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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCBC 05-11-1993The City Rec-viful Commission The City of Little Rock City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 11, 1993 at City Hall in the 2nd Floor Conference Room. The meeting was called to order at 10:00 A.M., by Chairman Merle Seamon. Members Present: Merle Seamon Ross McCain Steve Cato Jo Rancifer Josephine Graham Also Present: Truman Tolefree, Assistant Director, Parks and Recreation Mark Webre,.Project and Design Mgr., Parks and Recreation Becky Switzer, Executive Secretary, Parks and Recreation Bob Brown, Plans Review Specialist, Neighborhoods & Planning Richard Wood, Zoning & Subdivision Mgr., Neighborhoods & Planning 1. Roll Call. Five of seven members present. 2. Approval of Minutes. Ross McCain made a motion to approved the minutes of last months meeting. Steve Cato seconded. All ayes. 500 West Markham, Room 108 Little Rock, AR 72201 371-4770 Minutes May 11, 1993 Page 2 3. Reports of Committees. A. City Beautiful Kids - Steve Cato, chairman of this committee stated that he -didn't have anything to report but Truman Tolefree informed the commission that the Private Industry Council (PIC) has reduced program funding. The City Beautiful Kids program funding is less than what it was last - year. Truman stated that Parks and Recreation is looking for internal ways to find more funds. Because of the cuts there will not be as many kids or supervisors hired. Letters of notification have not been mailed to kids that have been hired. Truman informed the commission that he is looking for other ways to fund the program. Joyce Raynor came in at this time. Steve Cato suggested that there may be other foundations around the state that may want to help out and get the City Beautiful Kids program out from under the Private Industry Council. Truman stated that there is a small hope that in the next couple of weeks there may be more funding available. B. Winterfest - Merle Seamon chairman of this committee, stated and he had talked to some of the area boat owners and they are interested in having the boat parade this year at Winterfest. Merle has also spoken to Bob Lowery, the Osbourne's representative. The Osbournes are still very interested in helping out with the lighting part of Winterfest. They may also consider helping with the skating rink. Truman Tolefree has also spoken to Bob Lowery and stated that the Osbournes would like to improve their image with the community. One of the ways they feel they could accomplish this is to donate $5000.00 for the planting of trees. Minutes May 11, 1993 Page 3 Merle Seamon suggested that we use the trees for median repair. Truman Tolefree stated that it has been a problem finding out who maintains the median areas. Merle stated that the ones he would like to see repaired are Cantrell, University and one on the north side of town. Mark Webre said that the Parks Department maintains Cantrell and University and that the Highway Department is responsible for the one on the- northside: -- - - - Steve Cato stated that he is against planting anything in the medians unless they are maintained. Also, that he is in favor of using the money to create an entrance way into a park. Truman Tolefree suggested that we give the Osbournes several ways to use the donation and that we would have the press available at whatever they decide to do. Merle would like to include the City Beautiful Kids so that later the commission may be able to ask for help in funding that program. Steve Cato made a motion to accept the $5000.00 and develop a program that is acceptable by the Osbournes and the City Beautiful Commission. Josephine Graham seconded the motion. All voted in favor of the motion. Merle Seamon asked that Mark Webre come up with a few park enErances to present to the Osbournes. C. Awards - Liz Williams Eldridge, chairman. Becky Switzer informed the commission that she has only received four entries--and--that—the-deadline for the contest has been extended from May loth to May 14th. Merle Seamon suggested that a special meeting be held to select and look at the winners. Merle Seamon, Ross McCain and Liz will meet in the Parks and Recreation Conference Room on May 19th. --Liz told the commission that she had hoped for more entries because it had been announced on television, radio and that information was left at three different garden centers. These garden centers have donated three $50.00 gift certificates. Minutes May 11, 1993 Page 4 Mark Webre suggested that the commission put up pictures of this years winners at garden centers to helA promote the contest for next year. D. Litter Awareness - Ross McCain is chairman of this committee. He said that he did not have anything to report at this time. Ross would like to see the commission have a clean up day sometime this year at a place to be decided on later. Joyce Raynor suggested that the commission have its clean up day to also kick off the Adopt a Park program. Ross said that the commission could possibly target a place along University and conclude at a park. He would like to have the press there E. Adopt A Park - Joyce Raynor informed the commission that she and Jim Goodhart are working on a proposal and hope to be able to present it at the next meeting. F. Long Range Planning - Jim Goodhart was suppose to bring back information regarding availability of locations to have an informal meeting of the commission. Merle stated that since Jim was not able to attend todays meeting that the commission would need to decide when and where to hold the meeting. Liz Williams Eldridge asked if the meeting could be held one afternoon after work and to have a potluck. Becky Switzer is to check on the pavilion at War Memorial or Allsopp Park on the date of June 2nd The meeting would start at 4pm. 4. Capitol Avenue - Mark Webre passed out copies of the Capitol Avenue Streetscape Master Plan. Construction is suppose to start on the Post Office in October and Sherman Street will be closed at that time. Mark recommended that the commission start the streetscape in the area where the Post Office is to be built. This would help save money by working with the group developing the Post Office. Minutes May 11, 1993 Page 5 Merle Seamon asked Mark if the commission was going to receive another review from the consultants. Mark stated that the consultants should have a master plan ready by next week. Ross McCain asked Mark if the City Board has approved the Capitol Avenue plan. The Board at this time has not given that approval. Merle Seamon stated the Donaghey Project is wanting to help the City Beautiful Commission get grants for other projects it wants to do. They can assist the commission with writing grants. 