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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOD Staff Report 060526OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMUNICATION January 20, 2026 AGENDA Subject An Ordinance Approving a Planned Zoning Development Titled Pierce — STR-2 — PD-C, Located at 4909 Kavanaugh Boulevard (Z-10217) Submitted by: Department of Planning and Development SYNOPSIS FISCAL IMPACT RECOMMENDATION BACKGROUND Action Required 4Ordinance Resolution Approval Information Report Approved By Delphone Hubbard City Manager The applicant requests to rezone the 0.16-acre property from R-2 to PD-C to allow a short-term rental. I None. The Planning Commission recommends denial of the Ordinance. Staff recommends approval of the Ordinance. The applicant is requesting to rezone a 0.16-acre property located at 4909 Kavanaugh Boulevard from R-2 to PD-C to allow use of the property as a short-term rental 2 (STR-2) with a maximum stay of twenty-nine (29) days. The owner will not reside in the residence. The entire home will be rented out as one unit. The residence is currently vacant and is not being used as a short-term rental. The property is occupied by a 1,554 square foot, one-story, single-family home. The property is located in the Heights Landscape Design Overlay District. There are single- family residences north and south along the west side of Background Continued Kavanaugh Boulevard to the east. There is access to the property from the rear alley as well as a driveway from Kavanaugh. A two -car parking pad sits off the alley, providing additional parking. The existing zoning is R-2. The Future Land Use Plan shows Residential Low Density (RL) for the proposed area. On June 20, 2023, the City Board of Directors passed an ordinance regulating short-term rentals within the City of Little Rock. The new ordinance establishes "development standards" for short-term rentals. If approved, the applicant must comply with the newly established development standards as follows, in addition to all other requirements of the new ordinance: Development Standards. 1. Hosting of private parties and special events such as weddings, receptions, and other similar gatherings is not allowed in Short- Term Rentals. 2. Tours for a fee are not allowed to anyone other than an Occupant. 3. The Occupancy Fee may include any meal to be served to paying guests; no other meal service is permitted. 4. Allowable signage is that as permitted by the Single -Family Residential Standard. 5. Parking plan must be provided with permit application. Off - Street Standard for STRs shall be provided in accordance with Little Rock Arkansas Code, Chapter 36 36-54 (e) (1). If on - street parking is proposed as an alternative to meet the above requirements, parking must be available for guest use within 330 feet of the STR and parking plan must address neighborhood impact. If the STR is proposed within a Design Overlay District, any 2 alternate parking requirements, as provided in Little Rock, Arkansas Rev. Code, Chapter Background 36. Zoning, Article V. District Continued Regulations shall be applicable. 6. Applicants shall provide a scaled floor plan that includes all of the rooms available for rent with location of windows, doors, and smoke detectors identified. Smoke detectors (certified) are required in all sleeping areas, in every room in the path of the means of egress from the sleeping area to the exit, and in each story with sleeping unit, including basements. 7. All sleeping areas must have two (2) ways of egress, one of which can be an operable window. 8. Proof of homeowner's fire, hazard, and liability insurance. Liability coverage shall have limits of not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) per occurrence. 9. All persons operating a Bed and Breakfast House/Short-Term Rental (Type I & 2) shall meet all applicable requirements of the City of Little Rock's Municipal Code, Chapter 12, Fire Prevention and Protection, Article II. Arkansas Fire Prevention Code. Prior to use as a Bed and Breakfast House/Short-Term Rental (Type 1 & 2), the annual City of Little Rock, Building Code and Fire Marshal inspection fee must be paid, and payment of annual Business License received. 10. Smoke alarms shall be installed, all smoke alarms shall meet 3 Continu local and state standards (current Fire Code). Smoke alarms shall be installed in all sleeping areas and every room in the path of the means of egress from the sleeping area to the door leading from the sleeping unit. 11. Carbon monoxide detectors shall be installed as directed by City Staff if there are fuel -fired appliances in the unit or the unit has an attached garage. 12. Five (5)-pound ABC -type extinguisher shall be mounted where readily accessible. 13. No recreational vehicles, buses, or trailers shall be visible on the street or property in conjunction with the Bed and Breakfast House/Short-Term Rental use. 14. Principal renter shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age. 15. Maximum occupancy. Maximum occupancy of any room or structure as a whole shall be determined by the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code. 16. Simultaneous rental to more than one party under separate contracts shall not be allowed. 17. The owner shall not receive any compensation or remuneration to permit occupancy of an STR for a period of less than a one (1)-day rental. All trash pick-up shall comply with requirements for residential one —and two-family residential zones. There have been no Department of Planning & Development enforcement cases nor any police reports for this property. 4 Backgrou Continu Currently the City of Little Rock Department of Planning and Development has one hundred and thirty (130) short- term rentals (STR-1 and STR-2) listed within the database for approved short-term rentals in the City of Little Rock. The City's new short-term rental ordinance allows a maximum of 500 short-term rentals within the corporate boundary of the City of Little Rock. On November 13, 2025, the Planning Commission voted 5 ayes, 2 noes, 3 absent and 1 open position, to recommend denial of the PD-C rezoning. There were seven (7) objectors present. 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. Please see the attached Planning Commission minute record for the complete staff analysis. According to the Planning Commission's Bylaws: "Actions requiring the City Board of Directors approval which receive a positive vote from the majority of members present but which fail to receive the required six (b) commission votes, shall be forwarded to the Board of Directors with a recommendation of denial." 5