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HomeMy WebLinkAboutstaff reportSeptember 14, 2006 ITEM NO.: 23 FILE NO.: LU06-08-03 Name: Land Use Plan Amendment - Central City Planning District Location: Ives Walk Street between Cumberland and Rock Street Request: Multi -family to Single-family Source: The Housing Authority of the City of Little Rock PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Land Use Plan amendment in the Central City Planning District from Multi -family to Single- family. Single-family represents single-family homes at densities not to exceed six dwelling units per acre. This applicant plans on removing multi -family housing units to develop single- family housing. EXISTING LAND USE AND ZONING: The property is on Ives Walk between Cumberland Street and Rock Street south of Roosevelt. It is currently zoned R3 Single Family and is 5.162 acres in size. The site currently has subsidized duplex and triplex units on it. These are mostly abandoned though some still appear to be occupied. There is some 12 Light Industrial to the immediate east of this property, and it is has storage type facilities on it. The remainder of the land in the vicinity is zoned for R3 or R4 Single -Family or Two -Family Residential with single family residences and duplexes. FUTURE LAND USE PLAN AND RECENT AMENDMENTS: The application area is currently shown as Multi -family on the Land Use Plan. Immediately west of the area is planned for Single -Family as is the area northeast of this property. All of the area south of this location is planned for Industrial. To the northwest of the location is more Multi -family. February 21, 2006 a change was made about 500 feet west of the application area. Approximately two acres south of E. 29th Street between Main Street and Martel was changed from Single -Family to Multi -Family to provide residential areas for the elderly. March 18, 2003, Ordinance 18837 changed approximately 84 acres from Light Industrial to Service Trades District on the east side of Interstate 30. This area is buffered from the current application area by the interstate. On January 4, 2000, a change was made from Single Family to Mixed Use at 2311 Spring Street to the northwest of the application to accommodate a proposed development. September 14, 2006 SUBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 23 FILE NO.: LU06-08-03 MASTER STREET PLAN: Ives Walk is shown as a Local Street on the plan. The primary function of a Local Street is to provide access to adjacent properties. These streets may require dedication of right-of- way and may require street improvements. BICYCLE PLAN -- A Class III bike route is planned on Main Street. A Class III bikeway is a signed route on a street shared with traffic. No additional paving or right-of-way is required. Class III bicycle route signage may be required. This is the closest bike route in the area. PARKS: South Little Rock Park is to the west of this property between Martel and Main Streets south of E. 28th Street. This location is within eight blocks of either a park or an open space. HISTORIC DISTRICTS: There are no city recognized historic districts that would be affected by this amendment. CITY RECOGNIZED NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION PLAN: This area is included in the South End Neighborhood Action Plan. Their Plan specifically states, "Repair, renovate and increase maintenance on housing stock that can be occupied." The plan is also in support of any developments that contribute to the overall good of the neighborhood. ANALYSIS: The application property currently has several boarded up multi -family structures on it. These have been mostly abandoned, but a few appear to be occupied. The application site is surrounding a one-way local street. This area is in need of a change to revitalize the vacant and abandoned properties. The South End Neighborhood Action Plan calls for renovations and repair of the existing housing stock in the area. The Plan also calls for "making infill housing compatible with existing neighborhood pattern of massing, setback, etc. and multifamily blend with existing neighborhood." The current scale of the neighborhood is smaller houses. There has been a recent demand for more single-family units in this area. Since 2000, there have been several permits issued for new single-family residences in the South End Neighborhood. In February 2006, there was a land use amendment made to change an area from Single Family to Multi Family, but this amendment was for a special population (elderly 2 September 14, 2006 SUBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 23 FILE NO.: LU06-08-03 residences). There are currently 21 acres of Multi Family in this immediate area. This application would only reduce that to approximately 16 acres, which would still be able to meet the area's need for multi family housing. This area currently has a large amount of single family housing with several vacant lots. The past decade has seen a decline in single family housing in the neighborhood in the form of abandoned houses. The general area is impacted by the rail line to the south, the interstate to the east, and the heavy commercial and industrial uses to the east. This has placed a non-residential border on the neighborhood that have surrounded this neighborhood on two sides. The neighborhood would benefit from the removal of these multi family units by reinforcing the single family uses on the edge of the area and it could spur infill and renovations to existing single-family areas to the north and west of the application site. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS: Notices were sent to the following neighborhood associations: Community Outreach Neighborhood Organization, East of Broadway Neighborhood Association, and Meadowbrook Neighborhood Association. No comments have been received at this time. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff believes the change is appropriate. This application would reinforce the existing Single Family with more Single Family uses. 3