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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutesNovember 8, 2007 ITEM NO.: 12 FILE NO.: LU07-15-02 Name: Land Use Plan Amendment - Geyer Springs West Planning District Location: 7604 Eagle Drive Request: Single Family to Mixed Office Commercial Source: John Lamb PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Land Use Plan amendment in the Geyer Springs West Planning District from Single Family to Mixed Office Commercial. Mixed Office Commercial represents a mixture of commercial and office uses with a Planned Zoning District required for a mix. The applicant has requested a rezoning from R-2 Single Family to Planned Office Development with C-1 and 0-3 uses. Staff is not expanding the application. EXISTING LAND USE AND ZONING: The property is currently nonconforming 0-3 office uses in an R-2 Single Family zoning district. It is one building with four separate units and is currently being used by an insurance agency. It appears that the rest of the building is vacant and for rent. To the east of this area is zoned C-3 General Commercial and has two real estate offices which front on Chicot Road. South of this application area is also zoned C-3 and has one large building with a chiropractor's office, and beauty shop, and a ministries office. The surrounding area west along Eagle Drive is shown as R-2 Single Family and is occupied by residences. North of this application is a large church facility. FUTURE LAND USE PLAN AND RECENT AMENDMENTS: The application area is shown as Single Family on the Future Land Use plan. To the west is also shown as Single Family. To the east, southeast and north is all shown as Commercial on the Plan. North of Mann Road is shown as Public Institutional. Ordinance 19554 was approved in 2006 to amend the Future Land Use Plan southeast of this area at Vernon Estates Drive from Multi Family to Single Family. MASTER STREET PLAN: Eagle Drive is shown as a Local Street. The primary function of a Local Street is to provide access to adjacent properties. Local Streets which are abutted by non-residential zoning/use or more intensive zoning than duplexes are November 8, 2007 SUBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont.) FILE NO.: LU07-15-02 considered as "Commercial Streets". These streets have a design standard the same as a Collector. Chicot Road is shown as a Principal Arterial with reduced standards. The primary function of a Principal Arterial is to serve through traffic and to connect major traffic generators or activity centers within urbanized areas. These streets may require dedication of right-of-way and may require street improvements for entrances and exits to the site. BICYCLE PLAN: There are no bike routes in the immediate vicinity. PARKS: According to the Master Parks Plan, this area is within eight blocks of a city park. Ottenheimer Park is located northeast of this application area. HISTORIC DISTRICTS: There are no city recognized historic districts that would be affected by this amendment. CITY RECOGNIZED NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION PLAN: The Chicot West 1-30 South covers this area and the Economic Development goal states: "Provide a mixed commercial/residential environment that will promote the safety, attractiveness, and value of the area while creating a competitive and adaptable economic climate that encourages investment and diversity of employment opportunities ANALYSIS: This Land Use Plan amendment is for the building located at 7604 Eagle Drive, just west of Chicot Road. It is one building with four separate units and is currently being used by an insurance agency. It appears that the rest of the building is vacant and for rent. This area is currently shown as Single Family on the Future Land Use Plan, and it is zoned R-2 Single Family with nonconforming 0-3 uses. Immediately west and adjacent is shown as Commercial on the Plan. This application would basically just extend the existing Commercial north and west to include this building. To the east are two real estate agencies which front on Chicot, and to the south is zoned C-3 and has one large building with a chiropractor's office, a beauty shop, and a ministries office. This building faces Eagle Drive. 2 November 8, 2007 SUBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont. FILE NO.: LU07-15-02 This part of Little Rock has been developed for quite some time. The houses appear occupied and in fairly good condition. There is little to no vacant Commercial or Single Family land in this immediate vicinity. In 2006, almost nine acres of land at Vernon Estates Drive was amended from Multi Family to Single Family. This is the only land use plan amendment that has been approved in this area recently. While non-residential uses are usually not desirable on residential streets, this site is an exception because it faces other non-residential uses. The existing conditions and the proximity of this location to Chicot Road are both reasons for accepting non-residential at this site. With a change from Single Family to Mixed Office Commercial, a Planned Development will be required for any use that incorporates commercial uses. This Planned Development will give staff a chance to review any zoning issues for this site and help protect the neighborhood to the west. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS: Notices were sent to the following neighborhood associations: West Baseline, Chicot, and Southwest Little Rock United for Progress. Staff has received no comments from area residents. STAFF RECOMMENDATIO Staff believes the change is appropriate. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (NOVEMBER 8, 2007) The item was placed on the consent agenda for approval. By a vote of 11 for and 0 against the consent agenda was approved. 3