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HomeMy WebLinkAboutpc_03 17 2005 LITTLE ROCK PLANNING COMMISSION PLANNING – REZONING – CONDITIONAL USE HEARING MINUTE RECORD MARCH 17, 2005 4:00 P.M. I. Roll Call and Finding of a Quorum A Quorum was present being ten (10) in number. II. Members Present: Pam Adcock Gary Langlais Mizan Rahman Robert Stebbins Jerry Meyer Chauncey Taylor Norm Floyd Fred Allen, Jr. Jeff Yates Darrin Williams Members Absent: Bill Rector City Attorney: Cindy Dawson III. Approval of the Minutes of the February 3, 2005 Meeting of the Little Rock Planning Commission. The Minutes were approved as presented. LITTLE ROCK PLANNING COMMISSION PLANNING – REZONING – CONDITIONAL USE HEARING MARCH 17, 2005 4:00 P.M. I. OLD BUSINESS: A. Z-7620 Bubar Family Care Facility – Special Use Permit 3712 High Drive B. Z-7725 Black Community Developers Transitional Housing – Conditional Use Permit 4017 West 12th Street C. Z-7726 Victory Outreach Church Transitional Housing – Conditional Use Permit 3401 West 12th Street D. Z-6274-A Jose’s Nite Club Latino, Inc. – Conditional Use Permit 9110 I-30 E. Z-7586-A Adams Day Care Family Home – Special Use Permit 9009 Woodford Drive F. Z-7781 Adkins Day Care Family Home – Special Use Permit 9617 Wilderness Road G. Z-7780 Rezoning from R-2 to I-1 23400 Hugh Taylor Road H. Z-7783 Rezoning from R-2 to O-3 14929 Cantrell Road I. Glenn Ridge Addition Revised Preliminary Plat (S-1426-A), located on the Southwest corner of Colonel Glenn Road and I-430. J. Best Park Commercial Surface Parking Lot Conditional Use Permit (Z-7788), located at the Southeast corner of 6th and Center Streets. K. A Land Use Plan Amendment (LU05-04-01), located in the Heights Planning District in the 700 Block of North University Avenue from Office to Mixed Use. K.1. University Park Short-form PD-R (Z-7563-A), located at 715 North University Avenue. L. MDS of Tennessee Medical Waste Disposal Facility Conditional Use Permit (Z-7785), located 5400 Scott Hamilton Drive. Agenda, Page Two II. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Z-7800 Badgett Day Care Family Home – Special Use Permit 4120 West Drive 2. Z-7801 Hunter Day Care Family Home – Special Use Permit 5 Apple Cove 3. A Land Use Plan Amendment (LU05-12-02), located in the 65th Street West Planning District South of Bowman Plaza Drive and East of David O Dodd from Office to Commercial. 3.1. Z-3371-M Rezoning from O-3 to C-3 South side of Bowman Plaza Drive, at David O Dodd Road 4. Z-5099-C Rezoning from MF-18 to O-3 Near the Northeast corner of Cantrell Road and Chenal Parkway 5. Z-7799 Rezoning from MF-24 and O-2 to C-3 Northeast corner of Chenal Parkway and Rahling Road 6. Z-6096-C Chenal Valley Montessori School – Revised Conditional Use Permit 15717 Taylor Loop Road 7. Z-7802 Adams Day Care Center – Conditional Use Permit 3821 Baseline Road 8. Proposed Amendment to Chapter 36, Section 36-338 of the Code of Ordinances to permit manufactured homes as a by-right use in the AF Zoning District. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: A FILE NO.: Z-7620 Owner: Bubar Family Care Facility – Special Use Permit Location: 3712 High Drive Applicant: Dennis Bubar Proposal: A Special Use Permit is requested to allow for the operation of a Family Care Facility on the R-4 zoned property located at 3712 High Drive. A. Public Notification: All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified, and the South End, MLK and South End Neighborhood Developers Neighborhood Associations were notified of the public hearing. B. Staff Analysis: Dennis Bubar, owner of the single family residence located at 3712 High Drive, is requesting a special use permit to allow for the operation of a Family Care Facility at that address. All of the adjacent properties are zoned R-4, with the exception of the lot immediately to the north which is zoned I-3, and is undeveloped. There is additional I-3 zoned property further to the north and east, with PR zoning further west and south. There are single family residences located to the north, south and east. The property is occupied by a one-story brick and frame single family residence, with four (4) bedrooms. The applicant is requesting a special use permit in order to provide a residence for four (4) to six (6) individuals who have a mental disability and may also have a substance abuse problem. The residents are involved in a program, where treatment and services are provided by Gain, Inc. A letter provided by Gain, Inc. notes that they have “determined that these individuals are stable and able to live in the community.” The goal in housing is to have the client be as independent as possible, without putting themselves at risk for destabilization, and a housing situation that is more structural and supportive provides them this opportunity.” Copies of the letters submitted by Dennis Bubar and Dr. Les Smith, Medical Director of Gain, Inc., are attached for Planning Commission review. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: A (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7620 2 The City of Little Rock Zoning Ordinance defines a Family Care Facility as follows: “Family care facility means a facility which provides resident service in a family-like environment to six (6) or fewer individuals and not more than two (2) staff personnel. These individuals require a minimal level of supervision and are provided service and supervision in accordance with their individual needs.” Section 36-54(a) of the Zoning Ordinance provides the purpose of requiring a Special Use Permit for this type of use, as follows: “General purpose. The purpose of this section is to provide a method of control over certain types of land uses which, while not requiring the full review process of the conditional use permits, do require some review procedure which allows for determination of their appropriateness within the neighborhood for which they are proposed and for public comment.” Section 36-54(e)(2) of the Zoning Ordinance establishes the site and location criteria for Family Care Facilities as follows: a. This use may be located only in a single family home. b. Medical or counseling needs must be provided off-site. c. No physical changes in the residence are permitted which would provide other than sleeping accommodations. d. Drives and parking shall not exceed that required by ordinance for a single-family residence. e. This use shall not be permitted to run with the title to the land and not be transferable. f. The number and spacing of existing similar facilities in the neighborhood. g. Existing zoning and land use patterns. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: A (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7620 3 h. Area wide availability of facilities providing like services. i. Provision for readily accessible public or quasi-public transportation. The following additional site and location criteria was approved by the Planning Commission on February 12, 2004 and the Board of Directors on March 16, 2004: “The Fire Marshall must approve use of the residence for the proposed family care facility.” To staff’s knowledge, there have been no special use permits issued for other Family Care Facilities in this neighborhood. Additionally, staff knows of no facilities providing this type of resident care in the immediate area. The site is located near CATA Bus Route #11 (M. L. King, Jr. Route), which runs south along M. L. King Drive to West 34th Street. The applicant submitted a copy of the Bill of Assurance for this neighborhood as part of the application process. The Bill of Assurance was recorded in 1955 and appears to still be in effect. It contains the following language: “(1) LAND USE AND BUILDING TYPE. No lot shall be used except for residential purposes. No building shall be erected, altered, placed or permitted to remain on any lot other than one detached single family dwelling not to exceed 2 stories in height and a private garage or carport for not more than two cars.” Staff believes the proposal to be reasonable and supports the applicant’s request for a special use permit. Subject to compliance with the site and location criteria, as noted above, Staff does not believe the level of activity generated by a Family Care Facility at this location would have any negative impact on the neighborhood. Special Use Permits are not transferable in any manner. Permits cannot be transferred from owner to owner, location to location or use to use. C. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (APRIL 15, 2004) Dennis Bubar was present, representing the application. Staff briefly described the proposed family care facility. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: A (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7620 4 Dennis Bubar explained that the individuals who will live in the residence have mental disabilities, and some may also have drug or alcohol abuse problems. He noted that they do not have physical disabilities. In response to a question from staff, he noted that there would be no physical changes to the residence. Mr. Bubar also noted that none of the clients owned vehicles, therefore no additional parking was needed. Mr. Bubar explained that the individuals who live on the site will be picked up by Gain, Inc. each day between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m., and returned to the residence between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. He noted that counseling and treatment services are provided at the Gain, Inc. offices. He also noted that a doctor or counselor employed by Gain, Inc. will stop by the residence each day to inspect the premises. In response to a question from the Committee, Mr. Bubar noted that a few of the residents might have a part-time job. After the discussion, the Committee forwarded the application to the full Commission for final action. D. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the Special Use Permit to allow a Family Care Facility at 3712 High Drive, subject to the following conditions: 1. Compliance with the site and location criteria established in Section 36-54(e)(2). 2. Compliance with the additional site and location criteria as approved by the Planning Commission on February 12, 2004 and the Board of Directors on March 16, 2004. 3. There is to be no signage beyond that permitted in single family zones. 4. The Special Use Permit will be for Dennis Bubar only, and will not be transferable in any manner. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MAY 6, 2004) Cindy Dawson, City Attorney, informed the Commission that the application needed to be deferred to the June 17, 2004 agenda to allow staff time to research the Fair Housing Act with respect to this application. There were several persons present in opposition. They were informed of the deferral date. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: A (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7620 5 The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for deferral to the June 17, 2004 agenda. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 11 ayes and 0 nays. The application was deferred. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (JUNE 17, 2004) Staff informed the Commission that the City Attorney’s Office had requested to defer the application to the July 29, 2004 agenda to allow additional time to research the Fair Housing Act with respect to this application. The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for deferral to the July 29, 2004 agenda. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays and 2 absent. The application was deferred. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (JULY 29, 2004) Staff informed the Commission that the City Attorney’s Office had requested to defer the application to the September 9, 2004 agenda to allow additional time to research the Fair Housing Act with respect to this application. The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for deferral to the September 9, 2004 agenda. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent. The application was deferred. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (SEPTEMBER 9, 2004) Staff informed the Commission that the City Attorney’s Office requested the application be deferred to the October 21, 2004 Agenda, in order for the Transitional Housing Task Force to complete its work. The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for deferral to the October 21, 2004 Agenda. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays and 4 absent. The application was deferred. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (OCTOBER 21, 2004) Staff recommended to the Commission that the application be deferred to the December 16, 2004 Agenda, in order for the Transitional Housing Task Force to complete its work. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: A (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7620 6 The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for deferral to the December 16, 2004 Agenda. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays and 2 absent. The application was deferred. STAFF REPORT: The work of the Transitional Housing Task Force, including proposing Ordinance changes, is not complete. This item needs to be deferred to the February 3, 2005 agenda to allow that process to continue. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (DECEMBER 16, 2004) Staff recommended to the Commission that the application be deferred to the December 16, 2004 Agenda, in order for the Transitional Housing Task Force to complete its work. The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for deferral to the December 16, 2004 Agenda. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays and 3 absent. The application was deferred. STAFF UPDATE: The Task Force has completed its work and proposed ordinance changes have been forwarded to the Planning Commission. Staff recommends that the item be deferred to the March 17, 2005 Agenda. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (FEBRUARY 3, 2005) Staff recommended that the application be deferred to be March 17, 2005 Agenda to allow time for proposed ordinance changes to be reviewed. The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for deferral to the March 17, 2005 Agenda. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays and 2 absent. The application was deferred. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: A (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7620 7 STAFF UPDATE: The Task Force which had been studying the issue of transitional housing facilities in the City of Little Rock forwarded its recommendations in the form of suggested Ordinance amendments to the Planning Commission. The Commission reviewed the issue at its February 3, 2005 meeting. The Commission was divided in its opinion of the proposed amendments. The Board of Directors has not yet reviewed or acted on the suggested changes. It is the opinion of Staff and the City Attorney’s office that the application should be deferred again. Staff recommends that the item be deferred to the next regularly scheduled Commission hearing, which is on April 28, 2005. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) Staff recommended that the application be deferred to the April 28, 2005 Agenda to allow time for proposed ordinance changes to be reviewed. The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for deferral to the April 28, 2005 Agenda. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays and 2 absent. The application was deferred. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: B FILE NO.: Z-7725 NAME: Black Community Developers Transitional Housing – Conditional Use Permit LOCATION: 4017 West 12th Street OWNER/APPLICANT: Black Community Developers, Inc. PROPOSAL: A conditional use permit is requested to allow use of the existing duplex on this R-4 zoned lot as transitional housing for up to 12 women; 6 per unit. STAFF REPORT: The task force which is studying the issue of Transitional Housing has not yet completed its work. It is believed that a report will be coming from that group soon; including proposed ordinance changes. Staff believes this item needs to be deferred to the December 16, 2004 Agenda to allow that process to continue. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that this item be deferred to the December 16, 2004 Agenda. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (OCTOBER 21, 2004) Staff recommended to the Commission that the application be deferred to the December 16, 2004 Agenda, in order for the Transitional Housing Task Force to complete its work. The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for deferral to the December 16, 2004 Agenda. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays and 2 absent. The application was deferred. STAFF REPORT: The work of the Transitional Housing Task Force, including proposing Ordinance changes, is not complete. This item needs to be deferred to the February 3, 2005 agenda to allow that process to continue. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: B (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7725 2 PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (DECEMBER 16, 2004) The applicant was not present. There were no registered objectors present. Staff recommended that the item be deferred to the February 3, 2005 Agenda. There was no further discussion. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and deferred to the February 3, 2005 meeting by a vote of 8 ayes, 0 noes and 3 absent. STAFF UPDATE: The Task Force has completed its work and proposed ordinance changes have been forwarded to the Planning Commission. This application will be amended to a Special Use Permit to comply with the ordinance changes. Staff recommends that the item be deferred to the March 17, 2005 Agenda. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (FEBRUARY 3, 2005) The applicant was not present. There were no registered objectors present. Staff recommended that the item be deferred to the March 17, 2005 Agenda. There was no further discussion. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and deferred to the March 17, 2005 meeting by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 noes and 2 absent. STAFF UPDATE: The Task Force which had been studying the issue of transitional housing facilities in the City of Little Rock forwarded its recommendations in the form of suggested Ordinance amendments to the Planning Commission. The Commission reviewed the issue at its February 3, 2005 meeting. The Commission was divided in its opinion of the proposed amendments. The Board of Directors has not yet reviewed or acted on the suggested changes. It is the opinion of Staff and the City Attorney’s office that the application should be deferred again. Staff recommends that the item be deferred to the next regularly scheduled Commission hearing, which is on April 28, 2005. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: B (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7725 3 PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) The applicant was not present. There were no objectors present. Staff recommended that the item be deferred to the April 28, 2005 Agenda. There was no further discussion. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and deferred to the April 28, 2005 meeting by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 noes and 2 absent. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: C FILE NO.: Z-7726 NAME: Victory Outreach Church Transitional Housing – Conditional Use Permit LOCATION: 3401 West 12th Street OWNER/APPLICANT: Victory Outreach Church/Deverick Green PROPOSAL: A conditional use permit is requested to allow use of the existing duplex on this R-4 zoned lot as a transitional housing facility for up to 11 men and an on-site manager. STAFF REPORT: The task force which is studying the issue of Transitional Housing has not yet completed its work. It is believed that a report will be coming from that group soon; including proposed ordinance changes. Staff believes this item needs to be deferred to the December 16, 2004 agenda to allow that process to continue. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that this item be deferred to the December 16, 2004 Planning Commission meeting. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (OCTOBER 21, 2004) Staff recommended to the Commission that the application be deferred to the December 16, 2004 Agenda, in order for the Transitional Housing Task Force to complete its work. The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for deferral to the December 16, 2004 Agenda. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays and 2 absent. The application was deferred. STAFF REPORT: The work of the Transitional Housing Task Force, including proposed ordinance changes, is not complete. This item needs to be deferral to the February 3, 2005 Agenda to allow that process to continue. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: C (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7726 2 PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (DECEMBER 16, 2004) The applicant was not present. There were no registered objectors present. Staff recommended that the item be deferred to the February 3, 2005 Agenda. There was no further discussion. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and deferred to the February 3, 2005 meeting by a vote of 8 ayes, 0 noes and 3 absent. STAFF UPDATE: The Task Force has completed its work and proposed ordinance changes have been forwarded to the Planning Commission. This application will be amended to a Special Use Permit to comply with the ordinance changes. Staff recommends that the item be deferred to the March 17, 2005 Agenda. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (FEBRUARY 3, 2005) The applicant was not present. There were no registered objectors present. Staff recommended that the item be deferred to the March 17, 2005 Agenda. There was no further discussion. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and deferred to the March 17, 2005 meeting by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 noes and 2 absent. STAFF UPDATE: The Task Force which had been studying the issue of transitional housing facilities in the City of Little Rock forwarded its recommendations in the form of suggested Ordinance amendments to the Planning Commission. The Commission reviewed the issue at is February 3, 2005 meeting. The Commission was divided in its opinion of the proposed amendments. The Board of Directors has not yet reviewed or acted on the suggested changes. It is the opinion of Staff and the City Attorney’s office that the application should be deferred again. Staff recommends that the item be deferred to the next regularly scheduled Commission hearing, which is on April 28, 2005. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: C (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7726 3 PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) The applicant was not present. There were no objectors present. Staff recommended that the item be deferred to the April 28, 2005 Agenda. There was no further discussion. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and deferred to the April 28, 2005 meeting by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 noes and 2 absent. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: D FILE NO.: Z-6274-A NAME: Jose’s Nite Club Latino, Inc. – Conditional Use Permit LOCATION: 9110 I-30 OWNER/APPLICANT: McCoy Building, LLC/Jose Contreras PROPOSAL: A conditional use permit is requested to allow use of the existing buildings on this C-4 zoned property as a special event center/private club. 1. SITE LOCATION: The site is located northwest of the University Avenue – I-30 interchange; between Chicot Road and Wanda Lane. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: The property fronts onto the I-30 Frontage Road and is located in an area of mixed uses and zoning. Located to the west are an undeveloped, wooded tract, a vacant commercial building, a mini-warehouse complex and an apartment development. Adjacent to the north is an apartment development. A Shriner’s Temple is adjacent to the east. Beyond that are a single family neighborhood and several commercial uses. The interstate is located to the south. On the whole, staff believes the proposed use is compatible with uses and zoning in the area. The applicant has stated there will be some outdoor uses, utilizing the covered lumber storage sheds. It is this one aspect of the proposal that concerns staff, due to the proximity of adjacent apartments and nearby single family. All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified and the SWLR United for Progress, Town and Country and South Brookwood Neighborhood Associations were notified. 3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: The site is accessed via a single driveway off of the I-30 Frontage Road. Parking areas are currently asphalt-paved. Utilizing the parking lot in the front of the site and striping the paved areas around the buildings will result in 211 parking spaces. Using the 18,000 square foot building for assembly functions such as those proposed by the applicant will result in March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: D (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-6274-A 2 the need for 180 parking spaces. The second, 9,375 square foot building is to be used only for storage. Any change in use of the second building will require Commission approval to address parking issues. 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: No Comments. 5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: No Comments. 