North Little Rock planning commissioners approved Tuesday a new street alignment for a proposed second access between Crystal Hill Road and NorthShore Business Park over the objection of the business park's developer.
The new alignment is to help expedite the development of a proposed 414-unit apartment complex by Lindsey Management Co. on Young Road off of Crystal Hill Road near the Interstate 430 interchange with Maumelle Boulevard. NorthShore Drive is the only current access point from Crystal Hill Road.
The new alignment changes the Master Street Plan approved in January 2014 by the North Little Rock City Council that showed the proposed road continuing east around a mountain to connect with a Young Road extension. The change turns the road south at the mountain's west side to connect with Young Road.
The North Little Rock City Council will have the final say on the change. The Planning Commission voted 6-1, with Commissioner Don Chambers voting no.
"I want to keep both alignments," Chambers said.
The amended street plan takes the proposed road through the apartment property. The commission also approved 7-0 a rezoning of about 5 acres on the western edge of the proposed road to provide additional property for the development. Another 18.85 acres of adjoining city property is under contract with a Lindsey subsidiary, but a portion isn't usable because of soil and topography issues, said the company's Hugh Jarrett.
City Planning Director Robert Voyles said that the alignment change is "a minor deviation from the Master Street Plan" and would "make this project feasible," referring to the apartment development. The City Council approved the sale of the land for the development in August.
"This is a reasonable alternative," Voyles said.
Gene Pfeifer, developer of NorthShore Business Park, said in a phone interview Tuesday that changing the Master Street Plan takes away a more "economically feasible" Young Road extension.
The business park includes the Arkansas Surgical Hospital, the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, the Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health and Crystal Hill Magnet School.
By turning the road, Bob Hardin, Pfeifer's attorney, told commissioners, "there's not a clear shot" between the second access point at Crystal Hill Road and the business park. Pfeifer wasn't at the meeting because he was out of town.
"NorthShore Business Park has been a big business, an employer and a tax generator for the city of North Little Rock," Pfeifer said in a phone interview. "The future growth of the business park is dependent on this second entrance. The city is choking off the golden goose by choking off the business park."
Metro on 03/11/2015