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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCBC 01-09-2014t: i'T :_ 3_c.... 'k K. i i ; S .r .f i MEETING NOTICE JANUARY 9, 2014 THE CITY BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION WILL HOLD ITS REGULAR MEETING AT 11:30 A.M. ON THURSDAY JANUARY 9, 2014, AT CURRAN HALL, 615 E. CAPITOL AVENUE AGENDA CALL TO ORDER: CHRIS ROLL CALL: DANA APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: DECEMBER 5, 2013 VARIANCE REQUESTS: UNIVERSAL HOUSING GROUP TREASURER'S REPORT: • EXPENSES REPORT WALLY COMMITTEE REPORT: UPDATES • COMMUNITY PROJECTS 0 1-630 TREES CHRIS o CITY HALL SOUTH YARD SIEVE/LYNN • PUBLIC RELATIONS o WEBSITE LYNN • KLRB (UPDATE) (4rh Wed / Noon) WALLY • ADOPT -A -STREET COORDINATORS CHRIS • INFORMATION / COMMUNICATION SIEVE • EYE OF THE BEHOLDER CARRIE, ED, WALLY • LANDSCAPE AWARDS STEVE NEW BUSINESS: FORMALLY INTRODUCE NEW MEMBERS ANNOUNCEMENTS: • NEXT MEETING - THURSDAY, FEBUARY 61h, 2014 • LITTER PICK UP-SATURDAY, JANUARY 18th, 2014 ADJOURNMENT r, ,7�-${ R4 ROE] C2 �` o f r - a max^ q I R2 �` f 4 Da -.,D �. CUP _ - ` � 17 p o G o DEj , LJ7 ate•: Ovi o '°1 Eg f, p THIS d €3 SITE POD 0 93 % \V� o d oI: o 19 U ri F'3C•7 Q �� p � oo - •� ����� 03 ED e�'a a c� Q S'' 3: a o E3 o fl CUP Area Zoning Case: CBC 629 Location: 1300 Block Aldersgate RD Ward- 6 PD: 11 CT 24.08 TRS- T1 N R13W10 0 150300 600 Feet CBC 629 40 1300 BLOCK ALDERSGATE RD n,%l vil aae6s ap y ae aAJaeaJj ayl J d O EL e k �c -o •A2 0€� € :B Tk W QILJ - > ("-) :� U-i 0 0(3) W Cy' J H z Z Fi'eka �°B, it G aar e: p,� igg€7�; s FAQA a oc=e•=cs i MM Wo e@ o E. flnl �B P° Q I ��35 PBaY �sP agg F! �`g 3l Y9 1 9a eE eSe P�E'� NAY J{5Y 8 L : lk • EEI Y I i 5 n'YY} Y:� �I: 1� xaj. ig ♦.k :` Z i - —YI�J @Lpr `�` �➢9:i hi h� 1�°a; gy� yepla Xs �3 S@ "; E3 +€i g'p p {� ••r !I r :I r r Fl v r r r iZI: �* g ' r iq iqL Y• p� lye � E6 � FE _� q 'a ��� $� E•i SP f r V t� Ya e�E s3 •s8 z �:$ }a �? i �; x '}i �}➢ ra ! ��S EE E ,i Y9a Yi•9 EY -5' �} EY C: d! } i ] fyy e} Cea s:e 3 Y_ i tla pSL.I i � i° 4f � [• �7;-', 4 g•� '�° 3Y q�Y Ltl� 3�� ° Fie ie i:, t�i r� it �Es e.) i. 4a` 34v7 Ya Ye, i' .E �., y ti � yg• df i$ 3?iP?' @€ fi e�g Pit } ; iitqq a I Ito e° gpp 1 " of r a3 E 5 %p ��; ae�F � � �� a � � o �`4 � 6j h�� 2T �A �Y �F �}�II�"``}fF � �� �a L;9jiE3 � % ei 'p:4A�yir p� •__ _ 8 3 036 Sr•€ pp aj{( ¢ gg F S y-i E § � i 41� y 9 0$1lL NPe'ieni �d�aiu� � y,iH6�6tV� O� 6�dl PR% January 9, 2014 ITEM NO. 1 - C.B.C. 629 - NEW MATTERS Applicant: Address: Description: ORDINANCE RE UIREMENTS: Universal Housing Group A. J. Gilbert, Owner Marvelous Landscapes, LLQ Agent 1300 Block of Aldersgate Road, west side Long Legal, 1.688 acres Chapter 15, Section 15-96. Perimeter planting strips. (a) A perimeter planting strip is required along any side of a vehicular use area that abuts adjoining property or the right-of-way of any street, highway or freeway. This strip shall be at least nine (9) feet wide. The perimeter planting strip adjacent to freeways or expressways shall be at least thirty (30) feet wide except within mature areas. VARIANCE REQUESTED: (1) To allow a new multifamily development with portions of the buildings, a swimming pool and detention area to be located in the thirty (30) foot buffer adjacent to I-430, reducing the buffer by as much as fifteen (15) feet. FINDINGS: The applicant filed a site plan review with the Planning Commission to allow for the construction of a forty-eight (48) unit multifamily development on this MF-24 two (2) acre tract. It was determined early in the review process that the ownership of the two (2) acre tract actually went to the centerline of Aldersgate Road. Once the required right-of-way is dedicated, the resulting tract is 1.688 acres in size. Constructing the forty-eight (48) unit development on the remaining 1.688 acre tract results in a density of 28.4 units per acre, exceeding the allowable density of 24 units per acre. The application was amended to a PD-R. The developer is proposing to build three (3) buildings of multi -family housing. Two of the buildings are proposed with 12-units and one is proposed with 24-units. The proposal includes the construction of a 2, 080 square foot clubhouse with a pool. The buildings are proposed three - stories in height with a maximum building height of 40-feet. The request includes a reduction in the number of parking spaces typically required to serve the development. The site plan indicates 67-spaces. The ordinance would typically require the placement of 1 r/2 spaces per unit or a total of 72 parking spaces. The applicant has indicated up to 50 percent of the parking spaces will be covered. The request also includes a variation from Sections 36-522(a)(3) and 15-96(a) which state, street buffers and perimeter planting strips shall be a minimum of thirty (30) feet in width when abutting an expressway except within the mature area. The plan indicates portions of the buffer along I-430 reduced to 15-feet near the northwest portion of the site. The pool is also proposed within the 30-foot buffer along I-430. Within the buffer area the applicant is proposing to provide up to 1 1/2 times the amount of landscaping typically required in this area to off -set the encroachment. Overall on the site, the applicant has indicated a commitment to provide additional trees and larger size greenery than the amount typically required by City ordinance. Some areas of undisturbed buffer of existing vegetation are indicated to be preserved along the interstate frontage. In addition to the area of existing vegetation to be preserved along the interstate perimeter, the applicant is proposing to plant trees and shrubs at the rate of 1 r/z times the ordinance requirement. The property has 426 linear feet of frontage on that perimeter; requiring 14 trees (1 tree per every 30 feet) and 42 shrubs (1 shrub per every 10 feet). The applicant proposes to install 21 River- Birch and Slash Pine trees and 63 Eleagnus shrubs. The shrubs are indicated as being 30"- 34" inches in height at planting; exceeding the ordinance required minimum height of 18". On the front of the site, the applicant is proposing to utilize Red Maples, Forest Pansy Redbuds and Foster's Holly trees and Needlepoint Holly and Cleyera shrubs. The maples are indicated as being 2 r/2" — 3" caliper at planting, exceeding the minimum caliper of 2". Staff has concerns with the proposed development. Although the site is being reduced from 2 acres to 1.688 acres by the right-of-way dedication, the applicant did not reduce the size or scope of the proposed development. The plan results in reduced building setbacks and parking space numbers. Additionally, the development encroaches into the required thirty (30) foot interstate perimeter buffer/landscape strip. At some points, the encroachment is fairly substantial. Staff feels the applicant may be trying to fit too much development on the tract, resulting in the need for the several variances. At their November 14, 2013 meeting, the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the proposed PD-R zoning. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends denial of the requested variance. LITTLE ROCK CITY BEAUTIFUL C0MMIssTON The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting Thursday, January 9, 2014, at 11:30 at Curran Hall. Commissioner Ed Peek acting as Chair called the meeting to order. MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: Ed Peek Wally Loveless Lynn Warren Steve Homeyer Carrie Young Bill Wiedower Chris Minor Two open positions Cassie Toro Chris Morgan ALSO PRESENT: Beth Carpenter, City Attorney's Office Dana Carney, Zoning and Subdivision Manager, Department of Planning and Development, City of Little Rock. D. Tracy Spillman, Plans Development Administrator, Department of Planning and Development, City of Little Rock. Frank Riggins, Crafton Tull A.J. and Lynn Gilbert, Universal Housing Group Robbie Hudson, Urban Forester, Parks Department, City of Little Rock. APPROVAL OF THE DECEMBER MINUTES: Commissioner Loveless called for a correction of the December 2013 Minutes, Treasure's Report from the recorded amount of $1,222.05 to $1,297.05. Motion: Commissioner Young made a motion that the Minutes be approved with the corrections made. Second: Commissioner Homeyer seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Variance Request CBC Case 629, Universal Housing Group Staff opened the public hearing for the variance request located at the 1300 Block of Aldersgate Road, west side. The