6. UTILITY, FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS: Wastewater: Sewer available, not adversely affected. Entergy: No Comments received. CenterPoint Energy: No Comments received. Southwestern Bell: No Comments received. Water: Contact Central Arkansas Water if larger and/or additional water meter(s) are required. Fire Department: Approved as submitted. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (NOVEMBER 11, 2004) Terry Burruss, Eugenia Williams and Jose Cabrera were present representing the application. Staff presented the item and noted additional information was needed, signage and days and hours of operation. Staff asked the applicant to provide a more detailed description of the proposed use. The applicant was asked to provide a parking plan and to show the dumpster area and required screening. Staff asked the applicant to give specifics on use of the second building and of the proposed outdoor activities using the canopy structures. Staff voiced concern about having outdoor activities. The applicant responded that the use was not a night club; that it was a special event center to accommodate concerts, weddings and debutante parties. Utility Comments were noted. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: D (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-6274-A 3 The applicant was advised to respond to staff issues by November 17, 2004. The Committee forwarded the item to the full Commission. STAFF ANALYSIS: The C-4 zoned, 3.5± acre tract located at 9110 I-30 was originally developed as the site of McCoy’s Lumberyard and Home Center. Subsequently, it was occupied by Waterworld, a marine sales store. The property has been vacant for some time. The site contains two buildings, an 18,000 square foot sales building and a 9,375 square foot warehouse; and two covered, unenclosed lumber storage shed buildings. The site is paved and is enclosed on the north, east and a portion of the west perimeters by an 8 foot tall, wood privacy fence. The applicant is requesting approval of a conditional use permit to allow use of the site for a special event center with events catering primarily to the Hispanic community. Events would include concerts, debutante parties, weddings and cotillions. There will also be music by disc jockeys and games such as billiards. The applicant proposes to use the 18,000 square foot building for the above uses. The second, 9,375 square foot building is to be used for storage only at this time. The lumber storage canopies are proposed to be used for a flea market or outdoor picnics. Other than remodeling the buildings, no changes are proposed to the site. The normal operating hours will be as follows: Thursday – 5:00 P.M. – 12:00 A.M. Friday – 5:00 P.M. – 2:00 A.M. Saturday and Sunday – 11:00 A.M. – 2:00 A.M. Special Use Hours of Operation are as follows: Friday: 5 p.m. – 2 a.m. Concerts Saturday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Weddings, Parties, Outdoor Flea Market 7 p.m. – 2 a.m. Concerts Sunday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Outdoor Flea Market, Picnics 6 a.m. – 2 a.m. Concerts The outdoor flea market hours are proposed as 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Signage consists of a single wall sign on the front façade of the building and a single ground sign. Signage will comply with commercial district criteria. Screening between this site and the apartments adjacent to the north will be enhanced by the planting of a dense evergreen screen. There is no bill of assurance issue. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: D (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-6274-A 4 In general, staff is supportive of the applicant’s proposal. The proposed use seems to include aspects of a special event center and of a private club with dining or bar service. Either use appears to be appropriate for this location. The property abuts the interstate and is bounded on two sides by commercial and office/institutional uses. Staff’s primary concern centers around any potential impact on the adjacent multifamily development from outdoor uses. The site does have a history of uses which include outdoor activities. With constraints placed on the nature of outdoor uses associated with this application, the proposed occupancy could be compatible with uses and zoning in the area. On November 17, 2004, the applicant submitted responses to issues raised at Subdivision Committee and reflected in the analysis above. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the conditional use permit subject to compliance with the following conditions: 1. Compliance with the comments and conditions noted in Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the staff report. 2. Use of the site for the special event center/private club is to be limited to building 1; the 18,000 square foot building. 3. Building 2; the 9,375 square foot building is to be used only for storage. 4. Outdoor activities are to be limited to the hours of 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. 5. There is to be no use of amplified music or speakers outside of the building. 6. All parking areas must be clearly striped to provide the indicated 211 parking spaces. 7. Additional screening in the form of dense evergreen planting must be installed along the north perimeter of the site. Plant materials must comply with those designated by the Code for screening. 8. All required building permits must be obtained for conversion of the building to accommodate the proposed use. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (DECEMBER 16, 2004) The applicant was present. There were registered objectors present. Staff had received and forwarded to the Commission a letter of opposition from the South Brookwood Neighborhood Association. Staff requested that the item be deferred to allow staff time for further review based on issues raised by the neighbors and to allow the applicant an opportunity to visit with the neighborhood association. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: D (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-6274-A 5 Terry Burruss, representing the applicant, stated the applicant was already making payments on the building and a deferral would create a financial hardship. Mr. Burruss stated the applicant would listen to the issues and concerns raised by the neighbors and would try to address them. He stated the applicant did not want a deferral. A motion was made to defer the item to the February 3, 2005 meeting. The motion failed by a vote of 4 ayes, 4 noes and 3 absent. Later in the meeting, the Commission got down to having only 7 members present. In line with the Commission’s practice, all remaining applicants were offered an opportunity to defer. The applicant then requested a deferral. A motion was made to defer the item to the February 3, 2005 meeting. The motion was approved by a vote of 7 ayes, 0 noes and 4 absent. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (FEBRUARY 3, 2005) The applicant was present. There were several persons present; both in support and in opposition. Staff requested that the item be deferred to allow for further review. The applicant agreed to the deferral. There was no further discussion. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and deferred to the March 17, 2005 meeting by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 noes and 2 absent. STAFF UPDATE: In response to concerns raised by neighbors, the applicant has submitted the following conditions as amendments to the conditional use permit application: (a) Regular hours of operation shall be 7:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m., three days per week, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Special event hours shall be limited to Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. (Staff assumes the outdoor flea market is still proposed as 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.) (b) In order to ensure proper security, Applicant shall: (1) Employ a minimum of two (2) off-duty police officers on patrol in the parking lot Premises after 6:00 p.m. during special events and regular operations. If there are fewer than two (2) off-duty police officers on duty in the parking lot during operating hours after 6:00 p.m., applicant shall cease operation and close, vacating the Premises of all customers, club members and guests until the minimum required officers are on duty. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: D (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-6274-A 6 (2) Employ adequate private security inside the facility at all times during regular operation to ensure a peaceful and safe environment. Interior security shall monitor all admissions, electronically screening every person entering to check for weapons. Any person attempting to enter with a knife or other weapon shall be escorted from the Premises and not allowed admission during the remaining hours of operation. (3) Require all guest vehicles to be removed from the parking lot upon the close of business before outside security officers leave the Premises. (4) Secure the parking lot with gates at each drive entrance and lock the gates as soon as security officers have removed guest vehicles. (5) Install security cameras to monitor and record activity on the parking lot. (c) To reduce litter which might be attributable to applicant’s use of the Premises, Applicant shall: (1) Clean and remove all litter in the parking lot after each special event or regular hours of operation. (2) Clean and remove litter on the neighboring property (subject to neighbor approval) and rights-of-way abutting Premises for at least sixty feet (60’) around the perimeter of Premises. (d) To minimize the potential for any annoyance due to noise from applicant’s use of the Premises, Applicant shall: (1) Remove the louvered fans on the east side of the main building and seal openings with exterior siding, insulation and interior gypsum board. (2) Replace the rear overhead door in the main building with well- sealed, weather-stripped double doors. (3) Monitor the sound amplifier and control all music sound levels such that the interior sound is not audible beyond the Premises. (4) Allow no exterior music after 6:30 p.m. (5) Limit exterior music on Sundays to a maximum of three occasions in any one calendar year. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: D (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-6274-A 7 STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff’s recommendation on this amended application is forthcoming. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) The applicant was present. There were numerous persons present, both in support and in opposition. Several letters of opposition and support had been received by staff and forwarded to the Commission. Staff presented the item and noted the additional conditions, which had been added to address concerns raised by the neighbors. Staff recommended denial of the application. Dana Carney, of the Planning Staff, explained that staff had spent the past three months studying the issue; working with the applicant and listening to concerns raised by neighbors. Mr. Carney stated staff had come to the conclusion that the proposed use was not compatible with the area. He questioned whether it was appropriate to permit a use that required so many conditions. Mr. Carney noted that many of the conditions were related to the operation of the business and would be very difficult for staff to monitor and enforce. Dickson Flake spoke in support of the application. He stated he had a fractional ownership in the property and would be leasing it to Jose Contreras. Mr. Flake stated the business would only be in operation three days a week. He stated the property could have been rezoned to C-3, where the use is permitted by-right. Mr. Flake presented a summary of various crime statistics and surmised that Mr. Contreras’ business was not a problem at its previous Geyer Springs location. He explained the proposed security procedures to control the parking lot. Mr. Flake stated Mr. Contreras had volunteered all of the additional conditions and had agreed to make them part of the lease contract. Mr. Flake stated if Mr. Contreras failed to adhere to the conditions, the lease could be terminated. Mr. Flake stated the applicant will keep his site and neighboring properties clean of littler. He stated a study had been conducted by an acoustic consultant and all recommendations would be followed. Mr. Flake stated traffic should not be an issue due to the number of collector streets in the area. Jay Freeman spoke in support of the application. He stated he was Director of LaCasa, a Latino support organization, and he knew Mr. Contreras to be a good and honorable man. He stated the proposed special event center would be a benefit to the community and would provide a place for persons who share common interests to come together. Donna Taylor, manager of the Oaks Apartments located at 7700 Chicot Road, spoke in opposition to the item. She stated many of her tenants were low to moderate income, single parents with children. She stated the tenants were opposed to the use and many were afraid. Troy Laha, vice-president of the Cloverdale Neighborhood Association, spoke in opposition. He voiced concern about people driving through the neighborhood after leaving the center. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: D (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-6274-A 8 Herb Dicker, president of the Meadowcliff Neighborhood Association, spoke in opposition. He voiced concerns about noise and traffic. Janet Berry, president of SWLR United for Progress, stated her organization had voted to oppose the application. Don Wallace, representing the Scimitar Shrine, spoke in opposition. He voiced concerns about vandalism and security of the Shriners’ property. He stated many of the organization’s members were older and were concerned about their personal safety if the special even center were allowed to locate adjacent to the Shrine. Mr. Wallace voiced concern that overflow parking from the special event center would end up on the Shriners’ property. John Honea, president of the South Brookwood-Ponderosa Neighborhood Association, spoke in opposition. He voiced concerns about traffic, noise and crime. He asked those present in opposition to stand. Approximately 15 persons stood. Michael Rushin, a real estate broker, spoke in opposition. He voiced concern about the effect of the special event center on area property values. Mr. Flake then asked those present in support to stand. Approximately 20 persons stood. He stated he had a petition with the signatures of 200 persons in support of the proposal. (Staff did not receive a copy of that petition.) Mr. Flake stated noise concerns will be addressed, hours of operation are limited, there were not a lot of criminal incidents at the previous location and he sensed a hint of stereotyping of this applicant. Mr. Flake stated Mr. Contreras was an excellent operator with a good history. There was then a discussion of the nature of complaints at the previous location and the City’s ability to enforce its nuisance laws. Commissioner Meyer commented that this use could be huge; “either good or as a huge mess”. In response to a question from Commissioner Williams, Mr. Flake confirmed that all of the conditions and lease covenants were to be part of the C.U.P. Mr. Flake stated it was a cumbersome process to prove a nuisance. He stated: “If I have any credibility, I do not want to lose it over this lease. I have sole discretion as landlord with unilateral right to terminate the lease.” Commissioner Yates asked if the C.U.P. could be tied to a specific property owner. Dana Carney responded that it could , if the Commission made such a condition. Chairman Rahman asked Mr. Flake how he would know if the conditions were being adhered to. Mr. Flake responded that he would depend on the word of enforcement officers and security officers. He stated he would manage the lease. Mr. Flake stated the additional conditions came in response to concerns that had been voiced by the neighbors. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: D (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-6274-A 9 Commissioner Meyer asked if the hours could be limited on Sunday nights, rather than the proposed 2:00 a.m. (Monday morning). Jose Contreras agreed to limit the hours on Sunday nights to 10:00 p.m. There was then a brief discussion of the acoustic consultant’s report. Commissioner Williams noted what other uses could go on this C-4 site. He asked what other site would be more appropriate than this site. John Honea again voiced concern about traffic going through the neighborhood after leaving the site. There was then a discussion of the differences between this site and the location of an existing large night club on the south side of I-30. Staff noted that there was no residential property in the vicinity of that night club; that it was in a predominately industrial area. A motion was made to approve the application, as amended to close at 10:00 p.m. on Sundays, including all conditions proposed by staff and the applicant. The motion was approved by a vote of 7 ayes, 2 noes and 2 absent. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: E FILE NO.: Z-7586-A Name: Adams Day Care Family Home – Special Use Permit Location: 9009 Woodford Drive Owner: Earthalene Adams Applicant: Earthalene Adams Proposal: A Special Use Permit is requested to allow a Day Care Family to be operated in the single family residence located on the R-2 zoned property at 9009 Woodford Drive. A. Public Notification: All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified, and the West Baseline and SWLR United for Progress Neighborhood Associations were notified of the public hearing. B. Staff Analysis: 9009 Woodford Drive is located on the east side of Woodford Drive, near the end of the cul-de-sac street. All surrounding properties are zoned R-2 and contain single family residences. An apartment complex is located to the north along Baseline Road. The applicant’s home is a one-story brick and frame structure, and is typical of those in the general area. The rear yard is fenced and provides a safe play area. The applicant proposes to operate the day care from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The applicant has noted that she will have two (2) employees, as required by the State Department of Human Services. There is a one-car wide driveway, with concrete extension, from Woodford Drive. Parking exists for five (5) vehicles, including the carport. Staff feels that there is sufficient space for drop-off and pick-up of children. On inspection of the site, staff observed no vehicles parked on unpaved area. Staff also observed no vehicles on the site which were not operational. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: E (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7586-A 2 The applicant notes that she has been licensed by the State to operate a day care family at this location for approximately three (3) years. The applicant is licensed to care for up to 10 children. The applicant was licensed (State) the previous four (4) years for day care family homes at 9001 and 9008 Woodford Drive. The applicant previously had an approved special use permit at 9008 Woodford Drive. The principal use of the property will remain single family residential. No signage beyond that allowed in single family zones will be permitted. The applicant submitted a copy of the Bill of Assurance for this neighborhood, which was recorded in 1962 and appears to still be in effect. The Bill of Assurance contains the following language: “A. All of said lots shall be used as residential lots only, and no structure shall be erected, altered or permitted to remain other than one detached single-family dwelling not to exceed one and a half stories in height, and a private garage and servant’s quarters or storeroom.” Section 36-54(e)(3) of the City of Little Rock Zoning Ordinance establishes the site and location criteria for day care family homes as follows: a. This use may be located only in a single family home, occupied by the care giver and which is the full time residence of the care giver. b. Must be operated within licensing procedures established by the State of Arkansas. State regulations shall control the number of employees residing off premises. c. The use is limited to ten (10) children including the care givers. d. The minimum to qualify for special use permit is six (6) children from households other than the care givers. e. This use must obtain a special use permit in all districts where day care centers are not allowed by right. f. After the effective date of this subsection, no Special Use Permit will be approved for a day care family proposed to be located within 300 feet of a licensed day care center or an operating day care family home for which a Special Use Permit has previously been approved. For the purposes of this subsection, the distance between properties shall be measured in a straight line without March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: E (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7586-A 3 regard to intervening structures or objects, from property line to property line. g. All day care family homes located in the City of Little Rock are required to obtain a City of Little Rock business license and to pay an annual business tax as specified in Chapter 17. of the Code. h. A copy of the day care family home’s current State of Arkansas license must be submitted to the City Collector’s Office each year at the time of payment of the annual business tax. i. All vehicles must be parked on an on-site paved surface. j. All vehicles located on the site must be operational. k. All pick-up and drop-off of children shall be on the property’s driveway and not on the public right-of-way unless otherwise approved by the Planning Commission. l. Special Use Permits for day care family homes shall be reviewed by staff every three (3) years for compliance with the development criteria and Planning Commission approval. m. The Fire Marshall must approve use of the residence for the proposed day care family home. Special Use Permits are not transferable in any manner. Permits cannot be transferred from owner to owner, location to location or use to use. To staff’s knowledge, there are no outstanding issues associated with this application. Staff feels that the proposed day care family home at this location will have no adverse impact on the general area. Based on information provided by the State, there are no permitted/licensed day care family homes or day care centers within 300 feet of the site. C. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (JANUARY 6, 2005) Earthalene Adams was present, representing the application. Staff presented the proposed special use permit request. Staff noted that inspection of the property revealed no violations of the ordinance requirements for day care family homes. Staff also noted that the applicant has been licensed by the State for a day care family at this address for approximately three (3) years. Staff stated that the proposed day care family home was not located within 300 feet of another day care family home or day care center. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: E (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7586-A 4 After the discussion, the Committee forwarded the application to the full Commission for final action. D. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the Special Use Permit to allow a day care family home at 9009 Woodford Drive, subject to the following conditions: 1. Compliance with the site and location criteria established in Section 36-54(e)(3). 2. There is to be no signage beyond that permitted in single family zones. 3. Outdoor activities, including playground use, are to be limited to day-light hours. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (FEBRUARY 3, 2005) Staff informed the Commission that the application needed to be deferred to the March 17, 2005 Agenda due to the fact that the applicant failed to complete the notifications to surrounding property owners as required by the Commission. The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for deferral to the March 17, 2005 Agenda. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays and 2 absent. The application was deferred. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) Earthalene Adams was present, representing the application. There were two (2) objectors and one (1) supporter present. Staff presented the item with a recommendation of approval. Troy Laha addressed the Commission in opposition. He noted that the day care use was a business in residential and should not be allowed. He noted that the day care use would increase the traffic in the residential area. He expressed concerns with deterioration of neighborhoods. Jane Harrison also addressed the Commission in opposition. She noted that she lived in the neighborhood and there were numerous day care uses in southwest Little Rock. She expressed concerns regarding increased traffic in residential areas. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: E (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7586-A 5 Ruth Bell addressed the Commission in support of the application. She noted that the application met City and State requirements. Earthalene Adams addressed the Commission in support. She explained that she had operated a day care use in this immediate area since 1997. Commissioner Adcock asked about past day care uses in the area. Staff explained that Ms. Adams previously had day care family homes at 9001 and 9008 Woodford Drive. Commissioner Floyd asked if the State licenses at 9001 and 9008 Woodford Drive had been abandoned. Ms. Adams stated that they had. There was a motion to approve the application as recommended by staff. The motion passed by a vote of 6 ayes, 3 nays and 2 absent. The application was approved. