HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter of Intent 08272113 C' 111 0 M YV E 1, 1,
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E August 24, 2021
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Department of Zoning and Development
N City of Little Rock
M 723 West Markham
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Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
RE: 5701 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, AR: Revised Application for Zoning Variance for
hLot 1, Lot 2 & Lot 3 on the Southwest Corner of Kavanaugh Blvd. and North Fillmore
Street.
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W 5701 Kavanaugh LLC purchased three lots at the southwest corner of Kavanaugh Blvd and
Fillmore Street in the commercial/retail district of the Heights. Lots 1 & 2 are currently vacant lots
as the buildings on that site were demolished approximately two years ago. There were
previously three buildings on those two lots. Those buildings, like most all buildings on that block,
were placed as typical of a downtown shopping district - property line to property line extending to
8r) the public sidewalks. Lot 3 is a one-story building that recently housed an art gallery. That
building also fills most of the site and borders the public sidewalk/property line on Kavanaugh.
W Concept
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o The desire of the development team is to create an urban mixed -use development that engages
what is a very vibrant urban neighborhood. The development team, desiring to meet the wishes
and expectations of the neighbors, is submitting a two-story building with a basement designed in
(D a traditional downtown commercial/retail establishment style. This building will take less than one
half of the northern end of the three lots. There will be off street parking for 12 cars (including a
W covered parking structure for 5 cars), utilities and trash enclosure at the south half of the three
lots.
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• First Floor: The gross area, 4790 s.f., includes a dental office practice for a well -
respected local dentist which will fill the entire leasable space, a ground floor elevator
lobby for the basement and second floor tenants and a separate stairway entrance for the
basement tenant.
• Second Floor: The gross enclosed area of 4415 s.f. is planned for two condominiums
each of which will have a terrace facing Kavanaugh.
• Partial Basement: The interior gross area of 1610 s.f. will house a small dining/bar
establishment and will be located and entered from the parking area on the south side of
the building.
Zoning Variances Requested:
The site is zoned C-3 which has the following requirements that are not met with this proposed
design:
• 25' setbacks at Kavanaugh Blvd. and Fillmore St.
• Off street parking as required by Section 36-502.
Our reasons to request these variances include the following:
Setbacks: The context of the neighborhood which makes it so appealing is its urban
retail use in which the buildings are built to the sidewalk (property line) for a walkable
community. We are requesting to continue this layout concept as it presently exists and
neighbors to the east and west currently enjoy.
Off Street Parking: In urban settings such as this, parking is usually handled in the city
street grid. The Kavanaugh shopping district currently follows this concept. Off street
parking is being provided for the condominium owners and some of the building patrons —
dental patrons in the day and dining/bar patrons in the evening. To help alleviate
expressed concerns, the building owners have developed a Memorandum of Agreement
(MOA) with Iberia Bank to accommodate clinic staff parking needs during the weekday at
their adjacent facility. See attached MOA. Calvary Baptist Church has also provided a
letter stating their "informal agreement" to allow use of their parking lot for users of this of
this facility. See attached letter.
We believe this mixed -use building will enhance the current neighborhood and add to its current
vitality. We are asking for your consideration of these variances.
Please contact me with any questions or comments.
:tfull ,
DuValian II, AIA
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