CBC 05-04-2000LITTLE ROCK
CITY BEAUTIFUL
COMMI5SI() tiJ
MEETING NOTICE
The City Beautiful Commission will hold its regular meeting at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday,
May 4, 2000, in the Sister Cities Conference Room on the second floor at City Hall. This
will be a brown bag lunch meeting.
AGENDA
Call to Order — Nash Abrams, Vice Chair
Roll Call
Approval of the Minutes — February 3, 2000 Meeting
Treasurer's Report - Randy Stocks
Committee Reports
■ Land Alteration Task Force - Dottie Funk
• Neighborhood Association Liaison Committee - Nash Abrams
• Festival — Tim Heiple
• Gateway — Nash Abrams
■ Inner City Project — Barry Jefferson
Old Business
■ Change of Meeting Time
New Business
Miscellaneous Business
• Parks & Recreation Report — Scott Carter
Adjournment
City Beautiful Commission + 500 West Markham, Room 108 + Little Rock, AR 72201 + (501) 371-4770
LITTLE ROCK
CITY BEAUTIFUL
COMMISSION
The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting Thursday, April 6, 2000 at 11:30 a.m. in
the Sister Cities Conference Room at City Hall. Meeting was called to order by Chair Dottie
Funk.
Members Present: Dottie Funk Nash Abrams
Karol Zoeller Frank Riggins
Randy Stocks Barry Jefferson
Timothy Anderson Tim Heiple
Ralph Desmaris
Also Present: Gayle Owens, Administrative Asst. I, Parks & Recreatjon
Bob Brown, Plans Review Specialist, Planning Department
Brian Black. Representative for Landers Auto Sales
Director Johnnie Pugh
Director Dean Kumpuris
Open Public Hearing. Chair Dottie Funk declared the Public Hearing Open.
Item No. 1— C.B.C. 564 — NEW MATTERS
Address:
Description:
Variance Requested.
Landers Auto Sales
Brian Black, AIA, Agent
5200 South University Avenue
Long Legal, and Lot 2, Parkside Place
Subdivision.
1. Deletion of Interior landscaping area and trees within the interior of the proposed parking lot.
2. Deletion of the tree and shrub or vine requirement along the western perimeter of the site.
Findines.
The applicant proposes to develop a rather large parking area to house new vehicles. Currently
the property is vacant, unsightly, and without trees. The western one-third (1/3) of the property is
in the floodplain and abuts Fourche Creek. An eight -foot high opaque wooden fence is proposed
to be constructed around the entire perimeter of the site. The applicant plans to plant trees and
shrubs on the outside of the fence along the southern, northern and eastern perimeters. The
parking lot will be used strictly for car storage and not for the general public. The applicant
proposes riprap along the western perimeter of the site to help with erosion.
Staff Recommendation.
Since the proposed parking area is for storage purposes and not the general public staff
recommends approval of the deletion of the interior requirement. Provided, however, if the
parking lot is ever converted to a public parking area the interior landscaping be installed.
City Beautiful Commission + 500 West Markham, Room 108 + Little Rock, AR 72201 + (501) 371-4770
City Beautiful Minutes
April 6 Meeting
Page 2.
Staff also recommends approval of the deletion of the western perimeter trees and shrubs or vines
since it is a steep slope area and abuts Fourche Creek.
Presentation.
Bob Brown, Plans Review Specialist, Planning and Development made the staff presentation to
the Commission.
Applicant Presentation,
Mr. Brian Black, AIA, Agent for Landers Auto Sales, presented the applicants position. Mr.
Black first stated a correction to the Findings. Plans are for an eight -foot high chain link fence
with razor wire on top instead of an eight -foot high opaque wooden fence.
Motion.
Tim Heiple moved that the variance be granted with the following stipulations.
1. Vines to be planted in rip rap on the back of property.
2. Vines to be planted to grow over fence.
3. No curb cut on University Avenue.
4. One additional tree on University.
5. Upsize shrubbery along University Avenue.
6. Donation be made to an In -lieu account — City of Little Rock Parks and Recreation
Trees for Tomorrow. 6 e Yy
Timothy Anderson seconded motion.
Ralph Desmaris discussed problems with run-off into Fourche Creek.
Motion carried.
Close Public Hearing—. Chair Dottie Funk declared the public hearing closed.