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: F FILE NO.: Z-7781 Name: Adkins Day Care Family Home – Special Use Permit Location: 9617 Wilderness Road Owner: Willie and Shirley Adkins Applicant: Shirley Adkins Proposal: A Special Use Permit is requested to allow a Day Care Family to be operated in the single family residence located on the R-2 zoned property at 9617 Wilderness Road. A. Public Notification: All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified, and the West Baseline and SWLR United for Progress Neighborhood Associations were notified of the public hearing. B. Staff Analysis: 9617 Wilderness Drive is located on the southeast corner of Wilderness Road and Frontier Road. All surrounding properties are zoned R-2 and contain single family residences. There is a large area of undeveloped R-2 zoned property to the west, along the south side of Mann Road. The applicant’s home is a one-story brick and frame structure, and is typical of those in the general area. The rear yard is fenced and provides a safe play area. The applicant proposes to operate the day care from 6:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. The applicant has noted that she will have one (1) employee, as required by the State Department of Human Services. There is a one-car wide driveway from Wilderness Road, with parking for three (3) vehicles (including the carport). The applicant has noted that the driveway will be widened to a two-car width, which will allow parking for two (2) additional vehicles (5 total). Staff feels that this will allow sufficient space for drop-off and pick-up of children. On inspection of the site, staff observed no vehicles parked on unpaved areas. Staff also observed no vehicles on the site which were not operational. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: F (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7781 2 The applicant notes that she has been licensed by the State to operate a day care family home at this location for approximately two (2) years. The applicant is licensed for up to 10 children. The principal use of the property will remain single family residential. No signage beyond that allowed in single family zones will be permitted. The applicant submitted a copy of the Bill of Assurance for this neighborhood, which was recorded in 1971 and appears to still be in effect. The Bill of Assurance contains the following language: “1. No lot shall be re-subdivided into nor shall any dwelling be erected or placed on any lot or building site having a width of less than 60 feet at the building line or an area of less than 6,000 square feet, and said lands shall only be used for residential purposes as set forth herein.” Section 36-54(e)(3) of the City of Little Rock Zoning Ordinance establishes the site and location criteria for day care family homes as follows: Day care family home: a. This use may be located only in a single family home, occupied by the care giver and which is the full time residence of the care giver. b. Must be operated within licensing procedures established by the State of Arkansas. State regulations shall control the number of employees residing off premises. c. The use is limited to ten (10) children including the care givers. d. The minimum to qualify for special use permit is six (6) children from households other than the care givers. e. This use must obtain a special use permit in all districts where day care centers are not allowed by right. f. After the effective date of this subsection, no Special Use Permit will be approved for a day care family proposed to be located within 300 feet of a licensed day care center or an operating day care family home for which a Special Use Permit has previously been approved. For the purposes of this subsection, the distance between properties shall be measured in a straight line without regard to intervening structures or objects, from property line to property line. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: F (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7781 3 g. All day care family homes located in the City of Little Rock are required to obtain a City of Little Rock business license and to pay an annual business tax as specified in Chapter 17. of the Code. h. A copy of the day care family home’s current State of Arkansas license must be submitted to the City Collector’s Office each year at the time of payment of the annual business tax. i. All vehicles must be parked on an on-site paved surface. j. All vehicles located on the site must be operational. k. All pick-up and drop-off of children shall be on the property’s driveway and not on the public right-of-way unless otherwise approved by the Planning Commission. l. Special Use Permits for day care family homes shall be reviewed by staff every three (3) years for compliance with the development criteria and Planning Commission approval. m. The Fire Marshall must approve use of the residence for the proposed day care family home. Special Use Permits are not transferable in any manner. Permits cannot be transferred from owner to owner, location to location or use to use. To staff’s knowledge, there are no outstanding issues associated with this application. Staff feels that the proposed day care family home at this location will have no adverse impact on the general area. Based on information provided by the State, there are no permitted/licensed day care family homes or day care centers within 300 feet of the site. C. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (JANUARY 6, 2005) Willie Adkins was present, representing the application. Staff presented the proposed special use permit request. Staff noted that inspection of the property revealed no violations of the ordinance requirements for day care family homes. Staff also noted that the applicant has been licensed by the State for a day care family at this address for approximately two (2) years. Staff noted that the proposed day care family home was not located within 300 feet of another day care family home or day care center. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: F (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7781 4 After the discussion, the Committee forwarded the application to the full Commission for final action. D. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the Special Use Permit to allow a day care family home at 9617 Wilderness Road, subject to the following conditions: 1. Compliance with the site and location criteria established in Section 36-54(e)(3). 2. There is to be no signage beyond that permitted in single family zones. 3. Outdoor activities, including playground use, are to be limited to day-light hours. 4. If approved, the driveway must be widened to a two-car width within 30 days of the final approval date. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (FEBRUARY 3, 2005) Staff informed the Commission that the application needed to be deferred to the March 17, 2005 Agenda due to the fact that the applicant failed to complete the notifications to surrounding property owners as required by the Commission. The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for deferral to the March 17, 2005 Agenda. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays and 2 absent. The application was deferred. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) Staff informed the Commission that the application needed to be deferred to the April 28, 2005 Agenda due to the fact that the applicant failed to complete the notifications to surrounding property owners as required by the Commission. The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for deferral to the April 28, 2005 Agenda. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays and 2 absent. The application was deferred. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: G FILE NO.: Z-7780 Owner: Cynthia Daniels Applicant: Cynthia Daniels Location: 23400 Hugh Taylor Road (at Lawson Road) Area: 35.83 Acres Request: Rezone from R-2 to I-1 Purpose: Future light industrial development Existing Use: Single family residence and horse farm operation SURROUNDING LAND USE AND ZONING North – Undeveloped property; zoned R-2 South – Undeveloped property; zoned O-2 East – Mining operations and mixed industrial uses (along north side of Lawson Road); zoned I-3 and M West – Undeveloped property; zoned R-2 A. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: 1. Lawson Road is classified on the Master Street Plan as a principal arterial. Dedication of right-of-way to 55 feet from centerline will be required. 2. The proposed land use would classify Hugh Taylor Road on the Master Street Plan as a commercial street. Dedicate right-of-way to 30 feet from centerline. 3. The proposed Master Street Plan west belt arterial crosses the southern portion of this property. The proposed 110’ right-of-way extended north from the existing centerline of Lawson Road across the floodplain of McHenry Creek, then turns to the northwest and runs parallel to the floodplain. Show the proposed right-of-way and legal description on the site plan. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: G (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7780 2 B. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT: The site is not located on a CATA Bus Route. C. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION: All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified, and the SWLR United for Progress Neighborhood Association were notified of the public hearing. D. LAND USE ELEMENT: This request is located in the Ellis Mountain Planning District. The Land Use Plan shows Light Industrial for this property. The applicant has applied for a change from R-2 (Single Family District) to I-1 (Industrial Park District) for industrial operations. The request does not require a change to the Land Use Plan. Master Street Plan: Hugh Taylor Road is shown as a Local Road on the Master Street Plan nearby Lawson Road is shown as a Minor Arterial on the Master Street Plan. The proposed West Loop, a Principal Arterial, is located just west of the application. The purpose of a Principal Arterial to serve through traffic and to connect major traffic generators or activity centers within urbanized areas and the purpose of a Minor Arterial is to provide connections to and through an urban area. The primary function of a Local Street is to provide access to adjacent properties. Hugh Taylor Road will require dedication of right-of-way and street improvements and dedication of right-of-way for the West Loop may be required. A Class I bikeway is shown west of Hugh Taylor Road partially paralleling the north side of McHenry Creek from Lawson Road to Colonel Glenn Road. A Class I Bikeway is built separate from or alongside a road. Additional right of way may be required. City Recognized Neighborhood Action Plan: The property under review is not located in an area covered by a City of Little Rock recognized neighborhood action plan. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: G (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7780 3 E. STAFF ANALYSIS: Cynthia Daniels, owner of the 35.83 Acre property at 23400 Hugh Taylor Road, is requesting to rezone the property from “R-2” Single Family District to “I-1” Industrial Park District. The property is located at the northwest corner of Hugh Taylor Road and Lawson Road. The rezoning is proposed for future development of the property. The property is currently occupied by a single-family structure and barn structure located near the center of the property. The majority of the property is pastureland, as a horse farm (Daniels Horse Center, Inc.) is located on the property. There is a creek and pond along the west property line, with portions of the property being wooded. The overall property has varying degrees of slope. The general area contains a mixture of uses and zoning. Undeveloped R-2 zoned property is located to the north and west. A mining operation and a mixture of industrial uses are located to the east, along the north side of Lawson Road. Undeveloped O-2 property is located to the south and southwest. I-2 zoned property is located to the south across Lawson Road. The City’s Future Land Use Plan designates this property as Light Industrial. The requested zoning change to I-1 does not require a change to the Land Use Plan. Staff is supportive of the requested I-1 zoning. Staff feels that the request is reasonable. As noted previously, a large mining operation and mixed industrial uses are located to the east, with undeveloped property north, west and south. Staff feels that the requested I-1 zoning, with future industrial park development will be compatible with the general area. The I-1 Industrial Park District is a site plan review district. Any future development of the site will require Planning Commission approval of a site development plan. Issues related to excavation/grading, property slopes, flood plain, storm water detention and street construction will be addressed in detail at the time of site plan review. Staff believes the proposed rezoning will have no adverse impact on the general area. The future West Loop as designated by the Master Street Plan crosses the southwest portion of this property. In addition to Lawson Road and Hugh Taylor Road right-of-way dedication, a dedication deed for this portion of the West Loop must be submitted to staff prior to Board of Directors’ action. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: G (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7780 4 F. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the requested I-1 rezoning. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (FEBRUARY 3, 2005) Staff informed the Commission that the application needed to be deferred to the March 17, 2005 Agenda due to the fact that the applicant failed to complete the notifications to surrounding property owners as required by the Commission. The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for deferral to the March 17, 2005 Agenda. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays and 2 absent. The application was deferred. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) Staff informed the Commission that the applicant requested this application be withdrawn. Staff supported the withdrawal request. The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for withdrawal. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays and 2 absent. The application was withdrawn. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: H FILE NO.: Z-7783 Owner: Miracle Developments Applicant: Kelton Price Location: 14929 Cantrell Road Area: 2.21 Acres Request: Rezone from R-2 to O-3 Purpose: Future office development Existing Use: Single family residential SURROUNDING LAND USE AND ZONING North – Single family residences and office uses; zoned R-2 and POD South – Single family residences; zoned R-2 East – Single family zoned property and mixed commercial/office uses; zoned R-2, PCD and POD West – Single family residences and office use; zoned R-2 and PD-O A. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: 1. Cantrell Road is classified on the Master Street Plan as a principal arterial. A minimum dedication of right-of-way to 55 feet from centerline will be required at all locations. Additional easement for future storm water improvements may be required. 2. Provide the direction of flow and all storm water flows (Q) entering and leaving the property. Provide sketch grading and drainage plan showing proposed drainage and grading for future site development. 3. A grading permit in accordance with section 29-186(c) and (d) will be required prior to any land clearing or grading activities at the site. Site grading, and drainage plans will need to be submitted and approved prior to the start of construction. 4. Westchester Subdivision to the west has a history of flooding problems. Storm water detention ordinance applies to this property and will be required at both discharge points on the property. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: H (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7783 2 B. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT: The site is located on a CATA Bus Route #25 (Highway 10 Express Route). C. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION: All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified, and the Westchester-Heatherbrae and Secluded Hills Neighborhood Associations were notified of the public hearing. D. LAND USE ELEMENT: This request is located in the River Mountain Planning District. The Land Use Plan shows Transition for this property. The applicant has applied for a zoning change from R-2 (Single Family District) to O-3 (General Office District) for future development. The request does not require a change to the Land Use Plan because office uses are an appropriate use in Transition. Since this application is in an area shown as Transition and subject to the Highway 10 Overlay District, any proposed development must conform to the overlay standards and be compatible with adjacent development. Based on previous actions of the City, only Planned Office District or “O-1” Quiet Office zoning have been approved in order to assure this compatibility. Master Street Plan: Cantrell Road is shown as a Principal Arterial on the plan. Cantrell Road is built as a five-lane road through that area. The primary function of a Principal Arterial is to serve through traffic and connect major traffic generators or activity centers within urbanized areas. Cantrell Road may require dedication of right-of-way and street improvements. Since this property is located on a Principal Arterial, access to the site should be minimized and should not impede through traffic. Existing or proposed Class I, II or III Bikeways are not in the immediate vicinity of the development. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: H (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7783 3 City Recognized Neighborhood Action Plan: The applicant’s property lies in the area covered by the River Mountain Neighborhood Action Plan. The Sustainable Natural Environment goal listed an objective of promoting the vigorous enforcement of the Landscaping and Excavation Ordinance. This action could result in the removal of trees in order to accommodate the development of uses possible office development in the Transition land use category. E. STAFF ANALYSIS: Miracle Developments, owner of the 2.21 acre property located at 14929 Cantrell Road, is requesting to rezone the property from “R-2” Single Family District to “O-3” General Office District. The rezoning is proposed for future office development of the property. The site currently contains two (2) single family residential structures, with a single access drive from Cantrell Road. Single family residences are located on the property immediately west and south of the site. A mixture of residential, office and commercial uses and zoning exists to the west along Cantrell Road. Single family residential and office uses and zoning is located across Cantrell Road to the north. The City’s Future Land Use Plan designates this property as Transition. The requested zoning change to O-3 does not require a change to the Land Use Plan. Staff is not supportive of the requested O-3 zoning. Although staff is not opposed to the redevelopment of this site as office use, staff is concerned with the close proximity of the property to the single family residences to the west and south. Staff feels that important site design issues, such as building height and drainage, would be best addressed through the PZD (Planned Zoning Development) zoning process. As noted in paragraph A. of this report, Public Works notes that the single family neighborhood to the west and south has a history of flooding problems. Additionally, the O-3 zoning district allows a maximum building height of 60 feet, which in staff’s opinion would not be compatible with the adjacent single family neighborhood. Therefore, staff feels that the best approach in redevelopment of this property would be through the PZD rezoning process. This process would assure compatibility of the proposed development with the adjacent single family neighborhood, as required within this area of “Transition”. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: H (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7783 4 F. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends denial of the requested O-3 rezoning. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (FEBRUARY 3, 2005) Bill Keathly was present, representing the application. There were several objectors present. Mr. Keathly requested a deferral to the March 17, 2005 Agenda to allow him time to meet with the neighborhood and resolve issues related to the property’s development. There was a motion to defer the application to the March 17, 2005 Agenda. The motion passed by a vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent. The application was deferred. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) Staff informed the Commission that the applicant requested the application be deferred to the April 28, 2005 Agenda. Staff supported the deferral request. The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for deferral to the April 28, 2005 Agenda. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays and 2 absent. The application was deferred. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: I FILE NO.: S-1426-A NAME: Glenn Ridge Subdivision Preliminary Plat LOCATION: On the Southwest corner of Colonel Glenn Road at I-430 DEVELOPER: Glenn Ridge Crossing, LLC 10600 Colonel Glenn Road Little Rock, AR 72204 ENGINEER: McGetrick and McGetrick Engineers 10 Otter Creek Court, Suite A Little Rock, AR 72210 AREA: 30.568 acres NUMBER OF LOTS: 8 FT. NEW STREET: 750 LF CURRENT ZONING: C-3, General Commercial District PLANNING DISTRICT: 12 – 65th Street West CENSUS TRACT: 24.05 VARIANCES/WAIVERS REQUESTED: None requested. BACKGROUND: The Little Rock Planning Commission reviewed and approved a request to subdivide a 13.2-acre site into twelve non-residential lots at their May 18, 2004, Public Hearing. The site was zoned C-3, General Commercial District with a 50-foot open space buffer along the eastern, southern and western perimeters. The applicant indicated Lots 2 – 7 and 12 would be developed as lots without public street frontage. The applicant indicated a sixty-foot access and utility easement to serve the development with a 36-foot roadway where the easement would serve as primary access. The applicant also indicated access easements between the proposed lots to serve as connectivity through the development. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: I (Cont.) FILE NO.: S-1426-A 2 The applicant indicated a minimal lot size of 45,000 square feet or 150-feet by 300-feet. The development was proposed to be developed in three phases with Lots 1 – 6 developed in the first phase, Lots 10 – 12 in the second phase and Lots 7 – 9 in the final phase. A. PROPOSAL/REQUEST: The developer is now proposing to expand the land area of the proposed subdivision totaling 30.568 acres and reducing the number of lots to eight (8) commercial lots. The site is currently zoned C-3, General Commercial District. The applicant has indicated a minimum lot size of 150-feet by 300-feet or 1.22 acres. The proposed preliminary plat includes lots ranging in size from 1.22 acres to 12.94 acres. A 50-foot open space buffer has been included along the southern and eastern perimeters of the proposed preliminary plat. The developer has indicted 750 linear feet of new street will be added to the City’s street system ending in a cul-de-sac. The developer has indicated the cul-de-sac as a possible future extension to serve properties to the west. B. EXISTING CONDITIONS: The site is a vacant site with a scattering of trees. For the most part the trees are located around the perimeter of the site in a 50-foot Open Space buffer. The western portion of the site has had previous dirt work and a large ridge was removed and used in the development of the lots to the north of the site. Other uses in the area include a movie theater and automobile dealerships to the north and JA Fair High School to the west. There are large areas of vacant office and commercially zoned property located near the site. There is vacant single-family zoned property located to the south. C. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS: As of this writing, staff has received informational requests only from area residents. All abutting property owners, the John Barrow Neighborhood Association and the Stagecoach Dodd Neighborhood Association were notified of the public hearing. D. ENGINEERING COMMENTS: 1. Provide design of street conforming to the Master Street Plan. Construct one-half street improvement to the street including 5-foot sidewalks with the planned development. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: I (Cont.) FILE NO.: S-1426-A 3 2. Plans of all work in right-of-way shall be submitted for approval prior to start of work. Obtain barricade permit prior to doing any work in the right-of-way from Traffic Engineering at (501) 379-1817 (Derrick Bergfield). 3. A grading permit in accordance with Section 29-186 (c) and (d) will be required prior to any land clearing or grading activities at the site. Site grading, and drainage plans will need to be submitted and approved prior to the start of construction. 4. Storm water detention ordinance applies to this property. Show the proposed location for multiple storm water detention facilities on the plan. 5. Obtain a NPDES storm water permit from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality prior to the start of construction. 