CBC 08-04-2011MEETING NOTICE
August 4, 2011
THE CITY BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION WILL HOLD ITS REGULAR MEETING AT 1 1:30 A.M. ON THURSDAY
AUGUST 4, 201 1, IN CURRAN HALL (615 E CAPITOL AVE, LITTLE ROCK, AR 72201)
AGENDA
CALL TO ORDER:
ROLL CALL:
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES:
• VARIANCE REQUEST CBC Case 620:
•207 W. 3rd St, Greg Hatcher & Haitham Alley
TREASURER'S REPORT:
• EXPENSES REPORT
COMMITTEE REPORT: UPDATES
COMMUNITY PROJECTS
0 1-630 TREES
PUBLIC RELATIONS
o WEBSITE
o LIBRARY EXHIBIT/ HISTORY EXHIBIT
• KLRB (UPDATE) (4th Wed / Noon)
• ADOPT -A -STREET COORDINATORS
• INFORMATION / COMMUNICATION
• EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
• LANDSCAPE AWARDS
NEW BUSINESS:
• BUDGET DISCUSSION (FROM RETREAT)
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
■ NEXT MEETING - THURSDAY, Sept e ber/2011
• LITTER PICK UP - SATURDAY, 5ept�(.:MAM)O
ADJOURNMENT 1 Q
Bill
Christy
July 7, 2011
LINDA
WALTER/CHRISTY/HERB/STEVE
LYNN
JULLEAH
WALTER
HERB/CARRIE
JENNIE
LYNN
STEVE
LYNN
August 4th, 2011
ITEM NO. 1 - C.B.C. 620 - NEW MATTERS
Applicant:
Address:
Description:
ORDINANCE REQUREMENTS:
Greg Hatcher & Haitham Alley (VCC), Owners
Jeff Horton & Jennifer Herron, Agents
Joint Parking Lot(s)
207 W. 3rd Street
Lots 1,2,11,12, and part of Lot 10, Block 83,
Original City of LR
1. A perimeter planting strip is required along any side of a vehicular use area that abuts
adjoining property. This strip shall be at least nine (9) feet wide; Section 15-96 (a.).
2. Landscape areas shall be provided between the vehicular use area used for public parking
and the general vicinity of the building.....these areas shall be equivalent � o
planter strip three (3) feet wide along the vehicular use area; Section 15-97 (a.).
3. One (1) tree and four (4) shrubs shall be planted in the building landscape areas for each
forty (40) linear foot of vehicular use area abutting the building; Section 15-97 (c.).
4. Interior landscape areas shall comprise at least eight (8) percent of any vehicular use area
containing twelve (12) or more parking spaces; Section 15-98 (a.).
5. Tree shall be included in the interior landscape areas at the rate of one (1) tree for every
twelve (12) parking spaces; Section 15-98 (b.).
6. The city official may grant not more than a twenty-five (25) percent reduction of these
provisions for developments within mature areas; Section 15-85 (c.)
VARIANCE RE UESTEII:
a. A reduction of the nine -foot (9') wide perimeter -landscaping strip along the
northern perimeter of the site. The proposed amount is six foot (6'-0"); deficient
nine inches (9").
b. The elimination of the building landscaping; equates to seven hundred and eighty-
three (783) square foot.
c. The elimination of the plant material required within the building landscape area;
equates to six (6) trees and twenty-six (26) chr„hc
d. A reduction in the interior landscape are
square foot.
e. A reduction in the number of trees; six
proposed; thus, deficient four (4) trees.
f. Requesting more than a twenty-five pera ,
staff.
0
FINDINGS:
The UU zoned property along the south side of W
Louisiana Streets, is currently vacant with some si,
gravel covered. The property is enclosed with a chain -link construction fence. A
north/south alley right-of-way, which runs through the block, bisects the property.
The applicant proposes to construct a new parking lot on the site, as noted on the attached
site plan. The new parking lot will serve the Hatcher Agency, which is located in the office
building within the southeast portion of this block, and Vratsinas Construction Company,
which is located in the office building across W. 3`d Street to the north. The proposed
parking lot on the west side of the alley will contain 40 paved parking spaces, with the lot
on the east side of the alley containing 48 spaces. The lots will be enclosed with six (6)
foot high iron fencing, with masonry columns. Vehicle entry gates (rolling gates) for each
lot will be located along the alley right-of-way.
The application was recently reviewed by the City's Board of Adjustment for a
number of variances; three (3) of which follow:
The first variance was granted from Section 36-342. 1 (c)(5) b. of the City's Zoning
Ordinance. The applicant is providing street trees with this project; however, existing utility
lines will prohibit the planting of three (3) of the required trees around the perimeter of the
lot west of the alley. One (1) street tree at the northeast corner of the lot and two (2) street
trees at the southwest corner of the lot will not be allowed due to existing utility lines.
The next variance granted was from the parking design standards of Section 36-511. This
section requires right angle parking spaces to have a width of nine (9) feet and a minimum
depth of 20 feet. The applicant is proposing parking stall depths of 18 feet for the spaces
on both lots. The spaces within the lot west of the alley are proposed with widths of 8.5
feet. The spaces within the lot east of the alley will be nine (9) feet wide.
