Z-3895-A Staff AnalysisSeptember 22, 1992
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ITEM NO.: 24 FILE NO.: Z -3895-A
NAME: Francis Allen School - Conditional
Use Permit
LOCATION: 824 North Tyler Street
OWNER/APPLICANT: Francis A. Allen School for
Exceptional Children by
Suzanne Benham, Director
PROPOSAL: To construct a classroom of 1,050
square feet on'the west end of the
current building for purposes of
classroom expansion. The expansion
is to provide for additional space
for the existing students within
the facility. No additional
students are proposed.
ORDINANCE DESIGN STANDARDS:
1. Site Location
This application involves property at the southwest corner
of "H" Street and North Tyler. The site runs through the
block to the intersection on the west along "H" Street.
This school also involves a parking lot at the intersection
immediately to the south on Tyler on 800 North Tyler.
2. compatibility with Neighborhood
This application does little to change the physical
characteristics of this site and very little to change the
activity level on these premises. The proposal does not
include the expansion of vehicular parking, new teachers or
new students.
3. On -Site Drives and Parkin
There are no proposed changes with regard to these activity
areas. The existing facilities are proposed to be utilized
and have been previously approved by the Board of Adjustment
and/or the Planning Commission.
4. Screening and Buffers
Because there are no new parking or drives proposed, this
will not be required.
5. City Engineer Comments
There are none to be reported.
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September 22, 1992
SUBDIVISION
ITEM NO.: 20 (Continued) FILE NO.: Z -3895-A
6. Utility Comments
There are none to be reported.
7. Analysis
The staff review of this proposal and conversation with the
applicant indicates to us that there will be little or no
adverse effect on the immediate area. The proposed
construction area is now utilized in a fashion that is
visually blocked from passersby on "H" Street and not
visible to residence along Tyler. The proposal does not
increase the intensity of the activity. The services
proposed for handicapped children will be tied to those
children now served by this facility, and a handicapped
access ramp will be part of this construction to better
serve access to the facility.
The parking lot at 800 North Tyler containing some
it parking spaces was authorized by the Board of Adjustment
and has been utilized over the last several years. The
parking area provides most of the parking requirements for
this facility, and in fact, most if not all employees can be
parked at one time on this lot. There has been concern
expressed by the neighborhood in past hearings on this use
and property. The streets are occasionally congested by
parking along Tyler; therefore, causing problems for the
neighbors. Planning staff's view that perhaps most of the
parking along Tyler Street is generated by Holy Souls
School, and not by this activity. The director of the
Francis Allen School indicates that employees at her
facility have been specifically instructed not to park on
Tyler Street, but to place their vehicles on the parking lot
at 800 North Tyler.
8. Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of the application as filed.
SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (SEPTEMBER 3, 1992)
The applicant was present. A brief discussion was held and the
Committee asked several questions concerning the structure, its
usage and the parking issue identified by staff. No resolution
of the parking was forthcoming at the Committee meeting. The
school director indicated that it was their intention to be good
neighbors, and if at all possible, not cause conflicts with the
adjacent single family residents. There being no further
discussion the Committee then forwarded this item to the full
Commission for resolution.
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September 22, 1992
SUBDIVISION
ITEM NO.: 20 Continued FILE NO.: Z -3895-A
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (SEPTEMBER 22, 1992)
The applicant was in attendance. There were no objectors
present. Richard Wood of the Planning staff offered a
recommendation of approval subject to no expansion of staff and
no expansion of student body.
The applicant then addressed the Commission. She stated that she
was hesitant to agree to no expansion of staff because her staff
level is tied to the degree of disability of the students
enrolled at the school. More severally disabled students require
a lower teacher to student ratio which could require bringing on
more staff.
A discussion then followed concerning the potential parking
problem. It was agreed that should additional employees be added
the applicant will deal with the parking.
A vote was then taken to approve this conditional use permit
application. The vote was 9 ayes, 0 nays and 2 absent.
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