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Home My WebLink AboutCBC 08-07-2014LITTLE ROCK CITY BEAUTYUL CaMMIssIoK The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting Thursday, August 07, 2014, at 11:30 at Curran Hall. Chairman Ed Peek called the meeting to order. MEMBERS PRESENT: Ed Peek Wally Loveless Lynn Warren Chris Morgan Steve Homeyer Carrie Young MEMBERS ABSENT: Cassie Toro Three Open Positions Chris Hancock ALSO PRESENT: Beth Carpenter, City Attorney's Office D. Tracy Spillman, Plans Development Administrator, Department of Planning and Development, City of Little Rock. Dana Carney, Zoning and Subdivision Manager, Department of Planning and Development, City of Little Rock. APPROVAL OF THE JUNE MINUTES: Motion: Chairman Peek entertained a motion to approve the July 10, 2014 Minutes with a clarification. Commissioner Loveless made a motion to approve. Second: Commissioner Young seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Variance Request: CBC Case 632, 7524 Cantrell Road, Slim Chickens Staff opened the public hearing for the variance request located at 7524 Cantrell Road. The owner of the site is proposing to develop the property into a single use restaurant for Slim Chickens. Presently there is an existing commercial building located on this site and it is paved from property line to property line. Right of way will be dedicated as necessary. The site plan indicates a driveway on Cantrell Road and Keightley Drive. The proposed building consists of 3,935 gross square feet. The site plan indicates 29 parking spaces to include two (2) handicap spaces. Based on the one (1) parking space �, per 100-gross square feet of floor area the ordinance would typically require 39-parking spaces to serve the restaurant use. The restaurant will also have a drive -through window operation and associated drive through lane with the stacking of fourteen (14) cars without impacting the on -site parking. A dumpster will be located at the northeast corner of the site and will be enclosed as per the City of Little Rock requirements. Hours of operation for the restaurant will be from 10:30 am to 10:00 pm. Signage will consist of a building sign and a free standing sign on the corner. All signage will comply with City of Little Rock standards. Parking lot lighting will consist of pole mounted cut-off type fixtures. The intersection of North Mississippi, Keightley Drive and Cantrell Road contains a number of commercial uses including a shopping center with a grocery store, a Wal-greens Drug Store, a convenience store with gas pumps, a furniture store, and multi -family. improvements to Cantrell Road were recently completed by AHTD to the west of the site. Improvements to Cantrell Road are scheduled to start for widening Cantrell Road from North Mississippi, Keightley Drive intersection eastward to the intersection with Perryville Road. The applicant requested the rezoning of the site from C-3, General Commercial District to PD-C. The requested PD-C was to address several variances. This included a variance to allow driveways nearer the property line than allowed per the Boundary Street and Subdivision Ordinances. The site plan also includes a reduced number of parking spaces than typically required per zoning ordinance. The site plan review filed with the Planning Commission was deferred several times. On May 30, 2014 the applicant requested this application be withdrawn without prejudice after it was determined that a rezoning was not necessary. Staff supported the withdrawal request. The item was placed on the June 12, 2014 consent agenda and approved for withdrawal, without prejudice. There is an existing driveway from the adjacent bank site that provides access through this site, behind the building, to Keightley Drive. It was determined that the access needed to be maintained. The site plan was modified to include the driveway connection for the bank. The driveway connection has been designed so as not to conflict with the stacking movement for the proposed new restaurant's drive —through and pick-up window. Placement of the connecting driveway was a condition of the approval of the Keightley Drive driveway variance that was approved by the Board of Directors on July 15, 2014. Placement of the required bank connection driveway has created the need for the landscape variance. Staff believes the variance request is reasonable. It involves only a small portion of the overall perimeter landscaping. In all other areas of the site, the landscaping requirements are being met. