CBC 05-07-2015MEETING NOTICE
May 7, 2015
THE CITY BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION WILL HOLD ITS REGULAR MEETING AT 11:30 A.M. ON THURSDAY
May 7, 2015, AT CURRAN HALL, 615 E. CAPITOL AVENUE
AGENDA
CALL TO ORDER: Ed Peek
ROLL CALL: Tracy Spillman
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: April 2, 2015
VARIANCE REQUESTS: ITEM NO. 1 C.B.C. 637-NEW MATTERS
TREASURER'S REPORT:
EXPENSES REPORT WALLY
COMMITTEE REPORT: UPDATES
• COMMUNITY PROJECTS
o CITY HALL SOUTH YARD STEVE,
ASHLEY
CARRIE
BOB
• PUBLIC RELATIONS CHRIS HANCOCK
CHRIS MORGAN
• KLRB (UPDATE) (4th Wed / Noon)
WALLY
• ADOPT -A -STREET COORDINATORS
WALLY
• EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
CARRIE, ED, WALLY
• LANDSCAPE AWARDS
STEVE
• TREE FUNDS
STEVE
• CITY BEAUTIFUL EXHIBIT
CHRIS HANCOCK
■ OTHER CITIES
CHRIS MORGAN
NEW BUSINESS:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• NEXT MEETING - Thursday, June 4, 2015
• Adopt A Street Pickup - To be decided
ADJOURNMENT
LITTLE ROCK
Cl'rY BEAUTlFUT
C0MMISSTO'N
The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, May
07, 2015, at Curran Hall, 615 E. Capitol Avenue. Chairman Ed Peek called the meeting to order.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Ed Peek Wally Loveless
Steve Homeyer Chris Morgan
Chris Hancock Jordan Thomas
Ashley Jones
MEMBERS ABSENT: Ed Hankins
Bob Winchester
Carrie Young
One Open Position
ALSO PRESENT: D. Tracy Spillman, Plans Development Administrator, Department
of Planning and Development, City of Little Rock.
APPROVAL OF THE APRIL MINUTES:
Motion: Chairman Peek entertained a motion to approve the April 02, 2015 Minutes.
Commissioner Morgan made a motion to approve.
Second: Commissioner Homeyer seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Variance Request: CBC Case # 637,124 Fillmore
Staff opened the public hearing for the variance request located at 124 Fillmore. This property is
currently platted as residential lot zoned 0-3 General Office District. AAA Group of Investors
proposes to remove the existing office building and construct a new MRI clinic. The facility will
be located in the rear of the lot with the parking adjacent to the street. The structure is proposed
with 2,000 gross square feet of building area. The property is located within the Mid -town Design
Overlay District. To the south is a parking lot serving a rehabilitation facility located on West
Markham Street. To the north is a multi -family building. Along Fillmore Street in this area is a
mix of office and residential uses. To the west, across the alley, are multi -family units facing Pierce
Street and across Pierce Street is the Mid -town shopping center.
The site plan indicates the placement of nine (9) parking spaces. For an office use the zoning
ordinance would typically require the placement of five (5) parking spaces. Staff does not feel the
parking as indicated to be excessive.
The existing trees located on the site will be removed to construct the new building. In addition
the site plan indicates the placement of a five foot nine inch (5'9') landscape strip along the
northern perimeter and the southern perimeter of the site adjacent to the building. The southern
perimeter adjacent to the parking lot does not include a landscape strip. The site is located within
the Designated Mature Area of the City which allows the landscape strip to be reduced to six feet
nine inches (6'9") by the landscape ordinance. Plant material required for this perimeter area
includes trees a minimum of two (2) inches in caliper spaced an average of not less than thirty (30)
linear feet. Additionally, three (3) shrubs or vines a minimum of eighteen (18) inches in height at
installation are also to be provided for every thirty (30) linear feet of perimeter planting strip
The site plan review filed with the Planning Commission was placed on the April 23, 2015
Subdivision Hearing Agenda to request rezoning from 0-3, General Office to PD-O to allow the
redevelopment of this site with a medical office clinic. Staff was supportive of this request and
The Planning Commission voted to approve this request and it passed unanimously. In addition
the Midtown Redevelopment District No. 1 Advisory Board reviewed the request at their April 3,
2015 meeting. The Advisory Board voted to support the request.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff is supportive of the request to allow the reduced perimeter landscape strips as purposed. The
site abuts an existing paved parking lot to the south. The Midtown Design Overlay District requires
pedestrian connectivity between the public sidewalk along the street and the entrance to the
building.
