HomeMy WebLinkAboutCBC_02 04 2016
The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday,
February 04, 2016, at Curran Hall, 615 E. Capitol Avenue. Chairman Ed Peek called the meeting
to order.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Ed Peek Chris Morgan
Steve Homeyer Jordan Thomas
Chris Hancock Bob Winchester
Wally Loveless Carrie Young
MEMBERS ABSENT: Becka Webb
Janet Wilson
One Open Positions
ALSO PRESENT: Beth Carpenter, City Attorney’s Office
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 MAY MINUTES:
Chairman Peek noted that the Minutes form the January 07 meeting were dated 2015.
Motion: Commissioner Winchester made a motion to correct the date and approve the
January 07, 2016 Minutes.
Second: Commissioner Young seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Variance Request: CBC Case # 644, Vibrant Hospitality
FINDINGS:
The UU zoned property at 219 E. 6th Street is currently occupied by paved parking lots. The
property is located at the southwest corner of East 6th Street and Cumberland Street. The overall
property extends to Scott Street to the west and East 7th Street to the south. The property is
comprised of slightly over half of the overall block.
The applicant proposes to construct a one hundred (100) room hotel building within the northeast
corner portion of the overall property. The proposed building will be “L” shaped with an overall
height of sixty-six (66) feet. A paved parking area containing sixty (64) spaces with the required
interior and perimeter landscaping will be located west and south of the hotel building. Access
drives will be located along East 6th Street, Scott Street, and East 7th Street, with the East 7th
Street drive being an exit only driveway.
The applicant is requesting that a portion of the required perimeter planting area located on the
west side of the East 7th driveway be removed. This would allow five (5) parking spaces which
would abut the property line and the retaining wall of the neighboring parking area to the west.
South of these parking spaces is a proposed fifty (50) foot by twenty (20) foot landscape area that
will be developed and include an existing forty-eight (48) inch oak. This one thousand (1000)
square foot area would exceed the required perimeter landscape area by three hundred and ten
(310) square feet.
The second variance the applicant is requesting is to allow the east perimeter of the East 7th Street
driveway to be less than the required six (6) feet (9) inch width. The paving of this exiting drive
now abuts the retaining wall of the neighboring Buffington Tower Apartments. The applicant
proposes to provide an approximate four (4) feet two (2) inch perimeter planting strip adjacent to
this existing property line/ retaining wall and six parallel parking spaces. The applicant is also
requesting other than ground cover the required plant material (one tree and three shrubs for each
thirty linear feet of perimeter landscape area) for this area be relocated to other areas of the site
due to space restrictions of this proposed landscape perimeter.
On January 25, 2016 (file no. Z-9100) the Board of Adjustment reviewed zoning variances
concerning the location of surface parking, signage, the location of street trees, and the width of
street buffers. Staff was supportive of the requested variances associated with the proposed hotel
development and all variances were approved by the Board.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff is supportive of the request to allow the reduced and deleted perimeter landscape strips and
the relocation and planting of the required perimeter trees and shrubs to other areas of the site as
purposed.
Presentation:
Mr. Robert Brown of Development Consultants, Inc. briefly described the proposed development
and noted the developers desire to have onsite parking. He then described the variances requested
and how the reduced space requirements will be repositioned to other areas of the site.
Commissioner Homeyer inquired about fencing and the height of the retaining walls. Mr. Brown
stated that there is no fencing shown and the wall on the east side of the 7th Street drive will begin
at one or two feet and taper upwards to a height of approximately five or six feet at the northern
corner with a metal rail on top. He also stated that the wall on the west side of the drive tapers
from approximately one to four feet beginning at 7th Street.
Chairman Peek inquired about existing pavement on site. Mr. Brown responded that at the present
all of the site is covered in pavement.
The commissioners discussed the site location, site conditions, surrounding properties, and the
existing tree that is proposed to remain. Mr. Brown answered the various questions concerning
these conditions.
