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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Director itemsOFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMUNICATION OCTOBER 2, 2007 AGENDA Subject Land Use Plan Amendment — Crystal Valley Planning District — LU07-17-01 at the 7600 block of Stagecoach Road Submitted by: Planning and Development Action Required I Approved By gOrdinance Resolution Approval Information Report Bruce Moore SYNOPSIS Land Use Plan amendments in the Crystal Valley Planning District from Mixed Use to Commercial for future development. FISCAL IMPACT N/A RECOMMENDATION Planning Staff recommends approval. The Planning Commission reviewed this issue at its August 30, 2007 meeting and recommended approval (8 ayes, 1 no, 1 absent and 1 open position). There was one objector present. CITIZEN All residents within 300 feet who could be identified, the PARTICIPATION expanded area property owners, and the Southwest Little Rock United for Progress and the Stagecoach Dodd Neighborhood Associations were notified of the public hearing. BACKGROUND The amendment area is currently zoned 0-1 Quiet Office and R-2 Single Family. The property is approximately 3 acres and is used for a construction office and two single family residences. To the north is zoned R-2 and is vacant and undeveloped. To the east of this site is also all R-2 and has single family residences along Stagecoach past McHenry Creek to Brodie Lane. To the south is also zoned R-2 and is undeveloped floodplain. To the southwest is zoned C-2 and Planned Commercial Development for D's Catering, a vacant building for lease, and Horticare (down Sibley Hole Road). BACKGROUND CONTINUED Immediately west of the application area is zoned R-2 with a Conditional Use Permit to allow Dreamland Child Development Center. West of this is also zoned R-2, but it is occupied by Our Place Bar and Grill. This use is permitted by the grandfather clause. The amendment area is currently shown on the Future Land Use Plan as Mixed Use. It is located just east and adjacent to an area shown as Commercial on the plan. The Mixed Use extends east along Stagecoach Road and is buffered from the surrounding Single Family by a strip of Park/Open Space, which designates McHenry Creek's floodway. Park/Open Space also surrounds the amendment area to the south to recognize the floodway of Fourche Creek. The area has a real need for more commercial sites. Currently, residents of the Pecan Lake and Stagecoach neighborhoods have to drive north to Colonel Glenn or west on Stagecoach past the interstate for Commercial uses. The Mixed Use category is usually assigned to an area in order to add the extra protection of a Planned Zoning District requirement. Staff does not feel this site needs this special requirement due to the large Park/Open Space and the remaining Mixed Use area buffer existing to the east of this site. This area has been mostly dormant for the past twenty years, but new residential developments are currently moving to this area. Woodridge Estates, Waters Edge Estates and Greenwood Acres have all developed recently with new single family residences. New residents in this area will increase the community's need for more commercial development. There is one vacant building zoned C-3 southwest of this amendment area, but otherwise there is little to no commercially zoned land available east of the interstate. It is over a mile to the commercial on the west side of Interstate 430, and this land is already mostly developed as well. The Pecan Lake -Stagecoach Dodd -Westwood Neighborhood Action Plan does address this issue. Their Land Use and Zoning goal states: "Protect the residential integrity of the neighborhood by maintaining adequate separation or sufficient buffering between residential and non-residential uses." This amendment would not only be buffered by the remaining Mixed Use shown on the Plan, but also by the wide strip of Park/Open Space that crosses Stagecoach northeast of the amendment site. 0 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE LAND USE PLAN (16,222) IN THE CRYSTAL VALLEY PLANNING DISTRICT FROM MIXED USE TO COMMERCIAL; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. WHEREAS, as the Little Rock Planning Commission believes it appropriate to amend the plan. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS. SECTION 1. That Mixed Use on both sides of the road at the 7600 block of Stagecoach Road be amended to Commercial. SECTION 2. That the ordinance shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval. PASSED: ATTEST:. City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: City Attorney APPROVED: Mayor SF PK/OS M o� SF SF [� MX 00 a PK/OS a a a �O G� y� GOP C Z D Vicinity Map Plan Amendment Case: LU07-17-01 N Location: 7600 Block Stagecoach Road MX to C Ward: 7 0 250 500 Feet PD: 16 CT: 42.08 TRS: TIN R13W33 �G SSP (�gy PRD ® 1. o4b Os o®' Q 03 GQ R2 dl ❑ 2 j C2 4 C � PCD ' GO CO) C3 Area FAI111-11 Case: LU07-17-01 N Location: 7600 Block Stagecoach Road MX to C Ward: 7 0 250 500 Feet PD: 16 CT: 42.08 TRS: TIN R13W33 FILE NO.: LU07-17-01 Name: Land Use Plan Amendment - Crystal Valley Planning District Location: 7600 & 7610 Stagecoach Road Request: Mixed Use to Commercial Source: David Austin PROPOSAL / REQUEST: The request is for a Land Use Plan amendment in the Crystal Valley Planning District from Mixed Use to Commercial. Commercial represents a broad range of retail and wholesale sales. Commercial uses can vary in scale and type. The applicant has proposed a rezoning for a construction office and rental office space. Prompted by this Land Use Amendment request, the Planning Staff expanded the area of review to include area south and adjacent to the application area. With these changes, the existing Commercial would be expanded further east. This expansion makes the amendment more logical. EXISTING LAND USE AND ZONING: The amendment area is currently zoned 0-1 Quiet Office and R-2 Single Family. The property is approximately 3 acres and is used for a construction office and two single- family residences. To the north is zoned R-2 and is vacant and undeveloped. To the east of this site is also all R-2 and has single-family residences along Stagecoach past McHenry Creek to Brodie Lane. To the south is also zoned R-2 and is undeveloped floodplain. To the southwest is zoned C-2 and Planned Commercial Development for D's Catering, a vacant building for