HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC1985-002 Memorandum From Rober Atkinson To Brenda Donald 04/07//1986E3City of Little Rock
Office of
Comprehensive
Planning
April 22, 1986
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
City Hall
Markham at Broadway
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
371-4790
MEMORANDUM
BRENDA DONALD, ACTING ASS'T CITY MANAGER
ROBERT ATRINSON, URBAN DESIGNER�-
OFFICE OF COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING
MR. JOHN P. CORN'S LETTER OF APRIL 7, 1986
I have carefully read Mr. Corn's letter, as per your
request, and find that he is misinformed in several areas.
For some reason Mr. Corn seems to be under the impression
that the Historic District was created by some entity other
than the Board of Directors. In fact, the Commission was
established by Ordinance #13154 and the MacArthur Park
Historic District was established by Ordinance #14,0420 The
Commission's authority is, in effect, an overlay added to
other City ordinances and is derived from the same concept
of appropriate application of the City's police power which
has given rise to zoning and other development controls.
In so far as Mr. Corn's contention that the Commission is
overriding building and zoning codes goes, Mr. Corn is again
in error. Ordinance 14,042 specifically prohibits the
Historic District Commission from preventing the demolition
of any structure or part of a structure determined by the
building inspector to be unsafe or to exercise any control
over the interior use or arrangement of a structure.
However, the Commission is given the authority to delay
demolitions for a period of six months in order to seek to
save the buildings within the District (see previous memo
concerning this power). The Commission has never sought to
overreach its authority in regards to interior use or
arrangement. However, it does contend, and the City
Attorney is currently defending this position in court, that
parking lots fall outside of this stricture.
Mr. Corn's concerns over the make up of the Commission and
his allegations of conflict of interest are unfounded.
Ordinance 13,154 was amended by Ordinance 13,290 which
establishes the criteria for appointing the Commissioners of
the Historic District. Of the five positions, one must be
an architect, two must own property within the District with
one of these residing within the District, one member is
selected from a list of three persons submitted by the Board
of Directors and one position having no constraints. As can
be seen, this ordinance allows for considerable diversity
among Commission members. In regards to the appearance of
impropriety because of membership in the Quapaw Quarter
Association let me make two points. The first is that it is
only natural for persons willing to serve on the Commission
and who have the knowledge and experience necessary to make
informed judgements in Commission matters to be members of
QQA, the only organization in the City devoted to preserving
Little Rock's architectural heritage. Secondly, the QQA
does not hold such sway over its membership that blind
obedience to its positions is likely to occur. Also, no
consultation takes place within the general membership
before or after the QQA Board makes its recommendations.
Mr. Corn is currently representing the American Legion
before the Historic District Commission. At issue are many
of the same portions of the Ordinance Mr. Corn is seeking to
change. As part of the preparation for this case, a survey
of neighboring property owners was undertaken on behalf of
the American Legion. These persons did support the
demolition of 522 Rock. However, Mr. Corn's assertion that
these same respondents also supported a parking lot at this
location must be clarified in that the specicific choices
for use of the subject listed on the questionaire included
fast food restaurants, high rise apartments or offices, and
light industrial manufacturing.
To summarize, there is no basis in fact for any of Mr.
Corn's assertions regarding the powers of the Historic
District Commission, the composition of the Commission or
the ethics of the individual Commissioners. I see no reason
for making the kind of sweeping charges Mr. Corn advocates
but does not specify.
RA/se