The final variance granted was from the street buffer provisions of Section 36-522(b)(3) b.
This section requires a minimum street buffer width of nine (9) feet. The proposed plan
provides a six (6) foot wide street buffer along W. 3`d Street for the lot west of the alley,
and a street buffer width of eight (8) feet along W. 3`d Street for the lot east of the alley.
The proposed street buffers along Center and Louisiana Streets will be nine (9) feet in
width.
The applicant is requesting variances from the City Beautiful Commission hearing today
regarding the following issues: A landscape perimeter is required along the northern -j'
perimeter of the site. Per Section 15-96 (a.) this area is to be nine (9') in width. site is
located within the "Designated Mature Area" of the city; therefore, the requirement can be
reduced to six foot nine inches (6'-9"). The parking lot to the west, along Center Street, is
deficient. The northern perimeter of the site is proposing a six foot (6') wide landscape
perimeter; deficient nine inches (9"). All of the required plant material is being proposed
within this reduced perimeter planting area. The next two (2) variances are from Section
15-98 (a.) and 15-98 (b.)The applicant is proposing zero building landscaping) Zero green
space and zero plant material. The ordinance allows shifting up to seventy-five percent
(750;0� of the building landscaping to other areas on the site; however, the applicant has
zero extra on the property. This deficiency equates to six (6) trees )Gr4twenty-six (26)
shrubs,and seven hundred eighty three (783) square foot of green space. The finial two (2)
variances the applicant is requesting are from the interior landscape ordinance
requirements, Section 15-97 (a.) and 15-97 (c.). The applicant is deficient five hundred and
forty-five (545) square foot of green space within the parking lot area. The interior island
reduction also doesn't allow for the required six (6) interior trees. The applicant is
proposing only two (2) trees; a deficiency of four (4) trees.
Staff is not supportive of the requested variances from the landscape ordinance standards.
Staff is comfortable with the reduced perimeter -planting strip along the street. However,
staff feels the addition of the interior islands is not an unreasonable request. The parking
lot on the west currently reflects zero interior green space. jjQ*Xe interior island# will
also provide help with interior vehicular circulation. With the addition of the interior
islands, the required number of interior trees can alsojeasily be provided. The applicant is
also requesting the complete elimination of the building landscapingigreen space and bnf,
associated plant material(s). Staff feels the amount of reduction and elimination is simply
excessive. Staff feels the applicant isn't meeting the intent of the landscape ordinance.
Staff feels the applicant is requesting a large quantity of variances and thus recommends
denial of the application.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends denial of all the requested application.
LITTLE ROCK
CITY BEAUTIFUL
coM M ISSION
The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting Thursday, August the 4th, 2011,
at 11:30 a.m. at Curran Hall. Chair Wiedower called the meeting to order.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Homeyer Julleah Johnson
Bill Wiedower Herb Dicker
Jennie Cole Carrie Young
MEMBERS ABSENT: vacancy
vacancy
Linda Bell
Lynn Warren
Walter Jennings
ALSO PRESENT: Christy Marvel, Plans Development Administrator, Department of
Planning & Development, City of Little Rock
Beth Blevins Carpenter, Deputy City Attorney, City of Little Rock
Jeff Horton, HH Architects, Architect
Windy Angle, The Hatcher Agency
Mollie Birch, The Hatcher Agency
Haitham Alley, VCC Construction Company, Applicant
OPENING OF PUBLIC HEARING: C.B.C. Case Number 620, Hatcher Parking Lots
Staff opened the meeting and announced there was a conflict of interest between Commissioner
Homeyer and the applicant, thus a quorum was not present to hear the item. Therefore, staff
recommends a deferral.
Motion: Vice -chair made a motion to table the issue for thirty (30) days.
Second: Commission Young seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES:
Motion: Vice -chair Dicker made a motion to accept the minutes as distributed
Second: Commissioner Homeyer seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
TREASURER'S REPORT: Commissioner Bell absent; no report.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: UPDATES:
OLD BUSINESS:
Community Proicets
I-630 Trees -City staff, Christy Marvel reported Mr. Cromwell of Cromwell Architecture firm
has offered to do some digital perspective drawings for our tree project. City staff just needs to
get the photos to his office.
Website (Lynn) -no report.
Library Exhibit- (Julleah)~Commissioner Johnson noted the exhibit is currently at the Main
Library, downtown. it appears some of the exhibit is missing; Commissioner Johnson noted she
would continue trying to locate. A digital photo frame to scan pictures of previous award
winners was mentioned.
KLRB (Walter) -no report.
Ada t-A-Street (Jennings, Dicker, and Young)- Vice -chair Dicker reported little pick-up
would be Saturday September the 10th. It was agreed to start at 7:30 a.m. due to the extreme
heat.
