HomeMy WebLinkAboutCBC_01 09 2020
The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday,
January 09, 2020, at Curran Hall, 615 E. Capitol Avenue. Chairman, Sanders-Woods called the
meeting to order.
MEMBERS PRESENT: BJ Sanders-Woods Shelby Linck
Steve Homeyer Louise Miller
Phyllis Anderson Robert Walker
Bobby Cushman Bob Winchester
Troy Laha
MEMBERS ABSENT: 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.
APPROVAL OF THE DECEMBER MEETING MINUTES:
Chairman Sanders-Woods entertained a motion to approve the December 2019 Minutes.
Motion: Commissioner Miller made a motion that the December 05, 2019 Minutes be approved.
Second: Commissioner Walker seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
VARIANCE REQUEST: CBC CASE #671 – 10724 W Markham – Doublebee’s Convenience
Store
Chapter 15, Sec. 15-96. Perimeter planting strips.
(a) A perimeter planting strip is required along any side of a vehicular use area that abuts
adjoining property or the right-of-way of any street, highway or freeway. This strip shall be at least
nine (9) feet wide. The perimeter planting strip adjacent to freeways or expressways shall be at
least thirty (30) feet wide except within mature areas.
VARIANCE REQUESTED
To allow the elimination of most of the west perimeter landscape strip and a reduction of the
remainder of this same perimeter to less than the nine (9) feet as typically required by the
Department of Planning and Development and approved by the Planning Commission and the City
Beautiful Commission.
FINDINGS:
The property at the northeast corner of W Markham St and Shackelford Rd is located within an
area of mixed commercial uses. Buildings on the surrounding properties include retail, restaurant,
and office related facilities. This corner site houses a Doublebee’s convenience store, fueling
station with an overhead canopy, and an automatic carwash. The convenience store building is
located in the approximate center of the lot with the fuel pumps at the front of structure to the south
and the carwash positioned at the back of site adjacent to the north property line.
The applicant proposes to remove the existing structures and construct a new 3,100 square foot
convenience store building at the northeast corner of the property. The gas pumps will be
repositioned in front of the building and a new canopy will be installed. The parking area will
provide eleven (11) spaces adjacent to the building with an additional eight (8) spaces located at
the fuel pumps, which conforms with ordinance standards. There are two access drives servicing
each adjacent roadway. The westernmost drive on West Markham Street and the southernmost
driveway on Shackleford Road do not conform to the code.
The applicant recently requested that the property be rezoned from C-3 to PCD to allow the
development of a convenience store with gas pumps. A variance was also requested to approve the
existing driveway locations. A site plan was submitted showing the two access drives located on
Markham to remain unaltered while southernmost driveway on Shackleford Road to be closed. On
November 24, 2019 the Little Rock Planning Commission voted and approved the rezoning and
associated variance requests.
Existing perimeter landscape strips are located on the north, south, and east sides of the property
that meet the code requirements. The proposed development indicates that these planting strips
and associated plant material will remain intact. A perimeter planting strip also exists adjacent to
the west side of the property but is located within the public right-of-way. This area cannot be
applied to meet the minimum code requirements due to its location not being within the boundaries
of the subject property. However, the developer proposes to retain this landscape area and close
the existing south entry drive on this perimeter. Additional infill landscape is also proposed for
this area to meet the required screening requirements.
As shown on the attached landscape plan the applicant intends to meet or exceed the minimum
landscape requirements for this development. Any additional trees or shrubs that are required to
bring the existing landscape or screening into compliance will be provided. The west perimeter
planting strip is not located within the property as required but is provided in the public right-of-
way adjacent to the property line. Before a building permit can be issued the applicant shall provide
a final landscape plan and obtain a franchise permit from Little Rock Public Works for any
landscape or irrigation planned for installation in the public right-of-way.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
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 existing
landscape area adjacent to the west property line. Staff also requires that a franchise permit be
obtained from Little Rock Public Works for any landscape or irrigation placed in the public right-
of-way.
Staff recommends approval of the requested variance.
