CBC_02 02 2017CITY BEAUTIFUL
COMMISSION
The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting at 11 :30 a.m. on Thursday,
February 02, 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
Steve Homeyer
Bobby Cushman
Melissa Henshaw
Wally Loveless
Chris Hancock
One Open Positions
Ed Peek
Bob Winchester
Janet Wilson
Bob Winchester
Carrie Young
Beth Carpenter, City Attorney's Office
D.Tracy Spillman, Plans Development Administrator, Department
of Planning and Development, City of Little Rock
Dana Camey, Zoning and Subdivision Manager, Department of
Planning and Development, City of Little Rock
Capi Peck, Little Rock City Director
APPROVAL OF THE JANUARY MINUTES:
Chairman Sanders-Woods entertained a motion to approve the previous months minutes.
Motion: Commissioner Winchester made a motion that the January 05, 2017 Minutes be
approved.
Second: Commissioner Young seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Variance Request: CBC Case# 653, St John's Missionary Baptist Church Parking Lot
FINDINGS:
The R-4 zoned property at 1921 E 6th Street is located in an area of mixed uses and zoning. An
old single family residence was recently removed from the property and a conditional use permit
was recently requested to allow for the construction of a church parking lot on this vacant R-4
zoned, 0.21 acre lot. This property is located at the southwest comer of East 6th Street and
Kimble Street. The proposed parking lot will serve the existing church use across East 6th Street
to the north. The proposed parking lot will contain 24 paved parking spaces. Access to the lot
will be via driveways from Kimball Street and the alley right-of-way along the west property
line. Perimeter landscape and buffer strips will be provided along the lot lines. Interior
landscaping will also be provided.
A perimeter planting strip is required along any side of a vehicular use area that abuts adjoining
property or the right-of-way of any street. In areas designated as "mature" these planting strips
are to be no less than the six (6) feet nine (9) inches. The applicant is requesting that a portion of
the required perimeter planting strip located on the north, south, and east sides of the property be
less than the required minimum. The proposed site plan provides a four (4) foot wide landscape
perimeter along the east (Kimball Street) property line and three (3) foot wide landscape
perimeters along the north and south property lines. The lot is relatively small, being only 66 feet
wide and 140 feet deep. In order to provide the required parking stall depth and maneuvering
area, the minimum required landscape perimeters are deficient. The applicant is splitting the
remaining area to provide three (3) foot buffers along the north and south perimeters.
The applicant has stated that all plant material required for the perimeter landscape strips will be
installed in the planting areas provided between the property lines and the back of the curb. This
will include a minimum of five (5) trees and forty-seven (47) screening shrubs adjacent to the E
6th Street right-of-way, two (2) trees and thirteen (13) screening shrubs adjacent to the Kimball
Street right-of-way and five (5) trees and (14) fourteen shrubs adjacent to the south property line.
The trees shall be a minimum of two (2) inches in caliber and the shrubs shall be a minimum of
eighteen ( 18) 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 January 5, 2017 (case no. Z-9186) the Planning Commission reviewed the requested
Conditional Use Permit and approved this subject to compliance with the following conditions.
1.Compliance with the comments and conditions as noted for Screening and Buffers,
Public Works, and Utility, Fire Department, and CATA comments.
2.The site is not to be gated.
3.The City Beautiful Commission must approve the variance for reduced landscape strip
width.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff is supportive of the request to allow the reduced perimeter landscape strips as purposed
along the north, south, and east perimeters to be less than the required six ( 6) feet nine (9) inches
with the condition that the required plant materials for these areas will be installed in these
reduced strips.
Presentation:
Dr. C.B. Robinson representing St John's Missionary Baptist Church introduced himself. He then
concurred with the findings as presented to the Commission and asked if there were any questions.
Chairman Sanders-Woods inquired if he understood the requirements and was in agreement with
installing the plant materials.
Dr. Robinson stated that he understood the requirements and then described the plant material that
he hoped to install.
Commissioner Homeyer inquired if the first two Planning Commission requirements had been
met. Dr. Robinson stated that they have.
Commissioner Homeyer then noted that Dr. Robinson desired using Crape Myrtles and informed
him that in accordance with the landscape ordinance this tree will not receive credit towards
meeting the minimum requirements.
Staff Member Spillman stated that a building permit will not be issued until a landscape plan is
submitted and approved. In addition Mr. Spillman stated that he will work with the applicant to
insure all of the minimum requirements are met.
