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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