HomeMy WebLinkAbout9. Z-10234 Staff ReportDecember 11, 2025
ITEM NO.: 9 FILE NO.: Z-10234
NAME: Apex Duplexes – Conditional Use Permit
LOCATION: 3800 Block of Elam Street (westside) & SWC of Elam Street & W. 39th Street
OWNER/AGENT:
Kendel Grooms, ESQ. (Agent)
32 Caurel Court
Little Rock, AR 72223
Ryan Brooks (owner)
SURVEYOR/ENGINEER:
Bond Consulting Engineers, Inc.
2601 T.P. White Drive
Jacksonville, AR 72076
AREA: 1.07 acres NUMBER OF LOTS: 7 FT. NEW STREET: 0 LF
WARD: 6
CURRENT ZONING: R-3
A. PROPOSAL/REQUEST/APPLICANT’S STATEMENT:
The applicant is requesting a conditional use permit to develop a total of 1.07 acres
for seven (7) duplexes. The property is comprised of seven (7) platted lots, located
along the west side of the 3800 Block of Elam Street and the SWC corner of Elam
Street and W. 39th Street.
B. EXISTING CONDITIONS:
The application includes seven (7) lots on the west side of Elam Street from 3800
Elam Street to 3822 Elam Street and 3900 Elam Street. Six of the seven lots are
vacant, grass covered and undeveloped. The corner lot located at 3800 Elam
Street is occupied by a one-story 1,236 square-foot single-family residential home.
The front and back yards are fenced in and there are several mature trees on the
property. The Future Land Use shows Residential Low Density, “RL”. The current
zoning is R-3.
December 11, 2025
ITEM NO.: 9 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-10234
2
C. NEIGHBORHOOD NOTIFICATIONS:
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 DIVISION): No Comments.
ENGINEERING COMMENTS (PUBLIC WORKS):
1. Elam St. is classified on the Master Street Plan as a residential street. A dedication
of right-of-way 25 feet from centerline will be required.
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 OBJECTIONS; All Central Arkansas Water
requirements in effect at the time of request for water service must be met
Fire Department:
All projects submitted for zoning approval must comply with the Arkansas Fire
Prevention Code, 2021 Edition, including any comments or requirements provided
by the Little Rock Fire Marshal's Office, prior to acceptance.
Maintain Access:
Fire Hydrants.
Maintain fire apparatus access roads at fire hydrant locations as per Appendix D
of the 2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code Vol. 1 Section D103.1 Access road
width with a hydrant. Where a fire hydrant is located on a fire apparatus access
road, the minimum road width shall be 26 feet, exclusive of shoulders.
Grade
Maintain fire apparatus access roads as per Appendix D of the 2021 Arkansas Fire
Prevention Code Vol. 1 Section D103.2 Grade. Fire apparatus access roads shall
not exceed 10 percent in grade except as approved by the fire chief. If the grade
December 11, 2025
ITEM NO.: 9 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-10234
3
exceeds 10 percent, approval will be denied and the applicant must submit request
to be reviewed by Fire Chief for Approval.
Loading
Maintain fire apparatus access road design as per Appendix D of the 2021
Arkansas Fire Prevention Code Vol. 1 Section D102.1 Access and loading.
Facilities, buildings or portions of buildings hereafter constructed shall be
accessible to fire department apparatus by way of an approved fire apparatus
access road with an asphalt, concrete or other approved driving surface capable
of supporting the imposed load of fire apparatus weighing at least 75,000 pounds.
F. BUILDING CODES/LANDSCAPE:
Building Codes: No comments received.
Landscape: No Comments.
G. TRANSPORTATION/PLANNING:
Rock Region Metro: No comments received.
Planning Division:
The request is in District 10, the Boyle Park Planning District. The development
principles of this district include developing facilities for all modes of transportation,
retaining land in environmentally sensitive areas as open space—especially along
Rock Creek—and limiting commercial development along John Barrow Road to
between 32nd and 37th Streets. The Land Use Plan shows Residential Low
Density (RL) use for the application area. The Residential Low Density (RL)
category provides for single-family homes at densities not to exceed 6 dwelling
units per acre. Such residential development is typically characterized by
conventional single-family homes but may also include patio or garden homes and
cluster homes, provided that the density remains less than 6 units per acre. The
application is for a CUP for seven duplexes.
Surrounding the application area is an area designated for Residential Low Density
(RL) use and is characterized by single-family homes, duplexes, and churches.
This site is not located in an Overlay District.
December 11, 2025
ITEM NO.: 9 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-10234
4
Land Use Plan:
Master Street Plan:
Elam St. is a local street on the Master Street Plan. Local Streets are roads
designed to provide access to adjacent property with the movement of traffic
being a secondary purpose. The standard Right-of-way is 50’. Sidewalks are
required on one side. This street may require dedication of right-of-way and may
require street improvements. W. 39th Street has dedicated public right of way but
is not constructed.
Bicycle Plan:
Elam St. is not shown on the Master Bike Plan with existing or proposed facilities
in this area.
Historic Preservation Plan:
The application, as shown, should have no effect on identified historic resources.
H. ANALYSIS:
The applicant is requesting a conditional use permit to develop a total of 1.07 acres
for seven (7) duplexes. The property is comprised of seven (7) platted lots, located
along the west side of the 3800 Block of Elam Street and the SWC corner of Elam
Street and W. 39th Street.
The application includes seven (7) lots on the west side of Elam Street from 3800
Elam Street to 3822 Elam Street and 3900 Elam Street. Six of the seven lots are
vacant, grass covered and undeveloped. The corner lot located at 3800 Elam
Street is occupied by a one-story 1,236 square-foot single-family residential home.
The front and back yards are fenced in and there are several mature trees on the
property. The Future Land Use shows Residential Low Density, “RL”. The current
zoning is R-3.
Each of the seven (7) duplexes will be one-story structures. Each unit will be 1,089
square feet with a 6.7-foot front porch facing east towards Elam Street.
Section 36-502 requires three (3) off-street parking spaces for each duplex for the
proposed development. Each duplex has a parking pad consisting of 4 parking
spaces with access from Elam Street.
December 11, 2025
ITEM NO.: 9 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-10234
5
The site plan shows each duplex having a forty-six (46) foot setback from the east
(front) property line, a six (6) foot setback from the north and south property lines,
and a thirty-one and a half (31.5) foot setback from the west (rear) property line.
Each duplex meets setback requirements notated in Section 36-255.
Each building will not exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height.
The applicant notes typical building materials will include a concrete slab
foundation and exterior siding predominately being board and batten vinyl siding,
with the potential for some brick accents on portions of the building.
The applicant proposes laying Bermuda grass for landscaping on each lot.
Site lighting must be low-level and directed away from adjacent properties.
Each individual unit will have its own trash and recycle bin for collection.
Any fencing constructed will comply with Section 36-516 of the City’s Zoning
Ordinance.
To staff’s knowledge, there are no outstanding issues associated with this
application. Staff feels that the proposed duplex for each lot is an appropriate use
for the subject properties. Staff feels the proposed use will have minimal impact
within the general area and will serve the community with clean, affordable
housing. Staff feels the proposed use will have no adverse impact on the
surrounding properties.
I. STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the proposed conditional use permit, subject to
compliance with the comments and conditions outlined in paragraphs D and E,
and the staff analysis, of the agenda staff report.