HomeMy WebLinkAboutCBC_05 04 2017The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday,
May 04, 2017, at Curran Hall, 615 E. Capitol Avenue. Vice Chairman, Steve Homeyer called the
meeting to order.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Homeyer Wally Loveless
Bobby Cushman Ed Peek
Chris Hancock Bob Winchester
Melissa Henshaw Carrie Young
MEMBERS ABSENT: BJ Sanders-Woods
Starre Haas
Janet Wilson
ALSO PRESENT: D. Tracy Spillman, Plans Development Administrator, Department
of Planning and Development, City of Little Rock
Dana Carney, Zoning and Subdivision Manager, Department of
Planning and Development, City of Little Rock
APPROVAL OF THE APRIL MINUTES:
Chairman Homeyer entertained a motion to approve the previous months minutes with corrections.
Motion: Commissioner Peek made a motion that the April 06, 2017 Minutes be approved.
Second: Commissioner Loveless seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Variance Request: CBC Case # 654, Tru Hotel
FINDINGS:
The C-4 zoned property at 11,320 Bass Pro Parkway has currently been graded and is being
prepared for further construction. Lot 27 of the Gateway Town Center Addition is comprised of
1.86 acres is located just east of the new outlet mall development.
The applicant is proposing to erect a new four-story hotel building on the property. This structure
will be located near the center of the lot, with paved parking on the north, south, and east sides of
the complex. A shared driveway from Bass Pro Parkway will serve as access to the site. The
proposed hotel building will have an overall height of approximately forty- five (45) feet. The
facade of the building will be "bumped -up" by three (3) feet at several points around the structure.
In June 2016 a building height variance was requested from the Board of Adjustment (BOA). The
City's Zoning Ordinance allows a maximum building height of thirty-five (35) feet for structures
in C-4 zoning. The applicant requested that it be allowable for the new hotel building to be
constructed to a height of forty-five (45) feet four (4) inches and up to forty-eight (48) feet four
(4)inches in some areas. Staff was supportive of the requested building height variance and
recommended approval subject to compliance with the landscape and buffer requirements. The
item was placed on the consent agenda and approved as recommended.
The site plan submitted with the BOA variance request indicated the north perimeter planting strip
to be less than the required minimum and was shown at approximately three (3) feet six (6) inches
in width. The south planting perimeter was shown to be in compliance at nine (9) feet. The
applicant was instructed that all planting strip minimum width requirements would need to be met
or a variance from the City Beautiful Commission would need to be obtained before a building
permit could be issued.
Upon submittal of building and site plans for permit review it was found that both the north and
south perimeters had been adjusted and were equally shown at (5) feet six (6) inches each. The
applicant was notified that these perimeters did not meet the minimum requirements and the
building permit was denied. The applicant then revised the drawings reducing the landscape and
mechanical yard space adjacent to the building. The minimum parking stall length and drive aisle
width was maintained and both the north and south planting perimeters were shown to be in
compliance at nine (9) feet in width. All other landscape requirements had been met and a building
permit was issued.
After manipulating the perimeter planting strip widths and the space between the building and the
parking area in order to obtain a building permit the applicant became concerned that the width
allotted for the mechanical yard would be insufficient. A variance to reduce both the north and
south planting perimeters from nine (9) feet to seven (7) feet six (6) inches is being requested as
shown on the landscape plan presented to the CBC. This variance would allow an additional
eighteen (18) inches of space on the north and south side of the building between the face of the
structure and the sidewalk. In addition this would also provide the space for the mechanical units
to be screened from the parking area with plant material.
As shown on the proposed landscape plan the plant material exceeds the minimum requirements
and no plant material will need to be relocated to other areas of the site due to the reduction of the
perimeter landscape strips. Considering the supplemental landscape and the marginal reduction of
the perimeter widths Staff can support this request.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff is supportive of the request to allow the reduced perimeter landscape strip as purposed with
the condition that the additional plant material as shown on the landscape plan will be installed
and that the mechanical units will be fully screened from the parking with plant material or other
device.
Presentation:
Owner representative Mr. Frank Riggins of Crafton and Tull introduced himself and presented the
proposed landscape plan to the Commission. Mr. Riggins gave an overview of the existing
conditions, surrounding properties, proposed plant material, and explained why his client is
seeking a variance.
