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CBC 09-01-2011MEETING NOTICE September 01, 2011 THE CITY BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION WILL HOLD ITS REGULAR MEETING AT 1 1:30 A.M. ON THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 01, 2011, 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: 2011 Landscape Award Nominee Voting 2011 Landscape Award Poster Photo Voting • BUDGET DISCUSSION (FROM RETREAT) ANNOUNCEMENTS: • NEXT MEETING - THURSDAY, October 6 ,2011 ■ LITTER PICK UP - SATURDAY, Sept 8 (8:30AM) ADJOURNMENT Bill Christy August 04, 2011 LINDA WALTER/CHRISTY/HERB/STEVE LYNN JULLEAH WALTER HERB/CARRIE JENNIE CARRIE/LYNN STEVE/JULLEAH CHRISTY LYNN LYNN September 01, 2011 ITEM NO. 1 - C.B.C. 620 - OLD MATTERS Applicant: Address: Description: ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS: Q1 a� � Greg Ha Jeff Hor Joint Pa 207 W. Lots 1,2,11,1G, auu ycuu — 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 equal to an equivalent 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 REQUESTED 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) shrubs. d. A reduction in the interior landscape area; equates to five hundred forty five (545) square foot. e. A reduction in the number of trees; six (6) are required; two (2) are being proposed; thus, deficient four (4) trees. f. Requesting more than a twenty-five percent (25%) reduction allowable by city staff. FINDINGS: The UU zoned property along the south side of W. 3rd Street, between Center and Louisiana Streets, is currently vacant with some site work taking place. The area is mostly 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. P 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 and approved 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. 3rd Street for the lot west of the alley, and a street buffer width of eight (8) feet along W. 3rd 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 perimeter of the site. Per Section 15-96 (a.) this area is to be nine (9') in width. The 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 (75%) 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 and twenty-six (26) shrubs and seven hundred eighty three (783) square foot of green space. The final 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. One of the interior islands will also provide help with interior vehicular circulation. With the addition of the interior islands, the required number of interior trees can also easily be provided. The applicant is also requesting the complete elimination of the building landscaping green space and 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. UPDATE: Since last months meeting that was deferred, the applicant has met with city staff on a number of occasions and has made the requested changes. The applicant is now proposing the installation of the interior island and two (2) additional trees. The applicant also plans to make a donation to The City Tree Fund for all the plant materials and the associated labor for its installation. With these changes being proposed, city staff now recommends approval of the landscape variance application, for this site, as shown. MN CENTER STREET work 3W-0" o rn co co `a 1 _ o cxi ^wwa' 5D 4C)2 @is cn m -,o m o mamm an a z (n ccnn w WZ �oX pw Ap0)= m z n D z P . w 9 p pa m N N M-10: ina: zQ G,G) x { � 11-3 m ®'^L cm ' 1 Gang wI povomcrs y 3 rp�r ® R�+at l+k/ft m ! � I — m m W TSl a • O� J co 0 _Z m � I a � o �t w 18' 0" 22' •r LOUISIANASTREET Billed To: Account #: ji64, Statement Date: 8/16J2011 IS -5 Login Name: lrcitybeautiful Amount Owed: $ 1-i8.00 Littif= Fuack City Bem6ful Comrfl -mmic-xr C1'U Dept. of FLu- ming & Dcv Little. Rica Laity Ee V A.iful tt ornmi,sia; 723 vret I5 ar9h rm LittleRrO-, P;F 72201 USA MRISTOTLE" 401 West Capitol - Suite 700 Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 Phone: (501) 374-iNET (4638) (800) 995-2747 Fax: (501) 376-1377 e-mail: info@aristotle. net www.aristotle.net (Please return top portion with payment) ARISTOTLE INTERNET - CURRENT CHARGES PREVIOUS BALANCE: (For the preceding 30 days) - - — - - CURRENT CHARGES hwoft 11('�f 05 f�l SVC4246 7/15/2011 to 811512011 -- SiteSage, Assisted - Personal Site I Subtotal $50.00 Total Taxes $0.00 Total $50.00 Paid $0.00 Due $0.00 $50.00 $50.00 Invoke 1110609 Date 8/' 21J1 WSW Website Direetay Fee over limit by: $78.00 Subtotal $78.00 Total Taxes $0.00 Total $78.00 