HomeMy WebLinkAboutstaff reportApril 4, 2013
ITEM NO.: 1 FILE NO.: LU13-18-02
Name: Land Use Plan Amendment — Ellis Mountain Planning District
Location: East of Hugh Taylor and Lawson Roads
Request: Residential Low Density and Light Industrial to Mining
Source: Michael Lasiter, Little Rock Quarries
PROPOSAL / REQUEST:
A Land Use Plan amendment in the Ellis Mountain Planning District is from
Residential Low Density and Light Industrial to Mining. The mining category
provides for the extraction of various natural resources such as bauxite, sand,
gravel, limestone, granite or other. Mining uses will include assurances that these
resources be properly managed so as not to create a hazard, nuisance or the
disfigurement or pollution of the land.
EXISTING LAND USE AND ZONING:
The property is partially wooded and is currently zoned R-2 Single Family and is
18.85 acres ± in size. To the north and east is R-2 Single Family. To the south
are areas of 1-3 Heavy Industrial and 1-1 Industrial Park, both of which are used
for mining related activities. To the west is M Mining land which is used for
mining activities.
FUTURE LAND USE PLAN AND RECENT AMENDMENTS:
To the north and the east is an area of land shown as RL Residential Low
Density on the Future Land Use Plan. -To the south are areas of Industrial and
Light Industrial, both of which are used for mining related activities. To the west
is all M Mining land which is used for mining activities.
January 10, 2013, A change was approved by the Planning
Commission from Light Industrial to Mining. That change was not approved by
the Board of Directors, and the applicant has since filed a Planned industrial
Development.
November 16, 2010, A change was made from Residential Low Density and
Industrial to Mining immediately east and north of the subject property.
October 15, 1996, A change from Mixed Use and Public Institutional to Office
immediately south of the application area on the west side of Lawson Road.
April 4, 2013
STEM NO.: 1 (Cont.)_ FILE NO.: LU13-18-02
February 4, 1992, multiple changes from mostly Single Family and some Light
Industrial to Industrial, Light Industrial, Multifamily, and Public Institutional in the
current node area.
MASTER STREET PLAN:
The east west portions of Lawson Road are shown as a Minor Arterial while the
north south section of Lawson is shown as a Principal Arterial.
A Minor Arterial provides connections to and through an urban area and their
primary function is to provide short distance travel within the urbanized area.
Entrances and exits should be limited to minimize negative effects of traffic and
pedestrians on the arterial streets.
BICYCLE PLAN:
There is a proposed Class I bike route along the north south Outer Loop and to
the east along Lawson Road. A Class I bikeway is built separate from or
alongside a road. Additional paving and right of way may be required.
PARKS:
This area is approximately one and three quarter miles outside the city limits and
further than that to any park facilities.
ISTORIC DISTRICTS:
There are no city recognized historic districts that would be affected by this
amendment.
ANALYSIS:
The land is shown as Residential Low Density on the Future Land Use Plan. The
area surrounding the application is shown as Residential Low Density, Mining,
Light Industrial and Industrial. With the natural resource of the rock underneath,
it is more fitting to show this land as Mining instead of Residential Low
Density. The mining operation to the west is proposed to expand into this
site. There has been no residential activity on this site and to the immediate
east. The best use of the area is to allow for the natural resources extraction and
expand the area shown for mining. The application states that the proposed use
of the property is "to incorporate with existing quarry operations to the west"
owned by the applicant.
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April 4, 2013
ITEM NO.: i (ContJ FILE NO.: LU13-18-02
The mining activities have been in this location before the expansion of the City's
Extraterritorial zoning to this area. The original zonings and Future Land Use
categories of Industrial had been placed there for related uses to the mining.
Lawson Road and Colonel Glenn Road run through the valleys in this area.
When the topographical map is viewed, there are two ridge lines separating the
two roadways. The majority of the land being considered is forested and the land
between it and Colonel Glenn is all forested with the exception of a pond. There
are houses that front onto Colonel Glenn Road, but the mining activities will not
be seen from Colonel Glenn Road. From Lawson Road, the area to be
considered under this application is behind the already excavated area that is
used for mining and industrial activities, so the view will not be drastically
different than what is there now.
Surrounding this site on the west side is mining activities. The change would not
impact this use since they are similar. There is Residential Low Density due east
and north of this application. This land to the north is owned by the applicant and
can serve as a buffer. Little or no impact is expected to the mining and industrial
uses to the south. To the east is a large tract of undeveloped land.
In November 2010, an area that borders this site to the west of was zoned from
R-2 Single Family to Mining for the expansion of an existing mining area. A
study of an aerial photo of the area shows that there are active mining occurring
on both sides of Lawson Road, though not readily visible from the roadway.
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS:
There are no neighborhood associations in the vicinity of this application.
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff believes the change is appropriate.
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