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CBC 06-04-1998 (2)CITY BEAUTIFUL C O M M I S S I O N 500 WEST MARKHAM ROOM 108 LITTLE ROCK, AR 72201 (501) 371-4770 The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting Thursday, June 4,1998 in the Sister Cities Conference Room. Chairman Frank Riggins presided. Members Present Also Present Dottie Funk Frank Riggins Dave Roberts Randall Stocks Pat Torevestad Nash Abrams City Director Linda Joyce Bob Callans, Former Chairman of the CBC Bob Brown, Plans Review Specialist, Planning and Development Gayle Owens, Admin. Assist. I, Parks & Recreation Jake Sandlin, Arkansas Democrat Gazette Approval of Minutes: Motion made and seconded to approve the minutes of the May 7, 1998 meeting with no corrections. Motion carried. Treasurer's Report: Treasurer Randy Stocks gave Treasurer's Report, checking account balance is $1, 239.93, $210.00 of that is earmarked for the fountain, leaving a net balance of $1,029.93. Special Presentation: Frank Riggins asked Bob Callans to update the commission on some things that he is working with and has seen and collected on what other cities have been doing in terms of preservation of natural areas, buffers, landscape ordinances. Things that we might want to consider in thinking about revisions to the present ordinance. Bob said he had been involved with the landscape ordinance all the way back to the very beginning. "In 1987, we worked on an upgrading, Bob was part of that., Richard Wood, Julius Breckling and others. Bob said he had some thoughts on the upgrading and how to deal with it. He then passed around several booklets, for the commissioners to look at. (These will be copied and distributed to commissioners at next meeting.) He said there is no reason to reinvent the wheel, it has been invented and it's in good shape. It's just a matter of updating the landscape ordinance along with the excavation ordinance and making them mean something. There is no reason to have these ordinances if we cannot enforce them. Over the years I have gotten very upset on many occasions about the way the landscape ordinance is dealt with and the enforcement and that type of thing. Another thing I get upset about is the maintenance. I think we have, in Arkansas, pretty horrible maintenance. Most of the maintenance you see is done wrong or not done at all. I think the secret to any landscape ordinance is proper maintenance and how it's dealt with. I think this is a real opportunity to include the excavation ordinance. I have some personal comments that I want you to think about. I think the requirement for a permit to do excavation on a site is limited to five (5) acres, I argued against that at the time. I showed several examples around town of where you had just small lots that developers had gone in and bulldozed out the area and left huge cuts and erosion problems. If you were looking at the excavation ordinance, I would highly recommend that you look at that end of it and maybe try to get that to cover smaller areas than five (5) acres. Also, within the excavation ordinance they discussed buffer zones. You need good definitions for what buffers are. A buffer may mean 25' of utility lines. A buffer screens, covers and hides a particular area. Another thing that I think needs to be included in the landscape ordinance is consideration for the natural environment, rock outcroppings, native plantings, and trees. You need strong incentives for protecting the natural landscape." Bob then went over a list of eighteen suggested items (included in packet) to be included in the landscape ordinance revision. Bob then opened for questions. Several members asked questions and discussions followed on several aspects of Bob's presentation. Commission members asked Frank to write a letter to the Mayor suggesting possible candidates to serve on the Ordinance Review Task Force. Frank thanked Bob Callans for his presentation and asked him to come back and visit any time. Reports of Committees: Dottie Funk thanked Lin Blair for sending out the information on the Kanis Road Report. Dottie then distributed a copy of a letter to the editor by Nash Abrams. Frank was asked to draft a letter from the Commission to the City Board of Directors in support of the sign ordinance issue as presented by City Director Paul Kelly. New Business: Reception Recctiriiaing Forrtier Commission Members. Dottie Funk reported that the reception will be at 5:00 p.m., June 18, 1998 at the Tower Plaza at the west end of the River Market. She, Carolyn Lawrence, Gayle, and Jon Light,. City Refreshment Operations Supervisor had met and plans were made for approximately 50 people. Invitations will be mailed to the former members, Planning Commission members, City Board of Directors and city staff this afternoon. Dottie asked that commissioners assist in making follow up calls to those invited. Landscape Awards. Bob Brown distributed a list of nominees for the Landscape Awards. Members are free to add to the list. Miscellaneous Business: Nash Abrams reported that he had attended the Environmental Task Force meeting and told the commissioners about projects they were working on. He said he thought the CBC should adopt some projects of their own. No further business the meeting was adjourned at 10:30 a.m. City of Little Rock Department o Planning an eve opmen Planning Zoning and 723 West Markham Subdivision Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 (501) 371-4790 M-E-M-O-R-A-N-D-U-M TO: MEMBERS OF THE CITY BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION FROM: ��I3OB BROWN, PLANS REVIEW SPECIALIST SUBJECT: ANNUAL CITY BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION LANDSCAPE AWARD RECOMMENDED CONSIDERATION LIST OF COMMERCIAL PROJECTS NOT PREVIOUSLY RECEIVING AN AWARD DATE: JUNE 4, 1998 EXCEEDING ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS: Arkansas Heart Hospital - 1701 S. Shackleford Road Arksys Plaza - 17500 Chenal Parkway Chenal Village Shopping Center -11500 Financial Center Parkway Cypress Plaza - 2200 Rodney Parham Road Embassy Suites = 11301 Financial Parkway First Little Rock Plaza -10800 Financial Centre Drive McDonald's Restaurant - 8820 Baseline Road Morgan Keegan and Co., Inc. - 100 Morgan Keegan Drive Pulaski Mortgage - 700 Hardin Road The Grove Apartment Homes -11901 Pleasant Ridge Road VOLUNTARY UPGRADING OF EXISTING SITES: Chevaux Court -17500 Cantrell Road Pulaski Bank and Trust - 301 Broadway Street St. Marks Episcopal Church -1000 Mississippi Trellis Square Chopping Center -10720 Rodney Parham Road University Mall - 300 S. University Village Shopping Center - Asher and University Avenue Whispering Oaks Apartments -1812 Reservoir Road PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS WITH CONTINUED EXCELLENCE: Arkansas State Capitol Grounds Austins Wood Grill -10825 Hermitage Road Dillard's Corporate Offices - 1600 Cantrell Road GMAC Center -16101 LaGrande Drive Koger Office Park -10809 Executive Center Drive (Although won this award in 1989 its exceptional condition may warrant additional consideration.) R and & Sloan Manufacturing Co., Inc. - 777 Sloane Drive Roller - Chenal Funeral Home -13801 Chenal Parkway * Added to list June 11,1998. cc: Jim Lawson, Director Tony Bozynski, Assistant Director Richard Wood, Zoning & Subdivision Manager CITY BEAUTIFUL C O M M I S S I O N 500 WEST MARKHAM MEETING NOTICE ROOM 108 The City Beautiful Commission will hold its regular meeting at 8:15 a.m. on Thursday June 4, 1998 in the Sister Cities Conference Room Center on the second floor at City Hall. LITTLE ROCK, AR 72201 AGENDA (501) 371-4770 I. Call to Order II. Roll Call III. Approval of Minutes of the May Meeting. IV. Treasurer's Report. V. Special Presentation VI. Reports of Committees. VII.New Business VIII. Miscellaneous Business. IX. Adjournment.