HomeMy WebLinkAboutCBC_03 07 2019The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday,
March 07, 2019, at Curran Hall, 615 E. Capitol Avenue. Chairman, Harvey called the meeting
to order.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Michael Harvey Troy Laha
Steve Homeyer BJ Sanders-Woods
Phillis Anderson Bob Winchester
Bobby Cushman
MEMBERS ABSENT: Melissa Henshaw
Robert Walker
Two 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.
WELCOME NEW COMMISSIONERS:
Chairman Harvey introduced newly appointed Commissioners Ms. Phillis Anderson and
Mr. Troy Laha. The other commissioners and Staff introduced themselves and welcomed the
new commissioners.
APPROVAL OF THE JANUARY MEETING MINUTES:
Chairman Harvey entertained a motion to approve the January 2019 Minutes.
Motion: Commissioner Homeyer made a motion that the January 03, 2019 Minutes be
approved.
Second: Commissioner Winchester seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
VARIANCE REQUEST: CBC CASE #665 - Two Sisters Catering, 201 N. Izard
Variance Requested:
To allow the removal of the required six (6) feet nine (9) inch perimeter landscape strip on
the west side of the property that is required between the vehicular use area and the N. Izard
Street right-of-way.
FINDINGS:
Two Sisters Catering is proposing to renovate an existing building on an Urban Use (UU) zoned
property located at on the northeast corner of N Izard and Garland Streets. The site consists of a
quarter block, bounded by streets on the west and south sides of the property, an existing
apartment complex to the north, and a residential structure serving as office space on the east
side of the property. The former residential structure located on the subject property has most
recently served as office space.
The UU district was established to help create a dense, compact distinguishable core area which
allows for a broad mix of uses. The proposed business for this site is compatible with how this
area is developing and the applicant proposes to remodel the existing structure making
significant upgrades to serve this retail space.
There is an existing asphalt parking area located on site behind the building to the north. The
access to this space is located on the N Izard St side of the property and provides four (4) off
street parking spaces. The intent of the proposed site layout is to preserve these existing
parking spaces while also providing a new drive-thru aisle utilizing the existing west site
entrance to allow customers to pick up orders at a newly created service window.
While the proposed drive aisle is shown to be located within the property lines of the site the
required placement would eliminate the minimum required six (6) feet nine (9) inch,
perimeter landscape strip between the vehicular use area and the street right-of-way. The new
drive aisle is shown to be eight (8) feet six (6) inches in width with entry and exit widths of
twelve (12) feet. The existing ingress and proposed egress would create an island in the
public right-of-way approximately forty (40) feet in length and fifteen (15) feet six (6) inches in
width. This forty (40) foot length of vehicular use area adjacent to the street right-of-way
would normally require a minimum of two (2) trees and thirteen (13) shrubs to be located within
the perimeter planting strip. The applicant is requesting that required perimeter landscape
material and irrigation be placed in this newly created island located in the public right-of-way.
This newly created island would provide a five (5) foot wide sidewalk with a two (2) foot six (6)
planting space adjacent to the proposed drive aisle and an approximate eight (8) foot wide green
area west of the sidewalk edge and the N Izard street curb exceeding the minimum planting
space requirements of the perimeter landscape strip. The applicant purposes to seek a
franchise agreement from Little Rock Public Works to place all landscape and irrigation in the
public right-of-way and provide no less than the minimum required materials.
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff is supportive of the request to allow the elimination of the west perimeter landscape strip
providing that the placement of all required landscape and irrigation be installed in the newly
created landscape island located in the public right-of-way. The applicant is aware that a
franchise agreement will need to be obtained from Little Rock Public Works to provide this
application before a building permit can issued.
Staff recommends approval of the requested variance.
Presentation:
Mr. Ronnie Brewer of Two Sisters Catering, was present to address any specific questions.
Commissioner Homeyer inquired if an order board would be associated with the drive thru.
Mr. Brewer responded saying that decision has not yet been considered.
Chairman Harvey inquired if the absence of landscape at the front of the property was due to the
deck being built to the property line and Commissioner Winchester requested information
concerning the remodeling of the property. Mr. Brewer answered both of these questions to the
satisfaction of the commissioners.