Paid $0.00 Due $78.00 Invoice llld[ifl Date �W161201 SVC4246 8/15/201 I to 9fl5/2011 -- SiteSage, A&-,isted - Pe-smal Site (2D Subtotal $50.00 Total Taxes $0.00 Total $50.00 Paid $0.00 Due $50.00 TOTAL CURRENT CHARGES $178.00 I () /00 �- ARISTOTLEAPPRECIA TES YOUR BUSINESS /so Federal Tax I.D. No. 71-0579210 Te'<it,l 15 Days e 401 West Capitol - Suite 700 / Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 : dbTOTLE' Phone: (501) 374-iNET (4638) / Fax: (501) 376-1377 / E-mail: info@aristotle. net Web: www.aristotle.net Aristotle regularly updates its Terms and Conditions. By continuing to use Aristotle's Internet services, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to those Terms and Conditions as they are currently stated on Aristotle's website at www.aristotle.net/about/terms.asp. Please review these terms regularly as they may have changed. P-d&e 1 Of 1 iTS Amount Paid $0.00 Services Subtotal: $178.00 Tax: $0.00 PAY THIS AMOUNT: 1$1T8.00 PAYMENT DUE DATE: 1 8/31/2011 Landscape Awards- Budgetary Needs for 2011 Commissioner Homeyer, Commissioner Johnson (Co -Chair Landscape Awards) + Signs (printing) $ 211.00 + Metal Signage $ 135.00 + Frames for photos $140.00 Total $ 486.00 41v \v,, z W. - I%,rOYn �Iliu MaA� LJ CG bin. Y —ti1��� vtict edAo -110 K.lot (o tZ649., �w�- GV.ccy� nzwAes� (�w�pu�"Q v t�,v " CY, 'k.✓b w� d- 410-ro �,��^�°twos C)r. f6 pty �ti�z unee I °�)� T F�JN^ P�vU�bov4�ds be�^:mtvc� UerrkS�ica'ke-S \bnob,I�4. Ml SSA 00 00 Wo � . A•skrc�"-��� 15p� LITTLE ROCK 9- 1 CITY BEAUTIFUL C0MMISS[0N The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting Thursday, September the 1st, 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 Lynn Warren Carrie Young Linda Bell Walter Jennings MEMBERS ABSENT: vacancy vacancy ALSO PRESENT: Christy Marvel, Plans Development Administrator, Department of Planning & Development, City of Little Rock Bill Mann, Chief Deputy City Attorney, City of Little Rock Jeff Horton, HH Architects, Architect Haitham Alley, VCC Construction Company, Applicant OPENING OF PUBLIC HEARING: C.B.C. Case Number 620, Hatcher Parking Lots Staff opened the public hearing at the UU zoned property located along the south side of W. 3`d Street, between Center and Louisiana Streets which is currently vacant with some site work taking place. The area is mostly gravel covered. The property is enclosed with a chain -link construction fence. A nortb/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 and approved by the City's Board of Adjustment for a number of variances; three (3) of which follow: The first variance was granted from Section 3 6-3 42. 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 perimeter of the site. Per Section 15-96 (a.) this area is to be nine (9') in width. The 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 (75%) 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 and twenty-six (26) shrubs and seven hundred eighty three (783) square foot of green space. The final 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. One of the interior islands will also provide help with interior vehicular circulation. With the addition of the interior islands, the required number of interior trees can also easily be provided. The applicant is also requesting the complete elimination of the building landscaping green space and 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. Commissioner Warren inquired about the location of the street trees. The handicap parking space location was discussed. Commissioner Cole inquired about the intention of any shrubs in the interior islands. City staff noted that shrubs within the interior islands currently are not a requirement and none were being proposed. The owner,44f--V4at&iRfs noted it would look nice AV �,\�Puj and have brick with wrought iron fencing. It would include holly shrubs, willow oak trees, and red bud trees. Commissioner Jennings ask if the site would have automatic irrigation. The owner responded the site would include an automatic irrigation system. Chair Wiedower ask if the parking lot was for private use or public and if electronic cards would be used. The owner noted it would be gated with an electronic card for private use only. Chair Wiedower noted his appreciation of the company and their continued occupancy of the downtown area. Discussion commenced on the applicant not wanting to include the additional interior island space. The