Approval of Minutes: Minutes of the March 2, 2000, meeting were approved as mailed.
Treasurer's Report: Randy Stocks reported no change from previous month.
Special Presentation: Chair Dottie Funk presented a plaque to Frank Riggins for his outstanding
service to the Commission and serving three terms as Chairman.
Guest Speaker: Chair Dottie Funk introduced Director Dean Kumpuris. Director Kumpuris
discussed the Future Little Rock recommendation to do away with the City Beautiful
Commission. He explained that at the time the CBC was pretty much a do nothing group. The
idea was to give it a new name, new responsibilities and try to make it a viable commission again.
Dottie told Director Kumpuris that we now have a dynamic group on the commission that have
set some goals. She asked that he sit in on the committee reports so he could be aware of the
commission's goals. Dottie said that of course we wanted to pass the tree preservation ordinance
first.
City Beautiful Minutes
April 6 Meeting
Page 3.
Reports of Committees
Festival. Tim Heiple discussed the ideas for the festival. Director Kumpuris suggested that
the Commission bring forth a plan for downtown trees. He said we need to educate the
merchants about the positive influence of wider sidewalks and trees. He said there would be
a real problem on the south side of Markham. All the development is on the north side. Tim
Heiple said, "we really need to develop a project for any proceeds that we have from the
festival. If we can identify something, not too ambitious, but something that we can show as
a result of this first festival." Director Kumpuris suggested that the Commission pick an area
and prepare a plan for Main Street. Then work on getting an ordinance passed that prescribes
the type of trees, wider sidewalks, specific type of streetlights, etc. for redevelopment on
Main Street. He suggested that the Commission take a block in front of the Metro Centre
Parking Deck at 2' d and Main and use that for a pilot program to show the difference that can
be made in just one block. Go to Barry Travis and say, we will help d❑ this block with our
proceeds if we can use it as our model block. Tell him that we'll take part of the money and
you take part of the money and we can do a model project. This a publicly owned property.
As Markham Street is completed the next logical development area will be Main Street.
Nash Abrams said that he had been contacted by Steve Stephens a former chairman of the
City Beautiful Commission who suggested that the Commission sponsor a festival celebrating
the Bradford Pear Trees similar to the Cherry Tree Festival in Washington, D. C.
Commission members thought they would rather the festival be a celebration of all trees.
Tim Heiple said we really need a project. He thought Director Kumpuris' idea of trying to
set some type of prototype in conjunction with A&P and the City wouldn't be a bad place to
start. Randy said it would have more impact than planting one tree in one area. Nash said he
believed that it should be a large project. Tim also suggested that possibly a City Beautiful
Gateway into Riverfront Park. Nash suggested a new park in the downtown area. Randy said
that Main Street would become a park so to speak if you did all these things.
Tim Heiple asked for an endorsement of the festival by the Commission. Motion made,
seconded and carried.
Inner City Project. Barry Jefferson reported that his project is the Inner City. He has
identified four areas that are the worst eyesores he has ever seen. Two are in Ward 2 (23`d
and Madison and one on 12'' Street), one in Ward 1 (21` Street between Main and Scott) and
one in Ward 6 on Barrow Road. Churches are interested in helping. Barry said he had
contacted Chem Lawn and they are interested in the program that Tim Anderson had
suggested.
Old Business
• Dottie asked members if they had sent in their applications to serve on the Vision Little Rock
Steering Committee. Several said they had. She reminded them that if they had not and
wanted to serve there is still time to get application in.
New Business
Meeting Time. Dottie told members that it had been suggested that the Commission change
its meeting time from early morning to a noon meeting. The general consensus of
Commission members present that it is a good idea. Motion made by Timothy Anderson to
send out notices to amend the bylaws to change the meeting time from 8:15 a.m. on the first
Thursday of each month to 11:30 a.m. on the first Thursday of each month. Motion seconded
by Randy Stocks. Motion carried. A notice will be sent out to Commission members. The
final amendment to be voted on at the next meeting.
Miscellaneous
• Director Johnnie Pugh informed commissioners that an Earth Day Celebration is planned for
April 22 at 1100 West 33'd Street.
Dottie reminded Commission Members that they should
Award nominees. As they travel around the City mak
landscaping that you seed.
Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m.
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be on the lookout for Landscape
note of outstanding commercial