HomeMy WebLinkAboutletters and emails about applicationMinyard, Brian
From: Robert Adams [rfadams@prodigy. net]
Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2000 10:54 PM
To: bminyard@littlerock.state.ar.us
Subject: Land use
Dear Mr Minyard:
I'm writing to you for my parents, who live at 10814 Birchwood Dr.
They received a notice that the house at 10800 Birchwood was going to be used commercial.
They are against this change.
The intersection is already very congested and many accidents have happened where people are
trying to get onto or off of Shackleford Rd. Also, there will be a parking problem since the house
in question has very little if any extra parking for their customers.
In any event, this is a residential neighborhood which has been engulfed by commercial
development. Some of the people living there have lived there since their homes were built in the
early 60's (my parents) and they would like to keep the neighborhood residential as long as
possible.
Therefore, please take this into consideration when you have the meeting on the 14th. Mr. and
Mrs. Voris Adams DO NOT want the change from single family to neighborhood commercial
allowed.
Thanks.
Robert Adams
�Ti�r S-1
,CEYVEI
SEP 7 2000
September 5, 2000
Department of Planning & Development
Attn: Brian Minyard - Planning Division
723 W. Markham
Little Rock, AR 72201
I am writing to you regarding the application (Z-6907) that will be on the Planning
Commission Agenda September 14. It is an application to rezone property at 10800
Birchwood Little Rock, 72211 from R-2 to PD -C, or so I thought. ( I have attached a copy
of the applicant's letter describing what they envision for this property). I later received a
postcard in the mail from Planning & Development notifying our neighborhood that it was
not only a rezoning request for the property at 10800 Birchwood but also a Land Use
Amendment to include property to the north of this house, south across Birchwood taking
in another home, up to the office building at the corner of Shackleford and Financial
Center. My question is: how did a rezoning application for a home turn into a full-
fledged Land Use Amendment from single family to Neighborhood Commercial?
That doesn't appear to be what was asked for in the application. I have had calls from
some of our neighbors after the rezoning/plan amendment signs appeared in the front
yard of the residence at 10800 Birchwood, particularly neighbors to the west of this home.
We totally oppose any rezoning or amendment to the plan from residential to commercial
at this entrance (Shackleford & Birchwood) to our neighborhood. As the old adage goes,
"give them an inch, they will take a mile." There have already been inquiries to buy up
the first five houses on Birchwood. It would be opening the door to further commercial
intrusion into our neighborhood. The Noveros have only been here possibly a year, we
have lived here for 30 years as Have many others and have been inundated with these
types of requests. We do not wish to see more of this type of commercialization at yet
another entrance to our neighborhood. Does every corner in the city of Little Rock have
to be a commercial node? We already have that type of zoning at the other two entrances
into our neighborhood on Autumn and Chenal Pkwy. and Alamo and Markham, do we
really need another?
The current application would only exacerbate the traffic situation at this intersection.
According to the 1997 Highway Dept. traffic report there were at that time 34,000 cars
driving south on Shackleford with another 36,000 cars going east on Financial Center
which makes a total of 70,000 at Shackleford & Financial Center/1-630 approximately
70,000 cars a day which has made this the busiest intersection in the city. It all backs up
on Shackleford to the north and blocks Birchwood to any incoming or outgoing traffic. That
count was made three years ago, we can only imagine what that count is today. As
indicated in the City's Master Street Plan, the service volume for Principal Arterials is
25,000 vehicles per day, clearly the volume of traffic for this location is totally in excess
of that figure (Chenal Parkway Corridor Traffic Study - 1995). That is only one of the
problems facing this land use amendment/rezoning and as I understand it, not the
prevailing issue.
It is also in the Flood Plain (map attached). There was a similar request in March 1992
for the same type of rezoning that involved two homes on the south side of Birchwood.
I am enclosing a copy of a letter written by Jim Lawson at that time to Sharon Priest who
was mayor then, it explains why this was not a good idea for our neighborhood then and
still isn't today. There have been previous applications at this locality for this type of
rezoning in the p st, ?nclud*,,,ig the people the current ; esidenis bought the house from, all
of which failed or withdrawn. We hope this record will remain intact.
