HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-6986-A BOA Action Letter 021122JANUARY 20, 2022
ITEM NO. B Z-6986-A
1
File No.: Z-6986-A
Owners: Arvest Bank
Applicant: Drew Holbert
Address: 1800 N. Grant Street
Legal Description: All of LOT 5, N 22’ of Lot 6, N 40’ of Lot 7, and all of Lot 8
Block 9
Zoned: O-3 General Office
Present Use: Bank Branch (Vacant) / Surface Parking
Proposed Use: Food Truck Parking
Variance(s) Requested: A variance is requested from the area regulations of Section
36-281 to allow a mobile canteen unit to remain parked on a
site overnight.
Justification: The applicant’s justification is presented as per the attached
letter dated October 06, 2021.
STAFF REPORT
A. Planning and Development Civil Engineering Comments:
No Comments
B. Buffering and Landscape Comments:
No Comments
C. Building Codes Comments:
No Comments
JANUARY 20, 2022
ITEM NO. B Z-6986-A
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D. Staff Analysis:
The O-3 zoned property at 1800 N. Grant Street is indicated as two separate parcels
bisected by an alley, located north of Cantrell Rd, south of Kavanaugh Blvd, and
east of University Ave. The surrounding properties are predominantly zoned C-3 and
mostly populated with retail, office, and restaurants within the Heights Landscape
Design Overlay District. However, there are R-2 zoned properties within 150-feet of
this property located across Cantrell Rd and University Ave. The overlay district
generally has no bearing on the subject variance requests
The eastern portion of the site is occupied by a small commercial building located in
the southwest corner of the property. Until recently the structure served as an
automated Arvest Bank Branch. This eastern parcel is mostly paved providing one-
way access from Grant Street. The paved area consists of three separate drive-thru
lanes and two parallel parking spaces.
The adjacent property across the alley to the west is also owned by Arvest bank and
occupied by eleven 45-degree parking spaces and two one-way drive aisles that exit
onto University Avenue.
Landscape perimeter strips are intact on both parcels and located adjacent to the
north and south property lines. The property south of the east parcel located on the
northwest corner of Cantrell and N Grant is a narrow vacant strip of land owned by
the City of Little Rock. The western parcel fronts Cantrell and sets on the northeast
corner of Cantrell and University.
The applicant is proposing to locate a mobile canteen unit on the parcel west of the
alley. The truck described as a full-service vehicle that will operate 6-days a week
from the hours of 11-9. The owner of the vehicle has stated that the truck will not be
permanently connected to utilities but is requesting that it be allowed to remain at
this location on a permanent basis.
Section 36-281 (b) (1) t states that: “Mobile canteen units” (are allowable on an O-3
property) “when operated in compliance with current planning department
regulations for such vehicles.”
Furthermore, the restrictions are provided on an attached form for Board of
Adjustment review. This form is given to all peddlers when a privilege license is
approved. The concession trailer in question can conform to all the restrictions for
displaying and selling of items from a transient location, except for restriction # 17
which reads as follows:
“At the end of each day, all equipment, vehicles and related materials must be
removed from the site.” Therefore, the applicant is requesting a variance from the
code requirement referring to the Department of Planning Development Mobile
JANUARY 20, 2022
ITEM NO. B Z-6986-A
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Canteen Unit Regulations to allow overnight parking of a mobile canteen unit on an
O-3 zoned property.
The Department of Planning and Development does not allow for mobile canteen
units to be permanently located on any parcel. Additionally, Staff feels that a food
truck permanently located on this property is out of character with the surrounding
properties.
E. Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends denial of allowing overnight parking of a food truck on the 1801
N. Grant St parcel as described in the Staff Analysis.
Board of Adjustment (January 20, 2022)
Staff stated that the item was withdrawn by the applicant and shall be removed from the
agenda.