Commissioner Peek inquired if there is any existing development adjacent to the proposed planting
strips.
Mr. Riggins responded that the adjacent sites are being prepared for construction but have not yet
been developed. The commissioners then discuss proposed developments in this area and the
development requirements that will need to be met.
Commissioner Loveless inquired about the mechanical area at the building and if additional space
needed was the reason that the perimeters are being reduced.
Mr. Riggins explained that the mechanical area did need to be increased and this was directly
correlated with the perimeter reduction. He also reviewed the proposed plant materials that would
provide screening for the mechanical area.
Commissioner Young presented to the other commissioners that the CBC should be more selective
in the variances that they approve and impose the same strict standards on all developers.
The commissioners discussed the various elements of the proposed design then Commissioner
Loveless moved that the variance be accepted.
Motion: Commissioner Loveless made a motion that the variance be approved as proposed.
Second: Commissioner Hancock seconded the motion and it passed with a vote of seven ayes,
one no, and three absent.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Expense Report:
Commissioner Young stated that there is a balance $556.67 in the account which is an increase of
$0.32 in interest.
COMMITTEE REPORTS, UPDATES:
Community Projects
City Hall South Yard:
Commissioner Homeyer stated that there is nothing new to report and that this project is on hold
until the Bowman Rd project is finished.
Public Relations
Commissioner Hancock stated that since the last post to the CBC Facebook page the “likes” have
increased and that the goal of 500 has almost been reached.
KLRB:
Commissioner Henshaw stated that she had attended the last KLRB meeting and reported that they
have partnered with a fundraiser and are investigating projects on which to spend funds.
Commissioner Henshaw also stated that she has volunteered for KLRB beautification committee
which is investigating the City’s land bank inventory for possible urban garden or beautification
projects.
The commissioners then briefly discussed possible project sites.
Commissioner Henshaw then briefly discussed the recent KLRB Great American Pickup and also
noted that KLRB had expressed interest in having an additional CBC member as part of their
organization.
Adopt-A-Street:
After a brief discussion the commissioners decided that the next pickup would be May 06, 2017
at 8:00 am.
Eye of the Beholder:
Commissioner Young requested that she be reimbursed for printing expenses for the amount of
$70.00 and be authorized to spend up to $100.00 for additional printing supplies.
Commissioner Homeyer entertained a motion to authorize Commissioner Young to purchase
additional printing supplies.
Motion: Commissioner Loveless made a motion that Commissioner Young be approved to spend
up to $100.00 on additional supplies.
Second: Commissioner Cushman seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Landscape Awards:
Commissioner Homeyer stated that the Awards are now open.
Commissioner Loveless nominated Fellowship Bible Church on Kirk Rd.
Commissioner Homeyer nominated Arvest Bank on Merrill Rd.
The commissioners then discussed how to bring more attention to the Landscape Awards,
Commissioner Hancock stated that he would update the nomination form on Facebook. It was also
suggested that the Landscape Awards be linked to KLRB’s Facebook page.
T.R.E.E Fund:
Commissioner Homeyer stated that there have been no new changes to the funds.
Commissioner Homeyer also discussed the Bowman Road tree project stating that the trees have
not been dug yet due to the wet weather. He also stated that he has been coordinating the planting
schedule with City Arborist, Robbie Hudson and this project should be completed before the next
regularly scheduled CBC meeting.
City Beautiful Exhibit:
Commissioner Hancock stated that there have been no new developments but continues to inquire
with Historic Arkansas Museum concerning progress.
NEW BUSINESS:
There was no new business.
ANOUNCEMENTS:
The next meeting will be Thursday, June 01, 2017, at 11:30 am.
Adopt-A-Street Pickup will be Saturday May 06, 2017 at 8:00am.
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion: Commissioner Loveless made a motion to adjourn.
Second: Commissioner Peek seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:29 pm.
LITTLE ROCK CITY BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT - 723 WEST MARKHAM - LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS 72201
PHONE: 501 371-4864 FAX: 501 371-6863 E-MAIL: DSPILLMAN@LITTLEROCK.GOV