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff is supportive of the requested variance. Chairman Peek stated that he has reviewed the variance request and believes that the proposed development will be an improvement from the existing conditions. Presentation: Owner representative Frank Riggins delivered a handout to the commissioners which included photos of the existing site conditions, a proposed site plan, and proposed building elevations. Mr. Riggins further stated that the property is now paved from property line to property line and there is an existing driveway from the east property (Bank of the Ozarks) behind the existing building (7524 Cantrell) that allows access to Keightley. Mr. Riggins noted that the proposed site plan increases green space, improves traffic flow, restricts access to Cantrell Road, improves visual impact, and decreases runoff. He stated that it is his belief that a reduction of the required landscape and a deletion of a small part of the east buffer would far outweigh any negative aspects created by the proposed request. In addition he stated that by asking for this small variance the improvements to this corner property would be vastly increased. Commissioner Warren inquired if additional plantings would be added elsewhere on site due to the deletion of a portion of the east perimeter planting strip. Mr. Riggins stated this would be a possibility and noted that they are not taking any green space but adding green areas to the site. Commissioner Homeyer stated that there will be a significant net gain in green space if the proposed plan in accepted. Mr. Riggins agrees and notes that the site has no green space as it is presently developed. Mr. Riggins further explained the proposed curb cuts and sidewalks will be provided as part of the development and the Highway Departments improvements. Commissioner Warren inquired about the landscape and the placement of trees. Mr. Riggins stated that landscape will be both decretive and fumctional and will meet or exceed the city requirements. Mr. Riggins finally stated that he believes they have developed a plan that works for the city, for his client, and for the neighboring property Bank of the Ozarks. Motion: Commissioner Warren moved that the variance be accepted with the stipulation that the plant materials originally planned for the deleted portion of perimeter strip be relocated on site. Second: Commissioner Loveless seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. TREASURER'S REPORT: Expense Report: Commissioner Loveless stated: ■ There have been no new expenses. ■ That he has not gotten the business cards made but would inquire of former Chairman Minor as to the source for these cards that has been used in the past. U COMMITTEE REPORTS: UPDATES: Community Proiects 1:-630 Trees: ■ Chairman Peek stated that he has not yet made a site visit to War Memorial Golf Course. City Hall South Yard: Commissioner Homeyer stated that he has nothing new to report at this time. Public Relations Website: Commissioner Warren stated: • That she will email Commissioner Hancock and Staff Member Spillman to schedule a meeting to take place in the office of the Plans Development Administrator. This meeting will be to instruct Commissioner Hancock (and anyone else interested) on how to upload and maintain the CHC website when Commissioner Hancock assumes these duties. Social Media: Commissioner Morgan stated: • He had emailed a press release to City of Little Rock Public Relations Manager, Meg Matthews. In addition he had informed Commissioner Hancock of this before leaving the country in case any action was needed during his absence. He did not received a response from Ms. Matthews or Commissioner Hancock. Staff Member Carney stated that there has been a new Communication Manager appointed and contact information will be forwarded to Commissioner Morgan. V7: Commissioner Loveless reported the following: The July meeting had not been held due to a large number of member absences. In addition, he had missed the August meeting due to being out of town. ■ A litter survey will take place Saturday morning, August 9th at 8:00 am. ■ The Kavanaugh / Pine Valley Round -a -Bout is moving forward. Fund raising is ongoing and the Kingwood property association has committed $5000.00. ■ Envision 2014 Otter Creek is proceeding and the submission for plans closes in October. Adopt -A -Street: The commissioners decided to schedule September's cleanup at the next CBC meeting on September 41n Eye of the Beholder: Commissioner Young: • Delivered Eye of the Beholder cards to the commissioners. Chairman Peek signed the certificates. ■ Commissioner Loveless nominated 6511 Pleasant Place to receive an Eye of the Beholder Award. Landscape Awards: Commissioner Homeyer stated: ■ Nominations are still being taken. ■ Commissioner Loveless stated that he would nominate the Hillary Clinton Children's Library. • The commissioners discuss possible properties to be nominated and the criteria for being illegible. In addition the properties that have been nominated will be voted on at the September CBC meeting. This meeting will take place at the Little Rock City Hall, Board Chambers to accommodate the slide show presentation. T.R.E.E Fund: Commissioner Homeyer inquired: • If the last (Rees Development, CBC Case #630) contribution to the T.R.E.E fund had been received. This was confirmed as completed and there has been no additional funding. • Commissioner Warren inquired if the War Memorial trees were still scheduled to be installed this fall. This was confirmed. In addition it was confirmed that there are no new developments in the project. NEW BUSUINESS: Commissioner Homeyer inquired: ■ If Commissioner Toro was still on the CBC Commission. It was confirmed that Commissioner Toro has missed three (3) scheduled Commission meetings in 2014 and a letter will be sent to her attention addressing these absences. It was further confirmed that The Code of Ordinances of the City of Little Rock states a member of a Board or Commission will