NLR rezoning request for elderly care denied

Lakewood remains residential only

In front of a full City Council chamber Monday, North Little Rock aldermen turned down a request to allow a house in the Lakewood neighborhood be rezoned to let a business set up care for three elderly or disabled people.

Aldermen voted 6-2 against granting a rezoning of the property and special-use permit for the for-profit House of Three facility at 4404 Arlington Drive. Aldermen Maurice Taylor and Murry Witcher voted for the rezoning.

The business’s proposal was to have three elderly and/or disabled people live in the home with a round-the-clock caretaker also living there as an alternative to those individuals being “institutionalized,” as some who spoke said, in nursing homes or rehabilitation centers. A House of Three is already in operation in Little Rock.

For the business to operate inside that residence, a special-use permit is required for the owner and business operator, Koy Butler. The rezoning, from R-1 to R-2, first would have been necessary to grant that permit, city officials said.

“It’s a home environment within a neighborhood,” Butler told the council about his endeavor, adding that the concept serves a need. “People deserve not to have to live in an institution, or to live alone and be depressed.”

Of those attending the council meeting, about three-quarters stood up when asked who was in favor of the proposal. Some onlookers had to stand in the 110-capacity council chambers during the lengthy discussion.

Sixteen people spoke during a public hearing, with 12 in favor, including Butler and his attorney, Stephen Giles.

“This is a direction in which I think we need to be moving toward,” said Jim Smedley of North Little Rock, who said his father will need assisted care soon. “I would like to find a place for my dad when my mom can’t take care of him any longer. I would welcome a house like this in my neighborhood.”

Vickie Tankersley of Maumelle said she has been pleased with Little Rock’s House of Three, where her mother is one of its residents. Her family tried a nursing home, two rehabilitation centers and a hospice before moving her mother into the House of Three.

“She is properly cared for,” she said. “She’s bathed daily, she has home-cooked meals. It’s a family environment.”

Four spoke against the proposal, including two who said they were representing a number of members in separate associations of Lakewood property owners.

Ken Sullivan, executive director of the Lakewood Property Owners Association, spoke against the proposal, saying although it “certainly sounds like a good cause,” many within the association “would be opposed to rezoning a residential home to a business.”

Steve Moss, who said his house is directly behind the Arlington Drive home, also spoke in opposition, saying the property would never revert to R-1 if the rezoning was approved.

“It’s a business,” he said, cautioning the council it would open up such zones to other uses.

Despite refusing the request, some aldermen agreed a need exists for alternative-care ideas for the city’s aging residents.

“The issue of rezoning was the question tonight,” Alderman Charlie Hight said after the vote. “I think it would be a mistake if we don’t take a look at this down the road in order to address this need in the future.”

Alderman Beth White said that while she could “see the merit in this” as an alternative to nursing homes, comments she had received in recent weeks helped decide her vote.

“This neighborhood and this community asked that this not be rezoned,” she said.

Arkansas, Pages 9 on 12/24/2013

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