boa_04 18 1960LITTLE ROCK BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
MINUTES
DATE: April 18, 1960
TM E: 2:00 P. M.
PLACE: Chamber of the Board of Directors, City Hall
MEMBERS PRESENT: Miss Penton, Chairman
Mr. Bruce Anderson
Mr. Maxwell J. Lyons II
Mr. Wm. R. Meeks
Mr. Bill Stocks, Assistant City Attorney
MEMBERS ABSENT: Mr. W. H. Marak
The meeting was called to order and an advertised public hearing was held on
tht following dockets:
Docket No. 15-60 - B. L. Murphree, 423 S. Booker Street being lot 7,
block 4, Hick's Subdivision, Boones Addition, zoned "C" Two-family
District, requesting a variance from the side yard and front yard
provisions of Section 11 of that ordinance to permit an extension to
the present building.
No one was present to speak for or against this application. Mr. Breckling
explained that the existing house was not constructed on the lot as it should
have been and this is about all Mr. Murphree can do. He said the zoning
classification of this lot was just recently changed to "C" Two-family District
an4 that the zoning in the area is mixed. Mr. DeNoble said Booker Street is not
a thoroughfare, but a straight -through residential street. The proposed
extension will face Booker Street. Mr. Anderson asked if this would improve or
ruby down the neighborhood? Mr. Breckling said he did not think it would run it
down. The building plans were discussed. It was. found that- information on this was
inddequate. Mr. Breckling said he could ask Mr. Murphree to bring them in if
the, Board desires. The Board thought the neighbors should see these plans.
Mr. Meeks moved to delay this request until the building plans are presented,
Mr. Anderson seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Docket No. 16-60 - Mrs. Arthur Pfeifer, 623 N. Beech Street, being
the north 4 feet of lot 11, south 40 feet of lot 12, block 21, Pulaski
Heights Addition„ zoned "F" Commercial District, requesting a variance
from the front yard provisions of Section 12 of that ordinance to permit
enclosure of a porch.
No one was present for or against this application. Mr. Breckling presented
the: application and projected related maps on the screen. He explained that
Mrs; Pfeifer rents this for business purposes. Mr. Meeks said in view of the
cominercial property around this he did not see how it could do any harm.
Mr.'Anderson asked if she would provide off-street parking? Mr. Breckling
answered yes.
Mr. Meeks moved it be approved, Mr. Lyons seconded and the motion carried
mnwhimously.
Page Two of Four
Docket No, 17-60 - James A. Pate, 907 E. 9th Street, being the west
41.5 feet of the east 73.5 feet of lots 10 and 11, block 2, Masonic
Addition, zoned "C" Two-family District, requesting permission to
locate a parking lot in a restricted district.
Mr. Pate was present. He said the drug store has agreed to lease this
property if it can be allowed for a parking lot. There will be no pay parking,
just for customers. The owner felt it would be more economical to tear down
the present building than to try tb repair.
In executive session Mr. Anderson said this seemed to him like a move forward.
The Board agreed that off-street parking is badly needed in this old area, which
is due for up -grading.
Mr. Anderson moved it be approved if he conforms to the ordinance concerning
parking lots, Mr. Meeks seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Mrs. Franklin Loy, a property pwner in the vicinity, was present and said she
did not oppose as long as the•'property is not rezoned.
Docket No. 18-60 - E_ A. Bowen, Jr., for the Arkansas Enterprises for the
Blind, pursuant to Section 18-4 and Section 13 of the Little Rock Zoning
Ordinance (No. 5420) as amended, being that property bounded by W. 28th
Str6dt, Fair Park'Boulevard, W. 29th Street Ind Tyler Street, block 3.
C. 0. Bra&l s'Addition, zoned "B" Residence District, requesting
permission to locate the Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind, Inc. in
this location and a variance from all applicable provisions of Seetion 11
heightsmd ,area regulations, as a special exception.
•Mr., A. D. Short, 2818 Fair Park Boulevard, Mr. Mytus King, 7408 West Markham
treet, and Mr. P. R. Suggett, 2806 Fair Park Boulevard were present to voice
, eir objections to this request. They stated they opposed to it being rezoned
for anything other than residential. Mr. Breckling explained to them that this
was not a request for rezoning, but just a use and yard space waiver.
Mr. Bowen and Mr. Kumpe, representatives for the applicant, arrived at this -
time and presented the case for the applicant, Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind.
Yr. Bowen said they have been operating at this location for about thirteen years
,and that the use will be the same. They plan new, modern buildings, which they
think will be an asset to the community. They will provide adequate off-street
parking, He said if they hack been a bother to the neighbors they would like to
know about it. They plan to set the building on W. 28th Street back far enough
so that when that street is widened it will not cause a traffic hazard. He said
Mr. Short has a vacant l,ot which he might want to do something with or sell.
