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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-6986-A -1800 North Grant - BOA Staff RptJANUARY 20, 2021 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 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 JANUARY 20, 2021 ITEM NO. B Z-6986-A 2 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 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 JANUARY 20, 2021 ITEM NO. B Z-6986-A 3 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.