A senior citizens living community will be allowed to go up in west Little Rock next to the Witry Court neighborhood, which opposed it.
Deltic Timber Corp. won approval Tuesday to rezone its property at the northwest corner of Champagnolle Drive and Rahling Road, near Chenal Parkway, from planned office development to planned residential development.
The company is planning for Resort Lifestyles Community to develop a three-story, two-wing apartment building with 130 units for people age 55 and older. Deltic Timber said it expects the average tenant's age to be closer to 75 or 80.
The complex will include live-in managers, around-the-clock staffing, concierge service, free scheduled car and bus service, full-service dining, and weekly housekeeping.
Nearby residents, particularly those who live in the Witry Court subdivision, were vocal in their opposition to the project. They succeeded in lobbying the Planning Commission to vote against recommending approval of the ordinance in March, but Deltic Timber appealed that decision to the city Board of Directors.
The neighbors showed up to Tuesday's meeting in uniform green shirts that read: "Chenal matters to us."
The Little Rock Board of Directors voted 7-3 in favor of the rezoning, however. City Directors Joan Adcock, Ken Richardson and Kathy Webb voted against the rezoning.
Voting in favor were City Directors Erma Hendrix, Capi Peck, Lance Hines, Doris Wright, B.J. Wyrick, Dean Kumpuris and Gene Fortson.
Metro on 05/17/2017