Little Rock should adopt new zoning regulations for the 12th Street Corridor that allow for buildings to be closer to the street like many downtown designs, city planners and the Ward 2 representative pitched to area residents Monday night.
"If this was rezoned, you would get a feel as you drove or walked down 12th Street more like South Main as opposed to Geyer Springs, as an example. You can't [build like that] as it is zoned today," said city Planning Manager Walter Malone.
He presented the zoning portion of the 12th Street Corridor Revitalization Plan -- the idea of which started in the summer of 2007 -- at a community meeting Monday night.
The plan calls for rezoning, street and drainage improvements, and private investment in the renovation of Lee Theater.
City officials say $44,385,000 of combined public and private money has been invested in the area in the past eight years for development of the plan, neighborhood stabilization, construction of the children's library and a new police station, a hotel and other improvements.
The 12th Street Corridor is defined by Interstate 630 to the north, 16th Street to the south, Woodrow Street to the east and University Avenue to the west. It includes the Hillary Rodham Clinton Children's Library and Learning Center and the recently opened 12th Street Police Station that will include a mixed-use retail area on the lower floor.
Ward 2 City Director Ken Richardson said adopting "form-based" zoning will make development and redevelopment of the area easier because developers wouldn't have to continue to seek variances from the city Planning Commission to implement urban designs.
Right now, the area has scattered zoning for single-family housing, duplexes, office space, multifamily housing and commercial use. Current zoning codes first take into consideration what a space will be used for and then how it is built.
But "form-based zoning" first considers how a space will be developed, and then what it will be used for, Malone said.
The rezoning proposal for the 12th Street Corridor would cluster commercial and office buildings along 12th Street and surrounding blocks, and then group multifamily and some office uses near the freeway.
Residential housing would remain in the same location, though the required setback that buildings must be constructed from the street might be shorter, Malone said.
A date for when the zoning proposal would go before the city Planning Commission and then Board of Directors for approval hasn't been set. The city's staff is just starting to seek neighborhood input.
Little Rock's special projects administrator, Frederick Gentry, told residents that getting the zoning change is important to maintain consistency with development, as well as maintain the integrity of the neighborhood.
The 12th Street Corridor Revitalization Plan document states, "In order to attract businesses that employ local residents, focus needs to turn to providing walkable neighborhoods with meaningful local retail, neighborhood services and a variety of residential options."
The full plan calls for a $2.5 million public investment in street and drainage improvements, including the building of sidewalks, curbs, grass medians and crosswalks.
A future step in the revitalization of the 12th Street Corridor, according to the plan, would be to form a city partnership with Better Community Development Inc. for renovation of the Lee Theater on 13th Street. The plan estimates that renovation at $3.25 million.
The theater -- put on the state's list of endangered places earlier this year -- could serve as a place to gather and hold events, become a centerpiece for community culture, support local jobs and bring back value to the area, the plan document said.
"The 12th Street core at Cedar and Pine was originally a cultural hub for the community, with the city streetcar system stopping on 13th Street and the local activity with the theater and elementary school, this area was a vibrant village center," it said.
Better Community Development Inc. announced plans last week to restore the theater to its original interior and exterior design. The theater opened in 1920 with seating for 950, but has been vacant for more than 50 years.
The community organization has owned the theater for years. It will partner with Brandon House Cultural and Performing Arts Center for programming.
The two organizations are hosting an event next week called "Restoring the Soul into the Community." The free wine and cheese event will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Villa Marre at 1321 Scott St.
City staff will be at the Willie Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center from noon-2 p.m. Thursday to answer questions about the proposed zoning.
Metro on 10/27/2015