CITY BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION ACTION:
Motion: Commissioner Homeyer made a motion that the variance be approved as requested with
the condition that Staff approve the plant material species prior to issuing a building permit.
Second: Commissioner Peek seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
TREASURER'S REPORT:
Expense Report:
Commissioner Young presented the latest bank statement from December 20, 2016 for $705.81
and stated that since that time a check for $150.00 had been written on January 18, for gift
certificate presented to Ms. Julie Robbins of Mangan Holcombe Partners for acting as the CBC
retreat facilitator.
Commissioner Young then inquired if Chairman Sanders-Woods has signed the signature card yet.
Chair Sanders-Woods stated that this action was still in process.
COMMITTEE REPORTS, UPDATES:
Community Projects
City Hall South Yard:
Commissioner Homeyer stated:
That this project is on hold until the Bowman Rd project is finished.
Public Relations
In the absence of Commissioner Hancock there was no new report.
KLRB:
In the absence of Commissioner Hancock there was no new report.
Adopt-A-Street:
Commissioner Loveless stated that there is a scheduled pick-up for Saturday, February 04, 2017.
He also noted that he had met with the Little Rock Parks Department about accomplishing the
final clearing so the Bowman T.R.E.E Fund project could move forward. Commissioner Loveless
then noted that due to this clearing additional trash was uncovered and stressed the
importance of cleaning this area so the Parks Department can finish the preparations for the site.
Commissioner Homeyer then presented KLRB Adopt-A-Street brochures to better explain this
program to the new commissioners.
Eye of the Beholder:
Commissioner Young stated:
That this committee had gained new commissioner volunteers at the retreat.
Landscape Awards:
Commissioner Homeyer stated:
The Landscape Awards have not yet opened.
T.R.E.E Fund:
Commissioner Homeyer stated: That he has requested from Staff an update of the funds in the
account.
City Attorney Carpenter inquired about the cost of the Bowman Road project. Commissioner
Homeyer stated that it was approximately $1,050.00. He then explained the progress of this project
and the process for the installation of the trees. It was then discussed how the transfer of the
T.R.E.E funds would be accessed.
City Beautiful Exhibit:
In the absence of Commissioner Hancock there was no new report.
City Beautiful 2017 Retreat Discussion:
Chairman Sanders-Woods delivered a brief synopsis of Januarys CBC retreat and opened a
discussion of the minutes that were presented to the commissioners.
APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL RETREAT MINUTES:
Chairman Sanders-Woods entertained a motion to approve retreat minutes.
Motion: Commissioner Homeyer made a motion that the January 18, 2017 CBC Annual Retreat
Minutes be approved.
Second: Commissioner Young seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS:
Commissioner Peek opened a discussion concerning the new round-a-bout construction at
Kavanaugh and McKinley Streets. It was suggested that the CBC promote this on their Facebook
page.
Commissioner Homeyer presented photo copies of past information about the T.R.E.E. fund, a
welcome page for the new commissioners, and a timeline of what activities the CBC is to pursue
month by month. He asked Staff Member Spillman to include this is in the CBC manual.
Commissioner Homeyer inquired of City Attorney Carpenter if the CBC as a commission can
remove illegally posted signs from telephone poles or placed elsewhere in the public right-of-way.
City Attorney Carpenter advised against this and further advised the commission to contact Little
Rock Public Works. City Staff Member Carney further explained the process of contacting this
department with any issues concerning the public right-of-way.
Chairman Sanders-Woods introduced City Director, Capi Peck to the commission. As a newly
elected city director, Director Peck delivered a brief statement noting her desire to be more
informed about the city’s procedures and its commissions.
Chairman Sanders-Woods presented a thank you note from CBC retreat Facilitator Julie Robbins
acknowledging the gift certificate that was presented to her for hosting the commission's annual
meeting.
Chairman Sanders-Woods asked City Attorney Carpenter to clarify the term "meeting" and what
the commission is allowed concerning Facebook and email. City Attorney Carpenter explained
that if two or more commissioners are together and converse about commission business that this
would be considered a meeting. In this event the city public relations department is to be notified
so a public notice can be issued.
ANOUNCEMENTS:
The next meeting will be Thursday, March 02, 2017, at 11:30 am.
Adopt-A-Street Pickup will be Saturday February 04, 2017 at 7:00am & 8:00 am.
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion: Commissioner Loveless made a motion to adjourn.
Second: Commissioner Cushman seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:26 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