Loading...
CBC 09-05-2002LITTLE ROCK CITY BEAUTIFUL COM M ISSION The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting Thursday September 5th , 2002, at 11:30 a.m. in the Board of Directors Room, City Hall. Chair Nash Abrams called the meeting to order. MEMBERS PRESENT: Ann Ivey Nash Abrams Karol Zoeller Troy Laha Dottie Funk Tim Heiple Lynn Mittelstaedt Warren Sharon Tallach Vogelpohl ALSO PRESENT: Joe White Jr., of White-Daters & Associates, Agent Dave Roberts, Russell & Roberts Ltd. Dana Carney, Zoning & Sub -Division Manager, Department of Planning and Development Bob Brown, Plans Development Administrator, Department of Planning and Development Christy Marvel, Landscape Specialist, Department of Planning and Development OPEN PUBLIC MEETING C.B.C.-573: Bob Brown began the meeting regarding the landscape variance request located at # 18 . Freeway Drive. Currently this site is vacant and adjoins a mini -storage facility that is also owned by the applicant. The proposal is for the extension of the mini -storage facility. The applicant is requesting permission to reduce the width of a portion of the perimeter landscape strip adjacent to an expressway. The ordinance requires a perimeter -planting strip adjacent to an expressway of 30 feet. The current proposal is nine feet in width for approximately 260 linear feet. The applicant explained, both verbally and visually, the intentions for the site. The site is substantially below grade and not seen from I-630 but in minimal areas. Large pine trees screen the majority of the area in question and are planned to remain upon completion of construction. Applicant agreed that any trees disturbed in this area would be replaced one for one of a native variety. Also, the applicant agreed to plant eight additional trees where aesthetically feasible on site. Motion: Sharon Vogelpohl moved that the variance be allowed with the following conditions met: Eight (8) additional trees to be planted somewhere aesthetically feasible on site. Also, any trees that are lost during the construction phase or due to the construction to be replaced comparably. Second: Troy Laha seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously. Guest Speaker: City Beautiful Commission ♦ 723 West Markham ♦ Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 ♦ (501) 371-4864 Tree Celebration/Fall Arbor Day/Update Pete Rausch, City of Little Rock, Urban Forester, Parks & Recreation Department. Pete announced that his department the Parks & Recreation Department had donated the section of street from 171h Street from Main to State. He asked for any volunteers for the "Who at the Zoo" . INAC, which Pete is to administer and give out in the form of grants equaling fifty thousand dollars to interested parties within the city of Little Rock. The date for the -Fall Arbor Day is November the 61', which is on a Wednesday, 2002. Mayor Dailey is expected to proclamate the first Wednesday in the month of November, every year, as Arbor Day. Expect to have additional nursery space due to the donation, by Central Arkansas Water, of Adams Field plant and Fourche Creek plant. Central Arkansas Water plans to help maintain the area which includes the use of their equipment. Scheduled to meet with Entergy regarding the use of smaller trees in right-of-way areas. Entergy may also donate 50-100 acres for a carbon sink area in the city. Pete plans to discuss reforestation of the highway departments right-of-way areas. Entergy recently helped Pete and his crew clean city parks recently. Plans include planting more trees in McArthur Park. Morehart park is to be thinned out and the money to go towards play equipment. Pete is meeting with the Master Gardener's group on 09-10-02 at the extension office on University Avenue. Pete will take landscape award nomination forms provided by city staff. Pete has information on applying for various grants should anyone be interested. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion: Karol Zoeller moved that the minutes from August I", be approved as submitted. Second: Ann Ivey seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously. TREASURER'S REPORT: Ann reported the following: Little Rock City Beautiful Commission Treasurer's Report 09-05-02 Beginning Balance as of July 11,20021,737.08 Credits Interest on Account $ .07 Debits Total $12737.15 Generation Prod. $12.32 (name badge) U. S. Postmaster $298.38 (Landscape Nomination form) Total $305.70 Ending Balance as of September 5, 2002 TOTAL $1, 431.45 The beginning and ending balance includes the donation for the Ci!Y Beautiful Celebration donated by the LR Convention Bureau. COMMITTEE REPORTS: 1. Networking Committee —no report. Will compose a letter of recommendation for Matthew Lyon and e-mail to staff. Will focus on establishing and building mutually beneficial relationships within the community on behalf of the CBC. Dottie Funk 2. Public Recognition Committee — Asked city staff to compose letter to the Board of Directors, regarding support of our annual landscape awards. Alisha Crouch will be running an article on the adopt -a -street