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Home My WebLink AboutHDC2010-004 STAFF REPORT MINUTESDEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT .� LITTLE ROCK HISTORIC 723 West Markham Street i I • DISTRICT Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 ' 1 COMMISSION Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax: (501) 399-3435 STAFF REPORT ITEM NO. One. DATE: April 12, 2010 APPLICANT: Vernon Scott, OneBanc ADDRESS: 500 E 6th Street COA Fence along 6th Street REQUEST: PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION: The subject property is located at 500 E 6th Street. The property's legal description is "Lots 1-12, St. Clair Horizontal Property Regime" Addition to the City of Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas." 4TH CAP1 oy T U 2 :] The St. Clair apartments were built between 1910- 1920 and is of the Craftsman style. The 1988 { Survey lists it as a "Contributing Structure" to the MacArthur Park Historic District. The architectural significance in the 1978 survey is of a Priority II (1 being the highest and III being the lowest) and Historical Significance of Local Significance. Local historical significance means that the buildings are associated with people of social prominence. uN�,Q�1T77i STq r �rsaa'+enres }� Y x RONTq�P Location of Pro •ect PREVIOUS ACTIONS ON THIS SITE: No previous actions were on this site were located with a search of the files. o Oz m CAPITOL p 7THQ P 3 9TH� O m �^ 1�TH 0 PROPOSAL: The proposal is to add a gate/fence along the 6th Street frontage between the wings of the building at the property line. The gate/fence is proposed to be 6 feet in height. The 9'-6" double gate will be centered in the space and will be set back from the property line and the proposed fence by 18". WRITTEN ANALYSIS OF THE APPLICATION BASED OFF OF INTENT AND GUIDELINES: The Guidelines state under Site Design on page 66: 3. Fences and Retaining Walls: Iron, wood, stone, or brick fences or walls that are original to the property (at least 50 years old) should be preserved. If missing, they may be reconstructed based on physical or pictorial evidence. Sometimes a low stone or brick wall supports an iron or wooden fence. Fencing material should be appropriate to the style and period of the house. Cast iron fences were common through the Victorian period and should be retained and maintained. Wrought iron and bent wire fences are also historic. Wood picket fences may be located in front, side, or rear yards, generally following property lines. They should be no taller than three feet (36') tall; pickets should be no wider than four inches (4') and set no farther apart than three inches (3`). The design shall be compatible with and proportionate to the house. Wood board privacy fences should be located in rear yards. They should be no taller than six feet (72'), of flat boards in a single row (not stockade or shadowbox), and of a design compatible with the structure. The privacy fence should be set back from the front fagade of the structure at least halfway between the front and back walls. Chain -link fences may be located only in rear yards, where not readily visible from the street, and should be coated dark green or black. Screening with plant material is recommended. Fences should not have brick, stone, or concrete piers or posts unless based on pictorial or physical evidence. Free-standing walls of brick, stone, or concrete are not appropriate. New retaining landscape walls are discouraged in front yards. Certain front yards that are in close proximity to the sidewalk may feature new walls that match the materials of the building and be consistent with historic walls in the neighborhood. Landscaping walls should match the materials of the building and be consistent with historic walls in the neighborhood. N The plan of the fence location and plan is shown in the sketches to the right. The fence will be located along the sidewalk in the same plane as the front of the building. The gates will be set back 18" from the front gate. The guidelines state that wood fences in the front yard should be no taller than 36". The proposed fence is 6' tall. However, it is in line with the existing walls of the building and will be transparent as opposed to a solid wood fence. The rhythm of the street edge will be reinforced. The height of the fence will be slightly higher than the concrete banding on the building and will be in scale with the two-story building. The details of the original fencing have been incorporated into the new fencing without duplicating the fence exactly. The design of the fence is shown on the following page. The proposed fence and gate will mimic the existing fences on the site with an added element of the finials on the top and more vertical square tubing in the top. The new fence will be painted black. I• .