HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard Comm for LU2021-10-01OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMUNICATION
JANUARY 18, 2022 AGENDA
Subject
Land Use Plan Amendment
– Boyle Park Planning
District – LU2021-10-01
Submitted By:
Action Required
√ Ordinance
Resolution
Approval
Information Report
Approved By
Planning and Development Bruce Moore
City Manager
SYNOPSIS To approve Land Use Plan amendment in the Boyle Park
Planning District from Light Industrial (LI) to Commercial
(C)
FISCAL IMPACT None
RECOMMENDATION Staff recommended approval. The Little Rock Planning
Commission by a vote of 9 for, 0 against, 2 absent made
recommendation to approve the change at the December 09,
2021 Hearing.
BACKGROUND Applicant requests a Land Use Plan amendment from Light
Industrial (LI) to Commercial (C) on an approximate 5.9
acre developed unplatted parcel in the Boyle Park Planning
District at the northeast corner of Colonel Glen Road and
Potter Street.
The current Light Industrial land use designation provides
for light warehouse, distribution or storage uses, and/or
other industrial uses that are developed in a well-designed
"park like" setting.
The proposed Commercial designation includes a broad
range of retail and wholesale sales of products, personal and
professional services, and general
business activities. Commercial activities vary in type and
scale, depending on the trade area that they serve.
This land use amendment is accompanied by a zoning map
amendment request. It is applicant’s intent to rezone the
2
BACKGROUND
CONTINUED
site to a General Commercial District (C-3) zoning district
(File No. Z-9632).
The 5.9-acre Light Industrial site is the sole Light Industrial
designated mass of lands on the north side of Colonel Glenn
Road. Given the site is surrounded by non-industrial uses,
such as a place of worship, single family homes, a small
discount retail store, and Residential designated lands
available for development a Commercial land use
designation should be able to be integrated into the existing
development pattern. The City is not lacking opportunities
for redevelopment of industrial developments, west of the
site, just over a mile (across Brodie Creek) on Shackleford
Road are industrial lands available for development, and to
the east just across University are a significant amount of
lands designated Industrial and ready for development.
While there are additional Commercial designated lands in
the area, in this area, most are developed with commercial
operations, the change will not create a surplus of
Commercial land use in the area.
The site and structure occupying the lands has been
developed and re-developed over the years. Pulaski County
tax records suggest there is almost 250K square feet of
commercial space developed on the parcel. The site is
already served with infrastructure and developed with a
large structure that is feasible to use for commercial
purposes. The site was previously occupied by a higher
intensity use, so it is not assumed the change to Commercial
land use would have greater impacts to the adjacent
community. The change to Commercial could help stabilize
the area, by occupying a vacant structure. Staff finds the
application to be in accordance with the goals of the Future
Land Use Narrative for Boyle Park,
A change in land use at the site to a Commercial land use
appears to support the City’s long-term goals.
Notices were sent to the following neighborhood
association: John Barrow. Staff has received no comments
from area residents. The John Barrow Neighborhood
Association contacted the Planning Director to discuss the
proposed amendment after the writing of the item.