lease, and Horticare (down Sibley Hole Road). Immediately west of the application area is zoned R-2 with a Conditional Use Permit to allow Dreamland Child Development Center. West of this is also zoned R-2, but it is occupied by Our Place Bar and Grill. This use is permitted by the grandfather clause. FUTURE LAND USE PLAN AND RECENT AMENDMENTS: The amendment area is currently shown on the Future Land Use Plan as Mixed Use. It is located just east and adjacent to an area shown as Commercial on the plan. The Mixed Use extends east along Stagecoach Road and is buffered from the surrounding Single Family by a strip of Park/Open Space, which designates McHenry Creek's floodway. Park/Open Space also surrounds the amendment area to the south to recognize the floodway of Fourche Creek. There have been no recent amendments in this area. The amendment area was changed from Single Family to Commercial, Mixed Use and Park/Open Space in 1995 by Ordinance 17059. FILE NO.: LU07-17-01 Cont. MASTER STREET PLAN: Stagecoach Road is shown as a Principal Arterial on the Master Street Plan. The primary function of a Principal Arterial is to serve through traffic and to connect major traffic generators or activity centers within urbanized areas. Entrances and exits should be limited to minimize negative effects of traffic and pedestrians on Stagecoach since it is a Principal Arterial. These streets may require dedication of right-of-way and may require street improvements for entrances and exits to the site since this street is currently a two-lane road. BICYCLE PLAN: The Master Street Plan bicycle section shows a Class II bike route proposed along Stagecoach Road. A Class II bikeway is located on the street as either a 5' shoulder or six foot marked bike lane. Additional paving and right of way may be required. PARKS: According to the Master Parks Plan, the application area is within eight blocks of a park or open space. Fourche Creek's floodplain is located just east of this area and is designated as Park/Open Space on the Future Land Use map. HISTORIC DISTRICTS: There are no city recognized historic districts that would be affected by this amendment. CITY RECOGNIZED NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION PLAN: The applicant's property lies in the area covered by the Westwood -Stagecoach Dodd - Pecan Lake Neighborhood Action Plan. The Zoning and Land Use goal states: "Protect the residential integrity of the neighborhood by maintaining adequate separation or sufficient buffering between residential and non-residential uses." ANALYSIS: The amendment area is located just east of the intersection of Interstate 430 and Stagecoach Road. It is currently being used for residential houses and a small office and is shown as Mixed Use on the Future Land Use Plan. Mixed Use requires a Planned Zoning Development if the property is not going to be a mixture of residential, office and commercial. The applicant has requested a change in zoning from R-2 and 0-1 to C-3 General Commercial, so a Land Use Amendment was necessary. This area is bordered to the immediate west by Commercial, and this Commercial is a relatively small area. The Mixed Use is buffered from Single Family on the east by a strip of Park/Open Space, which represents the floodway of McHenry Creek. The proposed amendment would change approximately 16 acres of land from Mixed Use to Commercial. This would increase the amount of Commercial at this location from 13.75 2 FILE NO.: LU07-17-01 (Cont. acres to almost 30 acres. As of this writing, there are 54.25 acres of Mixed Use at this amendment area. This amendment would reduce the amount of Mixed Use to approximately 38 acres. With this amendment, the land between Interstate 430 and McHenry Creek would be split more equally between Commercial and Mixed Use. The area has a real need for more commercial sites. Currently, residents of the Pecan Lake and Stagecoach neighborhoods have to drive north to Colonel Glenn or west on Stagecoach past the interstate for Commercial uses. The Mixed Use category is usually assigned to an area in order to add the extra protection of a Planned Zoning District requirement. Staff does not feel this site needs this special requirement due to the large Park/Open Space and the remaining Mixed Use area buffer existing to the east of this site. This area has been mostly dormant for the past twenty years, but new residential developments are currently moving to this area. Woodridge Estates, Waters Edge Estates and Greenwood Acres have all developed recently with new single-family residences. New residents in this area will increase the community's need for more commercial development. There is one vacant building zoned C-3 southwest of this amendment area, but otherwise there is little to no commercially zoned land available east of the interstate. It is over a mile to the commercial on the west side of Interstate 430, and this land is already mostly developed as well. The Pecan- Lake -Stagecoach Dodd -Westwood Neighborhood Action Plan does address this issue. Their Land Use and Zoning goal states: "Protect the residential integrity of the neighborhood by maintaining adequate separation or sufficient buffering between residential and non-residential uses." This amendment would not only be buffered by the remaining Mixed Use shown on the Plan, but, also by the wide strip of Park/Open Space that crosses Stagecoach northeast of the amendment site. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS: Notices were sent to the following neighborhood associations: Southwest Little Rock United for Progress and Stagecoach Dodd. Staff has received one comment from an area resident. The resident was not in favor of the change. TAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff believes the change is appropriate. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (AUGUST 30, 2007) Brian Minyard, City Staff, made a brief presentation to the commission. Monte Moore made a presentation of item 2.1 so the discussion could coincide with the discussion for item 2. See item 2.1 for a complete discussion concerning the rezoning item. i, FILE NO.: LU07-17-01 (Cont. Mr. Minyard, at the request of Commissioner Adcock, briefly explained the Future Land Use plan and the amendment to Mary McKewen, a resident of the area. A motion was made to approve the item as presented. The item was approved with a vote of 8 ayes, 1 noes, 1 absent and 1 open position. lel