be removed if that member misses more than twenty-five (25) percent of the meetings scheduled in a year or more than three (3) consecutive meetings. Commissioner Warren inquired if Commissioner Wiedower, Commissioner Minor, and Commissioner McCulley have missed three (3) meetings and are no longer on the CBC. This was confirmed and noted that there are three (3) open positions. ANOUNCEMENTS: There were no new announcements. ADJOURNMENT: Motion: Chairman Peek entertained a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Warren made a motion to adjourn. Second: Commissioner Homeyer seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 12:20 pm LITTLE ROCK CITY BEAUTIFUL COMMISSIOM DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT - 723 WEST MARKHAM - LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS 72201 PHONE: 501 371-4864 FAX: 501 371-6863 E-MAIL: DSPILLMAN r LITT EROCK. RG WEBSITE: WWW.LRCITYBEAUTIFULCOMMISSION.ORG August 07, 2014 ITEM NO, 2, C.B.C. 632— NEW MATTERS Applicant: Address: Description: ORDINANCE RE UIRMENTS: Chapter 15, Sec. 15-96. Perimeter planting strips. Rock Capitol Group, LLC Owner Crafton Tull & Associates Agent 7525 Cantrell Road Northeast Corner of Cantrell Road and Keightley Drive (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 To allow a reduction and the removal of a portion of the landscape perimeter strip along the east boundary of the property to less than the nine (9) feet as typically required. In addition to allow a paved strip in the perimeter area to provide a vehicular exit driveway from the neighboring east property. FINDINGS: The owner of the site located at 7524 Cantrell Road is proposing to develop the property into a single use restaurant for Slim Chickens. Presently there is an existing commercial building located on this site and it is paved from property line to property line. Rit# cuff-way-%gi{f-be-ded-ic-ated-as-.nec-essary. The site plan indicates a driveway on Cantrell Road and Keightley Drive. The proposed building consists of 3,935 gross square feet. The site plan indicates 29 parking spaces to include two (2) handicap spaces. Based on the one (1) parking space per 100-gross square feet of floor area the ordinance would typically require 39-parking spaces to serve the restaurant use. The restaurant will also have a drive -through window operation and associated drive through lane with the stacking of fourteen (14) cars without impacting the on -site parking. A dumpster will be located at the northeast corner of the site and will be enclosed as per the City of Little Rock requirements. Hau-s--of-operatiorrforthe-'restaurant-wid-be frorrr-10-30 ❑ :00 p ge m n i oche- Feiner. All signage will comply with City of Little Rock standards. Parking lot lighting will consist of pole mounted cut-off type fixtures. The 4er-seetian-ef-Nor-th Mississippi,-KeightleyJDriv"n"apt-r-ell-RoadrGn- tains amumber of eom- nercia# use s"itrcftrd�ing-a sh.o.ppingsce-at-errwith.a groscry store; a,Wal-greens,,Dfug Store, a c e4ieTwe-stare vwith,gas,pump-s,.a..fur_nit.urR.5tQ.Ce,�-m1-multi.family),Impr-ove-rnents to Cantrell -Road were=reel-m,t4y-cornpleted=by AH.,TD-to,the.west,of�the-site?4m, pr-overnents-•to,C-antrell-Road�wre scheduled, to staa-for widening�C-antr-ell Road=from-North,Mississippi Keigh`tl#rDfiVO`'intersection=eastwar -to .the,_ inter.sertiovr4nrith Perr-ywille'R ad. efs�esedrC€�e"reronirrg�f flit from 6enera!^Coiedfl^f]�st�it t`t�' PA-C. The rest.ue.sted,P_D_.C�wa-s4n,add re5sseveraI-variances:This,included -a-variance to�aliow.�driveway-s.nearer the p []p lU,In-.e than:all.owed..per.the.5oundary.Str.eet-andSubdivision Ordinances. T.he site plan.also inclWes-&red uced. number of parking spaces:thar-typically requir-ed,..per..zoning-ordinance. Th��ev euv-filed-with-the-R-lanning-Commission-was-deferred-several-times:•@rt- ay'3fl;`�014 the.-ap.pli.eanit-re.q.uested xbis-application be wittedrarx ithout-.pr-ejudire after-it--was-deter mined -that a rezooir�g �casua.o_t n.ecessaxy. S.taf.s-upp.orted4ha,withdrawal-request.-The item-wasplaeed-on,-tfYe June 12, 2014.c,Gnser4t.,age,nd"nd-ap,proved-for wit hd-ravwal;=without,pr=ej-u•d.ice. There is an existing driveway from the adjacent bank site that provides access through this site, behind the building, to Keightley Drive. It was determined that the access needed to be maintained. The site plan was modified to include the driveway connection for the bank. The driveway connection has been designed so as not to conflict with the stacking movement for the proposed new restaurant's drive/through and pick-up window. Placement of the connecting driveway was a condition of the approval of the Keightley Drive driveway variance that was approved by the Board of Directors on July 15, 2014. Placement of the required bank connection driveway has created the need for the landscape variance. Staff believes the variance request is reasonable. It involves only a small portion of the overall perimeter landscaping. In all other areas of the site, the landscaping requirements are being met. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff is supportive of the requested variance. F- L V: . Q 1 z � A4 ~ ~ Z Z I 1� ld2[351 IrV U _ a�� 7-11�OCia: I of r J J I- Q - > W � I n ¢ _ W o� d O V _ r 9� x d n a- d' qq we A. S I- F r aJ II { .f0