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Z-3728 Staff AnalysisAugust 25, 1981 Item No. 1 - Z-3728 Owner: Tom Bridgers and Bobbie Taylor Applicant: Tom Bridgers Location: 117-121 North Walnut Street Request: Rezone from "R-4" Two Family to 110-1" Quiet Office Purpose: Office Conversion of Residential Structures Size• 10,000 square feet + Existing Use: Single Family SURROUNDING LAND USE AND ZONING North - Single Family, Zoned "R-4" South - Office, Zoned "0-3" East - Single Family, Zoned "R-5" West - Single Family, Zoned "R-4" PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS No adverse comments have been received from any reviewing agency regarding this application. The Heights/Hillcrest Plan shows this area for low density multi -family residential use. However, the size of the property, its existing development, the orientation of the lots and surrounding land uses all tend to preclude this outcome. There appears to be sufficient physical separation between this property and the adjacent properties to the north and west owing to topography and natural buffers to justify use of the property for quiet office conversion. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends approval. COMMISSION ACTION The applicant was present, and there were no objectors. The applicant explained his proposed use of the property, and it was determined that "O-1" would suffice as the proper zoning district. There ensued a lengthy discussion of the Heights/Hillcrest Plan and possible changes to it relative to the area fronting along Markham Street between "A" and Markham across from the Medical Center. The applicant stated that he needed to have an answer one way or the other from the August 25, 1981 Item No. 1 - Continued Planning Commission because of the necessity of finding new offices for his business and asked that they go ahead and deal with the issue. The Commission moved to approve the application as filed. The motion failed on a vote of 4 ayes, 4 noes, 2 absent and 1 abstention. By the Planning Commission Bylaws, the application was deferred to the September 29 Planning Commission meeting automatically. July 28, 1981 Item No. 8 - Z-3728 Owner: Tom Bridgers and Bobbie Taylor Applicant: Tom Bridgers Location: 117-121 North Walnut Street Request: Rezone from "R-4" Two Family to "0-1" Quiet Office Purpose: Office Conversion of Residential Structures Size: 10,000 square feet + Existing Use: Single Family SURROUNDING LAND USE AND ZONING North - Single Family, Zoned "R-4" South - Office, Zoned "0-3" East - Single Family, Zoned "R-5" West - Single Family, Zoned "R-4" PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS No adverse comments have been received from any reviewing agency regarding this application. The Heights/Hillcrest Plan shows this area for low density multi -family residential use. However, the size of the property, its existing development, the orientation of the lots and surrounding land uses all tend to preclude this outcome. There appears to be sufficient physical separation between this property and the adjacent properties to the north and west owing to topography and natural buffers to justify use of the property for quiet office conversion. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends approval. COMMISSION ACTION: The applicant was present, and there were no objectors. The Commission got involved in a lengthy discussion of the Heights/Hillcrest Plan and the ramifications of the plan's conflict with this zoning request and moved that the item be deferred for 30 days, requesting additional information from the applicant and staff. The motion was passed - 10 ayes, 0 noes and 1 absent. September 29, 1981 Item No. 3 - Z-3728 Owner: Tom Bridgers and Bobbie Taylor Applicant: Tom Bridgers Location: 117-121 North Walnut Street Request: Rezone from "R-4" Two Family to "O-1" Quiet Office Purpose: Office Conversion of Residential Structures Size: 10,000 square feet + Existing Use: Single Family Residential SURROUNDING LAND USE AND ZONING: North - Single Family, Zoned "R-4" South - Office, Zoned "0-3" East - Single Family, Zoned "R-5" West - Single Family, Zoned "R-4" PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS: No adverse comments have been received from any reviewing agency. This property has been under consideration for two months and has been held up so that a further consideration could be made on the entire area by the Staff and Planning Commission. The result of that review shows that the boundary between residential and nonresidential uses is located along a line 150 feet north of and parallel with Markham Street, and that this boundary has been held for a number of years. The adopted Woodruff Neighborhood Plan has set aside several acres of land shown for eventual development of office uses in connection with the Veterans Administration Hospital and the University of Arkansas Medical Center. In fact, there are lands available for development which would require no zoning changes and which have been vacant for a number of years. This indicates to the Staff that the need and demand do not exist in the area for the zoning requested. Staff feels that more demand for housing will be felt in this area as a result of the hospital expansions than for adjacent office space. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends denial. September 29, 1981 Item No. 3 - Continued COMMISSION ACTION: The applicant was present, and there were no objectors. The applicant stated that he would have this residence upgraded to an office use, that it would involve only himself and one other employee, that he would have no stock in trade and no in -and -out traffic. After a brief discussion, the Commission moved to approve the application as filed. The motion failed: 0 ayes, 10 noes and 1 absent. The application was declared to have been denied.