The HRA's Letter to the Little Rock City Board of Director Stating our Opposition to Hillcrest Homes, LLC Special Use Permit

Hillcrest Residents Association

205 North Woodrow & 822 North Monroe - Permitting Concerns

Planning Commission File No. Z-9891-B

May 11th, 2025

To the Members of the Little Rock City Board of Directors:

On behalf of the Hillcrest Residents Association, we are writing to express our strong concerns and opposition to the proposed Special Use Permit for the properties at 205 North Woodrow Street and 822 North Monroe Street. These applications seek approval for a group home that would house up to eleven (11) individuals at the North Woodrow property and eight (8) at the Monroe property, including one to two house managers.

This request raises serious issues for our neighborhood-both in terms of planning principles and adherence to established city ordinances and procedures. Hillcrest is a historically significant and carefully balanced neighborhood, known for its walkability, diversity of housing types, and consistent residential character. One of the Association's central missions is to protect that character, which is increasingly threatened by over-intensive uses in areas zoned for single-family residences.

We are particularly troubled by the history and handling of this case. The property owner, through Hillcrest Homes, LLC, began operating a group home at this location without obtaining the necessary planning or zoning permissions. Additional adjacent properties have since been acquired and are also being used in a similar capacity- again without proper approval. This approach appears to disregard both city regulations and the rights of neighbors to have a say in major changes to the character and use of their street.

Despite the Little Rock Planning Department's recommendation to deny the application-citing that the proposed number of residents is "too intense" for a single-family residence and that the resulting traffic would negatively impact the surrounding area-the Planning Commission approved the application after what many residents viewed as an irregular process. The change in staff recommendation just days before the hearing, the lack of proper discussion during the meeting, and legal interjections that appeared to influence the Commissioners' vote all raise procedural concerns.

Additionally, this issue touches on the city's existing occupancy ordinance, which limits the number of unrelated individuals in a single-family home. Rather than pursuing compliance through proper channels, the applicant waited until challenged, then hired multiple large law firms-reportedly creating conflicts of interest for many attorneys who might otherwise have represented affected residents. The application to the Planning Commission failed to present a required hardship, yet approval was granted, apparently due to concerns about potential legal exposure under federal housing laws.

We urge the City Board to uphold the standards set forth in our ordinances-standards that are intended to protect neighborhood integrity, ensure fair process, and preserve the livability of our communities. This is not simply about one house; it is about setting a precedent for how future zoning and land use decisions are made in Little Rock.

We also support the Residents' Petition in Opposition filed by nearby homeowners, and we reiterate our agreement with the Planning Department's original conclusion:

"Staff is not supportive of the special use permit as requested. Staff believes that the total number of eleven (11) residents proposed is too intense for this single-family residence and will create an increase in traffic that is not in character with the surrounding residences. Staff feels the proposed use, number of occupants, and the increase in traffic will have an adverse impact on the area."

We respectfully ask that you deny the Special Use Permit for 205 North Woodrow Street and 822 North Monroe Street and stand with Hillcrest residents in protecting the character and stability of our historic neighborhood.

Sincerely,

Pittman Ware

President - Hillcrest Residents Association