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Home My WebLink Aboutboard of directors itemsOFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMUNICATION MARCH 31, 2009 AGENDA Subject Land Use Plan Amendment — Geyer Springs West Planning District — LU09-15-01 at the north side of Baseline Road, east of Cloverdale Road Submitted by: Planning and Development Action Required I Approved By 1 Ordinance Resolution Approval Information Report Bruce Moore SYNOPSIS A Land Use Plan amendment in the Geyer Springs West Planning District from Single Family to Office and Park/Open Space for future development. FISCAL IMPACT N/A RECOMMENDATION Planning Staff recommends approval. The Planning Commission reviewed this issue at its February 19, 2009 meeting and recommended approval (8 in favor, 0 against). There were no objectors present. CITIZEN All residents within 300 feet who could be identified, and the PARTICIPATION following Neighborhood Associations: Allendale, Chicot, Cloverdale and SWLRUP were notified of the public hearing. BACKGROUND This future land use plan amendment for this section of Baseline has been in place for many years without any amendments. The plan has shown an approximately 175' deep strip of Office along the north side of Baseline Road from the Pine Gardens Apartments on the east to the 7000 block of Baseline on the west. About half of the structures in this strip of Office are used for general office uses and the other half are either vacant or used for single family residences. These BACKGROUND CONTINUED residences are situated on lots that are approximately 360 feet deep from Baseline Road. The structures are located on the front half of the properties in the area designated as Office on the Plan. This part of Little Rock has been developed for quite some time. The houses along this portion of Baseline Road appear to be half unoccupied and in substandard condition. While there is already a large section of Office shown along this part of Baseline Road, all six of the parcels are still zoned R-2 Single Family. In order for any of the property owners to be able to rezone to an office use, the northern half of the properties must be shown as Office for any future rezoning. There are not many areas available for Office development in this area besides this section that is already shown as Office. There has been a recent influx of new residents to this area and the change in population has created a demand for services that are not currently being met in the area. New office uses along Baseline Road could help meet some of these needs. The south side of Baseline in this area is shown as Office on the Plan and is used for the Department of Human Services, a Post Office and an apartment complex. The north side of Baseline in the proposed amendment area has many vacant and for sale residences that have been unoccupied for some time. This area has been shown on the Plan for some time for Office and Staff feels this category is still appropriate. Staff believes this is a minor amendment because it is really just moving the line of the Office category to mirror that of the parcels along Baseline Road. Staff recommends approval with the condition of adding a fifty foot Park/Open Space buffer along the northern, eastern and western edges of Office to protect the residential to the north. 2 � 0 . e ° m IL La N .�■ted ee� F is ire e. se® �• �� LARK PL Sa ® � S I Vicinity Map it To - ------- .14 IMMM o X Future Land Use i boom= PI Case: LU09-15-01 N Location: 7000 block of Baseline Rd. From SF to O & 50 ft. OS Ward: 7 PD: 15 CT: 41.03 TRS: TIN R13W36 0 75 150 300 Feet eML ee� F is ire e. se® �• �� LARK PL Sa ® � S I Vicinity Map it To - ------- .14 IMMM o X Future Land Use i boom= PI Case: LU09-15-01 N Location: 7000 block of Baseline Rd. From SF to O & 50 ft. OS Ward: 7 PD: 15 CT: 41.03 TRS: TIN R13W36 0 75 150 300 Feet e ` s O • aV wwwoA) .16 gbilopq � % # 4 1160a 6 - an M °jok bl�®fmx 418% ArEad, 0 ®- �0C CANS ML �i de v 0 ■ r° ■ ■ S1 lot 1 Q m LARK PL ® c= �7 Area Vicinity Map m m m w GU111I1 raj PR Case: LU09-15-01 N Location: 7000 block of Baseline Rd. From SFtoO&50 ft. OS Ward: 7 PD: 15 0 75 150 300 Feet CT: 41.03 TRS: TIN R13W36 ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE LAND USE PLAN (16,222) IN THE GEYER SPRINGS WEST PLANNING DISTRICT (LU09-15-01) FROM SINGLE FAMILY TO OFFICE AND PARK/OPEN SPACE; 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 Single Family at the north side of Baseline Road and east of Cloverdale Road be amended to Office with a 50' Park/Open Space strip along the north, west and east boundaries. SECTION 2. That the ordinance shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval. PASSED: ATTEST: APPROVED: City of Little Rock Clerk Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM: City Attorney FILE NO.: LU09-15-01 Name: Land Use Plan Amendment — Geyer Springs West Planning District Location: The north side of Baseline Road, east of Cloverdale Road Request: Single Family to Office Source: Michael Hight PROPOSAL / REQUEST: The request is for a Land Use Plan amendment in the Geyer Springs West Planning District from Single Family to Office. Office represents services provided directly to consumers as well as general offices that support more basic economic activities. The applicant has requested a rezoning from R-2 Single Family District to 0-3 General Office. Prompted by this Land Use Amendment request, the Planning Staff expanded the area of review to include area to the east and west of this property. With these changes, the Office that is currently shown along Baseline Road would be expanded to include all of the property owners' properties. It is thought that the additional area would make the boundaries more logical. EXISTING LAND USE AND ZONING.