CITY BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION ACTION:
Motion: Commissioner Homeyer made a motion that the variance be approved as requested and
as recommended by Staff.
Second: Commissioner Hancock seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Variance Request: CBC Case # 645, Wellington Hills
FINDINGS:
The proposed development is located at 222 Wellington Hills Road The site encompasses 2.6 acres
of land and is currently zoned O3. A proposed 4,400 square feet single story structure is proposed
as the only building on the site.
There will be a single drive extending east from Wellington Hills Road that will serve as the only
entry to the site. Parking is proposed in the front and rear of the building on the east and west sides
with a total of thirty-six (36) spaces. The site plan indicates an Entergy easement one hundred and
ten (110) feet in width north of the proposed development. The outer edge of this easement is
located on the north property line while the inner edge is located twenty (20) feet inside the
proposed vehicular use area. This twenty (20) foot drive aisle is required to provide Entergy service
vehicles access to the utility easement. No trees or shrubs are allowed within this aisle. Further to
the north is an undeveloped neighboring property zoned C-1. To the south is a fifty (50) foot
waterline easement and an undeveloped neighboring lot zoned O3. To the west of the proposed
building and parking is an area of mature trees and dense understory vegetation that is not affected
by the power or water easements and will remain undisturbed.
Entergy has stated that it will not allow any plantings that exceed a height of six (6) feet in their
easement. It is estimated seven (7) trees will be vacated from the north perimeter and one (1) tree
from the access aisle adjacent to Wellington Hills Road. Seven (7) shrubs will also need to be
eliminated from the right-of way screening shrubs which conflict with the access aisle.
In addition to the plant material being eliminated due to the power easement the applicant has also
requested that the four (4) trees and eleven (11) shrubs be eliminated on the west perimeter. In
accordance with Section 15-102 Protection of Landscaping, natural vegetation and undergrowth
may be approved by the city official to satisfy landscaping requirements. The existing plant
materials to remain on the west perimeter will meet this requirement.
A required total of eight (8) trees and seven (7) shrubs are being eliminated from the project. Due
to the small area being developed the applicant has requested that these materials not be installed
elsewhere on site. The applicant is also requesting in lieu of making a donation to the T.R.E.E.
Fund the existing stand of mature vegetation that will remain intact on the west portion of the site
be counted towards meeting the landscape requirements of the plant materials being eliminated
within the easement boundaries. The existing mature trees and dense vegetation being retained
will more than compensate for the perimeter trees and shrubs being eliminated.
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff is supportive of the requested variance with the condition that the existing stand of
undisturbed trees on the western side of the developed area remain as preserved trees to fulfill the
required tree count.
Presentation:
Mr. Jeremiah Russell of Rouge Architecture LLC briefly described the project and its intended
office use.
Commissioner Young asked for a clarification of the existing trees and how they will be used to
satisfy the code requirements. The commissioners then discussed the existing trees to remain, the
Entergy easement and how it has effected nearby properties, and how the CBC has ruled on the
similar variance cases in close proximity of this project.
Mr. Russell then clarified the need for the Entergy access drive and the owners desire to keep the
existing vegetation. He stated that the intention is to only develop the area of the site which is
necessary for the construction of the building and parking. He then explained that several thousand
square feet of mature vegetation will be retained.
Commissioner Loveless inquired as to how the owner can guarantee that the existing trees will not
be removed at some point in the future. Staff member Spillman explained that this request would
be recorded on the landscape plan and in the variance file. The existing material would then be
under the same requirements as the proposed plants that will be reviewed for approval before a
building permit is issued.
Chairman Peek states that he is supportive of the staff recommendation and asked the
commissioners to accept the variance as presented.
CITY BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION ACTION:
Motion: Commissioner Young made a motion that the variance be approved as recommended by
Staff.
Second: Commissioner Winchester seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Expense Report:
Commissioner Thomas stated:
That the transition of assuming the Treasurer duties is still in process and there has been no new
activity.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: UPDATES:
Community Projects
City Hall South Yard:
Commissioner Thomas stated:
That he has delivered plans to Parks and Recreation, Deputy Director, Mark Webre. He has also
discussed the changes that need to be made before these plans go to the City Manager for approval.