To accomplish this, the applicant has proposed to install a four (4) foot wide sidewalk along the
south perimeter of the site; thus allowing safe connectivity rather than making pedestrians walk
through the parking lot. The sidewalk is replacing what would have been the southern landscape
strip.
Presentation:
Owner representatives Mr. Joe White and Ms. Sally Horsey provided a site plan to each of the
commissioners.
Chairman Peek inquired about the property to the south and if there was a retaining wall located
on this property line.
Commissioner Homeyer inquired if there was a green strip adjacent to the south side of the parking
lot. Ms. Horsey explained that this area was planned with a sidewalk and the reason for applying
for the variance.
Commissioner Thomas inquired about the layout of the parking area and if wheel stops would be
required.
Commissioner Hancock inquired how many trees would be removed. It was stated that eight trees
would be removed from the site and there would not be any penalty since this would be
accomplished within standard development practices.
Commissioner Homeyer inquired if the site would be irrigated.
The commissioners discussed the various items associated with this development and Chairman
Peek stated that he did not find anything objectionable with the request.
Motion: Commissioner Loveless made a motion to accept the variance as requested.
Second: Commissioner Hancock seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
TREASURER'S REPORT:
Expense Report:
Commissioner Loveless stated:
• That the only new activity had been a reimbursement check to Commissioner Homeyer.
This was issued to cover the out of pocket expenses the commissioner incurred providing
a gift certificate to CBC Retreat Facilitator, Julie Robbins.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: UPDATES:
Community Projects
City Hall South Yard:
Commissioner Homeyer stated:
■ That there is no update.
• That he will contact City Maintenance and Development Foreman (Horticulture), Ernie
Moix to determine what should be done with the existing crape myrtle and if these should
be removed from the project and possibly transplanted in another location.
Public Relations
Website:
• Commissioner Morgan stated that he had met with Little Rock's Communication and
Marketing Manager Mr. Luis Gonzales about the possibility of obtaining a social media
account. He noted that Mr. Gonzales had indicated that he did not believe this would be a
problem. In addition Commissioner Morgan relayed that he and Mr. Gonzales had
discussed different approaches that could be used by CBC to increase the awareness of the
commission and the awards.
• Commissioner Morgan passed out a letter that he had drafted addressed to City Manager
Mr. Bruce Moore asking permission to create a social media page. Upon the commissioners
agreement of the content of the letter it was decided that this should be signed by Chairman
Peek and then given to Mr. Gonzales to be hand delivered to Mr. Moore.
The commissioners discussed the content of the letter and made the suggested revisions.
Motion: Commissioner Hancock made a motion that the revised letter be delivered to the City
Manager to ask permission that the CBC be allowed to create a Facebook page.
Second: Commissioner Jones seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
• Commissioner Hancock stated that he had created a webform to be used for Landscape
Awards and emailed this to the commissioners.
The commissioners discussed the content of the webform and who would be eligible for
a Landscape Award. Creating a webform for the Eye of the Beholder award was also
discussed.
Motion: Commissioner Morgan made a motion that the webform to be used for the Landscape
Awards be approved.
Second: Commissioner Loveless seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
KLRB:
Commissioner Loveless stated:
• The winners of the Envision Little Rock Design Competition at Otter Creek have been
selected.
• The round -a -about on Kavanaugh has not moved forward due to a dispute over the
copyright of the plans.
• That the Adopt -A- Street program will be celebrating its 20 year anniversary on June 10.
There will be a celebration at Center at University Park from 2:OOpm — 4:OOpm.
Adopt -A -Street:
• Chairman Peek proposed a tentative cleanup for Saturday June 06, 2015. This is to be
confirmed at the next meeting on June 04, 2015.
Eye of the Beholder:
Commissioner Loveless stated:
That he has photos of three residences and nominations will be forthcoming.
Landscape Awards:
Commissioner Homeyer stated:
• There is nothing new to report and the nomination period is open.
T.R.E.E Fund:
Commissioner Homeyer:
Presented the T.R.E.E. Fund maps to the commissioners and briefly discussed the balances
for each section.
• The commissioners discussed areas where trees could possibly be planted.
City Beautiful Exhibit:
Commissioner Loveless stated:
• He is working on compiling a list of the CBC display items and will deliver this to
Commissioner Hancock.