- The ONING: The amendment area is all zoned as R-2 Single Family District. The amendment area is actually the northern portion of six separate parcels. These lots are approximately 360 feet deep from Baseline Road and the structures are located on the front half of the properties. The amendment portion is mostly backyard and open space. Half of these properties are being occupied and the other half are for sale or vacant. R-2 zoning surrounds this amendment on all sides. The south side of Baseline Road is zoned 0-3 General Office for Cloverdale Estates apartment homes, a post office branch, and the Department of Human Services office. FUTURE LAND USE PLAN AND RECENT AMENDMENTS: The amendment area is currently shown as Single Family on the Land Use Plan. As stated above, this amendment is to bring the northern boundary of the Office category further north to encompass the whole depth of these six parcels. A section of Office runs along the north and south side of Baseline and beyond those boundaries is mostly shown as Single Family. Commercial is shown along Baseline to the west and southwest around the Baseline/Chicot intersection. FILE NO.: LU09-15-01 Cont.) MASTER STREET PLAN: Baseline Road is shown as a Principal Arterial on the 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 Baseline since it is a Principal Arterial. This street 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 this vicinity. PARKS: According to the Master Parks Plan, this area is within eight blocks of a park. Ottenheimer Park is located to the northwest of this amendment area. HISTORIC DISTRICTS: There are no city recognized historic districts that would be affected by this amendment. CITY RECOGNIZED NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION PLAN: This area is covered by the Cloverdale Watson Neighborhood Action Plan. One of their Economic Goals states: "Encourage new businesses to locate in existing vacant structures whenever possible." Their Land Use and Zoning Goal states: "Support non-residential changes in areas shown on Future Land Use Plan as such." This is applicable because the south portion of the applicant's property is already shown as Office on the Future Land Use Plan. ANALYSIS: This future land use plan amendment for this section of Baseline has been in place for many years without any amendments. The plan has shown an approximately 175' deep strip of Office along the north side of Baseline Road from the Pine Gardens Apartments on the east to the 7000 block of Baseline on the west. About half of the structures in this strip of Office are used for general office uses and the other half are either vacant or used for single family residences. These residences are situated on lots that are approximately 360 feet deep from Baseline Road. The structures are located on the front half of the properties in the area designated as Office on the Plan. This amendment was originally filed because of a rezoning at 7002 Baseline Road from R-2 to 0-3 General Office. Staff expanded the land use plan amendment to include the northern half of the parcels along the 7000 block of oil LU09-15-01 (Cont. Baseline Road. This amendment would simply expand the Office category to include the northern portion of six separate parcels. This part of Little Rock has been developed for quite some time. The houses along this portion of Baseline Road appear to be half unoccupied and in substandard condition. While there is already a large section of Office shown along this part of Baseline Road, all six of the parcels are still zoned R-2 Single Family. In order for any of the property owners to be able to rezone to an office use, the northern half of the properties must be shown as Office for any future rezoning. There are not many areas available for Office development in this area besides this section that is already shown as Office. There has been a recent influx of new residents to this area and the change in population has created a demand for services that are not currently being met in the area. New office uses along Baseline Road could help meet some of these needs. The south side of Baseline in this area is shown as Office on the Plan and is used for the Department of Human Services, a Post Office and an apartment complex. The north side of Baseline in the proposed amendment area has many vacant and for sale residences that have been unoccupied for some time. This area has been shown on the Plan for some time for Office and Staff feels this category is still appropriate. Staff believes this is a minor amendment because it is really just moving the line of the Office category to mirror that of the parcels along Baseline Road. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS: Notices were sent to the following neighborhood associations: Allendale, Chicot, Cloverdale and SWLRUP. Staff has received two comments from area residents: one in favor and one in opposition. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff recommends approval with the condition of adding a fifty foot Park/Open Space buffer along the northern edge of Office to protect the residential to the north. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (FEBRUARY 19, 2009) The Item was placed on consent agenda for approval with a 50 foot OS around the north, east and west boundaries. The consent agenda was approved by a vote of 8 for and 0 against. 9