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 Celebrate! Maya
Project — Revised PD-
O, Located at 1722
Wolfe Street (Z-9856-
A)
Submitted by:
Department of Planning and
Development
SYNOPSIS
FISCAL IMPACT
RECOMMENDATION
BACKGROUND
Action Required
Ordinance
Resolution
Approval
Information Report
Approved By
Delphone Hubbard
City Manager
The applicant requests to rezone the 0.17-acre property
from PD-O to Revised PD-O to allow the Maya Angelou
House and Celebrate! Maya Project headquarters.
I None.
Approval of the Ordinance.
The applicant proposes to demolish the existing building,
and construct a new facility for the previously approved
PD-O to establish an activity hub for the Maya
Angelou House and Celebrate! Maya Project Headquarters.
All aspects of the previously approved PD-O will remain
unchanged.
Properties in the general area contain R-3 and R-4 zoning
and uses in all directions. The site is located within the
Central High Historic District. The developer will construct
a new 3,100 square foot, two story building. Space will be
dedicated to a Maya Angelou historical museum, cross -
sectional education and community complex and
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administrative office complex.
The site plan shows a five (5) foot building setback from
the front property line, five (5) feet from the north and south
property lines, and zero (0) foot setback from the rear
property line, along the alley.
The applicant provided the following operating hours for
various aspects:
■ Maya Angelou historical museum:
Monday -Friday from 10:00am-2:OOpm,
Saturday & Sunday from 10am-12:OOpm.
■ Education and community complex:
Monday -Friday from 9:OOam- 4:OOpm,
Saturday from 10:00am-12:OOpm.
• Administrative office space: Monday -
Friday from 9:OOam-5:OOpm.
• Summer camps (June -August): Monday -
Friday 9:OOam-2:OOpm
• After school tutoring & mentoring:
Monday -Friday from 3:OOpm-6:OOpm.
Access to the building will be located near the northwest
corner of W. 18th Street & Wolfe Street (east entry plaza).
A second access point is shown along W. 18th Street (south
entry plaza).
The applicant proposes site improvements in the right-of-
way (ROW) along Wolfe Steet and W. 18th Street. The
improvements will include a stone, paved entry to the plaza
near the northwest corner of W. 18th Street & Wolfe Street,
new concrete sidewalks, bollards, circular planter boxes
with stone benching, and ADA service and van parking
along W. 18th Street.
The facility will be staffed by four (4) adults/students at any
given time. The applicant intends to include ticketed,
special events, performance of live music and bands,
outdoor activity festivals, catering and catering services.
The applicant notes licensed servers will provide alcoholic
beverages for adult-themed events at the site.
The applicant notes the facility currently has a verbal
parking agreement with Arkansas Baptist College (ABC),
located east of the site, and they are waiting on an official
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response from college representatives. Staff suggests the
applicant provides a notarized parking agreement between
the entities when finalized.
The applicant notes plans to continue and expand youth and
community services to include:
• Youth writing, literacy, history, poetry and art
Workshops
• After school tutoring, mentoring and summer
camps
• A computer lab/library for students needing a
place for afterschool studies or use of
computers.
• A Dr. Maya Angelou photo and archives
gallery, available to visitors and students to
learn more about this global icon.
• Administrative office space for program
administrators, interns, volunteers and
visitors.
• Outdoor public events space that holds up to
100 guests.
Plans for expanded and more intentional programing at the
Maya House to include:
• Summer Camps
■ After -School Tutoring and Mentoring.
• Cross -generational forums and
community conversations (interactions
inclusive of youth and seniors).
■ public/community partnerships
■ Presentations on Arkansas and Maya
Angelou history for schools and visitors'
Educational partnerships (public schools,
colleges and universities).
■ Public forums - book talks, Poetry
Readings, history presentations, art and
photographic exhibits, Community Panel
Discussions.
Any fence or wall erected on the site must comply with
Section 36-516 of the City's Zoning Ordinance.
All signs must comply with Section 36-553 of the City's
Zoning Ordinance (signs allowed in commercial zones).
A trash container is located near the southwest corner of the
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site along the alley. The trash container must be screened
and comply with Section 36-523 of the City's Zoning
Ordinance.
All lighting must be low-level and directed away from
adjacent properties.
All landscaping shall comply with Chapter 15 of the City
of Little Rock Landscaping Ordinance. Any variance from
the landscape ordinance must be approved by the Little
Rock City Beautiful Commission.
Staff supports all outdoor activities with the following
conditions:
1. The applicant must obtain a Franchise
Agreement from the City's Public Works
Division for all aspects of the development
within the ROW.
2. The height of the proposed structure at the
southeast corner of the property must be
approved by Public Works.
3. It will be the property owner's responsibility
to maintain the improvements added within
the right-of-way (ROW).
4. The outdoor use shall not create any nuisance
to surrounding properties (no excessive or
unusual noise, odor, vibration, etc.).
On November 13, 2025, the Planning Commission voted 7
ayes, 0 noes, 3 absent and 1 open position, as part of the
Consent Agenda, to approve the Revised PD-O rezoning.
There were no 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.
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Please see the attached Planning Commission minute
record for the complete staff analysis.
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