CBC_01 05 2017CITY BEAUTIFUL
COMMISSION
The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting at 11 :30 a.m. on Thursday,
January 05, 2017, at Curran Hall, 615 E. Capitol Avenue. Chairman BJ Sanders-Woods called the
meeting to order.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
MEMBERS ABSENT:
ALSO PRESENT:
BJ Sanders-Woods Ed Peek
Steve Homeyer
Bobby Cushman
Chris Hancock
Melissa Henshaw
One Open Positions
Wally Loveless
Bob Winchester
Janet Wilson
Bob Winchester
Carrie Young
Beth Carpenter, City Attorney's Office
Dana Camey, Zoning and Subdivision Manager, Department of
Planning and Development, City of Little Rock
Monte Moore, Zoning and Enforcement Administrator,
Department of Planning and Development, City of Little Rock
APPROVAL OF THE NOVEMBER MINUTES:
Chairman Sanders-Woods entertained a motion to approve the previous months minutes.
Motion: Commissioner Peek made a motion that the December 01, 2016 Minutes be approved.
Second: Commissioner Young seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
NEW MEMBERS:
New members Bobby Cushman and Melissa Henshaw were welcomed to the Commission.
Commission members and Staff introduced themselves.
Variance Request: CBC Case# 652, Popeye's
FINDINGS:
The UU zoned property at 824 S. Broadway Street is occupied by a one-story vacant restaurant
building located within the west half of the property. The property is located at the northwest
comer of Broadway Street and W. 9 th Street. A small asphalt parking area is located within the
east half of the property, between the building and Broadway Street. An existing driveway from
Broadway Street is located at the northeast of the site. Three (3) driveways are located along the
W. 9th Street frontage. A paved alley right-of-way is located along the west property line. The alley
has been used as access in the past. An existing ground-mounted sign is located at the northeast
corner of the property.
The applicant proposes to remove the existing building and re-develop the site as a restaurant use
with drive-thru service. The applicant intends to construct a new building within the south half of
the property. The structure will have an area of 2,265 square feet. Six (6) paved parking spaces
will be located along the north side of the property. The applicant proposes continued use of the
existing alley as an exit only. The three (3) existing driveways along W. 9th Street will be removed.
A drive-thru order board will be located at the west end of the building with a pick-up window on
the south side. The front door will be located on the proposed structure’s north side. Landscape
areas will be provided adjacent to the perimeters of the site (excluding the alley) and also include
interior parking and building planting space that meets or exceeds the square footage requirements.
The applicant is requesting that a portion of the required perimeter planting strip located on the
north side of the property be less than the required minimum. Reducing this perimeter will allow
for an eleven (11) foot wide drive-thru stacking aisle, and a minimum thirty (30) foot maneuvering
area with forty-five (45) degree parking bays. The site plan proposes the placement of a landscape
strip along the northern perimeter which is less than the required six (6) feet nine (9) inches. The
western two-thirds (2/3) of this strip is indicated to be four (4) feet, five and one-fourth (5 ¼)
inches while the eastern one-third (1/3) is shown at approximately nineteen (19) feet in width. The
total square footage of landscape required for a six (6) feet nine (9) inch perimeter adjacent to the
one hundred and thirty-eight (138) foot northern property line would equal approximately nine
hundred and thirty (930) square feet. The proposed plan indicates an approximate total of one
thousand one hundred and forty-five (1145) square feet of landscape area.
The applicant has stated that all plant material required for this perimeter area will be installed in
the planting areas provided between the north property line and the back of the curb. This will
include a minimum of five (5) two (2) inch caliper trees and fourteen (14) shrubs a minimum of
eighteen inches in height at the time of installation. Additionally, all other landscape and buffer
requirements will be met before a building permit is issued for this project.
