boa_12 19 2011LITTLE ROCK BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
SUMMARY OF MINUTES
DECEMBER 19,2011
2:00 P.M.
I.Roll Call and Finding of a Quorum
A Quorum was present being four (4)in number.
II.Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meetings
The Minutes of the November 28,2011 meeting were
approved as mailed by unanimous vote.
III.Members Present:Robert Winchester,Chairman
Scott Smith,Vice Chairman
Brad Wingfield
Jeff Yates
Members Absent:Rajesh Mehta
City Attorney Present:Cindy Dawson
LITTLE ROCK BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
AGENDA
DECEMBER 19,2011
2:00 P.M.
I.OLD BUSINESS:
No Old Business
II.NEW BUSINESS:
1.Z-8060-A 6400 Geyer Springs Road
2.Z-8732 11935 Interstate 30
3.Z-8733 7704 Cantrell Road
DECEMBER 19,2011
ITEM NO.:1
File No.:Z-8060-A
Owner:Mark West
Applicant:Nikki Burgess-West
Address:6400 Geyer Springs Road
Description:West side of Geyer Springs Road at Frozen Road
Zoned:1-2
Variance Requested:A variance is requested from the paving provisions of Section 36-
508 to allow a temporary gravel vehicular use area.
Justification:The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter.
Present Use of Property:Auto Repair and Sales
Proposed Use of Property:Auto Repair and Sales
STAFF REPORT
A.Public Works Issues:
No Comments
B.Landsca e and Buffer Issues:
Site plan must comply with the City's minimal landscape and buffer ordinance
requirements.
The zoning buffer ordinance requires an average seventeen-foot (17')wide street
buffer along Geyer Springs Road.The parking lot needs to be shifted west to
meet this minimal city ordinance requirement.
The landscape ordinance requires a nine-foot (9'-0")wide perimeter landscaping
strip along Geyer Springs Road.A variance from this minimal amount will
require City Beautiful Commission approval prior to the issuance of a building
permit.
Curb and gutter or another approved border will be required to protect
landscaped areas from vehicular traffic.
DECEMBER 19,2011
ITEM NO:1 CON'T
The landscape ordinance requires a minimum of 8 %of the paved areas be
landscaped with interior islands of at least 7 V~feet in width and 150 square feet
in area.Proposed plan does not currently reflect this minimum.
Upon rehabilitation or building addition in the future the parking lot and
associated landscaping may need to be upgraded to meet minimal City
Landscape and Zoning Ordinance requirements.
A franchise agreement with the City of Little Rock will be required in conjunction
with any/all amenities located within the public right-of-way.
An automatic irrigation system to water landscaped areas will be required.
Prior to the issuance of a building permit,it will be necessary to provide an
approved landscape plan stamped with the seal of a Registered Landscape
Architect.
The City Beautiful Commission recommends preserving as many existing trees
as feasible on this site.Credit toward fulfilling Landscape Ordinance
requirements can be given when preserving trees of six (6)inch caliper or larger.
C.~fftaff Anal ala:
The 1-2 zoned property located at 6400 Geyer Springs Road is occupied by three
(3)one-story commercial buildings which house an auto repair and sales business.
The property is located along the west side of Geyer Springs Road,between W.
65'"Street and the railroad right-of-way to the north.A driveway from Geyer
Springs Road near the southeast corner of the property serves as access.There
is an area of paved parking on the north side of the building.The property is
fenced with chain-link fencing.
The applicant is proposing to gravel a portion of the property along the Geyer
Springs frontage,as noted on the attached site plan.The gravel area is proposed
for the display of vehicles for sale.The applicant is proposing use of the gravel
area for 18 months,after which it would be paved,The applicant is proposing new
wood and "cable wire"fencing as part of the project.The area where the
temporary gravel vehicular use area is proposed is currently grass-covered.
Section 36-508 of the City's Zoning Ordinance requires that all vehicular use areas
be paved where subject to wheeled traffic.Therefore,the applicant is requesting a
variance from this ordinance requirement to allow a gravel vehicular use area for
18 months.