� i itll P" � ••r . •IA' • N r � SO• {r.l) + N C/-S 57 rN, 5 i� R. Location of the fence and gates Plan of the fence and gates. The gates, which are different sizes, will have a security lock on them with a keypad for entry/exit. The posts will be 3" square iron posts with ball caps. .`, '{' • yr. f� r r _ � a' Existing south 6th Street elevation 3 I f7H� Detail offence elevation. . L 1.3 butt 5 Ej;bt Pus1Yr H"5v1,-5 1? pa I M1 f. 1.5 IZ ak bw iub.n) G✓Q �7J�7t PICK -ITS � �"x�'` s.guo,�t kublr�j FtiIvG�S � EIiIE P�u�" Hiv,�j�s t ATC H ISQo lb. May lock PCST'> :'ftnicte Wu.Uzcl .5 'x.i" Wvrh-> wy Uall Ca��s I i I 1 I IZ"x I�r' u i •� _� �'i;yli A'lµNl '�� Detail of fence elevation. 11 11z" Sl�;tnr rt +ub;nc� �Il"XI�L.1 z NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS AND REACTION: At the time of distribution, there were no comments regarding this application. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval with the following conditions: 1. Obtaining a building permit. COMMISSION ACTION: Aril 12 2010 Chairman Marshall Peters explained that with only three commissioners present, it would take all three voting in favor of the application for it to pass. If the applicant wished to defer, it would not count against their number of deferrals. The applicant wished to proceed with the COA at this hearing. Staff, Brian Minyard, made a short presentation to the Commission concerning the item. Notice was properly given and approximately one half of the return postcards were given to the Staff. Mr. Vernon Scott, the applicant, spoke of the improvements that are being made to the building, of which most were items of deferred maintenance. They are adding an on - site laundry and a security gate for residents. He stated that he has requested the height of six feet in reference to the proximately of Fowler Square. He described the gate as being designed not to be an eyesore. Commissioner Julie Wiedower asked if it was aluminum or iron. Mr. Scott sated it was aluminum. 5 Chairman Marshall Peters asked about the electric keypad. Mr. Scott stated it was a 1300 pound magnetic lock with keypad. Commissioner Randy Ripley asked it was to be painted black. Mr. Scott replied yes. Commissioner Ripley asked about the sizes of the gates. Mr. Scott replied that they were two sizes of gate, one that would be stationary most of the time but used when a tenant was moving in or out. Commissioner Wiedower asked Staff if they had heard from any residents. Mr. Minyard stated no. She asked if Staff had access to the police reports. Mr. Minyard stated no but that the issue of Fowler Square is on the radar screen of the City Manager's office and neighborhood groups. Discussion occurred concerning Fowler Square and activities that occur there. Mr. Scott stated that the units were a neat layout and that the gate is the last key. He stated that they were going to put the units back on the market. Commissioner Wiedower asked if the units had additional access other than the front. Mr. Scott replied that all units have rear access. Commissioner Ripley made a motion to approve as submitted. Commissioner Wiedower seconded ant the motion passed 3 ayes, 1 absent and 1 open position. 2 1INA HCIA Lf��9� a�u March 19, 2010 Dept. of Planning & Development 723 West Markham Street Little Rock, AR 72201 Re: St. Clair Apartments To whom it may concern: Attached is our application for a Certificate of Appropriatellcss. We are requesfing pennission to put up an iron fence and gate (with coded entry and magnetic lock) in front of the couityal'd of the St. Clair Aparments located in the MacArthur Park Historic District in downtown Little Rock. Our objectives ar$ twofold. First and foremost we would like to provide security for the existing tenants of St. Clair. our tenants have had their property stolen and dealt with constant trespassing over the years. The majority of the problem stems from our neighbors (Fowler Square Apartments). Secondly, we feel that an iron fence will add to the aesthetic value of St. Clair (as well as the downtown historic district as a whole). There is extensive original iron work in the courtyard on the porches and balconies of the units. The fence/gate we have chosen (see attached drawings) will incorporate some of The sIn1e dclail ttnd complement the original design which will give the feel that it was part of the original construction. We understand that generally the historic district does not approve of fencing over four Icet tail, however we ask fltat you make an exception in this case. We feel that the necd is here and that we can maintain the historic integrity of the building and the area while providing a safer environment for our tenants. Respect iy yours, Vernon Scott One Bank & Trust 300 WEST CAPITOL AVE. P.O. BOX 34113 LnTLE ROCK, AR 72203 501.370.4400 FAX 370.4573 Ww .Onebancxvvn Cover letter from applicant