Z-8626-A Staff AnalysisMay 1', 2014
ITEM NO.- 2 FILE NO.: Z-8626-A
NAME: Arkansas Baptist College Classrooms and Offices —
Conditional Use Permit
LOCATION: 1700 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive
OWNER/APPLICANT: Arkansas Baptist College
PROPOSAL: A conditional use permit is requested to allow for the
remodeling of the existing building located on this R-4
zoned lot to be used as classrooms and offices. A
similar application was approved by the Commission
on January 6, 2011 but the 3 year period to act on the
approval expired without the project taking place.
SITE LOCATIO
The site is located on the Arkansas Ba�tist College campus, on the
southwest corner of MLK and West 17t Street.
2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD:
The college has properties and facilities scattered throughout the general
area. The main campus is located to the north and east. Single family
residences are located to the south and across MLK to the east. This use
was previously approved in 2011 and the only change in the immediate
area is the addition of new dormitories adjacent to the west. The
proposed use is compatible with uses in the area. Screening will be
required along the south perimeter.
Notice of the public hearing was sent to all owners of properties located
within 200 feet of the site and the Central High and Downtown
Neighborhood Association.
3, ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING:
Parking requirements for colleges are determined by the total square
footage of all buildings and by the total number of students; one space per
three hundred (300) square feet of gross floor area or one space for every
four (4) students, whichever is greater. The campus building's total
square footage is 225,690 square feet and the enrollment is 750 students.
The main part of the campus, north of 17th Street, is located in the Central
High Design Overlay District. The typical requirement based on square
footage is 752 spaces; 376 under the DOD. The typical requirement
based on enrollment is 187 spaces; 93 under the DOD.
May 1, 2014
ITEM NO.: 2 Cont. FILE NO.: Z-8626-A
There are an estimated 300 spaces either existing or proposed for
construction on the campus. Four new spaces are being constructed with
this project.
4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS:
Site plan must comply with the City's minimal landscape and buffer
ordinance requirements.
Screening required along south perimeter of this site, where adjacent to
residential property.
5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS:
1. Repair or replace any curb and gutter or sidewalk that is damaged in
the public right-of-way prior to occupancy.
2. Prior to construction of retaining walls, an engineer's certification of
design and plans must be submitted to Public Works for approval.
After construction, an as -built certification is required for construction of
the retaining wall.
6. UTILITY. FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS:
Wastewater: Sewer available to this project.
Entergy: Approved as submitted. Entergy has no issue with the use of
the existing building for classrooms.
Centerpoint Energy: No comment received.
AT&T (SBC): No comment received.
Water: No Objections. All Central Arkansas Water requirements in effect
at the time of request for water service must be met.
The Little Rock Fire Department needs to evaluate this site to determine
whether additional public and/or private fire hydrant(s) will be required.
If additional fire hydrant(s) are required, they will be installed at the
Developer's expense.
Please submit plans for water facilities and/or fire protection system to
Central Arkansas Water for review. Plan revisions may be required after
additional review. Contact Central Arkansas Water regarding procedures
for installation of water facilities and/or fire service. Approval of plans by
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May 1, 2014
ITEM NO.: 2 (Cont.
FILE NO.: Z-8626-A
the Arkansas Department of Health Engineering Division and Little Rock
Fire Department is required.
Contact Central Arkansas Water regarding the size and location of the
water meter.
Due to the nature of this facility, installation of an approved reduced
pressure zone backflow preventer assembly (RPZ) is required on the
domestic water service. This assembly must be installed prior to the
first point of use. Central Arkansas Water (CAW) requires that upon
installation of the RPZA, successful tests of the assembly must be
completed by a Certified Assembly Tester licensed by the State of
Arkansas and approved by CAW. The test results must be sent to
CAW's Cross Connection Section within ten days of installation and
annually thereafter. Contact the Cross Connection Section at 377-1226
if you would like to discuss backflow prevention requirements for this
project.
Fire Department: Approved as submitted. Place Fire hydrants per Code
and maintain access.
Building Codes Comment: Project is a change in occupancy and is
therefore subject to current building code requirements. Review and
approval is required by Building Codes Division before occupancy takes
place. For more information on submittal requirements and the review
process, contact a commercial plans examiner:
Curtis Richey at (501) 371-4724; crich ev@ little rock. o rg
Mark Alderfer at (501) 371-4875; malderfer@1ittlerock. arq
County Planning: No Comments.
CATA: The site is located on a CATA bus route.
SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (APRIL 9, 2014)
Robert Turner was present representing the college. Staff presented the item
and noted some additional information was needed. Mr. Turner was asked to
clarify what aspects of the previous approval would apply to this current
application. Staff asked for updated information on the total number of parking
spaces on campus properties, the total square footage of buildings on campus
and the current student enrollment.
