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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes for Z-10152May 8, 2025 ITEM NO.: 7 FILE NO.: Z-10152 NAME: Upper Crust Event Center – Conditional Use Permit LOCATION: 320 W. 7th Street DEVELOPER/OWNER: Square Deal Builders, LLC (Owner) 105 Borough Shores Road Hot Springs National Park, AR 71913 AUTHORIZED AGENT: Bianca Mahomes (Agent) 12019 Firethorn Drive NLR, AR 72217 SURVEYOR/ENGINEER: Brooks Surveying, Inc. 20820 Arch Street Pike Hensley, AR 72065 AREA: 0.34 acre NUMBER OF LOTS: 3 FT. NEW STREET: 0 LF WARD: 1 PLANNING DISTRICT: 5 CENSUS TRACT: 44 CURRENT ZONING: UU VARIANCE/WAIVERS: None requested. A. PROPOSAL/REQUEST/APPLICANT’S STATEMENT: The applicant is requesting a conditional use permit to allow an event center at 320 W. 7th Street. B. EXISTING CONDITIONS: The subject property is zoned UU. The request is in the Downtown Planning District. The Future Land Use Plan is Mixed Use Urban (MXU). Surrounding the application area, there is a variety of commercial and office uses in MXU. The May 8, 2025 ITEM NO.: 7 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-10152 2 subject property contains a one-story building approximately 14,925 square feet in area. 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 (PLANNING): No comments. ENGINEERING COMMENTS (PUBLIC WORKS): No comments. 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: 1. All Central Arkansas Water requirements in effect at the time of request for water service must be met. Fire Department: Full Plan Review. Parks and Recreation: No comments received. County Planning: No comments. F. BUILDING CODES/LANDSCAPE: Building Codes: 1. The event center is a change is use and must comply with full code: i. Fire Sprinkler is required. ii. Fire Alarm is required. 2. A full plan review is required. May 8, 2025 ITEM NO.: 7 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-10152 3 Landscape: No comments. 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) for the requested 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. The application is for a Conditional Use Permit. May 8, 2025 ITEM NO.: 7 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-10152 4 The application area surrounding the application is designated for Mixed Use (MXU) uses and is characterized by high-density, mixed use commercial, office, and residential structures in the downtown urban core. This site is not located in an Overlay District. Master Street Plan: W. 7th Street is a Collector on the Master Street Plan. Collectors are designed to connect traffic from Local Streets to Arterials or to activity centers, with the May 8, 2025 ITEM NO.: 7 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-10152 5 secondary function of providing access to adjoining property. The standard Right of way is 60’. Sidewalks are required on one side of Collectors. This street may require dedication of right-of-way and may require street improvements. Bicycle Plan: W. 7th Street is on the Master Bike Plan as a Proposed Class 2 Bike Lane. Class 2 Bike Lanes provides a portion of the pavement for the sole use of bicycles. May 8, 2025 ITEM NO.: 7 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-10152 6 Historic Preservation Plan: This property is not located in a Historic District. H. ANALYSIS: The applicant is requesting a conditional use permit to allow an event center at 320 W. 7th Street. The subject property is zoned UU. The request is in the Downtown Planning District. The Future Land Use Plan is Mixed Use Urban (MXU). Surrounding the application area, there is a variety of commercial and office uses in MXU. The subject property contains a one-story building approximately 14,925 square feet in area. The applicant notes that all functions will take place inside the building and will include the following type of events: 1. Corporate and Business Events. 2. Social and Private Celebrations. 3. Community and Cultural Functions. 4. Live Entertainment. 5. Health and Wellness Events. 6. Food and Beverage Events. The applicant notes that the event space is designed to be adaptable for various occasions while maintaining an upscale and professional environment. In addition, the event center will feature a private speakeasy in the rear of the building designed to provide an intimate and exclusive lounge area to serve a tailored, mature and discerning audience. The speakeasy concept is designed to provide an atmosphere for guests to experience expertly crafted cocktails and premium service in a private setting. Noise mitigation strategies will be considered for all events to comply with city regulations for this type of business. Alcoholic beverages will be sold and served during events. The applicant is encouraged to obtain the required license through the proper State Agency to sell and serve alcoholic beverages. The target audience is young professionals at least twenty-five (25) years of age, and older. The event center will be operated by four (4) staff members, including two (2) owners, one (1) bartender, and one (1) cleaning staff. The applicant notes that there will be additional security personnel for large-scale events. May 8, 2025 ITEM NO.: 7 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-10152 7 The lounge will operate from 4:00pm to 10:00pm, Monday-Thursday, and from 4:00pm to 12:00am, Friday-Sunday. Events in the event hall of the building will be scheduled at the renter’s request and will end no later than 1:30am. However, depending on the nature of the event, the hours may be extended to 2:00am, if necessary. The event center will host ticketed events that will be managed and promoted through social platforms. The subject property is zoned Urban Use (UU). The zoning classification does not require off-street parking as required by code. The applicant notes that ample on- street parking is available nearby, providing guests with an alternative for secure parking. Guests will not be authorized to park in the parking area located on the east side of the building as that property is not owned by the owner of the proposed building for the event center. The applicant notes that strict security measures will be in place to ensure safety, including professional security personnel, surveillance cameras and controlled entry policies that may include the Little Rock Police Department (LRPD). The applicant states that they will work with neighboring businesses to ensure the property is cleaned following each event. Any new sight lighting must be low-level and directed away from adjacent properties. The applicant did not provide a signage plan with this application. All signs must comply with Section 36-553 of the City’s Zoning Ordinance (signs allowed in institutional and office zones. The site plan does not show a dumpster at this time. All trash generated from events at the site must comply with the City’s requirement for trash collection. Any dumpster placed on the site must be screened and comply with Section 36-523 of the City’s zoning ordinance. Staff is supportive of the requested conditional use permit. Staff feels that the request is reasonable and appropriate use for this location. Several businesses, including, but not limited to, restaurants, bars, taverns, hotels and existing event centers are located within the general, downtown area that sell and serve alcoholic beverages and host various types of events similar to this request. Staff feels that proposed use will not be out of character in the area. May 8, 2025 ITEM NO.: 7 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-10152 8 I. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the requested conditional use permit, subject to compliance with the comments and conditions noted in paragraphs E, and F, and the staff analysis of the agenda staff report. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MAY 8, 2025) The applicant was present. The application came off consent agenda. There was one (1) objector present. Jeff Yates voiced concerns about parking, trash and safety. After some discussion there was a motion to approve the application as recommended by staff. There was a second. The vote was 10 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent. The motion passed. The application was approved.