Staff is not supportive of the requested paving variance.There is a rather large
area of asphalt paving along the north side of the building.A large portion of the
existing paved area is occupied by vehicles which are not operational.
DECEMBER 19,2011
ITEM NO.:1 CON'T.
Staff feels that some of these vehicles could be consolidated/eliminated to make
room for vehicular display until such time that the applicants are ready to pave the
additional area.Additionally,the proposed gravel area would be in a very
visible/prominent location of the property along the Geyer Springs Road frontage.
Staff does not believe it appropriate to install a new gravel vehicular use area
(even on a temporary basis)at this location along Geyer Springs Road.The
properties across Geyer Springs Road to the east are developed with paved
vehicular use areas,with a newly developed property to the southeast,at the
corner of Geyer Springs Road and W.65'"Street.
D.Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends denial of the requested paving variance.
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT:(December 19,2011)
Staff informed the Board that the application needed to be deferred to the January 30,
2012 agenda so that a property ownership issue could be resolved.
The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and deferred to the January 30,2012
agenda with a vote of 4 ayes,0 nays and 1 absent.
z)~&(
West AutoPlus,Inc.P-g~g&-4
6400 Geyer Springs Road
Little Rock,Ar 72209
Office 501-565-7704
Cell.501-425-1399
To whom it may concern:
I,Mark West,owner of West Autoplus which is currently a body shop and automotive
dealership.We are expanding the dealership so that we can have more inventory.We do
understand that this location is zoned for paved surfaces,and our intentions are to do so
in the future.I'm requesting a eighteen month waiver to do such improvements.Until
then I would like to apply gravel in the proposed area.Thank you for your consideration
in this matter.
Sincerely,
Mark West
Owner
DECEMBER 19,2011
ITEM NO.:2
File No.:Z-8732
Owner:Centennial Bank/2610 Acres,LLC
Applicant:Jason Eby,Ace Signs of Arkansas
Address:11935 Interstate 30
Description:East side of 1-30,north of Otter Creek South Road
Zoned:l-2
Variance Requested:A variance is requested from the paving provisions of Section 36-
508 to allow a gravel vehicular use area.
Justification:The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter.
Present Use of Property:Undeveloped
Proposed Use of Property:Sign Company
STAFF REPORT
A.Public Works Issues:
No Comment
B.Landsca e and Bufferlssues:
Site plan must comply with the City's Landscape and Buffer Ordinance
requirements,and a 30 foot wide interstate buffer must be maintained along the
l-30 frontage road (front)property line.
C.
~Staff
Ana sis:
The 1-2 zoned property at 11935 Interstate 30 is currently undeveloped and mostly
tree-covered.The property is located along the eastern side of l-30,approximately
350 feet north of Otter Creek South Road.The property is comprised of 3.0935
acres.There is a small 60 foot wide pipe stem at the southeast corner of the
property which abuts Otter Creek South Road.
The applicant is proposing to develop the property for a sign company,"Ace Signs
of Arkansas".The proposed development will include a 25,200 square foot
building located within the west half of the property,as noted on the attached site
plan.
DECEMBER 19,2011
ITEM NO.:2 CON'T
Paved parking will be located on the west side of the building with an access drive
from the 1-30 frontage road at the northwest corner of the property.The applicant
is also proposing a gravel equipment yard within the east half of the property,with
a gravel access driveway within the pipe stem from Otter Creek South Road.The
gravel equipment yard will be fenced with eight (8)foot high black vinyl-coated
chain link fencing.A gate will be located at the north end of the proposed gravel
access driveway.The applicant is requesting the use of gravel within the east
portion of the property due to the fact that large,heavy equipment will be
parking/maneuvering within this area.
Section 36-508 of the City's Zoning Ordinance requires that all vehicular use areas
be paved where subject to wheeled traffic.Therefore,the applicant is requesting a
variance from this ordinance requirement to allow the gravel vehicular use area.