5. Miscellaneous - Bob Brown informed the commission that at next months meeting there may be two landscape waiver requests to review and vote on. Richard Wood suggested that the City Beautiful Commission may want to tie into the Paint Your Heart Out program. Richard said that there are groups that can pick up the trash before and after the painting of the homes begin. This could tie into our Litter Awareness Campaign. Merle Seamon also suggested that possibly a few of the local nurseries may donate bulbs and landscape material to use once the homes are painted. Richard Wood stated that Tim Polk of Neighborhoods and Planning is in charge of the Paint Your Heart Out Program. 6. Parks and Recreation - Truman Tolefree invited the commissioners to a press conference that is being held at the Zoo, today at 2:00 pm. This press conference is to announce Dinosaurs Alive, that is coming to the Zoo in August. The Parks and Recreation Department is a co-sponsor. 7. Adjournment - Motion to adjourn was made by Liz Williams Eldridge. Seconded by Ross McCain. All in favor. Meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m. The City Beautiful Commission MEETING NOTICE The City Beautiful Commission will hold its regular meeting Tuesday, May 11, 1993 in the City Board Conference Room, 2nd Floor of City Hall at 10:00 A.M. AGENDA 1. Roll Call 2. Approval of Minutes of the April meeting. 3. Reports of Committees A. City Beautiful Kids B. Winterfest C. Awards D. Litter Awareness Campaign E. Adopt a Park F. Long Range Planning 4. Parks and Recreation Activities - Truman Tolefree 5. Capitol Avenue 6. Miscellaneous 7. Adjournment 500 West Markham, Room 108 Little Rock, AR 72201 371-4770 June 8, 1993 ITEM NO. 1 - C.B.C. 547 - NEW MATTERS Applicant: Location: Michael F. Woods Alamo Rent-A-Car 3721 E. Roosevelt Road Description: Long Legal ORDINANCE REQUIREMENT: 1. Interior landscape plantings shall comprise at least six (6) percent of any vehicular use area containing more than fifteen (15) parking spaces. 2. Trees shall be included in the interior landscaping areas at the rate of one (1) tree for every fifteen (15) parking spaces. VARIANCE REQUESTED: Deletion of most of the interior landscaping area and the associated trees required. FINDINGS: Alamo Rent-A-Car is located in an industrial area. This site does not have an adjacent street frontage. The majority of the parking lot in question will be used as a holding area for cars to be serviced and rented by clients using the airlines. Clients will pick up and return the cars at a designated area near the airport. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Since the parking lot will not be used by the general public and the applicant has agreed to make up the difference in an area not required by ordinance but more visible from the freeway along the southern perimeter, staff recommends approval of this request. 'aa 113AISOOb of ss3'�5d u x 170 Ir M Q� e a g Q � m � W � � g Q W ♦GµiTrrf RICHARD L. BOWEN AND ASSOCIATES INC. !' 13000 SHAKER BOULEVARD, CLEVELAND, OHIO 44120 • 2161491-9300 f w s w ® E 0.r Rs EM April 13, 1993 Mr. Bob Brown Zoning and Subdivision City of Little Rock Departments of Neighborhoods and Planning 723 West Markham Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 Subject: Alamo Rent-A-Car 3721 East Roosevelt Road Little Rock, Arkansas RLB #4096.00 Dear Mr. Brown: Please accept this letter as a request for a variance per Zoning Section 36.515 and 15-88. Enclosed are five sets of signed and sealed drawings L1A to replace the previously submitted landscape plan L-1 for your review and approval along with the City Beautiful Commission. The owner has requested us to seek relief for Section 15-134 Interior Landscaping Part (a) which states: "Interior landscape plantings shall comprise at least six (6) percent of any vehicular use area containing more than fifteen (15) parking spaces." This requirement severely inhibits the storage of cars and operation of business within the facility. The rental facility will be storing approximately eighty (80) cars on site with provision made for nine (9) employee stalls. The majority of the interior space is used for stacking cars to be served and stacking cars ready for customer use. The ready cars are then driven to designated parking stalls off site closer to the airport facility for the convenience of the potential customer. This facility is not open to the public. I would also like to add that this site is remote, and in relative close proximity to other airport rental car facilities which operate in the same manner. We believe that the intent of the landscaping* and tree protection ordinance is to provide interior landscaping for areas with a more traditional public parking arrangement. Therefore, we believe that imposing this ordinance would subject the owner to economic hardship by reducing his interior area to store and operate his facility. OFFICES IN: CLEVELAND, OHIO 2161491-9300 • COLUMBUS, OHIO 6141221-7707 • LIECHTENSTEIN 8451812.412 FAX 2161491-8053 FAX 6141221-0284 RICHARD L. BOWEN AND ASSOCIATES INC. H Mr. Bob Brown April 13, 1993 Page Two In lieu of providing the 6% interior landscaping, we have proposed additional landscaping at an island created at the north east corner of the property entrance, building landscaping, and perimeter landscaping at the southern end of the developed property. The square footage of this additional landscaping equals the 6% interior requirement. The quantities and type of trees have been considered along with this proposed trade off. For the above stated reasons, we are seeking relief from the requirements of Section 36.515, Part (a). It is our opinion we have proposed a viable trade off which meets the intent of the code for this site. If you should have any questions regarding this information, please do not hesitate to call. 0376L/63-64:rmc Enclosures cc: Joe Rodi Scott Johnston Mike Montgomery John McFarland Very truly yours, RICHARD L. BOWEN AND ASSOCIATES INC. AZ44 10% 0 —�A48�e Michael F. Woods Associate