Motion: Commissioner Homeyer 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 Cushman stated that the account activity between January, 01 and February 28
began with a balance of $407.99. On January, 31 there was an interest payment of $.68 and on
February, 28 another interest payment of $.50 was acquired for a total of $1.18. Commissioner
Cushman also stated that Commissioner Homeyer was reimbursed this past month for providing a
gift certificate for the CBC retreat facilitator for the amount $150.00 and that the ending balance
of the account is now $259.17.
Commissioner Sanders-Woods informed Chairman Harvey that her name was still listed on the
CBC account signature card. The commissioners discussed this account and decided that Chairman
Harvey will contact City of Little Rock, Treasury Manger Scott Massanelli and have his name
added to the signature card and have Commissioner Sanders-Woods name removed.
Chairman Harvey presented a check for $60.00 to Commissioner Cushman and explained that City
of Little Rock, Citizen Ms. Melissa Hawkins had made this donation in honor of an anonymous
person. Chairman Harvey noted that he had sent Ms. Hawkins a thank you note for her generous
contribution to the CBC.
COMMITTEE REPORTS, UPDATES:
Community Projects
City Hall South Yard:
Commissioner Homeyer stated that there have been no new developments.
Public Relations
In the absence of Commissioner Henshaw there was no new report.
KLRB:
In the absence of Commissioner Henshaw there was no new report.
Adopt-A-Street:
Prior to the regularly scheduled CBC meeting Adopt-A-Street Committee Coordinator,
Commissioner Peek resigned from the Commission.
Chairman Harvey volunteered to act as this committee’s new coordinator and the commissioners
generally discussed possible dates for the next litter pickup and decided on March 23, at 8:00am.
Eye of the Beholder:
Commissioner Sanders-Woods stated that there was nothing new to report and further inquired
about the award cards that were printed last year.
Commissioner Homeyer stated that he would contact former commissioner and committee
coordinator Wally Loveless to inquire if he was still in possession of these items.
Landscape Awards:
Commissioner Homeyer stated that there was nothing new to report and encouraged the other
commissioners to start considering nominations.
T.R.E.E Fund:
Commissioner Homeyer stated that four (4) trees that were planted as part of the War Memorial
T.R.E.E. fund project have died and will be replaced with T.R.E.E. Fund contributions from this
area. Commissioner Homeyer then presented an estimate from Bemis Tree Farm and explained
that the price for $1700.40 would include Bemis supplying and installing the trees and the estimate
for $1,199.00 would provide the trees only with the City of Little Rock providing the installation.
Commissioner Homeyer then explained the T.R.E.E. Fund to the new commissioners and the
commissioners thoroughly discussed this project.
Motion: Commissioner Homeyer made a motion that the Commission purchase (4) Chinese
Pastiche trees to replace the four (4) trees that have died at the War Memorial T.R.E.E Fund project
for the material cost of $1,199.00.
Second: Commissioner Winchester seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Commissioner Homeyer presented a hard copy of the estimate to Staff Member, Spillman.
Commissioner Sanders-Woods inquired of any funds available in the Governor’s Mansion
District. Chairman Harvey stated that there was approximately $300.00 allotted for this area and
the commissioners discussed location, species, quantities of plants that could be purchased with
the funding available and the protocol for beginning a new project.
Commissioner Homeyer then updated the commission on the Bowman Road project stating that
he had been in contact with the project engineer and had discussed the tree installation on the
west side of the road when the project is nearing completion.
City Beautiful Exhibit:
Commissioner Homeyer stated that he would contact former Commissioner’s Chris Hancock and
Wally Loveless to inquire about the location of the CBC exhibit materials.
NEW BUSINESS:
There was no new business
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be April 04, 2019, at 11:30 a.m.
The next Adopt-A-Street pickup will be March 23, at 8:00 a.m.
ADJOURNMENT:
Commissioner Harvey entertained a motion to adjourn.
Motion: Commissioner Winchester made a motion to adjourn.
Second: Commissioner Sanders-Woods seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:11 p.m.
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