I have spoken with Ms. Novero and was told their reason for wanting the rezoning is to be
able to stay at home with her alteration business. Home Occupation has been explained
to her and that she would have to go to the customers, they would not be allowed to come
to her home. She has said she wouldn't be interested in this type of arrangement. The
only reason I can see that they would request this rezoning is to get out from under the
overhead at their current place of business at 10500 W. Markham in a retail center only
a few minutes from their home.
If you need any further information I can be reached at 569-3546 until 4:00 and 225-8580
after 4:30 or by e-mail: gkhenry@aristotle.net. Thank you for your consideration
S'ncerely,
Georgi Henry
Attachments: (3)
176�?'k7 8• /
Monday, August 28, 2000 1 SEP„ 1 2000
Brian Minyard
LR Planning and Development
723 West Markham St.
Little Rock, AR 72201
Dear Mr. Minyard:
It has come to my attention that a request has been submitted for change in land use on
both sides of Birchwood Drive, at the intersection of South Shackleford Road and
Birchwood Drive, the entrance to Birchwood Subdivision.
My wife Donnie and I have made our home in Birchwood for 30 years. As you may know,
we and our neighbors and our Association have struggled to keep this island of residences,
now totally encircled by commercial development. There are many like ourselves who
fight the traffic problems every day, getting into and out of our neighborhood. We request
that you consider the inadvisability of establishing commercial zoning and parking lots to
serve them, at the main entrance to a large residential district where the over 200 families
already have major problems accessing their own homes.
We intend to be present at the meeting on September 14. Please deny this request.
Siiiccrcly,
�b and Donnie Boyd, Birchwood meown s
Page 1 of 1
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Minyard, Brian [ TGWI 8 , t
From: Georgie Henry [gkhenry@ualr.edu]
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2000 2:08 PM
To: bminyard@Iittlerock.state.ar.us
Subject: Land Use Amendment at Birchwood and Shackleford
Why is a Land Use Amendment being requested at the entrance to our neighborhood stretching from Denny's to the
office building at Financial Center and Shackleford? This is already an impossible traffic problem with cars being
backed up from the stoplight at 630 and Shackleford Rd. and residents of Birchwood not being able to turn left in or out
at that intersection. If you try to turn left into Birchwood anytime from 3:00 p.m. on, it is next to impossible with cars
blocking the intersection, coming off of 1-430 north and straight into our left turn lane, and at this point in time, nothing
is being done about it. The police have been there on occasion, but not enough times to alleviate the situation. What is
the point in making it even worse than it already is? We are totally opposed to this type of land use amendment and the
rezoning to allow the Novero's to open a business on that corner. There have already been developers out there wanting
to buy at least five houses into our neighborhood. Where would this all end. It would certainly be a detriment to our
neighborhood and the beginning of total encroachment of more commercial development into our neighborhood. I think
we already have enough of that due in part to other land use amendments made from office to commercial, and PCD's. I
understand this is in the flood plain, I have a copy of the map that shows that, and fully understand the measures that
would be needed to build anything there. We have already been through this Once on the south side of Birchwood when
they wanted to put in a medical clinic and I think withdrew because of that and didn't pursue the plan. I have talked with
Ms. Novero and tried to explain to her what their application would mean to the neighborhood and that we would oppose
it. I think they were rather shook up after the subdivision meeting and don't quite know what to do now. I advised her to
discuss the whole situation with planning and development again to make their final decision, that if they wanted to
withdraw the application they could but that was up to them. I told her if it does go forward to the Planning Commission
we would be there to oppose it. We are planning a neighborhood meeting in Sept. to discuss and make plans for
September 14th. My e-mail at home is: glehenry{a?aristotle.net -home phone: 225-$580 -office: 569-3546. If there is
anything else you need from us you can contact me at any of the listed phone numbers and e-mail.
8/25/00