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Department of Planning and Development
723 West Markham Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334
Phone: (501)371-4790 Fax: (501)371-4546
Planning
Development
Building Codes
Mr. Scott Smith (Agent) File No: Z-10140
12600 Lawson Road Location: 28214 Chenal Valley Drive
Little Rock AR 72210 _________ ______ Issue: Land Alteration and Retaining Wall
to exceed permitted height.
Date: March 31, 2025____
Dear Mr. Smith. .
This is to advise you that in connection with your application, File No. _Z-10140_, the following action
was taken by the Board of Adjustment at its meeting on March 20, 2025_:
(a) ____ _ Approved the application as filed.
(b) X Approved the application with conditions.
(c) ________ Denied the application.
(d) ____ ___ Deferred the application to the Board of Adjustment Agenda meeting.
(e) ___ __ _ Withdrew the application.
(f) ____X____ See attached Board of Adjustment minute record for conditions.
(g) ________ Other: ______________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
If a variance application is approved by the Board of Adjustment, all permits necessary for the initiation of
work shall be obtained within two (2) years from the date of approval, unless an extension of time is granted
by the Board. Otherwise, the Board’s approval of the application shall be considered void.
According to the City’s Zoning Ordinance Section 36-70:
“Appeals from the decision of the Board of Adjustment shall be filed with the appropriate court of
jurisdiction. This filing must occur within thirty (30) calendar days of the action by the Board of
Adjustment.”
If you have questions, please call me at (501) 371-6821.
Sincerely,
_____________________________________________
Romie G. Price, Plans Development Administrator
RGP/ds
MARCH 20, 2025
ITEM NO.: 8 Z-10140
File No.: Z-10140
Owner: Christ Community Church of Little Rock
Applicant: Josh Peabody (Agent)
Kinco Contractors LLCC
Address: 28214 Chenal Valley Drive
Description: East side of Chenal Parkway, north of Chenal Valley
Drive
Zoned: R-2 / C-2
Variance(s) Requested: A variance is requested area provisions of Section 29-
190 to allow land alteration and a retaining wall
accessory structure to exceed the permitted heights.
Justification: The applicant’s justification is presented in an
attached letter.
Present Use: Vacant
Proposed Use: Religious Facility
STAFF REPORT
A. Planning and Development Civil Engineering Comments:
No comments required.
B. Landscape and Buffer Comments:
No comments required.
C. Building Codes Comments:
No comments required.
D. Staff Analysis:
The R-2 / C-4 zoned property located at the northeast corner of Chenal Parkway and
Chenal Valley Drive is currently vacant, but the developer has submitted plans to
construct an religious facility at the site (Christ Community Church). The surrounding
area is a mix of residential developments and commercial uses.
MARCH 20, 2025
ITEM NO.: 8 FILE NO.: Z-10140
The applicant is proposing to place a retaining wall structure along the west perimeter
of the parking area. The site plan indicates that the wall is proposed to exceed the
allowed height of fifteen (15) feet. The proposed parking area extends from north to
south in a circular shape around the proposed structure with paved access drives
extending to the south. The applicant states that the extreme slope of the site does
allow for a more feasible solution to support the needs of the project.
If the applicant was to conform with the height requirement as per city code, this would
hinder the ability of the developer to provide adequate parking at the facility. At the
site, there are also substantial grade changes needed to provide safe parking lot
slopes for pedestrian and vehicular travel.
Section 29-190 1 (d) states that “Cuts or fills shall be limited to ten (10) feet in height
or to fifteen (15) feet if architectural stone is included to protect the vertical face. A
series of smaller cuts or fills with terraces, preserving portions of natural vegetation
and providing areas for planting, shall be used in situations where more than ten
(10) feet of cut or fill is needed.” Therefore, the applicant is requesting a variance to
allow a “cut” land alteration to exceed ten (10) feet in height with a retaining wall.
Section 29-190 1 (e) states that “Terracing width shall be at a ratio of at least one (1)
foot of horizontal terrace for every one (1) foot of vertical height, up to a maximum
of ten (10) feet. Terraces shall be landscaped with dense evergreen plantings
sufficient to screen the cut or fill slope. The terrace may be sloped to drain up to one
(1) foot in ten (10) feet of width.” Therefore, the applicant is requesting a variance
to allow a terrace to exceed ten (10) feet in height.
Staff is supportive of the requested accessory retaining wall structure height variance
to install a retaining wall at the site which exceeds fifteen (15) feet. Staff views the
request as reasonable. The wall will be located mainly along the northern perimeter
of the property adjacent to an undeveloped and staff believes this request will have
no adverse impact on the surrounding properties.
E. Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the requested land alteration, terrace height, and
retaining wall height variance, subject to the descriptions and any conditions in the
“staff analysis,” and the following conditions:
1. A building permit being obtained for all construction.
2. Abide by all site development requirements for C-2 zoned properties and for
all of the Chenal Overlay District requirements.
Board of Adjustment (MARCH 20, 2025)
The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the application
to the Board and stated it recommended the side yard setback variance be approved as per
staff report. There was a consent motion to approve the application. The motion was
seconded. The application was approved on consent. The vote was 3 ayes, 0 nays, 2 absent.
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