to promote attainable infill housing in an area identified in the 2023 housing strategy as having a significant rental-unit shortage and recommended approval subject to three conditions: (1) the approved development plan will govern the property in lieu of some RN2 district regulations; (2) engineering must provide final plans and calculations and ensure required 20-foot parking spaces are within property boundaries; and (3) the utilities department must receive engineered utility plans before a building permit is issued.

Applicant Thomas Moore, representing Moore and Williams LLC, described the project as an effort to create "sociability in less space" by restoring the existing farmhouse and adding smaller dwellings to create a shared common area. "We call it a pocket neighborhood," he said, describing efforts to meet neighbors and clean the property ahead of construction. Kimberly Williams, the applicant's partner, emphasized the design approach: "When you get into smaller homes, you end up with the fastest someone can throw up the same thing. We're trying to create thoughtful, beautiful, well thought out spaces."

Commissioners pressed for practical clarifications: one asked where the two-car garages would be located and whether the common area would be privately owned. Moore said the garages are accessed from the alley at the rear and that there would be no homeowners association; property maintenance would be addressed through rental agreements. When asked about rent targets the applicant said they are aiming for roughly $1,200–$1,400 per month.

There were no members of the public signed up to speak. After commissioner questions the commission made a motion to approve the plan development with staff findings and recommendations; the motion carried on a roll-call vote of members present. Staff and the applicant were directed to be present when the Board of Directors considers the ordinance on June 2.

The approval allows reduced side and front yard setbacks compared with standard RN2 district requirements, conditioned on compliance with the development plan and the engineering and utilities requirements outlined by staff.