HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmail Correspondence - D. Leeson - Deferred 120821From: Thrower, Torrence
Sent: Wednesday, December 8, 2021 2:39 PM
To: 'Denise L' <dannleeson@gmail.com>
Cc: Price, Romie G. <rprice@littlerock.gov>
Subject: RE: Neighborhood objections - 1417 S. Park St. rezoning application
Denise,
Please note that:
RE: Neighborhood objections - 1417 S. Park St. rezoning application
This item has been deferred to the February 10, 2022 agenda.
Torrence Thrower | Development Specialist
City of Little Rock | Planning and Development
723 W. Markham | Little Rock, AR 72201-1334
Main: 501-371-4790 | Direct: 501-371-4764
Email: tthrower@littlerock.gov
Website: https://www.littlerock.gov
From: Denise L [mailto:dannleeson@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 7, 2021 8:37 PM
To: Moore, Monte <MMoore@littlerock.gov>; Thrower, Torrence <tthrower@littlerock.gov>; Collins, Gilbert <gcollins@littlerock.gov>; wordsmithlr <wordsmithlr@gmail.com>; Rousseau, Nancy
<Nancy.Rousseau@lrsd.org>; Miller Jr., Virgil <vmiller@littlerock.gov>; joyce matthews <jmatthe_75503@yahoo.com>; City Manager <citymanager@littlerock.gov>; derickbrooks01@gmail.com;
bettonclinic@aol.com <bettonclinic@aol.com>; cheatham.wil@gmail.com <cheatham.wil@gmail.com>; kathodgesesq@gmail.com <kathodgesesq@gmail.com>; todd.hart@baptist-health.org <todd.hart@baptist-health.
org>; mhaynes@21cjs.com <mhaynes@21cjs.com>; platture@yahoo.com <platture@yahoo.com>; rochelle17usa@gmail.com <rochelle17usa@gmail.com>; ArkRealEstate@aol.com <ArkRealEstate@aol.com>;
vickerscap@gmail.com <vickerscap@gmail.com>; ravogeljr@gmail.com <ravogeljr@gmail.com>; derickbrooks01@gmail.com; bettonclinic@aol.com <bettonclinic@aol.com>; cheatham.wil@gmail.com
<cheatham.wil@gmail.com>; kathodgesesq@gmail.com <kathodgesesq@gmail.com>; todd.hart@baptist-health.org <todd.hart@baptist-health.org>; mhaynes@21cjs.com <mhaynes@21cjs.com>; platture@yahoo.com
<platture@yahoo.com>; rochelle17usa@gmail.com <rochelle17usa@gmail.com>; ArkRealEstate@aol.com <ArkRealEstate@aol.com>; vickerscap@gmail.com <vickerscap@gmail.com>; ravogeljr@gmail.com
<ravogeljr@gmail.com>
Cc: Moore, Monte <MMoore@littlerock.gov>; Thrower, Torrence <tthrower@littlerock.gov>; Collins, Gilbert <gcollins@littlerock.gov>; Rousseau, Nancy <Nancy.Rousseau@lrsd.org>; Miller Jr.,
Virgil <vmiller@littlerock.gov>; joyce matthews <jmatthe_75503@yahoo.com>; City Manager <citymanager@littlerock.gov>; kathy wells <wordsmithlr@gmail.com>; Arlene Rose <arose_72202@yahoo.com>;
Bobby Mathews <bcmathews84@gmail.com>; Chester Guydon <cguydon@att.net>; ryrunner@yahoo.com
Subject: Neighborhood objections - 1417 S. Park St. rezoning application
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Dear Planning Commissioners, Staff, and Others,
As President of the Central High Neighborhood, Inc (CHNI) (neighborhood association), I submit for your consideration a letter conveying the unanimous request by out directors and officers
to deny the pending application from Hayes Properties Enterprises for a proposed planned commercial development at 1417 S. Park Street.
Our neighborhood is dear to us. While we want and work for our neighborhood to prosper and develop, we will not willingly sacrifice quality of life. For this general reason, we stand
firm in our request that you deny the pending application from Hayes Properties Enterprises for 1417 S. Park Street.
First, the applicant, Trishmonisha Blagdon, and her agent, Kwendeche, joined our October 12th (monthly) CHNI meeting to discuss the project. They described an event center for 20 guests
and a one-bedroom short-term rental. As the project seemed to lack firm details, we requested they send more information before submitting their proposal to the Commission. They have
yet to send additional information.
The Information Sheet for Subdivision, PZD’s, Zoning…Site Plan Reviews is dated October 18th. Your division’s Staff Report was likely prepared from this document and the cover letters
provided by the applicant and her agent. The Staff Report indicates the maximum anticipated guests at 60 persons. In addition, the application and Staff Report indicate an intent
to list the whole facility for short-term rental, i.e. Air BnB. The intent expressed in the application is in direct conflict with the intent conveyed to CHNI membership only six days
earlier. Either the applicant has no clear plan for this enterprise or she misrepresented her intent in order to gain neighborhood support for the project. Either scenario is a misguided
way of going about starting a business.
As Commissioners are aware, in 2006, 1417 S. Park and three other properties were rezoned from R-3, R-4 to POC. While some of the intended actions were carried out, others were not.
For the last approximate eight years, 1417 S. Park has remained vacant. The other two properties owned by the applicant remain gutted shells in very poor repair, sixteen years after
they told the neighborhood and the city that they would be renovated under National Park Service guidelines by August 2007. We present the following table to illustrate that the applicants
have a history of failing to follow through with their intentions.
Performance
Intent
No
All properties - Upgrade driveway aprons & rebuild driveways consistent w/historical period of house
No
All properties - Side yard will have new 6’ wood plank fencing
No
All properties - Handicap accessibility from the rear
No
1417 S. Park – “…large public space for program seminars, office space w/computer stations, reception, waiting area, and private offices…”
No
1417 S. Park - ”…screening would be required along the perimeter of the site where abutting residential or residentially zoned property.” Staff also required plantings adjacent to the
screening fence.
We are dismayed that Planning staff apparently failed to consider the applicant’s history of being unable or unwilling to keep promises made to the city and the neighborhood, before
recommending a major and very invasive expansion of use for a spot re-zoning of the only house where the applicant has made any reinvestment, while seriously and simultaneously neglecting
three others. As Commissioners will note from the application, Hayes Properties Enterprises is based out of California. The absentee owner will contract with local businesses to care
for the property and carry out their business. While the applicant asserts the target audience is historical tourists, the applicant’s agent shared that college parties will be targeted.
The CHNI Board rejects the idea that this business model of an absentee owner of a party house is a “good fit” for our neighborhood. Objections stated in the 2006 Staff Report remain
valid for the current application for re-zoning. We are concerned about trash, noise, and light pollution, parking challenges, and increased crime.
We urgently ask that you take into consideration the needs and desires of the residents of the Central High neighborhood, especially those who own abutting properties or those on the
same block. Each and every day, these families experience the pleasure or the dread of dealing with the results of your decisions.
Thank you for your support.
Denise Leeson
President, CHNI
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