On December 12, 2016 (file no. Z-9182) the Board of Adjustment reviewed zoning variances
concerning the drive-thru, street trees, window display, primary entrance, and signage. Staff was
supportive of the requested variances associated with the proposed development and all variances
were approved by the Board.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff is supportive of the request to allow the reduced perimeter landscape strip as purposed along
the northern perimeter to be less than the required six (6) feet nine (9) inches with the condition
that the required plant materials for this area will be installed in this reduced strip as allowable or
elsewhere on site.
Presentation:
The applicant Walid Ismael was present. Stuart Mackey was present representing the applicant.
There were no objectors present.
Dana Carney presented the item and a recommendation of approval subject to the required number
of plant materials being installed.
Stuart Mackey addressed the Commission in support of the applicant. He described the project and
stated all required plant materials would be installed.
Commissioner Peek asked if there had not also been a variance granted for the convenience store
adjacent to this site. There was a discussion concerning the project design and the width of the
landscape strip between the two adjacent sites. Commissioner Homeyer provided a copy of the
convenience store site plan that had been approved by the commission. The commissioners
determined that there would be a sufficient area of landscaping between the two sites, even with
the proposed reduction in width. It was suggested that the applicant coordinate the planting of trees
within the two adjacent landscape strips to avoid any future problems.
CITY BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION ACTION:
Motion: Commissioner Homeyer made a motion that the variance be approved as requested and
as recommended by Staff.
Second: Commissioner Hancock seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Expense Report:
Commissioner Young stated:
There was a balance of $705.50 with no activity since the last statement.
COMMITTEE REPORTS, UPDATES:
Community Projects
City Hall South Yard:
Commissioner Homeyer showed the proposed plans to the new commissioners and stated that the
project was on hold for now.
Public Relations
Commissioner Hancock stated:
That the Commissions Facebook page had 466 “Likes”.
KLRB:
Commissioner Hancock stated there was no December meeting. He also stated that the citywide
clean-up was scheduled for 3/11/17.
Adopt-A-Street:
Commissioner Loveless noted the lack of attendance at the last two pickups and asked if the
Commission wished to continue the activity. After explaining the process to the new
commissioners and discussing the matter, the general consensus was to continue.
Eye of the Beholder:
Commissioner Young explained the Eye of the Beholder process to the new commissioners.
Landscape Awards:
Chairman Homeyer explained the Landscape Awards process to the new commissioners.
T.R.E.E Fund:
Chairman Homeyer explained the T.R.E.E. Fund process to the new commissioners,
Commissioner Loveless gave an update on the Bowman Road project and stated that he was
coordinating site preparation and tree installation with the Parks and Public works departments.
Commissioner Homeyer stated there was $34,000.00 in the fund
City Beautiful Exhibit:
Commissioner Hancock stated that the Historic Arkansas Museum staff was currently reviewing
the exhibit.
NEW BUSINESS:
Commissioner Young suggested placing the new commissioners on various committees.
Commissioner Homeyer stated that committee assignments were typically made at the annual
retreat.
The commissioners then discussed the annual retreat. It was agreed that the retreat would be held
from 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm on January 18, 2017 at the offices of Mangan Holcomb Partners with Julie
Robbins facilitating.
Motion: A motion was made to give a gift card to Ms. Robbins in the amount of $150.00 to the
Rejuvenation Day Spa, with Commissioner Homeyer purchasing the gift card and being
reimbursed by the commission.
Second: The motion was seconded and it passed unanimously.
ANOUNCEMENTS:
The next meeting will be February 02, 2017, at 11 :30 am.
Adopt-A-Street Pickup will be Saturday February 04, 2016 at 8:00 am.
ADJOURNMENT:
There was no further business.
Motion: A motion was made to adjourn.
Second: The motion was seconded and it passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:38 pm.
LITTLE ROCK CITY BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT - 723 WEST MARKHAM - LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS 72201
PHONE: 501 371-4864 FAX: 501 371-6863 E-MAIL: DSPILLMAN@LITTLEROCK.GOV