Presentation:
The applicant Mr. Vernon Williams of GarNat Engineering was present to address any specific
questions from the commissioners. Mr. Williams briefly described the property and described the
right-of-way dedication and why the western perimeter landscape is located outside of the property
line.
Commissioner Homeyer inquired about the existing and proposed landscape and the elimination
of the south drive along the west property line. Mr. Williams responded that the landscape would
remain and be infilled where the drive is being removed. He also explained that the closing of the
drive will bring the site closer to code compliance and provide better circulation route for the fuel
trucks.
Commissioner Walker inquired if the utilities would be located above or below ground. Mr.
Williams responded that the utilities are primarily located adjacent to the Markham corridor and
will be mostly underground but will also include some above ground.
The commissioners generally discussed the proposed development and had no additional questions
concerning the variance request.
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 Oct 01, and Jan 01 began with a
balance of $323.00. The commissioner also noted that there had been three interest payments of
$0.51, $0.49, and $0.51 since the last report netting the account an ending balance of $324.51.
Commissioner Sanders-Woods stated that she had not yet been reimbursed for the expenditure
incurred obtaining supplies for the CBC Eye of the Beholder certificates. Staff requested that the
receipts or proof purchase to be provided so that the total can be reimbursed from the CBC account.
COMMITTEE REPORTS, UPDATES:
Community Projects
Public Relations
Commissioner Miller stated that there was nothing new to report. Commissioner Miller also
suggested that photos be taken at the next Adopt-A-Street pickup so they can be uploaded to the
commissions Facebook Page.
KLRB:
Chairman Sanders-Woods stated that she would be attending the next regularly scheduled KLRB
meeting.
Adopt-A-Street:
The commissioners discuss possible dates and decided on January 18, at 8:00am. They also
decided that January 25 would be a back up date if it rains on the 18th.
Eye of the Beholder:
Chairman Sanders-Woods delivered additional presentation cards to the other commissioners. The
commissioners generally discussed the awards.
Landscape Awards:
Commissioner Homeyer stated the nomination period has not opened yet.
T.R.E.E Fund:
Commissioner Homeyer requested that the most recent fund balance and locations of the possible
project areas be provided to all the commissioners. Staff stated that this information will be sent
via email to the commission.
NEW BUSINESS:
Commissioner Homeyer stated that he had been in contact with Ms. Julie Robbins concerning the
next CBC repeat. The commissioner also stated that Ms. Robbins schedule would allow for her to
facilitate this meeting on Wednesday February 12 from 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm at the offices of Mangan
Holcomb Partners.
The commissioners discussed and agreed that this date would be acceptable.
Commissioner Homeyer entertained a motion that $150.00 gift certificate to the Rejuvenation Day
Spa be presented to Ms. Robbins in appreciation for facilitating the retreat.
Motion: Commissioner Winchester made a motion to provide a gift card to Ms. Robbins in the
amount of $150.00 to the Rejuvenation Day Spa, with Commissioner Homeyer purchasing the gift
card and being reimbursed by the commission.
Second: Commissioner Cushman seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Staff informed the commission that portions of the City’s development code are going to be
reviewed and voted on by the City Board of Directors. Staff then presented the changes that will
be made to Chapter 15, Landscape noting that no action will be required by the CBC. Staff
presented the landscape changes and generally discussed with the commissioners how these
changes would differ from how the code is now written.
Staff informed the commission that starting in 2020 all CBC materials and variance information
will be digital. Staff discussed how this would function and noted that the City would provide
tablets to each commissioner upon request. It was also noted that these City devises are only for
the convenience of viewing CBC materials and are not required. An electronic link or PDF will
still be emailed to each commissioner before the regularly scheduled meetings.
Each of the nine (9) commissioners agreed to accept the City provided tablet.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be February 06, 2020, at 11:30 am.
The next Adopt-A-Street pickup will be held on January 18, at 8:00 am.
ADJOURNMENT:
Chairman Sanders-Woods entertained a motion to adjourn.
Motion: Commissioner Winchester made a motion to adjourn.
Second: Commissioner Walker seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:11 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