applicant filed a site plan review with the Planning Commission to allow for the construction of a forty-eight (48) unit multi -family development on this MF-24 two (2) acre tract. It was determined early in the review process that the ownership of the two (2) acre tract actually went to the centerline of Aldersgate Road. Once the required right-of-way is dedicated, the resulting tract is 1.688 acres in size. Constructing the forty-eight (48) unit development on the remaining 1.688 acre tract results in a density of 28.4 units per acre, exceeding the allowable density of 24 units per acre. The application was amended to a PD-R. The developer is proposing to build three (3) buildings of multi -family housing. Two of the buildings are proposed with 12-units and one is proposed with 24-units. The proposal includes the construction of a 2,080 square foot clubhouse with a pool. The buildings are proposed three stories in height with a maximum building height of 40 feet. The request includes a reduction in the number of parking spaces typically required to serve the development. The site plan indicates 67-spaces. The ordinance would typically require the placement of 1 %2 spaces per unit or a total of 72 parking spaces. The applicant has indicated up to 50 percent of the parking spaces will be covered. The request also includes a variation from Sections 36-522(a)(3) and 15-96(a) which state, street buffers and perimeter planting strips shall be a minimum of (30) feet in width when abutting an expressway except within the mature area. The plan indicates portions of the buffer along I-430 reduced to 15 feet near the northwest portion of the site. The pool is also proposed within the 30- foot buffer along 1-430. Within the buffer area the applicant is proposing to provide up to U/2 times the amount of landscaping typically required in this area off -set the encroachment. Overall on the site, the applicant has indicated a commitment to provide additional trees and larger size greenery than the amount typically required by City ordinance. Some areas of undisturbed buffer of existing vegetation are indicated to be preserved along the interstate frontage. In addition to the area of existing vegetation to be preserved along the interstate perimeter, the applicant is proposing to plant trees and shrubs at the rate of 1 %2 times the ordinance requirement. The property has 426 linear feet of frontage on that perimeter; requiring 14 trees (1 tree per every 30 feet) and 42 shrubs (1 shrub per every 10 feet). The applicant proposes to install 21 River Birch and Slash Pine trees and 63 Eleagnus shrubs. The shrubs are indicated as being 30"-34" inches in height at planting; exceeding the ordinance required minimum height of 18". On the front of the site, applicant is proposing to utilize Red Maples, Forest Pansy Redbuds and Foster's Holly trees and Needlepoint Holly and Cleyera shrubs. The maples are indicated as being 2%2"-3" caliper at planting, exceeding the minimum caliper of 2". Staff has concerns with the proposed development. Although site is being reduced from 2 acres to 1.6888 acres by the right-of-way dedication, the applicant did not reduce the size or scope of the proposed development. The plan results in reduced building setbacks and parking space numbers. Additionally, the development encroaches into the required thirty (30) foot interstate perimeter buffer/landscape strip. At some points, the encroachment is fairly substantial. Staff feels the applicant may be trying to fit too much development on the tract, resulting in the need for the several variances. At their November 14, 2013 meeting, the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the proposed PD-R zoning. Staff recommends denial of the requested variance. Universal Housing Group Presentation: Mr. Frank Riggins, agent for Universal Housing Group (A.J. and Lynn Gilbert) stated that his client purposes to build an "upscale luxury development". Mr. Riggins noted that the development will comprise three (3) buildings / forty-eight (48) living units, a clubhouse, and a pool. The development will be fenced, gated, and landscaped. It is stated that the development encroaches into the buffer and Universal Housing Group seeks a variance from this