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North Little Rock City Council approves multiple nuisance condemnations, liens, rezoning and a sign waiver
Summary
At its meeting, the North Little Rock City Council approved a series of resolutions declaring several properties public nuisances and certifying liens, adopted an ordinance amending planning quotas, approved a sign-ordinance waiver for a Maumelle Boulevard property, and rezoned land on Highway 161; one property owner urged demolition and made an alarming remark during public comment.
The North Little Rock City Council approved multiple resolutions and ordinances at its meeting, including condemnations for individual properties, liens for clean-up and grass cutting expenses, a rezoning on Highway 161 and a waiver to allow an electronic sign at 8801 Maumelle Boulevard.
The action package included R-26-156 (declaring structures at 1012 Graham Avenue a public nuisance), R-26-157 (1800 East 2nd Street), R-26-158 (certifying a clean-up lien at 4921 Allen Street), R-26-159 (liens for grass cutting and nuisance abatements on multiple properties) and R-26143 (condemnation for 825 East 13th Street). The council also adopted ordinance O-26-38 to amend the planning department quota, approved ordinance 02639 to waive sections of the sign ordinance permitting a free-standing electronic changeable-copy sign at 8801 Maumelle Boulevard, and approved ordinance 02640 rezoning property on Highway 161 from R-2 to I-1.
During the public hearing on R-26-157, Doug Calway, who identified himself as the owner of the house at issue, described efforts to rehabilitate the property after a fire and said it had suffered repeated break-ins. He told the council he had "had at least 20 break-ins" and that he had replaced expensive doors multiple times. The house, he said, had been repeatedly targeted and he asked the council to "tear it down." Calway added an alarming comment, saying, "Personally, I'd like to just shoot them." The presiding official admonished him: "Don't do that, please, sir." Calway also described difficulty securing contractors and said he had experienced significant personal stress and health problems during the process.
Votes at a glance
- R-26-156 (1012 Graham Avenue): Adopted. Roll call recorded affirmative votes from Hamilton, Hark, Robinson, Baxter, Harris, Baler and Solanka. - R-26-157 (1800 East 2nd Street): Adopted after a public hearing that included owner comment. Roll call recorded affirmative votes from Hamilton, Hart, Robinson, Baxter, Harris, Bauer and Psaltis. - R-26-158 (4921 Allen Street, clean-up lien): Adopted. Roll call recorded affirmative votes from Hamilton, Hart, Robinson, Baxter, Harris, Bauer and Psaltis. - R-26-159 (grass-cutting and other nuisance liens, various properties): Adopted. Roll call recorded affirmative votes from Hamilton, Hart, Robinson, Baxter, Harris, Bauer and Psaltis. - O-26-38 (planning department quota amendment): Adopted, including emergency clause. Roll call recorded affirmative votes from Hamilton, Hart, Robinson, Baxter, Harris, Eller and Csallany. - 02639 (waiver of sign ordinance for 8801 Maumelle Boulevard): Adopted with suspension of readings and emergency clause. Council members described the change as a brand update (Kum & Go); roll calls recorded affirmative votes from members present. - 02640 (rezoning, Highway 161 from R-2 to I-1): Adopted with suspension of readings and emergency clause; no public comments were offered. Roll calls recorded affirmative votes from members present. - R-26143 (825 East 13th Street; old business condemnation): Adopted; roll call recorded affirmative votes from Hamilton, Hart, Robinson, Baxter, Harris and Fowler.
What the votes mean
The condemnations and lien certifications authorize the city to pursue abatement steps and to file liens with the Pulaski County Tax Collector for recovery of cleanup and mowing expenses. The rezoning to I-1 changes the property's land-use designation and could allow industrial uses where residential zoning previously applied; the council approved the change by suspending readings and adopting the ordinance with an emergency clause. The sign-ordinance waiver allows a free-standing electronic sign at the specified Maumelle Boulevard location to accommodate a branding change.
Details and clarifications
- Addresses named in resolutions: 1012 Graham Avenue (R-26-156); 1800 East 2nd Street (R-26-157); 4921 Allen Street (R-26-158); 825 East 13th Street (R-26143). The resolution text for R-26-159 covers multiple properties addressed for grass cutting and nuisance abatements; specific lien amounts were not stated on the record. - Cleanup and lien amounts: the certificate for R-26-158 refers to an amount to be filed with the Pulaski County Tax Collector; the transcript did not record the dollar amounts for these liens. - Public comment: the meeting included one public commenter (Doug Calway) during R-26-157; his statements and the mayor's admonition were recorded in the hearing transcript.
The council concluded routine business and made several civic announcements, including a grand opening for the Central Fire Station the following day at 11:00 and that city offices would be closed Friday, June 19 for the Juneteenth holiday; solid-waste pickup schedules for affected routes will shift by one day.
The council adjourned after the announcements.