Other Cities Committee:
Commissioner Morgan stated:
• That he does not have a report this month.
NEW BUSUINESS:
r There was no new business
ANOUNCEMENTS:
• There were no announcements
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion: Chairman Peek entertained a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Loveless made a
motion to adjourn.
Second: Commissioner Hancock seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:51 pm
LITTLE ROCK CITY BEAUTIFUL COMMISSIOM
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT - 723 WEST MARKHAM - LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS 72201
PHONE: 501 371-4864 FAX: 501 371-6863 E-MAIL: D Pl N i LEROC ORG
WEBSITE: WWW.LRCITYBEAUTIFULCOMMISSION.ORG
J
May 07, 2015
ITEM NO.1 C.B.C.637--NEW MATTERS
Applicant:
Address:
Description:
ORDINANCE RE UIRMENTS:
Chapter 15, Sec. 15-96. Perimeter planting strips.
White Daters.
Owner
AAA Group of Investors
Develope r
Markus Construction LLC
P.O. Box 241400
Little Rock, AR 72223
Agent
Tim Daters
White Daters & Associates, Inc.
124 Fillmore Street
Strong and Waters
Lot 7, Block 2
(a) A perimeter planting strip is required along any side of a vehicular use area that abuts adjoining
property or the right-of-way of any street, highway or freeway. This strip shall be at least nine
(9) feet wide. The perimeter planting strip adjacent to freeways or expressways shall be at least
thirty (30) feet wide except within mature areas.
VARIANCE REQUESTED
To allow a reduction and removal of a portion of the perimeter planting strip along the north and south
property lines to less than the six (6) feet nine (9) inches that is typically required for developments in
areas designated "mature" by the Department of Planning and Development and approved by the
Planning Commission and the City Beautiful Commission.
FINDINGS:
The property located at 124 Fillmore Street is currently platted as residential lot zoned 0-3 General
Office District. AAA Group of Investors proposes to remove the existing office building and construct a
new MRI clinic. The facility will be located in the rear of the lot with the parking adjacent to the street.
The structure is proposed with 2,000 gross square feet of building area. The property is located within
the Mid -town Design Overlay District. To the south is a parking lot serving a rehabilitation facility located
on West Markham Street. To the north is a multi -family building. Along Fillmore Street in this area is a
mix of office and residential uses. To the west, across the alley, are multi -family units facing Pierce
Street and across Pierce Street is the Mid -town shopping center.
The site plan indicates the placement of nine (9) parking spaces. For an office use the zoning ordinance
would typically require the placement of five (5) parking spaces. Staff does not feel the parking as
indicated to be excessive.
The existing trees located on the site will be removed to construct the new building. In addition the site
plan indicates the placement of a five foot nine inch (5'9') landscape strip along the northern perimeter
and the southern perimeter of the site adjacent to the building. The southern perimeter adjacent to the
parking lot does not include a landscape strip. The site is located within the Designated Mature Area of
the City which allows the landscape strip to be reduced to six feet nine inches (6'9") by the landscape
ordinance. Plant material required for this perimeter area includes trees a minimum of two (2) inches in
caliper spaced an average of not less than thirty (30) linear feet. Additionally, three (3) shrubs or vines a
minimum of eighteen (18) inches in height at installation are also to be provided for every thirty (30)
linear feet of perimeter planting strip
The site plan review filed with the Planning Commission was placed on the April 23, 2015 Subdivision
Hearing Agenda to request rezoning from 0-3, General Office to PD-O to allow the redevelopment of this
site with a medical office clinic. Staff was supportive of this request and The Planning Commission voted
to approve this request and it passed unanimously. In addition the Midtown Redevelopment District No.
1 Advisory Board reviewed the request at their April 3, 2015 meeting. The Advisory Board voted to
support the request.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff is supportive of the request to allow the reduced perimeter landscape strips as purposed. The site
abuts an existing paved parking lot to the south. The Midtown Design Overlay District requires
pedestrian connectivity between the public sidewalk along the street and the entrance to the building.
To accomplish this, the applicant has proposed to install a four (4) foot wide sidewalk along the south
perimeter of the site; thus allowing safe connectivity rather than making pedestrians walk through the
parking lot. The sidewalk is replacing what would have been the southern landscape strip.
FILMORE STREET
(50' R0W)
PROPOSED GROUND
MOUNTED SIGNAGE
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