Capitol zoning panel vetting $5M project

The Capitol Zoning District Commission will consider a $5 million planned residential development in downtown Little Rock.

Called Fort Steele Commons, the 16-house development is proposed on a vacant city block bounded by South Gaines and South Arch streets and West 15th and West 16th streets.

The commission is a state agency created to protect historic and architecturally significant structures and encourage compatible development in the vicinity of the state Capitol and the Governor’s Mansion.

The commission voted 6-1, with one member absent and one member abstaining, at its monthly meeting Thursday to move the project forward as part of its rule-making process, which is how the agency weighs proposed zoning changes, and to seek public comment on the project, said Boyd Maher, the agency’s executive director.

Carol Worley, a project principal, had wanted the commission to refer the project to the city’s Planning Commission for approval.

“They’ve voted to expedite the procedure and indicated that they may actually be able to get us approved before the city could if we go through their formal process for the [planned residential development] request with the city,” she said Friday.