encroachment. Mr. Riggins described the landscape that will be added to this existing buffer at the time of development. He also stated that he feels this project could set the standard for future small developments. Commissioner Warren inquired if the fence surrounding the pool would be a screening fence. Mr. Riggins stated that he was unsure of what type of fence is planned for this area. In addition Commissioner Warren inquired if any of the surrounding properties have been approved for similar variances. Mr. Riggins stated that he does not know. Commissioner Homeyer inquired if the property is higher or lower than the adjacent 1-430. Mr. Riggins stated that the property is lower than the interstate and possibly only the upper floors of building will be seen from I-430. He also stated that there is an existing house in this buffer and that the buffer is not compromised of a mature stand of trees. Commissioner Peek felt that this development would be a major intrusion into the buffer area. Mr. Riggins stated again that this is not a mature vegetative buffer as it stands and the development would add plants to the buffer zone. Commissioner Warren felt that this is a small violation as compared to other sites along the I-430 corridor. There was further discussion about 1-430 being a scenic gateway into the city and the actual distance from the shoulder of the highway to the buffer zone. Commissioner Warren inquired why staff had recommended denial. City Staff Member Carney explains that nowhere on I-430 has there been structural encroachment into the thirty (30) foot buffer and that the buffer does not need to remain undisturbed but does need to be planted. The structural involvement would not allow for the buffer to be replanted. In addition Mr. Carney explained that the City has no control over the Highway Department's right-of-way. Therefore, inconsistencies exist in some instances because property owners have petitioned the Highway Department and received approval to clear trees within their right-of-way. Commissioner Peek felt that this is a significant violation of the intent of the landscape buffer and that there is a reason the buffer exists. He further stated that this would be the first time that an encroachment would be allowed. Mr. Riggins responded by explaining that the site is very shallow and feels there should be some relief and asked for exceptions to be made for shallow lots. Commissioner Warren made a motion to accept the variance request. Commissioner Hoymeyer seconded. Commissioner Young asked for a clarification of how the vote would be accepted. Commissioner Toro asked for a deferment to allow time to review the site. Mr. Carney asked the applicants if deferment would have any adverse effects on the project. Mr. Riggins discussed the deferment with his clients. Commissioner Loveless left the meeting due to illness. Deputy City Attorney Carpenter explained that with only six (6) commissioners left the vote would need to be a unanimous "yes" to pass, one (1) "no" vote would cause the item to fail. Attorney Carpenter further stated that according to the CBC bylaws any item not receiving six (6) affirmative votes would fail. Mr. Riggins asked to defer. Motion: Commissioner Warren made a motion to defer until next month. Second: Commissioner Young seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. T.R.E.E FUND PRESENTATION: The City's Urban Forester Robbie Hudson addressed the CBC and presented the landscape planting plan and cost estimates for streetscaping along the south side of W. Markham between Monroe Street and the War Memorial pro -shop building. Urban Forester Hudson stated the existing tree removal would cost $15,000.00 but the Park's Department had worked with Entergy who would provide the labor for the removal of the existing trees. The City would only be responsible for grinding the stumps. Entergy has agreed to this since the maintenance cost to their company to trim these trees every three (3) years cost approximately $250,000.00. Urban Forester Hudson stated that the total cost to the City to complete this project would be $27,720.00. This would include the removal of thirty-four (34) Hackberry trees and the placement of seventy-seven (77) Chinese Pastiche, twelve (12) to