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Home My WebLink AboutPC Minutes for Z-10113February 13, 2025 ITEM NO.: 12 FILE NO.: Z-10113 NAME: Just Peachy Event Center – Conditional Use Permit LOCATION: 305 Main Street DEVELOPER/OWNER: Josh Malone 5450 Wedgewood Dr Alexander, AR 72002 AUTHORIZED AGENT: Ryan Byrd 1821 Broadway St Little Rock, AR 72206 SURVEYOR/ENGINEER: Brooks Surveying, Inc. 20820 Arch Street Pike Hensley, AR 72065 AREA: 0.09 acres NUMBER OF LOTS: 1 FT. NEW STREET: 0 LF WARD: 1 PLANNING DISTRICT: 5 CENSUS TRACT: 44 CURRENT ZONING: UU VARIANCE/WAIVERS: None requested. B. PROPOSAL/REQUEST/APPLICANT’S STATEMENT: The applicant is requesting a Conditional Use Permit to allow an event center at 305 Main Street. B. EXISTING CONDITIONS: The property is zoned UU. The request is in the Downtown Planning District. The Future Land Use Plan shows The Mixed Use Urban (MXU). Surrounding the application area, is a variety of commercial and office uses in MXU. The structure is 3,126 square foot, one story building. February 13, 2025 ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-10113 2 C. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS: All owners of property located within 300 feet of the site and all neighborhood associations registered with the City of Little Rock were notified of the public hearing. D. ENGINEERING COMMENTS: Provide site plan and layout. Survey will not be considered as plan. E. UTILITIES/FIRE DEPARTMENT/PARKS/COUNTY PLANNING: Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority: No comments. Entergy: No comments received. Summit Utilities: No comments. AT & T: No comments received. Central Arkansas Water: No comments. Fire Department: FULL PLAN REVIEW Parks and Recreation: No comments received. County Planning: No comments. F. BUILDING CODES/LANDSCAPE: Building Code: 1. Project is a change in occupancy and is therefore subject to current building code requirements. Review and approval is required by Building Codes Division before occupancy takes place. For information on submittal requirements and the review process, contact a commercial plans examiner: Curtis Richey at 501.371.4724; crichey@littlerock.gov or Tim Whitener at 501-371-4875, twhitener@littlerock.gov. 2. This occupancy6 is 3126 SF and will most likely have an occupancy rating well over 99. With an occupancy rating in excess of 99 Fire Sprinkler and Fire Alarm will be required. Landscape: No comments. February 13, 2025 ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-10113 3 G. TRANSPORTATION/PLANNING: Rock Region Metro: No comments received. Planning Division: The request is in the Downtown Planning District. The Land Use Plan shows Mixed Use Urban (MXU) use for the application area. The Mixed Use Urban (MXU) category allows for uses ranging from high-rise office buildings to single family homes. The intent is to create a vital, diverse area which is street oriented and pedestrian-friendly. The uses maybe mixed (residential, office, and commercial in any combination) within the building itself or within an area. for the requested area. The application is for a Conditional Use Permit for an Event Center. The application area is located in the Isaac Kempner Building. This site is not located in an Overlay District. Master Street Plan: Main Street is a Minor Arterial on the Master Street Plan. Minor Arterials are high volume roads designed to provide the connections to and through an urban area. Curb cuts should be minimized to allow for continuous traffic flow while still allowing some access to adjoining property. Deceleration Lanes are required. Standard Right-of-way (ROW) is 90 feet. Sidewalks are required on both sides. This street may require dedication of right-of-way and may require street improvements. Bicycle Plan: Main Street is on the Master Bike Plan as a Proposed Class 3 Bike Route. Class 3 Bike Routes require no additional right-of-way, but either a sign or pavement marking to identify and direct the route. Historic Preservation Plan: The subject property is the site of the Isaac Kempner Building (PU0193) and located within the Main Street Historic District. The Kemper Building was constructed c. 1875 and underwent later modifications. For this reason, the site is considered Ineligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and Ineligible within the Main Street Historic District context. Many times, properties that are historic in age but considered ineligible within a historic district context due to major alterations. These structures can often be restored by removing previous alterations and restoring lost architectural details. February 13, 2025 ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-10113 4 As a CUP, the application, as shown, should have no effect on identified historic resources. The Historic Preservation Plan advocates for the increased identification and recognition of Little Rock’s historic resources and increased effectiveness and coordination with the review of development plans. Staff advocates that future proposed development or renovation of the site consider its potential adverse impacts to adjacent historic sites and the Main Street Historic District. Staff also advocates for the consideration of the restoration of the storefront to contribute to the District’s historic character. February 13, 2025 ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-10113 5 H. ANALYSIS: The applicant is requesting a Conditional Use Permit to allow an event center at 305 Main Street. The property is zoned UU. The request is in the Downtown Planning District. The Future Land Use Plan shows The Mixed Use Urban (MXU). Surrounding the application area, is a variety of commercial and office uses in MXU. The structure is 3,126 square foot, one story building. The applicant proposes to rent the building to groups for conferences, birthday parties, and family events. While most events will occur from Friday through Sunday, the applicant does plan on having consistent usage of the building throughout the week. Hours of operation will be 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. There will possibly be ticketed events at this location in the future. Staff feels there will be ample parking in the area as the maximum number of attendees will be limited to 99 persons. The applicant provided the following information: “We have a high-end clientele who are looking for beautiful, safe, adequately-sized spaces for their events, ranging from corporate events (luncheons, holiday parties, company milestones, etc.) to birthday parties to baby showers to family events and any and all events where the sweet spot is often 50-99in attendance”. “The largest amount of square footage (roughly - 2,000 sq ft)will be where we host events. We’ll offer tables and chairs to guests and the rest of the space can largely customized with décor, furniture, and just about any configuration that suits their event’s needs”. “Finally, we will have a strict cut-off time for events. To be clear, we will not allow events that go on into the early morning hours. A more realistic cut-off time for our events will be 10:00 p.m., though the exact time hasn’t been ultimately set. For the overwhelming majority of events we plan for clients, that ‘s a reasonable and often requested ending time (if not earlier) it’s rare that we have an event to go past 11:00 p.m.” Staff is in support of the requested Conditional Use Permit. Staff believes the request is reasonable and that the proposed CUP use is appropriate for this location. Staff feels that this type of use is within character for the area at this time. February 13, 2025 ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-10113 6 I. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the CUP zoning request subject to compliance with the comments and conditions noted in paragraphs D, E and F, and the staff analysis of the agenda staff report. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (FEBRUARY 13, 2025) The applicant was present. There were no persons registered in opposition. Staff presented the item, and a recommendation of approval as outlined in the “staff analysis” above. The item remained on the Consent Agenda for Approval. The vote was 10 ayes, 0 nays, and 1 open positions. The application was approved.