Communications- (Cole)_ Commissioner - Commissioner Cale stated she was recently
broadcast on Channel 4-The Noontime Addition for the Eye of the Beholder Award. The CBC
was also mentioned in the Arkansas Business for the landscape awards. Commissioner Cole also
gave information to the City Board and encouraged their nominations.
Landscape Awards (Homeyer, Wise)- Commissioner Homeyer noted the photos for the
Landscape Award Posters are still needed; the deadline for the award is also approaching. Chair
Wiedower noted it would be optimal if the President of the Landscape Architecture Board could
send out a notice for Landscape Architects to nominate some of their projects.
NEW BUSINESS:
Budget Discussion:
It was noted the minutes from the Annual Retreat were completed by Commissioner Warren and
had been distributed and uploaded to the CBC website. Within the minutes, the budget for the
2011 monies was to be allocated by now. Each CBC member bring your budgetary needs for
your committee projects to next months meeting.
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion: Vice -chair Dicker made a motion to adjourn.
Second: Commissioner Young seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:14 p.m.
Ll'rTLL R CK
r
CITY B AUTWUL
coM-MIS STON
The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting Thursday, August the 4th, 2011,
at 11:30 a.m. at Curran Hall. Chair Wiedower called the meeting to order.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Steve Homeyer
Bill Wiedower
Jennie Cole
vacancy
vacancy
Linda Bell
Lynn Warren
Walter Jennings
Julleah Johnson
Herb Dicker
Carrie Young
ALSO PRESENT: Christy Marvel, Plans Development Administrator, Department of
Planning & Development, City of Little Rock
Beth Blevins Carpenter, Deputy City Attorney, City of Little Rock
Jeff Horton, HH Architects, Architect
Windy Angle, The Hatcher Agency
Mollie Birch, The Hatcher Agency
Haitham Alley, VCC Construction Company, Applicant
OPENING OF PUBLIC HEARING: C.B.C. Case Number 620, Hatcher Parking Lots
Staff opened the meeting and announced there was a conflict of interesI.-between Commissioner f -
Homeyer and the applicant.; Otis a quorum was not present to hear the item. Therefore, staff 4
recommends a deferral.
Motion: Vice -chair made a motion to table the issue for thirty (30) days.
Second: Commission Young seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: 41,exe--
�r-
Motion: Vice -chair Dicker made a motion to accept the minutes as distributed
Second: Commissioner Homeyer seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
TREASURER'S REPORT: Commissioner Bell absent; no report.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: UPDATES:
OLD BUSINESS:
�
Community Protects
I-530 Trees -City star Christy Marvel reported Mr. Cromwell of Cromwell Architecture firm
has offered to do some digital perspective drawings for our tree project. City staff just needs to
get the photos to his office.
Website (Lynn)no report.
Libra Exhibit- Julleah -Commissioner Johnson noted the exhibit is currently at the Mann
Library, downtown. It appears some of the exhibit is missing; Commissioner Johnson noted she
would continue trying to locate. A digital photo frame to scan pictures of previous award
winners was mentioned.
KLRB (Walter) -no report.
Ada t-A-Street (Jennings, Dicker, and Young)- Vice -chair Dicker reported little pick-up
would be Saturday September the loth. it was agreed to start at 7:30 a.m. due to the extreme
heat.
Communications- (Cole)- Commissioner - Commissioner Cole stated she was recently
broadcast on Channel 4-The Noontime Addition for the Eye of the Beholder Award. The CBC
was also mentioned in the Arkansas Business for the landscape awards. Commissioner Cole also
gave information to the City Board and encouraged their nominations.
Landscape Awards(Rome er, Wise)- Commissioner Homeyer noted the photos for the
Landscape Award Posters are still needed; the deadline for the award is also approaching. Chair
Wiedower noted it would be optimal if the President of the Landscape Architecture Board could
send out a notice for Landscape Architects to nominate some of their projects.
NEW BUSINESS:
Budget Discussion:
It was noted the minutes from the Annual Retreat were completed by Commissioner Warren and
had been distributed and uploaded to the CBC website. Within the minutes, the budget for the
2011 monies was to be allocated by now. Each CBC member bring your budgetary needs for
your committee projects to next months meeting.
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion: Vice -chair Dicker made a motion to adjourn.
Second: Commissioner Young seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:14 p.m.
City of Little Rock City Beautiful Commission
-Tree Fund: Based on our approved drawings, we have revised our estimated treqfund due as follows:
Deduct from each- bid: 2 interior islands with 447 SF of sod and 3 (2" Caliper). Trees.
' Estimates came in to Herron Horton Architects from the following lan.'dscaping companies and the
amounts:
1511
Cantrell Gardens $6,660.91 Deduct <$1,319.85> = $5,341.06
Healthy Lawns- ' $5,910.00 Deduct <$1,555.11> = $4,354.89 q,
Horticare . $4,600.00 Deduct <$1,065.00> = $3,535.00
Total * . $13,230.95/3 = $4,410.32 to Tree Fund
.w
herron horton architects
1219 South Spring St.
Little Rock, AR 72202
Phone 501.975.0052
Fax 501.372.7931
hh-architects.com