program. Those interested, a clean up has been scheduled for Sunday, September the 15'h at 2:00 p.m. Meet at the Faded Rose parking lot area. Asked that Tim Heiple write the next letter to the editor. Will be responsible for all efforts designed to recognize outstanding efforts in all segments that support the mission of the CBC. This committee will be headed up by the CBC Chairperson who will be supported by sub - chairs heading up the following projects: Nash Abrams Landscape Awards -Nash, Ann, Tim, Troy, Karol and staff met and the landscape award brochures have been mailed. The sponsor this year is Chenal Properties, for the amount of $1,000.00. Again, the tentative time to inspect sites is the 1st week in November. Troy Laha. • Polish the Rock -no report. • Spontaneous Public Recognition Program- Ann asks that all members contribute their nominations for an Eye of the Beholder Award. Ann Ivey 3. Strategic Planning & Publicity Committee — Cancelled the September 7tn announcement. Decided that too much was going on and to get better publicity and response, she is negotiating with the local television stations regarding air time for us to speak about the adopt -a -street program. Will serve all committees in publicizing their activities within the community. Sharon Tallach Vogelpohl 4. City Beautiful Celebration Committee — Tim invited all to help clean up the River Market district this weekend. Tim will also agreed to write the next letter to the editor. Responsible for establishing City Beautiful Day and planning/executing all attendant activities. Tim Heiple 5. Special Projects Committee —no report. Responsible for researching, planning and recommending annual special projects in which the CBC will participate. Karol Zoeller 6. Grant/Fundraising Committee —no report. Researches, recommends, and coordinates fundraising and grant -writing efforts on behalf of the CBC. Lynn Warren OLD BUSINESS: none NEW BUSINESS: ADJOURNMENT: 1:15 MEETING NOTICE The City Beautiful Commission will hold its regular meeting at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 5th, 2002, in the Sister Cities Conference Room on the second floor of City Hall. This will be a brown bag meeting. Please, try to make a site visit prior to our meeting. AGENDA Call to Order: Nash Abrams, Chair Roll Call: Open Public Meeting: C.B.C. 573-New Matters -Freeway Business Park Joe White, Jr. P. E., Agent Dave Grundfest, Owner 18 Freeway Drive Close Public Meeting: Tree Celebration: Pete Rausch, Parks and Recreation Urban Forester on Tree USA, Fall Arbor Day Approval of the Minutes: August 1st, 2002 Treasurer's Report: Ann Ivey Committee Reports: ■ Networking Committee -Dottie Funk ■ Landscape Awards — Troy Laha ■ Strategic Planning & Publicity — Sharon Tallach Vogelpohl ■ Spontaneous Public Recognition Program -Ann Ivey ■ Special Projects — Karol Zoeller ■ City Beautiful Celebration — Tim Heiple ■ Adopt -A -Street Committee -each member to discuss their assignments. Karol Zoeller Sharon Tallach Vogelphol Nash Abrams Old Business: New Business: Adjournment: City Beautiful Commission ♦ 723 West Markham ♦ Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 ♦ (501) 371-4864 September 5, 2002 ITEM NO. 1- C.B.C. 573 - NEW MATTERS Applicant: Address: Description: ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS: Freeway Business Park Joe White, Jr., P.E., Agent U-Storit, Inc., Owner 18 Freeway Drive South of I-630, beginning approximately 0.1 miles east of Rodney Parham Road and extending east to Hughes Street A perimeter planting strip adjacent to freeways or expressways shall be at least thirty (30) feet in width. VARIANCE RE VESTED: A reduction in the width of a portion of the perimeter landscape strip adjacent to an expressway. FINDINGS: The applicant proposes to add three additional mini -warehouses and associated drives to the existing mini -warehouse complex. Currently lot 5, the site for this development, is vacant, with site work having been done in the past. Interstate 630 is located along the property's north boundary. The grade of the proposed development is far below the grade of the adjacent expressway. There are numerous pine trees located mostly in the right-of-way between I-630 and the proposed driveway. The applicant proposes a nine (9) foot wide perimeter landscaping strip for approximately 260 feet in the area of the thirty (30) foot width requirement. A thirty (30) foot wide buffer, when adjacent to an expressway, is also a requirement of the zoning ordinance. On August 8, 2002 the Planning Commission granted the applicant a variance of this requirement when it approved a revision to the Planned Office Development. The Board of Directors is scheduled to hear this case at its September 17th meeting. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Since the area in question is far below the grade of the expressway, the majority of pine trees are to be preserved and the Planning Commission approved the Plan as submitted, staff recommends �� approval of this request. SIB Y-- SC �II�L_�E�UTI �CI� CDT1f�l5 ALff A -5 5110\W�l �M ExiSrIHG / � -� z�ur z�s.o• 191.70'