owner noted that if it meant his project passing then he would include the interior island space and the associated interior trees that city staff had initially requested. Motion: Commissioner Warren made a motion to accept the revised proposal with the changes that have been worked out. Second: Commissioner Johnson seconded the motionA. `and it passed un nim� �s' m c Ab APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES:1 �C'v Motion: Commissioner Cole made a motion to accept the minutes with the changes proposed. Second: Commissioner Jennings seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. TREASURER'S REPORT: Commissioner Bell; no activity this month, the balance is the same. The address has been changed and Vice -chair Dicker has the checkbook because Bell will be out of town. COMMITTEE REPORTS: UPDATES: OLD BUSINESS: Community Proiects I-630 Trees -no report. Website (Lynn) -Commissioner Warren is still working on the CBC website. The changes have been sent; the training for members interested can be in the year. Staff noted the fee is wrong for the Aristotle bill, Commissioner Warren noted she would check on the issue. Library Exhibit- (Julleah)-Commissioner Johnson and Commissioner Bell met and purchased new frames. The exhibit is at Terry. The new mission statement was printed. Commissioner Bell mentioned one of the trophies needs to be fixed; discussed taking it to be fixed. The exhibit will be at Fletcher in November. Rotating frames were discussed. It was mentioned a release maybe needed for any photos used in the exhibit. KLRB (Walter)- Commissioner Jennings noted the KLRB was working with the City for public litter pick-ups in public areas. It included neighborhoods that had been identified during the Litter Index. National day of Public Lands litter pickup is set for September the 24'h Ado t-A-Street (Jennings, Dicker, and Young) - Chair Wiedower described a bumper sticker campaign for the Adopt -A -Street previously used. Vice -chair Dicker announced the upcoming litter pickup date and time. Communications- (Cole)- Commissioner - Commissioner Homeyer attended Forest World fishing tournament in Hot Springs. Commissioner Homeyer explained a "Friends of the Commission" brochure and brought an example. Eve of the Beholder- (Young)- Commissioner Homeyer noted he had enough signage for approximately three (3) years. Chair Wiedower noted Kay Tatum has approximately ten (10) certificates remaining that have already been signed by the mayor. Commissioner Young noted she would call Kay Tatum for those certificates. Commissioner Bell inquired whether or not it was possible to contact neighborhoods to encourage them to nominate residential sites for an Eye Award. Commissioner Jennings noted he had a list of the neighborhood associations, contact names, and some phone numbers. Chair Wiedower noted he would print additional Eye certificates. Commissioner Warren noted that she would check to see what sites had been nominated since June. Commissioner Cole noted she would check the site on Ridge Road and will carbon copy Chair Wiedower. Landscape Awards (Homeyer, Wise)- City Staff, Christy Marvel, noted the names and the addresses of the award winners. Commissioner Cole noted she would check on the date for the presentation of the awards to the Board of Directors. NEW BUSINESS: City staff presented to the slate of 2011 CBC Nominees and associated photographs via PowerPoint presentation. Landscape Award Winners 2011 ■ The Student Loan Guarantee Building • Las Americas Restaurant • Town and Country Animal Hospital Budget Discussion: Commissioner Bell noted she would check with city staff, Venita Harris, about the amount left in the CBC, City Account and report back. Commissioner Jennings noted that the City of Hot Springs gives all their adoptees of city streets, grabbers for the pickups. Of the approximate one hundred eighty (180) people signed up to pick up a city street only one half (1/2) are active participants currently. Perhaps, the CBC could give one litter pickup device for a new signee. Maybe the CBC could challenge the various City Departments to also adopt -a -street. It was decided a meeting to discuss what the CBC could do to help the Adopt -A -Street program was needed. ADJOURNMENT: Motion: Vice -chair Dicker made a motion to adjourn. Second: Commissioner Bell seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 1:09 p.m.