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HomeMy WebLinkAboutboard of directors itemsOFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMUNICATION JULY 15, 2008 AGENDA Subject Land Use Plan Amendment — Central City Planning District — LU08-08-01 at 2410 South Battery Street Submitted by: Planning and Development SYNOPSIS FISCAL IMPACT RECOMMENDATION CITIZEN PARTICIPATION BACKGROUND Action Required Ordinance Resolution Approval Information Report A Land Use District from development. N/A Approved By Bruce Moore Plan amendment in the Central City Planning Public Institutional to Mixed Use for future Planning Staff recommends approval. The Planning Commission reviewed this issue at its June 19, 2008 meeting and recommended approval (9 in favor, 0 against). There were objectors present regarding the related Planned Zoning Development, but whether they opposed the land use plan amendment was unclear. All residents within 300 feet who could be identified, the South End Coalition and the South End Neighborhood Developers were notified of the public hearing. This application is for the Mitchell School site between Summit and Battery Streets and north of Roosevelt. The reuse of the elementary school structure is proposed to include both residential and non-residential uses. The applicant is proposing to re -use an existing structure in a developed part of town. BACKGROUND CONTINUED Similar re -uses have been primarily residential with some non-residential uses. This type of development would help to maintain the existing neighborhood character by keeping the original structure. This part of Roosevelt is surrounded by residential uses to the east and the fairgrounds to the west. There is currently a small node of Commercial shown on the plan at the intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King Drive and Roosevelt Road, but this is already largely developed. There is no other Commercial shown on the plan until the intersection of Booker and Roosevelt, which is approximately one mile west of Dr. MLK Drive. A change to Mixed Use would ensure the staff review of a Planned Development if the new use would be non-residential in nature. Mixed Use would allow some non-residential uses that would be appropriate for Roosevelt since it is an arterial. The amendment site is located in the center of Census Tract 11. There have only been nine new single family building permits issued in the past six years. Many of the existing single family residences in this area are in need of minor to major repairs and some have been abandoned. The redevelopment of this major structure in the neighborhood into a mixed-use development should help prevent further degradation of the neighborhood and hopefully help to add more vitality, encouraging further redevelopment and reinvestment in the neighborhood. 2 ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE LAND USE PLAN (16,222) IN THE CENTRAL CITY PLANNING DISTRICT (LU08-08-01) FROM PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL TO MIXED USE; 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 Public Institutional at 2410 South Battery Street be amended to Mixed Use. 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 PI PI � n�PI Vicinity Map Plan Amendment a0 Case: LU08-08-01 N Location: the intersection of Roosevelt and Summit Street PI to MX Ward: 1 PD: 8 CT: 11 0 100 200 Feet TRS: TIN R12W9 -Oqw min `rin 9EPI'' ❑ D ❑ i7C::1 0C1 El ED 4 ❑ ❑ ED o ❑ 03 R3 Vicinity Map 0❑ Cl D 0 ❑ ❑ El 0C1 El n D 0 ❑ ❑ El 0C1 El Area Zoning Case: LU08-08-01 N Location: the intersection of Roosevelt and Summit Street PI to MX Ward: 1 PD: 8 CT: 11 0 100 200 Feet TRS: TIN R12W9 FILE NO.: LU08-08-01 Name: Land Use Plan Amendment - Central City Planning District Location: 2410 South Battery Street Request: Public Institutional to Mixed Use Source: Kwendeche, AIA, Arymeus PROPOSAL / REQUEST: A Land Use Plan amendment in the Central City Planning District from Public Institutional to Mixed Use. Mixed Use represents a possible mixture of residential, office and commercial uses. Prompted by this Land Use Amendment request, the Planning Staff expanded the area of review to include the area located at the southwest, southeast and northwest corners of Summit and Roosevelt Road. With these changes, the whole corner would be changed from Single Family to Mixed Use to recognize existing commercial zoning. It is thought that the additional area would make the boundaries more logical. EXISTING LAND USE AND ZONING: The former Mitchell School is zoned R-4 and is vacant. The northwest, southwest and southeast corners of Summit and Roosevelt Road are zoned C-3 General Commercial. The northwest corner is currently a single family house, the southwest corner is currently vacant, and the southeast corner is Bernice's Beauty Shop. R-4 zoning mostly surrounds this amendment area for single and two family residences. Immediately east of the Mitchell School site is zoned Planned Residential Development for an in home daycare. FUTURE LAND USE PLAN AND RECENT AMENDMENTS: Ordinance 19418 changed this amendment site from Single Family to Public Institutional in 2005 to recognize the Mitchell School. The application area is shown as Public Institutional on the Future Land Use Plan. The expanded amendment area is currently shown as Single Family as is most of the surrounding area. Three blocks west of this site is shown as Public Institutional. The block immediately east of this site is shown as Public Institutional also. MASTER STREET PLAN: Roosevelt Road is shown as a Principal Arterial. The primary function of a Principal Arterial is to serve through traffic and to connect major traffic generators FILE NO.: LU08-08-01 (Cont. or activity centers within urbanized areas. Entrances and exits should be limited to minimize negative effects of traffic and pedestrians on Roosevelt since it is a Principal Arterial. Battery Street 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 considered as "Commercial Streets". These streets have a design standard the same as a Collector. 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 shown in the immediate vicinity. PARKS: According to the Master Parks Plan, this area is within eight blocks of a park or open space. There is a playground on the amendment site and Barton Park is located a few blocks west of this site. HISTORIC DISTRICTS: There are no city recognized historic districts that would be affected by this amendment. CITY RECOGNIZED NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION PLAN: The property under review is not located in an area covered by a City of Little Rock recognized neighborhood action plan. ANALYSIS: This application was originally for the Mitchell School site between Summit and Battery Streets and north of Roosevelt. Staff expanded this amendment to include the northwest, southwest and southeast corner of the intersection at Summit and Roosevelt to recognize existing C-3 General Commercial zoning. The expansion area is already either zoned or used for non-residential use. The proposed reuse of the elementary school structure is proposed to include both residential and non-residential uses. The applicant is proposing to re -use an existing structure in a developed part of town. Similar re -uses have been primarily residential with some non-residential uses. This type of development would help to maintain the existing neighborhood character by keeping the original structure. This part of Roosevelt is surrounded by residential uses to the east and the fairgrounds to the west. There is currently a small node of Commercial shown on E FILE NO.: LU08-08-01 (Cont. the plan at the intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King Drive and Roosevelt Road, but this is already largely developed. There is no other Commercial shown on the plan until the intersection of Booker and Roosevelt, which is approximately one mile west of Dr. MLK Drive. A change to Mixed Use would ensure the staff review of a Planned Development if the new use would be non-residential in nature. Mixed Use would allow some non-residential uses that would be appropriate for Roosevelt since it is an arterial. The vacant lots in the expanded area of the amendment have been vacant for many years. These and other lots along Roosevelt have the potential for redevelopment. The amendment site is located in the center of Census Tract 11. There have only been nine new single family building permits issued in the past six years. Many of the existing single family residences in this area are in need of minor to major repairs and some have been abandoned. The redevelopment of this major structure in the neighborhood into a mixed-use development should help prevent further degradation of the neighborhood and hopefully help to add more vitality, encouraging further redevelopment and reinvestment in the neighborhood. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS: Notices were sent to the following neighborhood associations: South End Coalition and South End Neighborhood Developers. Staff has received one comment in opposition from an area resident. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff believes the change is appropriate. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (JUNE 19, 2008) Walter Malone of Planning Staff indicated that due to a problem with how staff sends notification of the Plan expansion only the school site could be considered at this hearing. The former school is surrouX K