Public Relations
Website:
Commissioner Hancock stated:
That the CBC Facebook page now has 343 followers and the post that have been made since the
last meeting have reached approximately 400 people.
Commissioner Morgan noted that this is up approximately 200% and ask ed the commissioners
that have personal Facebook pages to “share” and invite “friends” to “like” the CBC page to
increase the Commissions reach.
Commissioner Homeyer inquired about the status of the CBC website. Commissioner Hancock
responded by stating that City Attorney Carpenter had investigated the termination of the contract
with Aristotle and this would be possible if the Commission decided that the website was no longer
needed.
The commissioners then discussed the pros and cons of maintaining a website. It was decided that
the existing format is out dated and a new website would not serve the Commissions purpose as
well as the new Facebook page is accomplishing at this time.
Motion: Commissioner Loveless made a motion that the contract with Aristotle be terminated
and the website be taken down.
City Attorney Carpenter advised Commissioner Hancock of the procedures in contacting Aristotle
and how to inform them of the Commissions intentions to terminate the contract.
Second: Commissioner Homeyer seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
KLRB:
Commissioner Thomas stated:
There will be a city wide cleanup March 12th.
Adopt-A-Street:
Commissioner Loveless stated:
That a pickup needed to be scheduled. Chairman Peek suggested Saturday, February 06 at
8:00 am. The commissioners agreed and the date was set.
Eye of the Beholder:
Commissioner Young stated:
There has been no new activity. Commissioner Young then noted that since it has been decided
that the website will be taken down the stickers for the Eye of the Beholder signs directing attention
to the website will be obsolete.
The commissioners discussed replacing these with “Like us on Facebook” decals and how best to
direct attention to the Commission. Commissioner Homeyer stated he would work on the graphics
for a new sticker.
Landscape Awards:
Commissioner Homeyer stated:
There has been no new activity.
T.R.E.E Fund:
Commissioner Homeyer stated:
There have been no new donations or expenses.
Commissioner Loveless stated that he and Commissioner Thomas had met on site with Urban
Forester, Robbie Hudson and Parks and Recreation Deputy Director, Mark Webre to discuss a
possible T.R.E.E fund project at Bowman Road and Markham. The conclusion was that the focus
of this project needed to be on the south side of the bridge located in this area. It was stated that
Commissioner Thomas will develop a landscape plan and it will be presented to the City for
approval.
City Beautiful Exhibit:
Commissioner Hancock stated:
There has been no new activity.
Other Cities Committee:
Commissioner Morgan stated:
That this topic may be exhausted and noted that most of the information on other Commissions
that has been presented was found on Facebook with the exception of larger commissions.
After the commissioners discuss taking this item off of the agenda it was decided that other
information such as the minutes or the missions from other city commissions can be gathered and
presented.
Garden Show:
Commissioner Winchester stated:
That potential partners showed little interest in participating and it was decided not to pursue this
topic any further this year.
NEW BUSINESS:
Chairman Peek stated that he had spoken with Ms. Julie Robbins of Mangan Holcomb Partners
about facilitating the CBC retreat. The date of Wednesday March 09, from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm was
reserved as a possible meeting time. The commissioners discussed the proposed date and providing
a gift certificate to Ms. Robbins for facilitating this event.
Motion: Commissioner Loveless made a motion to set the retreat date for March 09, 2016 from
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm and to authorize an expense not to exceed $75.00 for a gift certificate for
Ms. Robbins.
Second: Commissioner Young seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
ANOUNCEMENTS:
The next meeting will be, March 03, at 11:30 am.
Adopt A Street Pickup will be Saturday, February 06, 2016.
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion: Commissioner Young made a motion to adjourn.
Second: Commissioner Loveless seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:51 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.ORG
WEBSITE: WWW.LRCITYBEAUTIFULCOMMISSION.ORG