CBC_06 01 2017
The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday,
June 01, 2017, at Curran Hall, 615 E. Capitol Avenue. Chairman, BJ Sanders-Woods called the
meeting to order.
MEMBERS PRESENT: BJ Sanders-Woods Wally Loveless
Steve Homeyer Ed Peek
Starre Haas Janet Wilson
Chris Hancock Bob Winchester
Melissa Henshaw Carrie Young
MEMBERS ABSENT: Bobby Cushman
ALSO PRESENT: Beth Carpenter, City Attorney’s Office
D. Tracy Spillman, Plans Development Administrator, Department
of Planning and Development, City of Little Rock
APPROVAL OF THE MAY MINUTES:
Chairman Sanders-Woods entertained a motion to approve the previous months minutes with
corrections.
Motion: Commissioner Winchester made a motion that the May 04, 2017 Minutes be corrected
and approved.
Second: Commissioner Homeyer seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Variance Request: CBC Case # 655, 5307 A Street Parking Lot
FINDINGS:
The applicant has requested that the site located at 5307 “A” Street be rezoned from O-3, General
Office District, to PD-O, Planned Development Office to allow for the development of a new
parking lot. This proposed parking will serve the office building located at the northwest corner of
W Markham and Harrison Streets. The applicant has indicated that the current parking demand on
the existing clinic far exceeds what is available on their site and proposes this new parking area to
be used by employees only. On April 27, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to
recommend approval of the planned development for the parking lot.
The site now includes a single family home with existing parking lots located to the east, new
offices located to the west with adjacent parking located along “A” Street. North of “A” Street are
single-family homes. South of “A” Street within this area there is one (1) additional single-family
home which is owned by the Magnolia Lodge. A portion of the rear yard of the Magnolia Lodge
home is being used as parking. Sidewalks along “A” Street are being installed with redevelopment
on the property.
The existing home located on this site will be removed and ten (10) new parking spaces will be
provided. The site plan indicates a lot size of approximately 134 x 50 feet. This dimension
will allow the parking lot to be forty (40) feet in width and include the minimum required
twenty (20) foot parking bays and a minimum twenty (20) foot maneuvering area. By providing
these paved areas the perimeter planting strips will be less than the required six (6) feet nine (9)
inches and are shown on the plan to be five (5) feet one (1) inch on both the east and west sides of
the property.
In addition, due to the proposed preservation of two (2) eighteen (18) inch oak trees on the west
side of the site a large interior landscape island is being provided. The placement of this i sland
dictates the layout of the parking and the widths of the north and south planter strips.
Eight (8) parking bays nine (9) feet in width will be placed on the north side of the parking island
and two (2) parking bays nine (9) feet in width will be placed on the south side of the island.
Street buffers are typically required at six (6%) depth of the lot. However, after a twenty-five
(25%) reduction of this requirement for a site being located in a mature area this would be less
than the six (6) foot nine (9) inches and the perimeter dimension requirement would take
precedence. The site plan indicates a deficiency of six (6) inches between the north property line
and the first parking bay and shows the planting strip to be (6) foot three (3) inches. In addition
there is a (6) foot three (3) inch perimeter planting strip between property line and the back of
south parking curb. The south property line is adjacent to an alley and normally would not require
a planting strip and the associated trees and shrubs.
The applicant has indicated that all perimeter and screening plant materials will be installed in
accordance with the current landscape code. In addition one (1) tree and four (4) shrubs will be
installed in the additional south planting strip adjacent to the alley.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recognizes that none of the required plant materials are being eliminated due to the variance
request, that the applicant purposes the preservation of the existing mature trees and the creation
of a large interior parking island while additionally providing a non -required perimeter planting
strip and the associated plantings.
Due to the proposed landscape enhancements Staff is supportive of the request to allow the
reduction of the perimeter landscape strips as purposed.
Presentation:
Mr. Tim Daters of White Daters & Associates introduced himself and further presented the parking
layout, a history of the site, and the surrounding properties.
Commissioner Henshaw stated that she had received an email from a concerned neighbor inquiring
about the lighting for this project. Mr. Daters responded by stating that lighting has not been
proposed for this particular development. He further discussed the developments in close
proximity and noted that there have been complaints concerning the parking and new buildings
from the residential neighbors on the north side of A Street.
The commissioners discussed the new developments in this area and details of the proposed
parking.
Motion: Commissioner Loveless made a motion that the variance be approved as proposed.
Second: Commissioner Hancock seconded the motion and it passed with a vote of nine ayes, one
no, and one absent.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Expense Report:
Commissioner Young stated that as of May 4th there is a balance $557.00 in the account with an
increase of $0.33 in interest.
Commissioner Young also noted that she had purchased printing supplies and will deliver the
receipt to Staff Member Spillman at a later date.
COMMITTEE REPORTS, UPDATES:
Community Projects
City Hall South Yard:
Commissioner Homeyer stated that this project is still on hold.
Public Relations
Commissioner Hancock stated the CBC has reached its goal and obtained over 500 “Likes” on its
Facebook page. In addition it was stated that the webform for the Landscape Awards has been
completed and posted on the CBC Facebook. Commissioner Hancock also noted that he had
noticed a typo after posting this form and will correct the mistake.
KLRB:
Commissioner Henshaw stated that she had attended the last KLRB meeting where possible
beautification projects were discussed. It was noted that “live walls” were presented as possible
future projects. Commissioner Henshaw further explained the concept of a living wall and noted
existing locations of these in Little Rock. The commissioner also specified that further
investigation concerning live walls will be conducted.
Adopt-A-Street:
Commissioner Loveless stated that the last pick-up had been successful. The commissioners then
discussed dates for a pick-up in July and set a tentative date for July 15.
Eye of the Beholder:
Commissioner Young stated that there was nothing new to report.
Landscape Awards:
Commissioner Homeyer stated that the awards are now open and encouraged the other
commissioners to make new nominations.
Commissioner Peek nominated St Vincent’s Hospital main campus.
The commissioners discussed ways to inform property owners that they have been nominated for
a landscape award.
Commissioner Loveless stated that he would contact the Executive Office of Little Rock Realtors
in hopes of generating interest and new nominations.
T.R.E.E Fund:
Commissioner Homeyer stated that there have been no new contributions to the T.R.E.E. Fund.
Commissioner Homeyer also stated that he has been in contact with Parks and Recreation, Deputy
Director, Mark Webre and was informed that Urban Forester, Mr. Robbie Hudson would contact
him concerning the dates for acquiring and installing the trees for the Bowman Road T.R.E.E Fund
project. Commissioner Homeyer stated that this project should be scheduled and completed at the
end of this month.
City Beautiful Exhibit:
Commissioner Hancock stated that there have been no new developments but is scheduled to meet
with staff of the Historic Arkansas Museum in the upcoming week.
NEW BUSINESS:
There was no new business.
ANOUNCEMENTS:
The next meeting will be Thursday, July 06, 2017, at 11:30 am.
Adopt-A-Street Pickup was tentatively set for Saturday, July 15, 2017 at 8:00 am.
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion: Commissioner Peek made a motion to adjourn.
Second: Commissioner Haas seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:14 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