Mr. Breckling explained again that the Board of Adjustment is not rezoning the
property. Mr. Suggett said he had just spent $6,000 on his home and feels if
this request is granted it will decrease the value of his property. Mr. Bowen
said these will -not be commercial type buildings and he felt it would be better
than what is there now, which they intend to tear down. He also felt that it
would tend to increase the value of the surrounding property instead of decreasing
it. Mr. Anderson asked if there would be any manufacturing of anything or would
it just be class rooms, etc.? Mr. Bowen answered that there would be no manu-
facturing, only a sma33 good working shop, training for travel in the inside,
court - merely the same sort of thing that has been going for the last thirteen
years. Mr. Meeks asked of there would be any increase in the nimber of people?
Mr. Bowen said there ire 40 now, that there probably will be an additional 20, with
the staff being increased perhaps by 3 or 4. Mr. Suggett asked what the existing
Page Three of Four
homes will be used for? Mr. Bowen said they would be left for some time and
rented out to help pay back the loan. Mr. King asked the Board if they had been
to look at this and if they were familiar with the lots? They answered yes.
Mr. King said he would appreciate any consideration of the Board to leave this
residential.
In executive session this matter was discussed at length as it concerned the
property value, traffic congestion, how they acquired the property, the type of
work carried out and the age group of people trained here, and the application
for a waiver of yard space, which was requested in order to leave the building on
Tyler Street in which to continue operations until the other buildings were
finished. The Board agreed that this was a worthwhile thing and that the request
was a reasonable one, but they felt since so much objection had come from the
surrounding property owners that a poor job of public relations had been done and
that the neighbors did not really understand the request as they continually
mentioned "rezoning" and if this is allowed to "go commercial" some of them had
property they would like to have rezoned also.' The Board also felt that the
architectural design could have been more of a residential character.
Mr. Lyons moved to postpone action and notify the applicant that they should
go over the plans with the people in the area in order to inform and satisfy
.Chem as much as possible. Miss Penton thought at least some of the buildings
should be made to look like homes rather than commercial buildings.
Mr. Bowen came back into the meeting at this point and said he and
Mr. Kumpe had talked with the men who objected to the request and explained to
them that this Board had nothing to do with rezoning. He said Mr. King, at one
Mime, had asked that his property be rezoned but was denied this request, there-
bre, was against this request since he understood it was a rezoning matter.
Bowen said the bids for the job would open the following afternoon and they
would like to have the consideration of the Board by then. He said they had been
working on this project for a year and they felt that the people have known all,
along what was going to take place. There have been pictures in the papers. He
stated that they hope to be able to tear down the houses within 3 to 5 years
and that they intend to save all the trees.
Mr. Anderson seconded Mr. Lyons motion and it carried unanimously.
Miss Penton asked again that they be requested to see what could be done about
making the buildings conform to the residential character of the neighborhood.
Mr. Anderson said he did not know how far along they have gone with their
architectural plans. Mr. Meeks did not feel that they could do much about this
matter now.
Docket No. 19-60 _ Mrs. Wirt Odom, 1015 Park Avenue, being the west
one-half of lot 4, block 8, Capital Hill Extension from all
applicable provisions of Section 11 of that ordinance to permit
construction of bedroom and bath.
Mrs. Odom was present. Mr. Breckling presented the request and stated the
staff had received no objections. The Board had no questions.
In executive session Mr. Anderson moved it be approved, Mr. Meeks seconded
and the motion carried unanimously.
Page Four of Four
Docket No. 20-60 - E. W. Jones, by C. W. Menard, 2800 S. State
Street, being the east 90 feet of lot 12, block 20, Kimball's
South Park Addition, zoned "C" Two-family district, requesting
a variance from the all applicable provisions of Section 2-A
and Section 11, to permit construction of a closet.
Mr. Jones was present. He explained that he has just moved here and finds
that he needs more closet space. He had heard no objections from any of the
neighbors.
In executive session Mr. Lyons moved this be approved, Mr. Meeks seconded
and the motion carried unanimously.
This next docket was put on the agenda for RECONSIDERATION.
A public hearing was held on this on February 15. 1960.
Docket No -60 - Leslie P. Northern, 2106 Vance Street, being part
of lot 10, block 27, Bragg's Addition,, zoned "B" Residence District
requesting a variance from the front yard provisions of Section 11
of that ordinance to permit the remodeling of existing single family
residence.
Mr. Northern is requesting a 15 foot front building line since the Board
of Adjustment denied his request for a front yard variance on February 15, 1960.
Mr. Northern was -present. Mr. Breckling explained that since the Board
had denied this request it would be necessary to act again; the Board had indicated
that they would approve this request if a 15 foot building line was observed.
In executive session Mr. Meeks moved it be approved with moving the house
and porches straight back with a 15 foot clearance between the house and the
right-of-way of the expressway, Mr. Anderson seconded and the motion carried
unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 3:30 P. M.
Mrs. Melba Lawing, Secretary
Approved • 7 {err e d k
• Miss Emibr Penton, Chairman
Mir/db