6. Prepare a letter of pending development addressing streetlights as required by Section 31-403 of the Little Rock code. Contact Traffic Engineering at (501) 379-1813 (Steve Philpott) for more information regarding street light requirements. 7. Hauling of fill material on or off site over municipal streets and roads requires approval prior to a grading permit being issued. Contact Public Works Traffic Engineering at 621 S. Broadway, (501) 379-1817 (Derrick Bergfield) for more information. E. UTILITIES AND FIRE DEPARTMENT/COUNTY PLANNING: Wastewater: Sewer main extension required, with easements, if service is required for the project. Contact the Little Rock Wastewater Utility at 688-1414 for additional information. Entergy: Approved as submitted. Center-Point Energy: Approved as submitted. SBC: No comment received. Central Arkansas Water: All Central Arkansas Water requirements in effect at the time of request for water service must be met. A Capital Investment Charge based on the size of the meter connection(s) will apply to this project in addition to normal charges. This fee will apply to all meter connections including any metered connections off the private fire system. A water main extension will be required in order to provide service to this property. This development will have minor impact on the existing water distribution system. Proposed water facilities will be sized to provide adequate pressure and fire protection. Contact Central Arkansas Water at 377-1225 for additional information. Fire Department: Place fire hydrants per code. Contact the Little Rock Fire Department at 918-3700 for additional information. County Planning: No comment. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: I (Cont.) FILE NO.: S-1426-A 4 CATA: The site is not located on a dedicated CATA Bus Route. F. ISSUES/TECHNICAL/DESIGN: Planning Division: No comment. Landscape: No comment. G. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (February 10, 2005) Mr. Pat McGetrick of McGetrick Engineers was present representing the request. Staff stated the proposal was a revision to a previously approved preliminary plat for a tract currently zoned C-3, General Commercial District. Staff noted there were additional items necessary to complete the review process. Staff requested the applicant provide the proposed driveway locations, the names of recorded subdivisions abutting the plat area and the source of title of the landowner. Staff questioned if the proposed preliminary plat included the existing contours. Mr. McGetrick stated the indicated contours were the existing contours for the site. He stated previous grading had taken place along the western perimeter and the plan included the previously graded contours. Public Works comments were addressed. Staff stated the storm water detention ordinance would apply to the proposed development. Staff stated hauling of fill material on or off site over municipal streets would require prior approval and all work in the right-of-way would require approval from the Arkansas State Highway Department. Staff noted comments from the various other reporting departments and agencies indicating the applicant should contact them individually for further clarification. There was no further discussion of the item. The Committee then forwarded the item to the full Commission for final action. H. ANALYSIS: The applicant submitted a revised plan to staff addressing most of the issues raised at the February 10, 2005, Subdivision Committee meeting. The applicant has indicated the proposed driveway locations, the names of recorded subdivisions abutting the plat area and the source of title of the landowner. The applicant is proposing the subdivision of a 30.568 acre tract into eight lots zoned C-3, General Commercial District. The ordinance requires C-3, General Commercial District zoned lots to have a minimum lot width 100 feet and contain a minimum of 14,000 square feet. The minimum lot size proposed is 150-feet by 300-feet or 1.22 acres; more than adequate to meet the minimum ordinance requirement. The applicant has also indicated a front building line of 30-feet. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: I (Cont.) FILE NO.: S-1426-A 5 The ordinance typically requires a front building line of 25-feet with a 15-foot side yard and 25-foot rear yard setback. The applicant has indicated the side yard and rear yard setbacks will conform to minimum ordinance requirements. All indicated setbacks and building lines are adequate to meet minimum ordinance requirements. The proposed preliminary plat indicates the addition of 750 liner feet of new street ending in a cul-de-sac. The site plan indicates the cul-de-sac could be extended to serve properties to the west in the future. The new street is indicated with a 60-foot right-of-way and 36-feet of pavement. The proposed street construction is consistent with commercial street construction standard. Staff is supportive of the preliminary plat as proposed. The proposed preliminary plat includes lots ranging in size from 1.22 acres to 12.94 acres; all consistent with minimum ordinance standard. A 50-foot open space buffer has been included along the southern and eastern perimeters of the proposed preliminary plat as was approved in the rezoning request. To staff’s knowledge there are no outstanding issues associated with the proposed request. Staff feels the development should have minimal impact on the adjoining properties. I. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the request subject to compliance with the conditions outlined in paragraphs D, E and F of the above report. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 3, 2005) Mr. Pat McGetrick of McGetrick Engineers was present representing the request. There were no registered objectors present. Staff presented a recommendation of deferral of the item to the March 17, 2005, Public Hearing. Staff stated there had been an issue raised concerning the indicated street location and previously dedicated right-of-way. There was no further discussion of the item. The Chair entertained a motion to place the item for inclusion on the Consent Agenda for Deferral. The motion carried by a vote of 10 ayes, 0 noes and 1 absent. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) The applicant was present representing the request. There were no registered objectors present. Staff presented the item with a recommendation of approval. Staff stated the applicant and an adjoining property owner had reached an agreement concerning access to a parcel located to the west of the proposed preliminary plat. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: I (Cont.) FILE NO.: S-1426-A 6 Staff stated to their knowledge there were no other outstanding issues associated with the proposed request. There was no further discussion of the item. The Chair entertained a motion to place the item for inclusion on the Consent Agenda for Approval. The motion carried by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 noes and 2 absent. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: J FILE NO.: Z-7788 NAME: Best Park Commercial Surface Parking Lot – Conditional Use Permit LOCATION: SE corner 6th and Center Streets OWNER/APPLICANT: Roman Catholic Diocese of Little Rock/Best Park, LLC PROPOSAL: A conditional use permit is requested to allow for development of a commercial surface parking lot on this vacant, UU zoned property. 1. SITE LOCATION: The property is located on the east side of Center Street, between 6th and 7th Streets. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: The site is located within the densely developed urban core of the City. Uses in the immediate vicinity include a variety of office, institutional and commercial uses. Other surface parking lots are located in the general area. The proposed parking lot is compatible with uses in the area. All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified and the Downtown and MacArthur Park Neighborhood Associations were notified of this request. 3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: The applicant proposes to develop the parking lot utilizing existing driveways onto Center, 6th and 7th Streets. The 65± space parking lot will be constructed with one-way drives and 60° angle stalls. The stall width and depth and driveway width comply with ordinance standards for 60° parking. 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: Compliance with the City’s Landscape and Buffer Ordinances is required. Because of the reductions allowed for commercial parking lots by the Landscape Ordinance, the proposal submitted complies with ordinance requirements. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: J (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7788 2 5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: 1. Driveway on Center Street appears to create wrong-way circulation for the proposed angle parking. Driveways on 6th and 7th Streets appear to restrict maneuverability of vehicles entering the site, due to proposed channelization. Consult Traffic Division at 379-1800 for possible re-design. 2. Repair or replace any curb and gutter or sidewalk that is damaged in the public right-of-way prior to occupancy. 3. All driveways shall be concrete aprons and shall have proper radius and grade dimensions per City Ordinance. 4. Improve corner curb radius to 25 feet radius with construction, or to some other measurement, as determined by city inspector for truck maneuverability. 5. Storm water detention will not apply to the proposed development. 6. UTILITY, FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS: Wastewater: Sewer available, not adversely affected. Entergy: Approved as submitted. CenterPoint Energy: CenterPoint Energy has a 2-inch plastic gas main in alley running from 7th Street. Coordinate construction with CenterPoint. Southwestern Bell: No Comments received. Water: All Central Arkansas Water requirements in effect at the time of request for water service must be met. Contact Central Arkansas Water regarding the requirements for reestablishment of water service to this property. Fire Department: Approved as submitted. County Planning: No Comments. CATA: The site is located on a CATA bus route. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (FEBRUARY 10, 2005) The applicant was not present. Staff presented the item and noted the Public Works, Landscape and Utility Comments. Staff stated they would work with the applicant to address any outstanding issues. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: J (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7788 3 The Committee determined there were no other issues and forwarded the item to the full Commission. STAFF ANALYSIS: The Urban Use zoned property located at the SE corner of 6th and Center Streets was formerly the site of the Downtowner Hotel. The hotel was closed as a nuisance and the structure was subsequently razed. Best Park proposes to redevelop the site as a commercial surface parking lot. The new parking lot will be paved and landscaped to comply with all ordinance requirements. The parking lot may be leased in its entirety to a single entity. Within the UU district, commercial surface parking lots are allowed only as a conditional use. Staff is supportive of the requested C.U.P. The proposed parking lot is compatible with uses and zoning in the area. The site may have a better and higher use in the future, but in its current condition it only serves to act as an unsightly attractant for loitering and debris. Lighting will consist of perimeter lighting, aimed downward and into the site. If the parking lot is used entirely by one user, signage will consist of directional/informational signs at each driveway entrance. If the parking lot is to be used by the public in general, a payment box/sign will be installed. In either case, signage should be as minimal as possible to accomplish the needed purpose. Staff met with the applicant subsequent to the Subdivision Committee meeting. It was determined that some slight modification of the plan is necessary to address the circulation concerns raised by Public Works. The applicant has agreed to make those changes. It was also determined that only the corner radius at the corner of the 7th and Center Streets needed some modification. The applicant again agreed to work with staff to address the issue. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the requested C.U.P. subject to compliance with the following conditions: 1. Compliance with the comments and conditions outlined in Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the staff report. 2. Lighting is to be aimed downward and into the site. 3. Signage is to be limited to one directional/informational sign at each entrance and, if necessary, one payment box-sign. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: J (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7788 4 PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 3, 2005) The applicant was not present. There were no objectors present. Staff informed the Commission that the applicant had failed to send notices as required by the bylaws. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved for deferred to the March 17, 2005 Commission hearing. The vote was 9 ayes, 0 noes and 2 absent. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval subject to compliance with the conditions outlined in the “Staff Recommendation” above. There was no further discussion. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved as recommended by staff. The vote was 9 ayes, 0 noes and 2 absent. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: K FILE NO.: LU05-04-01 Name: Land Use Plan Amendment - Heights Hillcrest Planning District Location: 700 block of North University Avenue Request: Office to Mixed Use Source: Development and Construction Management, Inc. PROPOSAL / REQUEST: Land Use Plan amendment in the Heights Hillcrest Planning District from Office to Mixed Use. The Mixed Use category provides for a mixture of residential, office and commercial uses to occur. A Planned Zoning District is required if the use is entirely office or commercial or if the use is a mixture of the three. The applicant requests to construct 44 condominiums and an unspecified office use within one section of one of the structures. Prompted by this Land Use Amendment request, the Planning Staff expanded the area of review to include the entire half block to make the area more logical. EXISTING LAND USE AND ZONING: The property is developed with a small single family home zoned R-5 (Urban Residence District) and 1.74 acres ± in size. Just southwest of the property is land zoned R-2 (Single Family District) with a CUP for a Catholic school. Northeast of the site on H Street is additional R-2 land with a CUP for an elementary school. Northwest of the site are two separate parcels of land zoned R-5 (Urban Residence District) developed with single family homes, apartments, and a parking lot. Immediately north of the site is land zoned O-3 (General Office District) and developed with several office buildings. Further north is a PCD (Planned Commercial Development) for an office and land zoned O-2 (Office an Institutional District) and O-3 developed with a school and offices, respectively. Immediately west of the site is land zoned R-3 (Single Family District) and developed with single family homes on a typical urban street grid. Immediately south of the property is additional land zoned R-5 and O-3 developed with a single family home and an office. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: K (Cont.) FILE NO.: LU05-04-01 2 FUTURE LAND USE PLAN AND RECENT AMENDMENTS: On May 18, 2003 a change was made from Multi Family and Office to Community Shopping less than a half mile south of the site at the northeast corner of West Markham Street and University Avenue. On March 5, 2002 a change was made from Commercial and Office to Mixed Use on the northwest corner of University Avenue and West Markham Street, less than a half mile south of the site to allow flexibility of uses for future development. On June 20, 2000 a change was made from Single Family to Suburban Office approximately one quarter of a mile southeast of the application at the 200 block of N. McKinley Street to accommodate proposed development. On March 16, 1999 multiple changes were made from Office and Multifamily to Single Family, Multifamily, Mixed Use, and Office within a half-mile radius southeast of the applicant’s property for future development and to recognize existing conditions. An area of Office parallels the east side of University Avenue from H Street to C Street, which includes the applicant’s property. North of H Street is an area shown as Public Institutional. At the northeast corner of Evergreen Street and University are areas shown as Park / Open Space, Office, Low Density Residential, Single Family, and Multifamily. The area immediately west of the application is shown as Single Family. South of the site, between Lee Street and West Markham Street, along University Avenue are higher intensity uses including Mixed Use, Multi Family, and Community Shopping. At the southwest corner of West Markham Street and University Avenue is an area shown as Commercial, the southeast corner of West Markham Street and University Avenue is shown as Public Institutional. Southwest of the site, and fronting University Avenue, is additional area shown as Public Institutional. West of the applicant’s property are areas shown as Office, Multifamily, and Single Family fronting both H Street and University Avenue. Northwest of the site is an area of Office fronting University with an area of Park / Open Space and Multifamily behind. MASTER STREET PLAN: University Avenue is shown as a Principal Arterial on the Master Street Plan with special design standards south of the site between Lee and Markham Streets, which indicate a 100-foot right of way. Adjacent to the site University Avenue has a median separating northbound and southbound traffic. Southbound March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: K (Cont.) FILE NO.: LU05-04-01 3 University Avenue traffic will not access this site directly, nor will traffic be able to leave this site in the southbound University Avenue direction unless a median cut is approved. The primary function of a Principal Arterial is to serve through traffic and to connect major traffic generators or activity centers within urbanized areas. Entrances and exits should be limited to minimize negative effects of traffic and pedestrians on University Avenue since it is a Principal Arterial. Additional improvements and right of way may be required for acceleration and deceleration lanes since this section of University Avenue has a significant hill. BICYCLE PLAN: A Class III bikeway is shown on H Street north of the site. A Class III Bikeway is a signed route on a street shared with traffic. No additional paving or right-of- way is required. Class III bicycle route signage may be required. This bikeway will not be affected by this project. PARKS: The Little Rock Parks and Recreation Master Plan of 2001 shows the War Memorial Park located two blocks east of the application area on the south side of W. Markham Street. The plan describes War Memorial Park as providing special facilities such as the zoo, fitness center, and a golf course designed to serve the entire city. This amendment is not likely to affect the large facilities at War Memorial Park. HISTORIC DISTRICTS: There are no city recognized historic districts that would be affected by this amendment. CITY RECOGNIZED NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION PLAN: The applicant’s property lies in the area covered by the Hillcrest Neighborhood Action Plan. The Zoning and Land Use goal lists one objective related to this application. The objective is to recreate a neighborhood that is a pleasant place to work and live, and to preserve the net number of residential units by not demolishing them or converting them to other uses. ANALYSIS: The applicant has applied for a change to Mixed Use for a mixed office and residential development. Since the area is already shown as Office, the office component of the development is consistent with the current plan and Staff has no problem with the office component of this development. In addition to the office component that exists under the current land use category, the Mixed Use category allows both residential and commercial development. The Mixed Use March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: K (Cont.) FILE NO.: LU05-04-01 4 category can lead to sound development that can commingle the different uses into an area. The category allows for residential development similar to that of the Multifamily land use category. Near this site are several areas of higher density housing that are shown as either Multifamily or Low Density Residential which are developed with a mixture of duplexes, apartment buildings, and a few single family homes. Since areas intended for higher density development have developed, a need for additional higher density residential may be needed in the area. Since the Mixed Use category provides for higher density residential development, it could facilitate future demand, and relieve possible pressure to intensify nearby neighborhoods. Introduction of possible higher density residential at this location could provide a buffer between single family homes on Buchanan and G Streets and offices and traffic on University Avenue. Also the residential aspect would allow for densification along University Avenue. Central Arkansas Transit Authority operates Route 21 adjacent to this site and can provide access to downtown, University Mall, and the University of Arkansas campus for area residents. Even though the current application does not involve any commercial activity, the Mixed Use category does allow it. Currently, commercial activities in the area are located in areas shown as Mixed Use about a quarter mile south of the site in the vicinity of “B” and “C” Streets, the Park Plaza Shopping Center at the northwest corner of West Markham Street and University Avenue, a Community Shopping area shown at the northeast corner of West Markham Street and University Avenue, and a large Commercial area at the southeast corner of West Markham Street and University Avenue. Additional Commercial is shown in the Heights Shopping District approximately three quarter miles north of the site near University Avenue and R Street. The nearby area around this site consists of mostly institutional, office, and residential uses, and addition of commercial development could create pressure to convert additional area properties to commercial which could harm the quality of life of nearby residential areas. Staff doesn’t feel that the addition of commercial that the Mixed Use category allows would be appropriate at this location, because of the established neighborhood, the institutional and office uses nearby, and that space for commercial development is available nearby. Since University Avenue is a Principal Arterial, and is constructed with a median separating northbound and southbound traffic, Staff recommends that any development on this site does not impede traffic flow. Access to this development should only be right turn in, right turn out to maintain the existing median and prevent conflicts caused by traffic crossing a Principal Arterial. Since the Mixed Use category allows commercial activity, traffic entering and leaving the site could be greater than the levels anticipated for the office and residential components available in the category. Current traffic flows on March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: K (Cont.) FILE NO.: LU05-04-01 5 University Avenue could be hindered if any commercial aspect develops on the site in the future. In 2001 the Urban Land Institute (ULI) did a study of the West Markham Street - University Avenue area which included this site. The study made recommendations regarding new development: should preserve the integrity nearby residential areas, provide a visible identity, and improve pedestrian safety. The recommendations of the ULI study are similar to the wishes of the neighborhood action plan to preserve the quality of life in the neighborhood. Furthermore, the ULI study identified a town center concept at the West Markham Street - University Avenue intersection. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS: Notices were sent to the following neighborhood associations: Forest Park Neighborhood Association, Heights Neighborhood Association, Prospect Terrace Neighborhood Association, Sherrill Heights Garden Club, Briarwood Neighborhood Association, Evergreen Neighborhood Association, Meriwether Neighborhood Association, Normandy-Shannon Property Owners Association, South Normandy Property Owners Association, and the University Park Neighborhood Association. Staff has not received any comments from area residents or neighborhood associations. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff believes the change is not appropriate. Staff feels that the office and residential components of the proposed development are consistent with the ULI Study statement, but does not support the commercial aspect the Mixed Use category makes available. Staff believes that commercial activities are more appropriate at the University Avenue and West Markham Street intersection or the Heights Shopping District. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 3, 2005) The applicant requested the application be deferred to the March 17, 2005 Agenda. The item was placed on the consent agenda for deferral. A motion was made to approve the consent agenda and was approved with a vote of 9 ayes, 0 noes and 2 absent. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: K (Cont.) FILE NO.: LU05-04-01 6 STAFF UPDATE: Staff has reviewed the application and noted that the office component of the development will be located in an area shown as Office on the Land Use Plan. In the general area numerous properties are developed with offices and apartments. Adding multifamily units to the applicant’s property would not be inconsistent with surrounding land uses. Within the last year this property’s zoning was changed from R-5 (Urban Residence District) to POD (Planned Office Development), which would have allowed Multifamily development by right. Staff feels that a Land Use Plan Amendment for the applicant’s property is not necessary because the office component of the development is consistent with the plan, and the multifamily component is consistent with the overall neighborhood character. Staff recommends withdrawal of the application. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) The item was placed on the consent agenda for deferral to the April 14, 2005 Planning Commission meeting. A motion was made to approve the consent agenda and was approved with a vote of 9 ayes, 0 noes and 2 absent. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: K.1 FILE NO.: Z-7563-A NAME: University Park Short-form PD-R LOCATION: 715 North University Avenue DEVELOPER: University Park LLC 20 Hunters Green Circle Little Rock, AR 72211 ENGINEER: ETC Engineers 1510 South Broadway Little Rock, AR 72202 AREA: 1.74 Acres NUMBER OF LOTS: 1 FT. NEW STREET: 0 CURRENT ZONING: R-5, Urban Residential District ALLOWED USES: High Density Residential Units of not more than 36-units per acre PROPOSED ZONING: PD-R PROPOSED USE: Multi-family Condominium Development with a portion of the development being held for office development VARIANCES/WAIVERS REQUESTED: None requested. BACKGROUND: The Little Rock Planning Commission reviewed a request to rezone the site from R-5, Urban Residential District to POD at their April 8, 2004, Public Hearing. The applicant proposed the placement of a two-story office building consisting of 18,000 square feet of general and professional office uses with provisions for some light commercial uses should they fit with office occupancy. The proposed site plan included fifty-nine on-site parking spaces. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: K.1 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7563-A 2 The applicant requested allowance of 25 percent of the gross floor area (4,500 square feet) to be utilized by the following listed uses: Barber/Beauty Shop, Book and Stationary Store, Drugstore, Florist, Optic Shop, Clothing, Hobby Shop, Jewelry, or Tailor Shop. Included in the filing was a petition for abandonment of Grant Street and “G” Street. Grant Street was not previously constructed and ends at the intersection of “F” Street. The applicant proposed an extension of Grant Street approximately 120 feet from “F” Street to the property line creating adequate turn around in the parking lot for emergency vehicles. The applicant amended his request at the April 8, 2004, Public Hearing to remove the connection of Grant Street from “F” Street into the development. Access to the development was to only be provided from University Avenue. The applicant withdrew his request for rezoning prior to Board of Directors action at their July 22, 2004, Public Hearing. A. PROPOSAL/REQUEST: This applicant now proposes to develop this site as a condominium complex. The project consists of 1.74 acres of land on the East side of University Avenue. The project has forty-four condominium homes along with a clubhouse/workout area. The property has 20 -1 bedroom units in three different floor plans and 18 -2 bedroom units with three floor plans and 6 - 3 bedroom units. The applicant has indicated there is room for a few garages, along with covered parking and storage areas for all the residents under the proposed parking deck. The applicant has also indicated a portion of the site will be utilized as office space for general and professional office uses. The applicant is requesting to abandon Grant Street inside the property boundary and G Street where it abuts the property. The applicant has indicated the exterior of the homes will be constructed with 100 percent brick and with long lasting vinyl trim. Windows and patio doors are vinyl with insulated glass. A full insulation package will include R-30 in ceilings, R-13 in exterior walls and R-11 between the units. The roof is proposed as shingles with a twenty-year guarantee. The proposal also includes interior amenities to include nine-foot ceilings, crown mold, marble vanities, spa tubs, tile entrances and elevators along with many other quality interior and outdoor amenities. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: K.1 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7563-A 3 The applicant has indicated the clubhouse will be constructed in a later phase. Amenities within the clubhouse pool facility include a business center in addition to fitness equipment. A color copier and a fax machine will be included within the business center along with a meeting room. B. EXISTING CONDITIONS: The property now consists of twelve residentially zoned lots in Blocks 9 and 10 of the Lincoln Park Subdivision and a portion of Grant Street, which has never been constructed. The property is bounded by University Avenue to the west, “G” Street (not constructed) to the north, a closed alley to the east, and a dwelling and small office building to the south. Steep grades to the east and north lead down to a drainage canal. University Avenue is constructed with a median without a break at this location. An abandoned house with a stone exterior currently sits on the site. There is not an existing driveway location on University Avenue accessing the site. Frontage along University Avenue is predominantly occupied by office and commercial uses, with a few remaining single-family dwellings. To the east of the site are residential uses adjacent to the drainage canal. Other uses in the area include the Catholic Boys School a strip retail center and a public library. C. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS: As of this writing, staff has not received any comment from area residents. The Hillcrest Residents Neighborhood Association, Evergreen Neighborhood Association, all owners of property located within 200-feet of the site and all residents who could be identified located within 300-feet of the site were notified of the public hearing. D. ENGINEERING COMMENTS: 1. A special Grading Permit for Flood Hazard Areas will be required per Section 8-283 prior to construction. 2. University Avenue is classified on the Master Street Plan as a principal arterial. Dedication of right-of-way to 55 feet from centerline will be required. 3. The previous land owner placed and un-authorized fill in the regulated floodway of Coleman Creek. A large portion of the site is within the mapped floodway and floodplain. Show the regulated floodway on the site plan. Fill must be removed from the floodway, or a letter of map revision obtained from FEMA. 4. All fill slopes must conform to the land alteration ordinance. Slopes must be at 3:1 or terraced with erosion protection. For architectural stone facing, wall up to 15' high with 10' bench is acceptable. Provide a grading and drainage March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: K.1 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7563-A 4 plan showing improvements. 5. A special Grading Permit for Flood Hazard Areas will be required per Section 8-283 prior to any construction. Approval from the Little Rock District of the Corps of Engineers may also be required. 6. Sidewalks with appropriate handicap ramps are required on University in accordance with Section 31-175 of the Little Rock Code and the Master Street Plan. Contact Traffic Engineering 379-1800 for requirements on driveway construction and any frontage improvements. 7. All driveways shall be concrete aprons per City Ordinance. Repair or replace any curb and gutter or sidewalk that is damaged in the public right-of-way prior to occupancy. 8. Storm water detention ordinance applies to this property. Show the proposed location for storm water detention facilities on the plan. 9. The minimum Finish Floor elevation based on FEMA flood study is required to be shown on plat and grading plans. 10. In accordance with Section 31-176, floodway areas must be shown as floodway easements or be dedicated to the public. In addition, a 25-foot wide access easement is required adjacent to the floodway boundary. E. UTILITIES AND FIRE DEPARTMENT/COUNTY PLANNING: Wastewater: Existing sewer mains on the site. Revise plans to show sewer mains and existing easements. No construction will be allowed within the sewer easements unless sewer main is relocated at the Developer’s expense. Contact Little Rock Wastewater Utility at 688-1414 for additional information. Entergy: Approved as submitted. Center-Point Energy: Approved as submitted. SBC: No comment received. Central Arkansas Water: All Central Arkansas Water requirements in effect at the time of request for water service must be met before service is resumed. The Little Rock Fire Department needs to evaluate this site to determine the location of public and/or private fire hydrant(s) that will be required. A water main extension and additional fire hydrant(s) will be installed at the Developer's expense. The facilities on-site will be private. When meters are planned off private lines, private facilities shall be installed to Central Arkansas Water's material and construction specifications and installation will be inspected by an engineer, licensed to practice in the State of Arkansas. Execution of Customer Owned Line Agreement is required. This development will have minor impact on the existing water distribution system. Proposed water facilities will be sized to provide adequate pressure and fire protection. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: K.1 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7563-A 5 Contact Central Arkansas Water at 377-1225 for additional information. Fire Department: Maintain a 20-foot access and a 20-foot wide gate opening on the south and west sides of the development. Place fire hydrants per code. Contact the Little Rock Fire Department at 918-3700 for additional information. County Planning: No comment. CATA: The site is located near the University Avenue Bus Route (#21) and the Rodney Parham Bus Route (#8). F. ISSUES/TECHNICAL/DESIGN: Planning Division: This request is located in the Heights Hillcrest Planning District. The Land Use Plan shows Office for this property. The applicant has applied for a PRD (Planned Residential Development) for 44 condominiums and an unspecified office use on 1.74 acres of land. A land use plan amendment for a change to Mixed Use is a separate item on this agenda (File No. LU05-04-01). Master Street Plan: University Avenue is shown as a Principal Arterial on the Master Street Plan with special design standards south of the site between Lee and Markham Streets, which indicate a 100-foot right of way. Adjacent to the site University Avenue has a median separating northbound and southbound traffic. Southbound University Avenue traffic will not access this site directly, nor will traffic be able to leave this site in the southbound University Avenue direction. The primary function of a Principal Arterial is to serve through traffic and to connect major traffic generators or activity centers within urbanized areas. Entrances and exits should be limited to minimize negative effects of traffic and pedestrians on University Avenue since it is a Principal Arterial. Additional improvements and right of way may be required for acceleration and deceleration lanes since this section of University Avenue has a significant hill. Bicycle Plan: A Class III Bikeway is shown on H Street north of the site. A Class III Bikeway is a signed route on a street shared with traffic. No additional paving or right-of-way is required. Class III bicycle route signage may be required. This Bikeway will not be affected by this project. City Recognized Neighborhood Action Plan: The applicant’s property lies in the area covered by the Hillcrest Neighborhood Action Plan. The Zoning and Land Use goal lists one objective related to this application. The objective is to March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: K.1 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7563-A 6 recreate a neighborhood that is a pleasant place to work and live, and to preserve the net number of residential units by not demolishing them or converting them to other uses. Landscape: The on-site street buffer along North University Avenue should have an average width of 15 feet. At no point should this width be less than 7 ½ feet. The width of the land use buffer along the southern perimeter where adjacent to residential property should average at least 9 ½ feet. The eastern land use buffer width should average 15-feet in width. The plan submitted is not always clear concerning landscape and buffer widths. A total of six percent of the interior of the vehicular use areas must be landscaped with interior islands of at least 112 square feet in area and 5.6 feet in width. A small amount of building landscaping between public parking areas and the building is required. There is considerable flexibility with this requirement. All of these requirements take into account the reductions allowed within the designated mature area of the city. A 6-foot high opaque screen, either a wooden fence with its face side directed outward, a wall, or dense evergreen plantings, is required along the eastern and southern perimeters where adjacent to residential properties. An irrigation system to water landscaped areas will be required. G. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (February 10, 2005) The applicant was present representing the request. Staff stated the proposed development included construction of a condominium development with a portion of the site utilized as office space. Staff requested the applicant provide additional information concerning the location of the non-residential and the total square footage designated as non-residential. Public Works comments were addressed. Staff stated a portion of the site was located in the floodway. Staff stated a previous owner had filled illegally in the floodway and prior to approval the fill from this area should be removed. Staff also stated details of the proposed terracing along the eastern property line would be required. Staff noted with a previous application the property owner to the east had requested plantings on the benches to break the massing of the March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: K.1 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7563-A 7 wall. Staff requested a grading plan and cross section to ensure compliance with existing ordinances. Landscaping comments were addressed. Staff stated screening would be required adjacent to single-family zoned or used property. Staff stated the southern buffer should average 9 ½ feet and the eastern buffer should average 15-feet. Staff noted interior vehicular use areas should be landscaped with interior islands of at least 112 square feet in area. There was a general discussion concerning access to the site. The applicant indicated access to the site would be from University Avenue with an emergency access provided from Grant Street to the south. Staff questioned if the applicant had contacted the property owner to the south of the proposed development. The applicant stated he had not contacted the property owner to the south of the site to apprise him of the proposed development plans. Staff encouraged the applicant to contact the property owner in the near future to discuss with him the proposed development and access to the site. Staff noted comments from the various other reporting departments and agencies indicating the applicant should contact them individually for further clarification. There was no further discussion of the item. The Committee then forwarded the item to the full Commission for final action. H. ANALYSIS: The applicant submitted a revised site plan to staff addressing most of the issues raised at the February 10, 2005, Subdivision Committee meeting. The applicant has indicated no more than 10,000 square feet would be utilized as general and professional office space. This would leave approximately 30,000 square feet for residential units. The applicant has indicated the site will contain a total of 44 units. The site plan indicates 20- 1 bedroom 1 bath, 16- 2 bedroom 2 bath and 8- 3 bedroom 2 ½ baths. The office uses will be contained within the same footprint as the residential units. The applicant has indicated the offices uses will be limited to Buildings 1 and 2. Buildings three and four are two and three story buildings with parking on the bottom floor and residential on the remaining floors. Buildings one and two are two story buildings with residential and office. The applicant has indicated 78 parking spaces. The site plan includes 21 open air spaces, six handicapped spaces and 51 under deck spaces. The office portion of the proposed development would typically require 25 parking spaces and the residential portion would 49 parking spaces or a total of 74 parking spaces. The indicated parking is adequate to meet the typical minimum parking requirement for the indicated uses. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: K.1 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7563-A 8 The applicant has indicated a single-ground mounted sign will be installed along University Avenue. The applicant has indicated the sign will be consistent with signage allowed in office zones or a maximum of six feet in height and sixty-four square feet in area. The applicant has indicated potential office users and the residential development will share the proposed sign. The applicant has also indicated a small plaque will be added to the units housing the potential office users. The applicant has indicated the signage will be no more than ten percent of the unit’s façade area. Staff is supportive of the applicant’s indicated signage plan. The applicant has indicated screening will be installed adjacent to properties zoned or used as residential. The applicant has also indicated landscaping will be added to the interior of the site consistent with ordinance requirements. The applicant has indicated the fill located within the floodway will be removed prior to development. The applicant has also indicated retaining walls, consistent with ordinance requirement with regard to height and landscaping, will be added to stabilize the site. The applicant has indicated a detailed grading plan will be provided to staff prior to development. The applicant is requesting the closure of Grant Street and G Street within the proposed development. Both streets were indicated as right-of-way when the area was final platted but were never constructed. The applicant has indicated an emergency access gate entering the site from Grant Street to the south but is not proposing to access the site from the south. The applicant has indicated the development will not be a gated development and is proposing only one entrance, from University Avenue. Staff is supportive of the proposed development. The applicant has indicated the development of the site as a condominium complex with limited office uses. The applicant has indicated parking sufficient to meet the minimum parking required for the indicated uses. To staff’s knowledge, there are no outstanding issues associated with the proposed request. Staff feels if the development is constructed as proposed there should be minimal impact on adjoining properties. I. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the request subject to compliance with the conditions: 1. Compliance with the conditions outlined in paragraphs D, E and F of the above report. 2. The 10,000 square feet of general and professional office uses are to be located in Buildings I and II. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: K.1 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7563-A 9 Staff recommends approval of the requested abandonment of “G” Street where abutting the site and Grant Street within the site. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 3, 2005) The applicant was present representing the request. There were no registered objectors present. Staff stated the applicant had filed to notify property owners as required by the Planning Commission By-laws. Staff presented a recommendation the item be deferred to the March 17, 2005, Public Hearing. There was no further discussion of the item. The Chair entertained a motion to place the item for inclusion on the Consent Agenda for Deferral. The motion carried by a vote of 10 ayes, 0 noes and 1 absent. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) The applicant was present representing the request. There were no registered objectors present. Staff presented the item requesting a deferral of the item to the April 14, 2005, Public Hearing. Staff stated there were unresolved issues related to the request and requested additional time to resolve the issues. There was no further discussion of the item. The Chair entertained a motion to place the item for inclusion on the Consent Agenda for Deferral. The motion carried by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 noes and 2 absent. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: L FILE NO.: Z-7785 NAME: MDS of Tennessee Medical Waste Disposal Facility – Conditional Use Permit LOCATION: 5400 Scott Hamilton Drive OWNER/APPLICANT: MDS of Tennessee PROPOSAL: A conditional use permit is requested to allow for construction of a medical waste disposal facility on this I-2 zoned, 3.77± acre tract. 1. SITE LOCATION: The property is located on the west side of Scott Hamilton; just south of its northern terminus, north of 65th Street. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: The property is located within the 65th Street Industrial District. Uses in the area are industrial in nature; including warehousing and manufacturing. Areas of undeveloped I-2 and R-2 zoned properties are located to the west and north. Section 36-575 of the code states “medical waste disposal facilities shall not be permitted to operate within 1,000 feet of an occupied structure or district zoned for residential uses.” There are 11 occupied structures and the aforementioned R-2 zoned property within 1,000 feet of the proposed facility. In light of this, staff does not believe the proposed use is compatible with the neighborhood. All owners of property located within 1,000 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified and the Upper Baseline, Wakefield, Geyer Springs and SWLR United for Progress Neighborhood Associations were notified of this request. 3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: A single driveway is proposed onto Scott Hamilton Drive. A 24-space parking lot is proposed in front of the building and a truck parking/maneuvering lot is shown behind the building. The business will employ 12-20 persons. It appears there is sufficient parking on the site to accommodate the use. A couple of spaces in the front lot will likely be lost to interior landscape requirements. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: L (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7785 2 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: Compliance with the City’s Landscape and Buffer Ordinances is required. The plan submitted does not allow for the 39-foot wide on-site street buffer required by the Zoning Ordinance nor the 9-foot wide on-site landscape strip required by the Landscape Ordinance along the site’s eastern perimeter. An irrigation system to water landscaped areas will be required. 5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: 1. Repair or replace any curb and gutter that is damaged in the public right-of-way prior to occupancy. This site is in a sidewalk exclusion zone. 2. All driveways shall be concrete aprons per City Ordinance. 3. A grading permit in accordance with Section 29-186(c) and (d) will be required prior to any land clearing or grading activities at the site. Site grading, and drainage plans will need to be submitted and approved prior to the start of construction. 4. A special Grading Permit for Flood Hazard areas will be required per Section 8-283 prior to construction. 6. UTILITY, FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS: Wastewater: Sewer available, not adversely affected. Entergy: Approved as submitted. CenterPoint Energy: Four (4) inch steel gas main located on Scott Hamilton. This line has sufficient capacity to serve this location. Southwestern Bell: Approved as submitted. Water: All Central Arkansas Water requirements in effect at the time of request for water service must be met. Additional fire hydrant(s) will be required. Contact the Little Rock Fire Department to obtain information regarding the required placement of the hydrant(s) and contact Central Arkansas Water regarding procedures for installation of the hydrant(s). Due to the nature of this facility, installation of an approved reduced pressure zone backflow March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: L (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7785 3 preventer assembly (RPZA) 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 Carroll Keatts at 992-2431 if you would like to discuss backflow prevention requirements for this project. Fire Department: No Comments received. County Planning: No Comments. CATA: The site is not on a CATA bus route. The nearest route is at Scott Hamilton and Hoerner, one block to the south. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (JANUARY 6, 2005) Charles Best and Bob Slaughter were present representing the application. Staff presented the item and noted additional information was needed regarding signage, days and hours of operation, number of employees, site lighting, dumpster location and fencing. Staff asked for additional information on the proposed operation; including how many trucks would come to the site daily, how long the medical waste would be kept on the site and where the medical waste would be coming from. The applicant was directed to provide a copy of the application or draft application for permit to Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, a copy of the facility’s emergency preparedness plan and a copy of the facility’s maintenance schedule. Staff also noted that the applicant must provide the name of contractors retained to build the facility and proof of license required by Arkansas Code. Staff asked the applicant to redesign the handicap parking spaces on the site plan to comply with ADA standards. Staff informed the Committee of the variance from the required 1,000 foot setback from any occupied structure. Public Works and Landscape Comments were noted. Mike Hood of Public Works noted that the site had been in violation of the City’s Land Alteration ordinance due to premature grading and tree removal. He stated the applicant had responded and staff had set aside remaining restoration requirements pending outcome of the C.U.P. process. The applicant was directed to respond to staff issues by January 12, 2005. The Committee forwarded the item to the full Commission. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: L (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7785 4 STAFF ANALYSIS: MDS of Tennessee is requesting approval of a conditional use permit to allow for development of a medical waste disposal facility on the I-2 zoned property located at 5400 Scott Hamilton Drive. The Code defines medical waste as: Medical waste is solid, semisolid or liquid waste and includes isolation waste, infectious agents, pathological waste, human or animal blood and blood products, sharps and nonsharps, human or animal body parts, contaminated bedding, surgical wastes and other contaminated disposal medical equipment and material that may pose a risk to the public health or welfare. A disposal facility is defined as: Disposal facility means any land and appurtenances thereon and thereto, used for the treatment, storage, or disposal by any means of hazardous or medical waste, excluding a crematorium. The applicants propose to construct a 10,600 square foot (106’ X 100’), one- story, prefab metal building on the site. A series of garage door openings will provide truck access into the building. A single driveway will provide access to the site from Scott Hamilton Drive. A 24-space parking lot will be located in front of the building and a truck parking and maneuvering area will be located behind the building. The building will contain offices and the medical waste disposal equipment. Medical waste will be delivered to the site and off-loaded in the building for treatment. The facility uses autoclave (steam) treatment to decontaminate the medical waste. The treated waste is then compacted and delivered to a landfill site for disposal. The applicant has responded to most of the questions raised at Subdivision Committee. Copies of permit applications to Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and the Arkansas Department of Health have been submitted. The facility is proposed to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Copies of the facility’s emergency procedures and standard operating procedures have been submitted and are attached. The maintenance schedule is as follows: March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: L (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7785 5 Maintenance schedule – Boiler 1. Honeywell controller will be checked daily. 2. Blow down processed daily to eliminate build up and scale. 3. Gas safety shut off will be checked twice a week. 4. Water safety shut off will be checked twice a week. 5. Steam relief valve will be checked daily. 6. Boiler will have a yearly inspection performed by an outside company and the company, which insures the boiler. 7. Steam lines will be checked daily. Maintenance schedule – Autoclave 1. Steam lines checked daily. 2. Steam relief valve checked daily 3. Honeywell chart checked daily. 4. Honeywell chart and controls are required to be checked and calibrated quarterly by a Honeywell representative. Air compressor checked daily. The facility will have 12 to 20 employees. Ten to fifteen truck deliveries will be made daily to the facility. Medical waste will not be stored on the property for longer than 10 days and any waste held for more than 72 hours will be stored at a temperature of 45 degrees or less. All trucks with medical waste on board will be locked at all times until they are unloaded. After being treated, the medical waste will go into a compactor and then a packer box, which will be taken to a landfill. The applicant will try to take packed boxes to the landfill within 8 hours, but it could be 2 to 3 days because of truck problems, weather or the landfill being closed. Medical waste will come to this facility from Arkansas and from out of state. The parent company of MDS, Commodore, has a medical waste disposal facility in Nashville, Tennessee which will serve as the backup facility for this site. This facility will serve as the backup facility for the Nashville plant. Staff is not supportive of the proposed conditional use. Section 36-575 of the Code states “medical waste disposal facilities shall not be permitted to operate within 1,000 feet of an occupied structure or district zoned for residential uses.” A large area of R-2 zoned property is located approximately 200 feet north of this site. Within a 1,000-foot radius around the site are 11 occupied structures including the following: Laidlaw Bus Terminal; Communication Supply Service Association; Windsor Door; East Harding Contractors; SAIA Motor Freight; CD & L; River City Cold Storage; Klean, Inc.; Earle M. Jorgensen Company; RIC, Inc.; and Essick Air Products. The applicant is requesting a variance of this spacing requirement. Staff believes it is more appropriate for the applicant to locate a site which would comply with the spacing requirement so as to lessen the March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: L (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7785 6 potential negative impact on area businesses and properties. An occupied structure is defined as: Occupied structure means a building or other structure: (1) Where any person lives or carries on a business or other calling; or (2) Where people assemble for purposes of business, government, education, religion, entertainment or public transportation; or (3) Which is customarily used for overnight accommodation of persons whether or not a person is actually present. Each unit of a structure divided into separate units designed for occupancy is itself an occupied structure; or (4) Which has not yet been constructed or completed but for which a building permit where applicable has been issued by the city and is valid on the date the application for the conditional use permit is filed. Additionally, the site plan does not provide for the required 39 feet street buffer. The plan proposes instead a 10-foot landscape strip. The applicant has also not provided the identity of contractors retained to build the facility and proof of any license required as stipulated by Section 36-579(10) of the Code. Signage and lighting plans have not been submitted. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends denial of the application. STAFF REPORT: On January 24, 2005, the applicant requested deferral of the item to the March 3, 2005 Agenda. Staff supports the requested deferral. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (FEBRUARY 3, 2005) The applicant was present. There were no registered objectors present. Staff recommended that the item be deferred to the March 3, 2005 Agenda. There was no further discussion. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and deferred to the March 3, 2005 meeting by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 noes and 2 absent. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: L (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7785 7 PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 3, 2005) The applicant was not present. There were no objectors present. Staff informed the Commission that the applicant had failed to send notices as required by the Commission bylaws. There was no further discussion. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved for deferral to the March 17, 2005 Commission hearing. The vote was 9 ayes, 0 noes and 2 absent. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) The applicant was present. There were several objectors present. Staff informed the Commission that the applicant was requesting deferral of the item due to changes in personnel at the company’s corporate office. Staff explained that the local representative had only been made aware of the change in the afternoon of March 16, 2005 and was not prepared to go to a hearing at this time. A motion was made to waive the Commission’s bylaws and to accept the late request for deferral. The motion was approved by a vote of 8 ayes, 1 noe and 2 absent. The item was then placed on the Consent Agenda and approved for deferral to the April 28, 2005 meeting by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 noes and 2 absent. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 1 FILE NO.: Z-7800 Name: Badgett Day Care Family Home – Special Use Permit Location: 4120 West Drive Owner: Rotekia Badgett Applicant: Rotekia Badgett Proposal: A Special Use Permit is requested to allow a Day Care Family Home to be operated in the single family residence located on the R-2 zoned property at 4120 West Drive. A. Public Notification: All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified, and the Upper Baseline and SWLR United for Progress Neighborhood Associations were notified of the public hearing. B. Staff Analysis: 4120 West Drive is located on the north side of West Drive, east of Reck Road. All surrounding properties are zoned R-2 and contain single family residences. The large single family lot contains approximately 1.5 acres. The applicant’s home is a one-story frame structure, and is typical of those in the general area. The entire yard is fenced and should provide a safe play area. The applicant has noted that she will separately fence a smaller play area, within the fenced yard. The applicant proposes to operate the day care from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The applicant has noted that she will have no employees initially. Her mother, who also lives at 4120 West Drive, will help care for the children in the future. There is a two-car wide driveway from West Drive, with parking for five (5) vehicles (including the carport). Staff feels that this will allow sufficient space for drop-off and pick-up of children. On inspection of the site, staff observed no vehicles parked on unpaved areas. Staff also observed no vehicles on the site, which were not operational. The applicant is not currently operating a day care use at this location, as she is in the process of becoming licensed by the State Department of Human Services. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 1 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7800 2 The principal use of the property will remain single family residential. No signage beyond that allowed in single family zones will be permitted. The applicant submitted a copy of the Bill of Assurance for this neighborhood, which was recorded in 1950 and addresses no use issues. Section 36-54(e)(3) of the City of Little Rock Zoning Ordinance establishes the site and location criteria for day care family homes as follows: Day care family home: a. This use may be located only in a single family home, occupied by the care giver and which is the full time residence of the care giver. b. Must be operated within licensing procedures established by the State of Arkansas. State regulations shall control the number of employees residing off premises. c. The use is limited to ten (10) children including the care givers. d. The minimum to qualify for special use permit is six (6) children from households other than the care givers. e. This use must obtain a special use permit in all districts where day care centers are not allowed by right. f. After the effective date of this subsection, no Special Use Permit will be approved for a day care family proposed to be located within 300 feet of a licensed day care center or an operating day care family home for which a Special Use Permit has previously been approved. For the purposes of this subsection, the distance between properties shall be measured in a straight line without regard to intervening structures or objects, from property line to property line. g. All day care family homes located in the City of Little Rock are required to obtain a City of Little Rock business license and to pay an annual business tax as specified in Chapter 17. of the Code. h. A copy of the day care family home’s current State of Arkansas license must be submitted to the City Collector’s Office each year at the time of payment of the annual business tax. i. All vehicles must be parked on an on-site paved surface. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 1 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7800 3 j. All vehicles located on the site must be operational. k. All pick-up and drop-off of children shall be on the property’s driveway and not on the public right-of-way unless otherwise approved by the Planning Commission. l. Special Use Permits for day care family homes shall be reviewed by staff every three (3) years for compliance with the development criteria and Planning Commission approval. m. The Fire Marshall must approve use of the residence for the proposed day care family home. Special Use Permits are not transferable in any manner. Permits cannot be transferred from owner to owner, location to location or use to use. To staff’s knowledge, there are no outstanding issues associated with this application. Staff feels that the proposed day care family home at this location will have no adverse impact on the general area. Based on information provided by the State, there are no permitted/licensed day care family homes or day care centers within 300 feet of the site. C. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (FEBRUARY 24, 2005) Rotekia Badgett was present, representing the application. Staff presented the proposed special use permit request. Staff noted that inspection of the property revealed no violations of the ordinance requirements for day care family homes. Staff noted that the proposed day care family home was not located within 300 feet of another day care family home or day care center. After the discussion, the Committee forwarded the application to the full Commission for final action. D. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the Special Use Permit to allow a day care family home at 4120 West Drive, subject to the following conditions: 1. Compliance with the site and location criteria established in Section 36-54(e)(3). 2. There is to be no signage beyond that permitted in single family zones. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 1 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7800 4 3. Outdoor activities, including playground use, are to be limited to day- light hours. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) Rotekia Badgett was present, representing the application. There were five (5) objectors present and one (1) person in support. Staff presented the item with a recommendation of approval. Ruth Bell addressed the Commission in support of the application. She noted that the application met City and State requirements. Janet Berry addressed the Commission in opposition. She noted that she supported Upper Baseline Neighborhood Association’s opposition to the day care use. Pat Gee addressed the Commission in opposition. She described the neighborhood and how it had been cleaned up over the years. She stated that she would like to keep West Drive a residential area. Sally Majors also spoke in opposition. She stated that business uses should not be allowed in residential areas. She expressed concern that the house was not large enough for the day care use. R.M. Foster also spoke in opposition. He described the neighborhood, noting that West Drive was a narrow street. He noted that West Drive was not a suitable location for a day care use. Troy Laha also addressed the Commission in opposition. He explained that business uses should not be allowed in residential areas. Rotekia Badgett addressed the Commission in support of the application. She noted that the State Department of Human Services had approved her for a day care family home. She explained that her mother would help care for the children. She also explained that the large yard area would provide a good play area which should create little noise. Commissioner Adcock asked Ms. Badgett if she wanted to own her own business. Ms. Badgett stated that she did. Commissioner Adcock asked Ms. Badgett if she considered the day care use a business. Ms. Badgett stated March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 1 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7800 5 that it was employment for herself and family. Commissioner Floyd asked if Ms. Badgett was in the process of buying the home. Ms. Badgett stated that she was. There was a brief discussion of the parking required for a day care family home. There was additional discussion of the State’s license requirements for day care family homes. There was a motion to approve the application as recommended by staff. The motion failed by a vote of 3 ayes, 6 nays and 2 absent. The application was denied. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 2 FILE NO.: Z-7801 Name: Hunter Day Care Family Home – Special Use Permit Location: 5 Apple Cove Owner: Demetrius Clark and Annette Hunter Applicant: Annette Hunter Proposal: A Special Use Permit is requested to allow a Day Care Family Home to be operated in the single family residence located on the R-3 zoned property at 5 Apple Cove. A. Public Notification: All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified, and the Geyer Springs, Wakefield and SWLR United for Progress Neighborhood Associations were notified of the public hearing. B. Staff Analysis: 5 Apple Cove is located on the east side of Apple Cove, south of Ballinger Road. The properties to the north, south and west are also zoned R-3 and contain single family residences. Properties to the east are zoned R-2 and R-5, and contain single family and multifamily residences. The applicant’s home is a one-story brick and frame structure, and is typical of those in the general area. The rear yard is partially fenced. The applicant has noted that the remainder of the rear yard will be fenced for a play area. The applicant proposes to operate the day care from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The applicant has noted that she will have no employees, unless specifically required by the State Department of Human Services. There is a one-car wide driveway from Apple Cove, with parking for two (2) vehicles. The applicant is proposing to widen the drive to a two-car width, with parking for four (4) vehicles total. Staff feels that this will allow sufficient space for drop-off and pick-up of children. On inspection of the site, staff observed no vehicles parked on unpaved areas. Staff also observed no vehicles on the site, which were not operational. The applicant is not currently operating a day care use at this location, as she is in the process of becoming licensed by the State DHS. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 2 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7801 2 The principal use of the property will remain single family residential. No signage beyond that allowed in single family zones will be permitted. The applicant submitted a copy of the Bill of Assurance for this neighborhood, which was recorded in 1977 and appears to still be in effect. The Bill of Assurance contains the following language: “(6) Land Use and Building Type. Restricted to single family residential usage only, and no building shall be erected, altered, placed or permitted to remain on any lot other than one single family dwelling not to exceed one and one-half stories in height, and a private garage or carport for not more than two cars.” Section 36-54(e)(3) of the City of Little Rock Zoning Ordinance establishes the site and location criteria for day care family homes as follows: Day care family home: a. This use may be located only in a single family home, occupied by the care giver and which is the full time residence of the care giver. b. Must be operated within licensing procedures established by the State of Arkansas. State regulations shall control the number of employees residing off premises. c. The use is limited to ten (10) children including the care givers. d. The minimum to qualify for special use permit is six (6) children from households other than the care givers. e. This use must obtain a special use permit in all districts where day care centers are not allowed by right. f. After the effective date of this subsection, no Special Use Permit will be approved for a day care family proposed to be located within 300 feet of a licensed day care center or an operating day care family home for which a Special Use Permit has previously been approved. For the purposes of this subsection, the distance between properties shall be measured in a straight line without regard to intervening structures or objects, from property line to property line. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 2 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7801 3 g. All day care family homes located in the City of Little Rock are required to obtain a City of Little Rock business license and to pay an annual business tax as specified in Chapter 17. of the Code. h. A copy of the day care family home’s current State of Arkansas license must be submitted to the City Collector’s Office each year at the time of payment of the annual business tax. i. All vehicles must be parked on an on-site paved surface. j. All vehicles located on the site must be operational. k. All pick-up and drop-off of children shall be on the property’s driveway and not on the public right-of-way unless otherwise approved by the Planning Commission. l. Special Use Permits for day care family homes shall be reviewed by staff every three (3) years for compliance with the development criteria and Planning Commission approval. m. The Fire Marshall must approve use of the residence for the proposed day care family home. Special Use Permits are not transferable in any manner. Permits cannot be transferred from owner to owner, location to location or use to use. To staff’s knowledge, there are no outstanding issues associated with this application. Staff feels that the proposed day care family home at this location will have no adverse impact on the general area. Based on information provided by the State, there are no permitted/licensed day care family homes or day care centers within 300 feet of the site. C. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (FEBRUARY 24, 2005) Annette Hunter was present, representing the application. Staff presented the proposed special use permit request. Staff noted that inspection of the property revealed no violations of the ordinance requirements for day care family homes. Staff noted that the proposed day care family home was not located within 300 feet of another day care family home or day care center. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 2 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7801 4 Staff explained that the applicant was proposing to widen the driveway to a two-car width. Ms. Hunter asked if brick pavers could be used for the widening. The Committee indicated support for this proposal. After the discussion, the Committee forwarded the application to the full Commission for final action. D. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the Special Use Permit to allow a day care family home at 5 Apple Cove, subject to the following conditions: 1. Compliance with the site and location criteria established in Section 36-54(e)(3). 2. There is to be no signage beyond that permitted in single family zones. 3. Outdoor activities, including playground use, are to be limited to day-light hours. 4. If approved, the driveway must be widened to a two-car width within 30 days of the final approval date. 5. The remainder of the rear yard must be fenced within 30 days of the final approval date. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) Annette Hunter was present, representing the application. There was one (1) person present in opposition and one (1) person present in support. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval. Annette Hunter addressed the Commission in support of the application. She explained that she only intended to care for six (6) children at this location. Ruth Bell also addressed the Commission in support. She noted that the application met City and State requirements. Troy Laha addressed the Commission in opposition. He noted that Annette Hunter was not an owner of the property. He expressed concerns that Ms. Hunter did not have a plan for the day care use. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 2 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7801 5 Ms. Hunter noted that she had been director of a day care center in the past. She noted that she had a plan and understood the requirements for a day care family home. She also noted that she had power of attorney for the property which is owned by her son. There was a motion to approve the application as recommended by staff. The motion failed by a vote of 5 ayes, 4 nays and 2 absent. The application was denied. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 3 FILE NO.: LU05-12-02 Name: Land Use Plan Amendment - 65th Street West Planning District Location: Southeast Corner of David O. Dodd Road and Bowman Plaza Drive Request: Office to Commercial Source: Joe White, White - Daters and Associates, Inc. PROPOSAL / REQUEST: Land Use Plan amendment in the 65th Street West Planning District from Office to Commercial. The Commercial category includes a broad range of retail and wholesale sales of products, personal and professional services, and general business activities. Commercial activities vary in type and scale, depending on the trade area that they serve. The applicant has requested the rezoning for future development. Staff is not expanding the application since the Land Use Plan in this area was reviewed within year and a half. EXISTING LAND USE AND ZONING: The property is undeveloped and currently zoned O-3 (General Office District) and is 9 acres ± in size. North of the site is land zoned C-3 (General Commercial District) partially undeveloped and partially developing with a gas station and car wash. Further north and on the north side of Colonel Glenn Road is land zoned C-2 (Shopping Center District) partially forested and approved for development of the Village at Brodie Creek Shopping Center. Northeast and east of the property is additional land zoned C-3 and developed with an 18 screen Rave Movie Theatre and land zoned C-4 (Open Display Commercial District) developed with a bank and car dealerships. Further northeast and on the east side of Interstate 430 are lands zoned C-2, C-3, and C-4, developed with several commercial and office uses including a retail strip center, and fast food restaurants. East of Interstate 430 are additional lands zoned POD (Planned Office Development), O-3 (General Office District), and an undeveloped OS (Open Space) area. South of the property is land zoned R-2 that is partly undeveloped forest and developed with a single-family home subdivision. Southeast of the property is undeveloped C-3 land and R-2 (Single Family Residence District); a strip of OS zoned land separates the two zones. Immediately southwest of the property is J A Fair High School operating with a Conditional Use Permit on R-2 zoned land. FUTURE LAND USE PLAN AND RECENT AMENDMENTS: On October 21, 2003 a change was made from Office to Commercial and Open Space immediately south and southeast of the applicant’s property. On February 4, 2003 a change was made from Multifamily to Mixed Office Commercial on the southwest corner of I-430 and W. 36th Street about a quarter mile north of the applicant’s property to accommodate proposed development. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 3 (Cont.) FILE NO.: LU05-12-02 2 On January 7, 2003 a change was made from Office to Commercial at 12201 Colonel Glenn Road about a quarter mile north of the applicant’s property to accommodate proposed development. On January 16, 2001 a change was made from Mixed Use and Suburban Office to Commercial and Office on the southeast corner of I-430 and Colonel Glenn Road about a quarter mile northeast of the applicant’s property to accommodate proposed development. On September 19, 2000 a change was made from Low Density Residential and Mixed Office Commercial to Mixed Use on W. 36th Street and Bowman Road about one mile north of the applicant’s property to accommodate proposed development. The applicant’s property is currently shown as Office on the plan. Northwest and northeast of the property are areas shown as Commercial. Further northwest and northeast of the property and on the north side of Colonel Glenn Road area areas shown as Mixed Office Commercial and Public Institutional. Land to the east is shown as Commercial. Shown immediately to the south is a Park Open Space buffer separating a Commercial area immediately southeast of the applicant’s property and a Public Institutional area shown immediately to the southwest. West of the property is an area shown as Office. MASTER STREET PLAN: David O. Dodd Road is shown as a Minor Arterial on the Master Street Plan. The purpose of a Minor Arterial is to provide connections to and through an urban area. Bowman Plaza Drive is shown as a Local Street on the Master Street Plan. The primary function of a Local Street is to provide access to adjacent properties. Bowman Plaza Drive is also considered a Commercial Local streets so additional right-of-way, paving, and landscaping may be required. David O. Dodd Road and Bowman Plaza Drive may require dedication of right-of-way and street improvements. BICYCLE PLAN: A Class I bikeway is shown following David O. Dodd Road adjacent to the property. A Class I Bikeway is built separate from or alongside a road. Additional paving and right of way may be required. PARKS: This application is in the West Central Parks Planning District. This park district recognizes that a large amount of area land is in flood plains that create many opportunities for recreation like trails, bikeways, passive recreation, and open space. There are no public parks within a mile of the proposed development. A nearby high school does offer limited recreational opportunities with several ball fields. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 3 (Cont.) FILE NO.: LU05-12-02 3 HISTORIC DISTRICTS: There are no city recognized historic districts that would be affected by this amendment. CITY RECOGNIZED NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION PLAN: The property under review is not located in an area covered by a City of Little Rock recognized neighborhood action plan. ANALYSIS: The applicant’s land is in an area that is largely under development and becoming an area of numerous commercial activities focused on the I-430 and Colonel Glenn Road Interchange. Approximately 293 acres of land is shown for possible commercial use surrounding the interchange consisting of areas shown as Commercial (163 acres ±), Mixed Office Commercial (120 acres ±), and Community Shopping (10 acres ±) on the Future Land Use Plan. Approximately 69 acres are shown for Office and approximately 205 acres are shown as Suburban Office in this node. Several large developments for the area have occurred or been announced recently in the area. In 2000 a large movie theatre complex, the Rave, opened followed by two car dealerships and most recently, a bank. In 2003, zoning and Land Use Plan amendments have been approved for a 90+ acre open-air shopping center northwest of the I-430 Colonel Glenn interchange. This shopping center is anticipated to have national department stores, retail shops, and restaurants. Construction is yet to begin on this shopping center development. The southwest corner of this intersection has an abundance of undeveloped Commercial land. Approximately 45 acres in the immediately southeast of the site remains undeveloped. Even though new development is occurring in the area, ample supply still exists. In October of 2003 a large Commercial area was added southwest of the property. Included in this change were strips of Open Space intended to provide a buffer to adjacent Single Family and the Public Institutional areas. That addition of that Commercial land directly related to Bowman Plaza and Colonel Glenn Plaza Drives. Currently the existing Commercial area is adjacent to the rear portion of the school, which primarily consists of undeveloped land, athletic fields, and a track and field with bleachers. The proposed change of the applicant’s property would result in additional Commercial along the entirety of the east side of the Public Institutional area. Staff feels that an Open Space strip should be required adjacent to the Public Institutional area to match the open space surrounding the nearby commercial area to complete the Park/Open Space buffer on the east side, and provide one on the north side. Furthermore, Staff would prefer that any development on the site would be focused on Bowman Plaza Drive, not David O. Dodd Road. Currently, commercial development in the area is focused on Colonel Glenn Road, and the commercial area alongside Bowman Plaza and Colonel Glenn Plaza Drives. More intense land uses, such as C-4 (Open Display Commercial), are located at the northeast edge of this Commercial area. Currently use intensities step-down from the northeast to the southwest to ensure a smooth transition between the I-430 / Colonel Glenn Road interchange and the nearby institutional and single-family uses. Since the commercial activities in the area front either Bowman Plaza Drive, Colonel Glenn March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 3 (Cont.) FILE NO.: LU05-12-02 4 Plaza Drive, or Colonel Glenn Road, changing this land to Commercial could introduce a higher intensity use near David O. Dodd Road, but would complete the Commercial area centered around Bowman Plaza and Colonel Glenn Plaza Drives. Changing this land would reduce the Office area north of J A Fair School, further emphasizing the importance of keeping the remaining Office area as a buffer. Any additional expansion of Commercial west into the Office area might conflict with the Public Institutional area. The Commercial area immediately south of this area has a one hundred foot wide open space strip between it and the Public Institutional area. This open space concept could be carried onto the current application. The amount of open space at the edges could be used in the future to provide a recreational trail or bike path in the future, which would be consistent with the Neighborhood Action Plan’s Parks and Recreation Goals. Addition of this Commercial would be more directly connected to the school and the open space would require an adequate buffer. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS: Notices were sent to the following neighborhood associations Meadowcliff/Brookwood Neighborhood Association, Tall Timber Homeowners Association, South Brookwood Ponderosa, Pecan Lake Property Owners Association, Stagecoach-Dodd Neighborhood Association, and John Barrow Neighborhood Association. Staff has received two comments from area residents, both of them being positive in nature. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff believes the change would be appropriate since it fronts Bowman Plaza Drive, if a Park/Open Space buffer is added adjacent to the area shown as Public Institutional on the east and north side of the school. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) The item was placed on the consent agenda for approval. A motion was made to approve the consent agenda and was approved with a vote of 9 ayes, 0 noes and 2 absent. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 3.1 FILE NO.: Z-3371-M Owner: Colonel Glenn Partners, LLC Applicant: White-Daters and Associates Location: South side of Bowman Plaza Drive, at David O Dodd Road Area: 8.6298 Acres Request: Rezone from O-3 to C-3 Purpose: Future commercial development Existing Use: Undeveloped SURROUNDING LAND USE AND ZONING North – Theatre and undeveloped property; zoned C-3 and C-4 South – J. A. Fair High School and undeveloped property; zoned R-2 and C-3 East – Undeveloped property; zoned C-3 West – Undeveloped property; zoned O-3 A. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: No Comments. B. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT: The site is not located on a CATA Bus Route. C. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION: All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified, and the SWLR United for Progress and John Barrow Neighborhood Associations were notified of the public hearing. D. LAND USE ELEMENT: This request is located in the 65th Street West District. The Land Use Plan shows Office for this property. The applicant has applied for a March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 3.1 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-3371-M 2 rezoning from O-3 (General Office District) to C-3 (General Commercial District) for unspecified development. A land use plan amendment for a change to Commercial is a separate item on this agenda. (LU05-12-02) Master Street Plan: David O Dodd Road is shown as a Minor Arterial on the Master Street Plan. The purpose of a Minor Arterial is to provide connections to and through an urban area. Bowman Plaza Drive is shown as a Local Street on the Master Street Plan. The primary function of a Local Street is to provide access to adjacent properties. Bowman Plaza Drive is considered a Local Commercial Street so additional right-of-way, paving, and landscaping may be required. David O Dodd Road and Bowman Plaza Drive may require dedication of right-of-way and street improvements. Bicycle Plan: A Class I bikeway is shown following David O Dodd Road west of the property. A Class I bikeway is built separate from or alongside a road. Additional paving and right-of-way may be required. City Recognized Neighborhood Action Plan: The property under review is not located in an area covered by a City of Little Rock recognized neighborhood action plan. E. STAFF ANALYSIS: Colonel Glenn Partners, LLC, owner of the 8.6298 Acre property along the south side of Bowman Plaza Drive, at David O Dodd Road, is requesting to rezone the property from “O-3” General Office District to “C-3” General Commercial District. The rezoning is proposed for future commercial development of the property. The property is currently undeveloped and partially wooded. The property slopes upward from Bowman Plaza Drive and David O Dodd Road. The southeast portion of the property is approximately is 15 feet above the grade of Bowman Plaza Drive. The general area contains a mixture of uses and zoning. The Rave Theatre is located on the C-3/C-4 zoned property across Bowman Plaza Drive to the north. J.A. Fair High School is located to the southwest on March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 3.1 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-3371-M 3 R-2 zoned property. There is undeveloped C-3 zoned property to the east and southeast, with undeveloped O-3 zoned property to the west. There is additional undeveloped C-3 zoned property to the north, with a branch bank being developed at the southeast corner of Colonel Glenn and David O Dodd Roads. The City’s Future Land Use Plan designates this property as office. The applicant has filed a separate application to change the land use plan from Office to Commercial (Item 3. on this agenda). Staff is supportive of the proposed C-3 zoning of the property. Given the existing school use immediately west and south of the property, staff feels that the west and south 50 feet of this property (where abutting the school property) should be maintained as an undisturbed buffer and zoned OS. This will be consistent with the C-3 zoned property immediately to the south, which was recently rezoned, providing a 50 foot wide undisturbed buffer (zoned OS) adjacent to the school property. Staff feels that the proposed C-3 zoning, with added buffers, will have no adverse impact on the adjacent properties or the general area. Staff feels that the undeveloped O-3 property immediately to the west will serve as an adequate transition from the C-3 zoned property to the less intense zoning and uses (including single family) near the intersection of David O Dodd Road and Lawson Road (Church Road). F. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the requested C-3 zoning, subject to the south and west 50 feet of the property, where adjacent to J.A. Fair High School property, remaining as an undisturbed buffer and zoned OS. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item with a recommendation of approval. The applicant offered no additional comments. The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for approval as recommended by staff. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays and 2 absent. The application was approved. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 4 FILE NO.: Z-5099-C Owner: Pfeifer Development Company Applicant: White-Daters and Associates Location: Near the northeast corner of Cantrell Road and Chenal Parkway Area: 1.91 Acres Request: Rezone from MF-18 to O-3 Purpose: Future office development Existing Use: Undeveloped SURROUNDING LAND USE AND ZONING North – Undeveloped; zoned MF-18 South – Undeveloped; zoned O-3 East – Single family, school and undeveloped property; zoned R-2 West – Undeveloped; zoned MF-18 and O-3 A. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: No Comments. B. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT: The site is not located on a CATA Bus Route. CATA Route #25 (Highway 10 Express Route) runs along Cantrell Road to the south. C. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION: All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified, and the Duquesne Place and Aberdeen Court Neighborhood Associations were notified of the public hearing. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 4 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-5099-C 2 D. LAND USE ELEMENT: This request is located in the Pinnacle Planning District. The Land Use Plan shows Multifamily for this property. The applicant has applied for a rezoning from MF-18 (Multifamily District) to O-3 (General Office District) to make area zoning consistent with roadway alignment requested by Public Works. Staff envisioned that a roadway would separate the Multifamily and Office in this area. Since the land use plan is general in nature and reflects a concept, an amendment is not necessary. The areas will be re-illustrated to properly reflect the concept of the street separating the uses if the zoning is approved. Master Street Plan: At the present time there are no roads adjacent to this application. Currently a preliminary plat indicates a two Local Commercial Streets north and east of this site. Street improvements and dedication of right- of-way may be necessary when development occurs adjacent to the proposed roadway. Bicycle Plan: Existing or proposed Class I, II, or III bikeways are not in the immediate vicinity of the development. City Recognized Neighborhood Action Plan: The property under review is not located in an area covered by a City of Little Rock recognized neighborhood action plan. E. STAFF ANALYSIS: Pfeifer Development Company, owner of the 1.91 Acre property near the northeast corner of Cantrell Road and Chenal Parkway, is proposing to rezone the property from “MF-18” multifamily to “O-3” General Office District. The rezoning is proposed based on the fact that the alignment of a future street between the MF-18 property and the O-3 zoned property immediately south has been shifted slightly northward, thereby creating a sliver of MF-18 zoned property. The realignment of the future street was approved by the City’s Traffic Engineer through the Conditional Use Permit process for the Little Rock Christian School campus to the east. The new street locations will align with a future access drive from the northwest portion of the school development. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 4 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-5099-C 3 The 1.91 acre property is currently undeveloped, as is the remainder of the MF-18 tract to the north and west, and the O-3 zoned property to the south and west. There is single family zoned property and the Little Rock Christian School campus located to the east. The Northwest Territory Subdivision is located to the west and southwest. The City’s Future Land Use Plan designates this property as Multifamily. The requested zoning change does not require a change to the Land Use Plan, as explained in paragraph D. of this report. Staff is supportive of the requested O-3 zoning. Staff feels that the rezoning of the 1.91 acre sliver in order to incorporate it into the existing O-3 zoned tract on the south side of a future street is reasonable. Given the approved alignment of the future street, it would serve no purpose to leave this sliver of property zoned MF-18. Staff believes the proposed rezoning will have no adverse impact on the general area. F. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the requested O-3 rezoning. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item with a recommendation of approval. The applicant offered no additional comments. The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for approval as recommended by staff. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays and 2 absent. The application was approved. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 5 FILE NO.: Z-7799 Owner: Deltic Timber Corporation Applicant: White-Daters and Associates Location: Near the northeast corner of Chenal Parkway and Rahling Road Area: 1.8836 Acres Request: Rezone from MF-24 and O-2 to C-3 Purpose: Future commercial development Existing Use: Undeveloped SURROUNDING LAND USE AND ZONING North – Undeveloped; zoned O-2 South – Undeveloped; zoned C-3 East – Multifamily and undeveloped property; zoned MF-24 and O-2 West – Undeveloped (across Chenal Parkway); zoned PCD A. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: 1. No comments regarding proposed minor zoning revision. 2. Road improvements shown for Rahling Road are not consistent with previous comments made by Traffic Engineering. An extra lane for dual left turns is to be provided for west bound Rahling Road. B. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT: The site is not located on a CATA Bus Route. C. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION: All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified, and the Margeaux Neighborhood Association were notified of the public hearing. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 5 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7799 2 D. LAND USE ELEMENT: This request is located in the Chenal Planning District. The Land Use Plan shows Commercial for this property. The applicant has applied for a rezoning from MF-24 (Multifamily District) and O-2 (Office and Institutional District) to C-3 (General Commercial District) because the current zoning lines do not meet the street centerlines. The resulting parcels of land are intended to reflect the adjacent zoning and land use plan pattern. The request does not require a change to the Land Use Plan. Master Street Plan: Chenal Parkway is shown as a Principal Arterial on the Master Street Plan. The primary function of a Principal Arterial is to serve through traffic and to connect major traffic generators or activity centers within urbanized areas. Chenal Parkway may require dedication of right-of-way and street improvements. Bicycle Plan: A Class I bikeway is shown on Chenal Parkway adjacent to the property. A Class I bikeway is built separate from or alongside a road. Additional paving and right-of-way may be required. City Recognized Neighborhood Action Plan: The property under review is not located in an area covered by a City of Little Rock recognized neighborhood action plan. E. STAFF ANALYSIS: Deltic Timber Corporation, owner of the 1.8836 Acre property near the northeast corner of Chenal Parkway and Rahling Road, is requesting to rezone the property from “MF-24” Multifamily District and “O-2” Office and Institutional District to “C-3” General Commercial District. There is approximately 0.3778 Acre of MF-24 and 1.5058 Acres of O-2 proposed to be rezoned. The sliver of property is located on the south side of a future street (North Drive), which was recently approved as part of a preliminary plat (Lots A-G, Tract 1, Chenal Valley) consisting of 16.9583 Acres of property at the northeast corner of Chenal Parkway and Rahling Road. The remainder of the 16.9583 Acres is zoned C-3. Therefore, the March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 5 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7799 3 rezoning is proposed in order to adjust the C-3 zoning line to correspond with the boundary of the subdivision. The property is currently undeveloped and mostly wooded. There is a mixture of uses and zoning in this general area. Undeveloped property is located immediately north and south of the sliver of property proposed for rezoning. Undeveloped O-2 zoned property is located to the east. Undeveloped property and single family homes are located across Chenal Parkway to the west and northwest. The Village at Rahling Road commercial development is located across Rahling Road further to the south. An apartment complex is located to the northeast. The City’s Future Land Use Plan designates this property as Commercial. The proposed rezoning to C-3 does not require a change to the Land Use Plan. Staff is supportive of the requested C-3 zoning. Staff feels that the request is reasonable. The rezoning represents a “clean-up” action in adjusting the zoning lines to align with the boundary of the recently approved commercial preliminary plat. As noted previously, 15.0747 Acres of the 16.9583 Acres included in the plat are currently zoned C-3. Therefore, staff believes the proposed rezoning will have no adverse impact on the general area. F. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the requested C-3 rezoning. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item with a recommendation of approval. The applicant offered no additional comments. The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for approval as recommended by staff. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays and 2 absent. The application was approved. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 6 FILE NO.: Z-6096-C NAME: Chenal Valley Montessori School – Revised Conditional Use Permit LOCATION: 15717 Taylor Loop Road OWNER/APPLICANT: Chenal Valley Montessori School/Dorothy Moffett PROPOSAL: A revision to the previously approved conditional use permit is requested to allow for construction of a second building on this R-2 zoned private school site. 1. SITE LOCATION: The property is located on the south side of Taylor Loop Road, between Robyn Lane and Montgomery Road. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: The school has been at this site since 1996. The area is predominately single family in nature with a mixture of older homes and many new homes. The immediate area does also include two churches; located a couple of blocks to the east and west of this site. This relatively small private school has apparently been compatible with the neighborhood. The addition of this one building, with no overall increase in total enrollment, should not affect the school’s continued compatibility with the area. All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified and the Westchester-Heatherbrae, Westbury and Secluded Hills Neighborhood Association were notified of this request. 3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: Access to the site will be via the two existing driveways, which will utilized as one-way entry and exit. The site currently has 15 parking spaces and 7 more will be added under this proposal for a total of 22. Stacking space is available for parents dropping off or picking up children. The school has 14 employees; 7 full-time and 7 working part-time hours throughout the day. The total enrollment at the school will be 80 children. It appears the proposed parking and drop-off areas are sufficient to meet the school’s needs. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 6 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-6096-C 2 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: Compliance with the City’s Landscape and Buffer Ordinances is required. Areas set aside for buffers and landscape appear to meet with ordinance. Curb and gutter or another approved border will be required to protect landscaped areas from vehicular traffic. A six (6) foot high opaque screen, either a wooden fence with its face side directed outward, a wall, or evergreen plantings, is required along the southern perimeter of the site next to the residentially zoned property. 5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: 1. The proposed land use would classify Taylor Loop and Montgomery Road on the Master Street Plan as commercial streets. Dedicate right- of-way to 30 feet from centerline. 2. A 20 feet radial dedication of right-of-way is required at the intersection of the streets. 3. Provide design of street conforming to the Master Street Plan. Construct one-half street improvement to these streets including 5-foot sidewalks with planned development. (The plans indicate improvements.) 4. Plans of all work in right-of-way shall be submitted for approval prior to start of work. Obtain barricade permit prior to doing any work in the right-of-way from Traffic Engineering at (501) 379-1817 (Derrick Bergfield). 5. Storm water detention will not apply to the proposed development. 6. Provide the estimated number of vehicles for peak hour traffic at the school. Sufficient on-site parking must be provided to prevent blocking of the through lanes of Taylor Loop Road. 6. UTILITY, FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS: Wastewater: Sewer available, not adversely affected. Entergy: No Comments received. CenterPoint Energy: No Comments received. Southwestern Bell: No Comments received. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 6 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-6096-C 3 Water: Contact Central Arkansas Water if larger and/or additional water meter(s) are required. Fire Department: No Comments received. County Planning: No Comments. CATA: The site is not located on a CATA bus route. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (FEBRUARY 24, 2005) The applicant was present. Staff presented the item and noted additional information was needed regarding signage, number of employees, days and hours of operation, site lighting, the total number of parking spaces and dumpster location. The applicant was directed to provide a copy of the bill of assurance and surveys of all tracts. Staff asked the status of one small tract of land which appeared to not be owned by the applicant. Public Works, Landscape and Utility Comments were noted. Public Works Staff requested the applicant provide the estimated number of vehicles for peak hour traffic at the school. The applicant was advised to respond to staff issues by March 2, 2005. The Committee forwarded the item to the full Commission. STAFF ANALYSIS: The Chenal Valley Montessori School is located on the R-2 zoned property at 15717 Taylor Loop Road. On March 14, 1996, a conditional use permit was approved to allow for construction of a 1,620 square foot, residential-style building and a 13-space parking lot. The school was to have an enrollment of 30 students. On April 30, 1998, a revision to the C.U.P. was approved to allow for expansion of the student enrollment to 48 students. The second floor of the existing building was finished-out to accommodate an office and two classrooms. No other changes were proposed. On June 22, 2000, the Commission denied a revised C.U.P. to allow for construction of a two-story building on the site, which was to contain a gymnasium and 4 classrooms. Also included was the addition of 4 parking spaces and expanding the enrollment to 98 children. The applicant appealed the March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 6 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-6096-C 4 denial to the Board of Directors. Prior to the Board hearing, the proposal was modified slightly in that the building was reduced in scale. On August 15, 2000, the Board voted to return the item to the Planning Commission. On September 14, 2000, the Commission approved the modified C.U.P. The opponents then appealed the decision to the Board. On November 8, 2000, the Board passed Resolution No. 10,925 which rescinded the Commission’s approval, at the applicant’s request. On October 3, 2002, the Commission denied a C.U.P. which would have allowed for the development of a new Montessori School on nearby Forest Lane to replace this campus. The new, 5-acre campus was to include 3 buildings, 31 parking spaces and an enrollment of 110 students. The applicant appealed the denial to the Board. Again, the proposal was modified prior to the Board meeting. On January 21, 2003, the Board voted to return the item to the Planning Commission. On February 20, 2003, the Commission approved the C.U.P. There was no appeal. The applicant subsequently determined it was too expensive to build the Forest Lane School. The applicant now proposes to construct a second building on this Taylor Loop Road site. The proposed building will be one-story in height and will be built in a residential style with brick and vinyl siding and a pitched, shingled roof. The building will contain two classrooms, an activity room and a school office. The building will be 3,000 square feet in area. Associated with the new building is an expanded parking lot and drop-off area. The school currently has an enrollment of 80 children. Forty-five are located at this site and 35 are located in rooms at the nearby Central Baptist Church. The applicant proposes to consolidate the school to this site and to cease using the church. No increase in the school’s enrollment above 80 children is proposed. On February 28, 2005, the applicant submitted responses to issues raised at Subdivision Committee. Signage is to consist of the existing ground-mounted sign and identification signs on the buildings. The wall signs are to be approximately 2’ X 4’ and will identify what classes or offices are located in each building. The school has 14 employees. Seven are full-time and work from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Two employees work from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Three employees work from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and one employee works from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The school is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Classes begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at either 11:15 a.m., 12:30 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. After 3:00 p.m., the children are in extended care. The children are picked up at various hours in the afternoon. Site lighting consists of street lights and one proposed light to be erected in the new parking area. The new light will be shielded downward and into the site. The existing dumpster will be relocated and screened as required by the Ordinance. New privacy fencing will be placed between the adjacent residential property and the new building site. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 6 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-6096-C 5 The school is currently located on two lots (8 and 9) of the Pennwyck Addition. The 1989 Bill of Assurance for Pennwyck Addition includes this statement: All lots are to be used for single family residential dwellings only. In 1996, the bill of assurance was amended to permit Lots 8 and 9 to be used for a “private educational institution”. The current proposal includes the addition of Lot 1, Pennwyck Addition, two tracts which are not in a platted subdivision and a small, triangle-shaped remnant of property. The applicant has stated she will pursue amending the bill of assurance to permit the use of Lot 1, Pennwyck Addition for the school. The applicant is also to acquire the triangle-shaped remnant from its current owner. The applicant submitted the results of a study conducted of drop-off/pick-up times. It shows there is a peak drop-off time between 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. and another peak time between 3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. when several children are picked up. Even at these peak times, the number of vehicles is low enough that there is adequate space on the site for the vehicles. Staff is supportive of the proposed revised C.U.P. Allowing the addition of the proposed, one-story building appears to be an appropriate expansion of the school facility. There is no increase in total enrollment. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the requested Revised C.U.P. subject to compliance with the following conditions: 1. Compliance with the comments and conditions outlined in Sections 4, 5 and 6. 2. Any new site lighting must be shielded downward and onto the site. 3. The dumpster must be appropriately located and screened as required by the Code. 4. Use of the playground area is to be limited to daylight hours. 5. A 6-foot tall, wood privacy fence, with its finished side facing outward, must be installed between the new development and any adjacent residential properties. 6. The small, triangle-shaped piece of property must be acquired prior to any building permit being issued. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 6 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-6096-C 6 PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) The applicant, Dorothy Moffett, was present. There were three objectors and one supporter present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval subject to compliance with the conditions outlined in the “Staff Recommendation” above. Dorothy Moffett gave a brief history of the Chenal Valley Montessori School. She stated she began leasing space at Central Baptist Church approximately three years ago and she wished to consolidate all classes at this one location. Ms. Moffett stated most of her neighbors supported the school. She stated enrollment at the school would be capped at 80 students. Ms. Moffett stated she had never had to have police to regulate traffic at the school. She stated her engineer had determined the new construction would not negatively impact drainage in the area. Ms. Moffett stated she had taken care to design a building that would fit into the neighborhood. Chairman Rahman stated he had concerns about the enrollment numbers. He noted the school began with an enrollment of 30 children and had been back before the Commission several times to increase enrollment. He commented that he did not believe Ms. Moffett would not be back asking to increase enrollment again. Ms. Moffett responded that she had made the decision to remain a small school; that there are other, large private schools in the general area. Jim Nettles, of 15808 Taylor Loop Road, spoke in opposition. He had presented to the Commissioners a binder in which he had included copies of past Commission minutes, photographs, a petition in opposition and other information. Commissioner Floyd noted that the petition was from 2000 (the time of previous application). Mr. Nettles stated there had not been proper notice with previous applications and there was still not proper notice to all property owners. He pointed out what he felt were discrepancies in past actions and the staff report. Mr. Nettles specifically commented on insufficient parking on the site, the increase in enrollment and the use of Central Baptist Church classrooms for the Montessori School. He voiced concerns about traffic; specifically cars speeding on Taylor Loop Road and construction traffic related to developing subdivisions in the area. Mr. Nettles also voiced concerns about stormwater run-off. Mr. J. A. (Butch) Penney, of 29415 Penny Lane, spoke in support of the application. He stated he had developed the Pennwyck Addition and had built every home in the subdivision. He stated he had several family members who lived near the school and he knew of no one who objected to the school. Mr. Penney stated the school was a well run business that did not create traffic problems. In response to a question from Commissioner Yates, Mr. Penny stated the bill of assurance for Lot 1 had been amended to allow the school expansion. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 6 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-6096-C 7 In response to a question from the Commission, Mike Hood of Public Works stated the traffic count on Taylor Loop Road as of March 8, 2005 was 2,500 vehicles per day; well below the capacity of the street. He acknowledged there was a speeding problem. Mr. Hood noted that Ms. Moffett had agreed to do all required half-street improvements and needed drainage improvements. Commissioner Floyd questioned the ages of the children at the school. Dana Carney of the Planning Staff responded that the original 1996 approval was for preschool and a subsequent revision to the C.U.P. raised the allowable age to 9. He acknowledged there was no approval to have children up to 12 years of age at this site. Ms. Moffett stated the 9-12 year old children were at the Central Baptist Church site, where the approval for a private school did not have a specific age limit. At the suggestion of the Commission, she amended her application to allow children up to 12 years of age at this site. Ms. Moffett stated that the traffic study was done having all of the school’s currently enrolled 76 children dropped-off at this site. She stated she felt that was necessary to show true traffic numbers. A motion was made to approve the application, as amended, including all staff comments and conditions. The motion was approved with a vote of 6 ayes, 2 noes, 2 absent and 1 abstaining (Floyd). March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 7 FILE NO.: Z-7802 NAME: Adams Day Care Center – Conditional Use Permit LOCATION: 3821 Baseline Road OWNER/APPLICANT: Gwenevere Adams PROPOSAL: A conditional use permit is requested to allow for use of the existing structure on this R-2 zoned lot as a day care center. 1. SITE LOCATION: The property is located on the south side of Baseline Road, between Baseline Elementary School and Reck Road. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: The property fronts onto an arterial street in an area of mixed zoning and uses. Several of the homes along the south side of Baseline Road in this area were converted into business uses prior to the area being annexed into the City. The property to the east is one. It is used as a veterinarian’s office. A school and apartment complex are located further to the east. Single-family homes are located to the south and west. Several commercial uses are located around the intersection of Scott Hamilton and Baseline. Vacant O-3 zoned property and other nonconforming uses are located on the north side of Baseline. The proposed use is compatible with uses in the area. All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified and the Upper Baseline and SWLR United for Progress Neighborhood Associations were notified of this request. 3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: The proposed day care center is to have 3 employees and an enrollment of 30 children; requiring parking/stacking space for 6 vehicles. The property has two existing driveways, which will be used as one-way entry/exit. The applicant proposes to utilize the existing carport and driveway on the east side of the property for stacked parking of the employees’ vehicles. The driveway in front of the structure will be March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 7 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7802 2 widened to 20 feet in width, which will allow for stacking of 3 vehicles for drop-off/pick-up and a bypass lane. The parking is sufficient for the proposed use. 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: Compliance with the City’s Landscape and Buffer Ordinances is required. Along Baseline Road, the on-site street buffer must be an average of twenty-four (24) feet in width. Properties to the east and west are zoned residential, therefore, the Buffer ordinance requires a nine (9) foot wide buffer strip; however, the Landscape ordinance will require an average width of nine (9) feet and at no point less than 6’-9”. A six (6) foot high opaque screen, either a wooden fence with its face side directed outward, a wall, or evergreen plantings, is required along the eastern and western perimeters of the site. The Landscape ordinance requires a three (3) foot wide minimum landscape strip between the parking lot(s) and the building, or in the general area. The City Beautiful Commission recommends preserving as many existing trees as feasible on this tree-covered site. Credit toward fulfilling Landscape ordinance requirements can be given when preserving trees of six (6) inch caliper or larger. Curb and gutter or another approved border will be required to protect landscaped areas from vehicular traffic. 5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: 1. Provide the estimated number of vehicles for peak hour traffic at the day care. Sufficient on-site parking must be provided to prevent blocking of the through lanes of Baseline Road. 2. Plans of all driveway and parking area improvements shall be submitted for approval prior to start of work. Steep driveway grades may need to be adjusted to provide suitable public access. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 7 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7802 3 6. UTILITY, FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS: Wastewater: Sewer available, not adversely affected. Entergy: No Comments received. CenterPoint Energy: No Comments received. Southwestern Bell: Approved as submitted. Water: Contact Central Arkansas Water if larger and/or additional water meter(s) are required. Fire Department: No Comments received. County Planning: No Comments. CATA: The site is located on a CATA Bus Route. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (FEBRUARY 24, 2005) Greg Plunkett was present representing the applicant. Staff presented the item and noted the applicant needed to indicate the required drop-off and parking spaces on the plan. Public Works, Landscape and Utility Comments were noted. It was noted that the required screening on the east and west sides could be either a wood fence or dense evergreen plantings. The applicant was asked to indicate the screening on the site plan. Public Works staff noted that no vehicles would be permitted to stop on Baseline Road; that the site would have to have sufficient drop-off/pick-up stacking space to accommodate all vehicles. Staff noted there were no other outstanding issues. The applicant was advised to respond to staff issues by March 2, 2005. The Committee then forwarded the item to the full Commission. STAFF ANALYSIS: The R-2 zoned property located at 3821 Baseline Road is occupied by a vacant, one-story, brick and frame single-family residential structure. The property has two curb cuts onto Baseline Road and a paved driveway. The applicant proposes to use the structure as a day care center. The two curb cuts will be used to create a circular driveway for drop-off/pick-up and parking. The driveway will be one-way entry and exit. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 7 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7802 4 The proposed day care center will have 3 employees and a maximum enrollment of 30 children. Days and hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Signage will consist of a single ground-mounted sign not to exceed 6 feet in height and 32 square feet in area. The 1950 bill of assurance does not address use issues. Screening will be installed on the east and west perimeters, from the front of the property to a point past the playground area. Screening will consist of a 6-foot wood privacy fence on the east perimeter and dense evergreen planting on the west side. The playground area will be located directly behind the structure and will itself be enclosed by a 4-foot tall wood fence. No additional screening is needed across the rear of this 400+ foot deep lot. Staff is supportive of the requested C.U.P. The proposed use is compatible with uses in the area. Staff believes this small day care center should have no impact on the nearby neighborhood. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the conditional use permit subject to compliance with the following conditions: 1. Compliance with the staff comments and conditions in Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Staff Report. 2. Fire Marshall’s approval must be received. 3. Compliance with any building code requirements for converting this residence into a day care center. 4. The street buffer must be maintained at a minimum of 13 feet. 5. The driveways must be one-way entry and exit and directional signage must be installed indicating such. 6. The driveway in front of the residence must be no less than 20 feet in width. 7. There is to be no stopping or drop-off/pick-up on Baseline Road. 8. The stacked parking utilizing the existing carport and driveway on the east side must be designated for employees only. 9. Outdoor activities, including use of the playground, must be limited to daylight hours only. Staff recommends approval of variances to allow a street buffer width of 13 feet and to allow stacked parking for employees. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 7 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7802 5 PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) The applicant was present. Gregg Plunkett was present to speak on her behalf. There was one objector present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval subject to compliance with the conditions outlined in the “Staff Recommendation” above. Mr. Plunkett addressed the Commission and thanked staff for working with the applicant and him. He stated the site would be improved and would be an asset to the neighborhood. Chairman Rahman suggested hearing from the one objector. Pat Gee, president of the Upper Baseline Neighborhood Association stated although she personally thought this was an appropriate location for a day care center, her association had voted not to support the application. Troy Laha, of 6602 Baseline Road, spoke in support; stating day cares should be located on major streets, such as Baseline Road. A motion was made to approve the application subject to compliance with all staff comments and conditions. The motion was approved by a vote of 10 ayes, 0 noes and 1 absent. March 17, 2005 ITEM NO.: 8 SUBJECT: Proposed Amendments to Chapter 36 of the Code of Ordinances, the Zoning Ordinance, to permit manufactured homes as a permitted use in the AF Agriculture and Forestry Zoning District. STAFF REPORT: In response to a request from the Board of Directors, staff has drafted a proposed Ordinance Amendment which would permit manufactured homes as a by-right use on AF Agriculture and Forestry zoned property. Placement would be limited to one manufactured home per lot or parcel and the home would have to be sited in compliance with the typical siting standards for manufactured homes. The proposed Ordinance Amendment was presented to the Plans Committee on February 9, 2005. Those present were generally receptive to the amendment. One concern was raised: that being the possibility of the owner of a large acreage tract of AF zoned property dividing the property into 5.01 acre tracts, thus avoiding the City’s subdivision regulations, and allowing placement of a manufactured home on each of the new tracts. A copy of the proposed Ordinance Amendment is attached. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the proposed Ordinance Amendment. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) Staff presented the proposed Ordinance Amendment and a recommendation of approval. There was no additional discussion. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 noes and 2 absent.