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May 1, 2014
ITEM NO.: 2(Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-8626-A
Public Works, Utility, Landscape and other reviewing agency comments were
noted.
Mr. Turner was asked to respond to staff issues by Wednesday April 16, 2014.
The Committee forwarded the item to the full Commission.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
On January 6, 2011 the Commission approved a conditional use permit to allow
Arkansas Baptist College to convert the two-story residential structure located at
1700 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive into offices and a student welcome center.
That conversion did not occur and the approved CUP has expired. That previous
approval also indicated a future, one-story office addition.
The college is now requesting approval of a conditional use permit to allow for
conversion of the existing structure into offices and classroom space. No
addition is planned with this proposal. Four parking spaces will be constructed
adjacent to the building, taking access off of the previously abandoned West 17cn
Street which now serves as a campus driveway.
Days and hours of usage are proposed as Monday through Friday, 7:00 A.M. —
7:00 P.M. No night classes are planned for this building. A 6-foot tall wood
privacy fence with the finished side facing outward will be constructed along the
south property line where the site is adjacent to a residence. All site lighting will
be low-level and directional, aimed downward and into the site. Signage will
correspond to the typical campus signage and will likely consist of a small wall
sign on the front fagade of the building and a small ground sign in the front yard.
Trash will be collected by campus personnel and taken to a central campus trash
collection — dumpster area.
To staffs knowledge there are no outstanding issues. The applicants have
responded to issues raised at Subdivision Committee. A conditional use permit
to allow for the use of this building as offices and classrooms, with an expansion,
was previously approved by the Commission in 2011. The site is not located in
the Central High DOD but the college is preserving this contributing structure
which is located in the Central High Historic District. The century -old bill of
assurance/plat does not address use issues.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the requested CUP subject to compliance with the
comments and conditions outlined in Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the agenda staff
report.
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May 1, 2014
ITEM NO.: 2 Cont. FILE NO.: Z-8626-A
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MAY 1, 2014)
The applicants were present. There were no objectors present. Staff
presented the item and a recommendation of approval as outlined in the "staff
recommendation" above. There was no further discussion. The item was placed
on the consent agenda and approved, including all staff comments and conditions,
by a vote of 10 ayes, 0 noes and 1 absent.
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SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENTS
APRIL 9, 2014
ITEM NO.: 2. ARKANSAS BAPTIST COLLEGE CLASSROOMS AND OFFICES
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT- 1700 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DRIVE Z-8626-A
Planning Staff Comments:
I. The Century old Bill of Assurance/Plat for Centennial Addition does not address use issues.
2. Provide typical days and hours of usage (M-F, 9-5). - [ PA-F 1�
3. Provide signage plan. — 5 e e S % T s P 1. rk �}
4. Six (6) foot wood fence on south property line is to be built with finished side facing out unless the
adjacent property is also owned by the College. - W %" Co v%A V'--`J
5. Any new site lighting is to be low-level and directional, aimed downward and into the site. - w I L L (_ 0 61n 0 w�
6. Locate trash collection area and required screening (trash will be collected by ABC maintenance staff and
taken to an existing trash collection area). - w i L.L, use THE `T-Q VNS rl t_OLLEL'10 0J
7. Provide total number of parking spaces on campus properties.' —. 3 0 C)
8. Provide total square footage of buildings on campus properties. - 5 e ATTIA, NE ts
9. Provide student enrollment. = Sa
10. Pay filing fee of $205.00.
Variance/Waivers:
■ None requested
Public Works:
1. Repair or replace any curb and gutter or sidewalk that is damaged in the public right-of-way prior to
occupancy. - W ILL- C 0 .tit P �`I
2. Prior to construction of retaining walls, an engineer's certification of design and plans must be submitted to
Public Works for approval. After construction, an as -built certification is required for construction of the
retaining wall. - V.l P i L L 0 j%J f
Utilities and Fire Department/County Planning_
Wastewater: Sewer available to this project.
Entergy: Approved as submitted. Entergy has no issue with the use of the existing building for classrooms.
Centerpoint Energy: No comment received.
AT&T (SBC): No comment received.
Water: No Objections. All Central Arkansas Water requirements in effect at the time of request for water service
must be met.
The Little Rock Fire Department needs to evaluate this site to determine whether additional public and/or private
fire hydrant(s) will be required. If additional fire hydrant(s) are required, they will be installed at the Developer's
expense.
Please submit plans for water facilities and/or fire protection system to Central Arkansas Water for review. Plan
revisions may be required after additional review. Contact Central Arkansas Water regarding procedures for
installation of water facilities and/or fire service. Approval of plans by the Arkansas Department of Health
Engineering Division and Little Rock Fire Department is required.
Contact Central Arkansas Water regarding the size and location of the water meter.