For the second time in two years, the Little Rock Board of Directors denied Tuesday a southwest Little Rock wedding venue's request to display fireworks.
The wedding and reception venue Alda's Magnolia Hill at 5110 Stagecoach Road first requested to use fireworks at the beginning of 2013. The family-owned business had offered fireworks to its wedding parties for an added charge since 2011 before a complaint brought attention to the fact that it didn't have the proper zoning to do so.
Many residents in nearby neighborhoods opposed the fireworks at the time, and the Board of Directors denied Magnolia Hill's request. The board approved rezoning of the property in February 2013 to allow the business to continue on the condition that the fireworks would not be used.
Venue owner Buddy Ellis resubmitted the request this year, but Ward 7 City Director B.J. Wyrick asked her fellow board members Tuesday to deny it.
"So far, every place I've been, there's been more people in opposition to it than there were in support," Wyrick said, citing two community meetings she attended.
Four residents of the Pecan Lake neighborhood to the southeast of the property and another resident of the Tall Timber neighborhood to the north spoke against the fireworks at Tuesday's meeting. Six people spoke in support and two more submitted cards in support. They included the property owners and residents of Pecan Lake and the nearby missionary school campus.
Opponents mostly were against the loud noise of the fireworks, and those in support of the request argued that the show only lasts about five minutes and starts at 9:30 p.m. Ellis said there were 11 wedding parties that purchased the service in 2011 and 13 that purchased the service in 2012.
The board voted 6-4 Tuesday against allowing Magnolia Hill to use fireworks.
Those against were Wyrick, At-large City Director Joan Adcock, Ward 1 City Director Erma Hendrix, Ward 2 City Director Ken Richardson, Ward 3 City Director Stacey Hurst and Ward 6 City Director Doris Wright. Those who voted to allow the fireworks were At-large City Director Dean Kumpuris, At-large City Director Gene Fortson, Ward 4 City Director Brad Cazort and Ward 5 City Director Lance Hines.
Metro on 07/16/2014