Staff is not supportive of the requested variance,as filed.Staff has no issues with
the proposed gravel equipment yard area.This area will be located behind the
building and have very little,if any,visibility from the adjacent streets.Gravel use
within this area will be similar in nature to other uses which involve heavy
equipment along 1-30.However,Staff does not support the gravel access
driveway from Otter Creek South Road.All of the other access drives to properties
along Otter Creek South Road are concreted or paved.This includes businesses
which utilize large,heavy trucks,such as the "Watkins"warehouse along the south
side of the roadway.The driveway from Otter Creek South Road will be used for
heavy equipment to access the property and not for maneuvering of the
equipment,backing/turning,back-and-forth movements which would damage a
paved surface.Staff could support the application if the access driveway from
Otter Creek South Road were paved for a distance of 170 feet from the Otter
Creek South Road right-of-way.
D.Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends denial of the pavement variance,as filed.
BOARD OF AD J U STMENT:(December 19,2011)
The applicant was present.There were no objectors present.Staff informed the Board
that the applicant had revised the application and agreed to pave the access driveway
from Otter Creek South Road for a distance of approximately 170 feet to the gravel
equipment yard.Staff recommended approval of the revised application,subject to the
following conditions:
1.Compliance with the City's Landscape and Buffer Ordinances.
2.Any outside storage must be screened as per code requirements.
3.The gravel equipment yard area must be hard-packed in a manner that does not
result in the creation of dust,mud,silt or standing water.
DECEMBER 19,2011
ITEM NO 'CON'T
Staff noted that the Landscape and Buffer comments under Paragraph B.of the staff
report would read as follows:
~Site plan must comply with the City's Landscape and Buffer Ordinance
requirements,and a 30 foot wide interstate buffer must be maintained
along the 1-30 frontage road (front)property line.
The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved,as revised and
recommended by staff,with a vote of 4 ayes,0 nays and 1 absent.
gg WHITE -DATERS &ASSOCIATES,INC./a'4 Rahling Circle~LiNe Rock,Arkansas 72223
Phone:501-821-1667 F73 ~-
CmR Fax:501-821-1668
November 22,2011
Mr,Monte Moore
City of Little Rock
Neighborhoods and Planning
723 W.Markham St.
Little Rock,AR 72201
RE:Ace Sign Variance
Mr.Moore,
Attached please find eighteen copies ofthe site plan for Lot 3 Otter Creek South Addition.Ace
Sign Company has this property under contract.They wish to develop a 25,000 sq ft building
that will contain 3,200 sq R of office space and the remainder in warehouse and production space.
ln order to develop this site,Ace Sign is requesting a variance for a gravel equipment yard and
access drive from Otter Creek South Road similar to what was approved for Hugg &Hall on
Scott Hamilton Road.Ace Sign will have large,heavy equipment behind the building that will
tear up an asphalt pavement.Since the equipment yard will not be visible from the street,the
developer requests a variance for the gravel equipment yard.
Please place this item on the December 19,2012 docket.Do not hesitate to call should you have
any questions or require additional information.
Respectfully submitted,
W~csL&Q'~~
Joe D.White,Jr
CIVIL ENGINEERING,LAND PLANNING &DEVELOPMENT,SURVEYING
DECEMBER 19,2011
ITEM NO.:3
File No.:Z-8733
Owner:Cantrell 1,LLC
Applicant:Chuck Fiser
Address:7704 Cantrell Road
Description:North side of Cantrell Road,at ATA Street
Zoned:C-3
Variance Requested:A variance is requested from the sign provisions of Section 36-557
to allow a wall sign without direct street frontage.
Justification:The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter.
Present Use of Property:Commercial
Proposed Use of Property;Commercial
STAFF REPORT
A.Public Works Issues:
No Comment
S.~fftaff Anal ata:
The C-3 zoned property at 7704 Cantrell Road is occupied by a one-story
commercial building.The property is located on the north side of Cantrell Road at
nTn Street.Access drives from Cantrell Road are located at the east and west
ends of the property.A small parking area is located at the east end of the
building.