fifteen (15) feet tall 2%2"-3" caliper. Additional trees will be added to South Monroe to the point of where War Memorial's parking lot starts. Cost per tree is $360.00 installed and guaranteed for one (1) year by the contractor Bemis Tree Service. Water for the trees would be provided by tapping into the city golf course or Bemis would come back and water for the first year. Deputy City Attorney Carpenter inquired about how Bemis Tree Service was chosen as the Contractor. Urban Forester Hudson explained Bemis is the only contractor in the area that can provide large trees in this quantity. Attorney Carpenter stated that it was her understanding that the Parks Department would be providing the labor. Urban Forester Hudson stated that Bemis Tree Service can provide each tree with a guarantee for $360.00. If the Parks Department provided the labor each tree would cost $320.00 without the guarantee or maintenance. Attorney Carpenter further inquired about the bid process. Forester Hudson stated that in addition to Bemis Tree Service he requested bids from Green Tree Nursery and Good Earth. Attorney Carpenter asked if Public Works had been consulted about right-of-way and site distances. Forester Hudson stated that the trees will not be planted in the right-of-way and vision triangles at the intersections have been taken into consideration. Commissioner Warren confirmed pricing of trees per unit and understands the savings by contacting this with an outside party. The Commissioner also questioned the monoculture of using one variety of tree and had some concern that an unforeseen future disease or pest could have an adverse effect on this planting group. Forester Hudson replied by stating at this point he knows of no harmful disease or pest related to the Chinese Pastiche and that they are drought and disease tolerant. If approval is given the Parks Department and Entergy are ready to proceed with the project this winter or early spring. City Staff Member, Dana Carney made the suggestion that since there have been interdepartmental discussions stating that the labor for the placement of trees will not come out of the T.R.E.E Fund any motion made should include the approval from the City Manager for additional labor cost not being performed by the Parks Department. Motion: Commissioner Warren made a motion to accept the use of T.R.E.E Fund money contingent on the approval from the City Manager that City labor not be used for this project. Second: Commissioner Homeyer seconded the motion. All voted in favor to pass. Motion passed unanimously. City Attorney Carpenter further explained that the City Manager has approved a certain process for how the T.R.E.E. Fund money is to be used and any deviation from such process would require approval from the City Manager. COMMITTEE REPORTS: UPDATES: OLD BUSINESS: I-630 Trees: Acting Chair Peek inquired of any updates. No updates are reported. City Hall South Yard: Commissioner Homeyer stated that there are no updates. Public Relations: Commissioner Warren stated that the website is up to date other than the Treatment Minutes are missing. KLRB: Commissioner Loveless was absent; no report. Ado t-A-Street: Chairman Minor was absent; no report. Commissioner Peek stated litter pickup is January 18th. Procedure, meeting time, and place were summarized for new Commissioner Chris Morgan. Communications: Commissioner Homeyer discussed press release for T.R.E.E. Fund and how this should be accomplished; ribbon cutting, plaque, yard sign stating that the trees are provided by the T.R.E.E Fund. _Eve of the Beholder: Commissioner Peek, no report. Commissioner Young is updating contact information changing names from Marvel to Spillman. Landscape Awards: Commissioner Homeyer stated that the signs are still being made. New Business: Commissioners introduced themselves to new Commissioner Morgan. Commissioner Peek informed the committee that he had spoken with Commissioner Minor and stated Commissioner Minor feels that he may not be able to continue his duties as CBC Chairman due to the unexpected increase in his personal business. ADJOURNMENT: Motion: Commissioner Homeyer made a motion to adjourn. Second: Commissioner Young seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 12:46 p.m.