The applicant is proposing to locate a wall sign on the west end of the existing
building for a new business,"Blue Truck Moving".The proposed sign will be 47.5
square feet in area and painted on the concrete block wall.The sign will replace a
larger "Nationwide Insurance"sign which was recently painted over.
Section 36-557(a)of the City's Zoning Ordinance requires that wall signs be located
on sides of buildings which face streets.Therefore,the applicant is requesting a
variance to allow a wall sign on the west end of the building,running perpendicular to
the Cantrell Road right-of-way.
DECEMBER 19,2011
ITEM NO.:3 CON'T.
Staff is supportive of the requested variance to allow a sign without direct street
frontage.Staff views the request as reasonable.Recent improvements and right-
of-way acquisitions to Cantrell Road have created very little space between the
existing building and the edge of pavement.Staff feels that this has a negative
impact on the visibility of signs located on the south wall of the building.The sign
on the west wall of the building will aid in identifying the building to east bound
traffic on Cantrell Road.The sign will replace a wall sign that existed on this
building for a number of years.Additionally,the proposed sign will only occupy ten
(10)percent of the west wall of the building.Staff believes the proposed wall sign
without street frontage will have no adverse impact on the adjacent properties or
the general area.
C.Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of the requested sign variance,subject to a sign permit
being obtained.
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT:(December 19,2011)
The applicant was present.There were no objectors present.Staff presented the
application with a recommendation of approval,with conditions.
The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved,as recommended by staff,
with a vote of 4 ayes,0 nays and 1 absent.
Sign Variance Summary Z-2'733
The following document represents the proposal for a Sign Variance for the
property located at 7704 Cantrell Road.
We currently own the building in which we have recently moved our new
business into.Our new business is Blue Truck Moving.The building is located on
Cantrell Road and is directly to the East of The HOP (Restaurant)and directly to
the West of Crazees Cafe.It is a single structure which is composed of a two
story concrete block/brick section on the east side and a one story concrete
block/brick section on the west side.We currently have 1 tenant which is CK
Nails and they occupy the east portion.Nationwide has been a tenant for over 10
years in the middle section of the building,but they have recently moved their
location so that area is currently vacant.Blue Truck moving has recently
occupied the far west portion of the building.
The only signage that is currently on the building is a Nationwide Sign that is
painted in the west facade of the building and two awning signs —one for
Nationwide and one for CK Nails.Obviously,Nationwide is no longer a tenant so
their signs are no longer relevant.
Being that our business is relatively new in Little Rock,we wanted to use signage
to advertise our new location.We explored constructing a ground/pole sign but
we were informed by Ace Sign that this would not be allowed because of the
front set-backs and side setbacks.These setbacks were altered several years
ago when Cantrell was widened was by the Arkansas Highway Department.We
are really needing to advertise our business for traffic going east bound and west
bound,but since we cannot construct this sort of sign,we are currently limited to
simply an awning sign that would face directly toward Cantrell and might be
difficult to see as vehicles pass by.
Therefore,we are respectfully asking that the city allow us to paint our business
name on the west side of the building so can advertise to traffic traveling east
bound on Cantrell.Our painted sign (as seen in the attached photo)will be 10'/e
of the square footage of the side wall that is resides on.In this case,the building
wall is 39.5"long by 12"tall so our logo would be 10'/e of the total square footage
—47.4 square feet,This will actually be significantly smaller than the current
Nationwide painted sign that is on the right upper side of the west wall of the
building.It is currently 18'/e of the total square footage of the side wall.
Page 2
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT VOTE RECORD
DATE:kc
MEMBER
MEHTA,RAJESH
SMITH,SCOTT
WINCHESTER,BOB
WINGFIELD,BRAD
YATES,JEFF
TIME IN AND TIME OUT
MEHTA,RAJESH
SMITH,SCOTT
WINCHESTER,BOB
WINGFIELD,BRAD
YATES,JEFF
II g Meeting Adjourned ~Z&0 P M
AYE NAYE ~ABSENT ~ABSTAIN
December 19,2011
There being no further business before the Board,the meeting was adjourned at 2:03 p.m.
Date:3O i'-
Chairman Secreta