HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-3442-G Staff AnalysisApril 15,.. 1999
ITEM NO.: 12 FILE NO.: Z -3442-G
NAME: Wal-Mart (Baseline Road) - Revised
Conditional Use Permit
LOCATION: 8801 Baseline Road
OWNER/APPLICANT: Wal-Mart
PROPOSAL: To amend an existing conditional use
permit at 8801 Baseline Road to
allow for an increased area for
seasonal display in the parking lot,
and a permanent sidewalk display
area between the entrance and the
garden center. Property is zoned
I-2 and C-3, Light Industrial and
General Commercial.
ORDINANCE DESIGN STANDARDS:
1. Site Location:
The Wal-Mart is located on the south side of Baseline Road,
east of the intersection of Baseline and I-30.
2. Compatibility with Neighborhood:
This mixed zone I-2 and C-3 property is bordered on the
east and south by residential zoning, and the -west by C-3
commercial zoning. Immediately west the C-3 area is
vacant. To the northwest is a strip type shopping center.
There is a six foot wood privacy fence and green buffer
wooded area between this facility and all the residential
area to the east and south. A 40 to 50 foot OS zoned strip
exists along the east side of this property, as well as an
8 foot tall iron fence right at Wal -Mart's property line.
This additional outside storage should not have any
detrimental affect on the residential areas.
The Mavis Circle and West Baseline Neighborhood
Associations, as well as Norman Floyd, were all notified of
the public hearing.
April 15,:1999--
SUBDIVISION
5,:1999-
SUBDIVISION
ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont.)
3. On -Site Drives and Parki
FILE NO.: Z -3442-G
Access to the property is gained by utilizing two (2)
existing driveways from Baseline Road. The western access
also serves the strip type shopping area to the northwest
of the Wal-Mart store. No changes are intended or
required.
The current building has 201,172 square feet, requiring 543
parking spaces. Currently, they have 849 spaces and would
be using 40 of those for seasonal display. The remaining
809 spaces still exceed ordinance requirements.
4. Buffers and Screening:
N/A
5. Public Works Comments:
Traffic on Baseline Road is 20,000 vehicles per day.
6. Utility and Fire Department Comments:
Water: No objection.
Wastewater: Sewer available, not adversely affected.
Southwestern Bell: Approved as submitted.
ARKLA: Approved as submitted.
Entergy: No Comments received.
Fire Department: Approved as submitted.
CATA: Approved as submitted. This site is served by CATA
Routes #17 and #17A - Mabelvale.
7. Staff Analysis:
The applicant is requesting a revised conditional use
permit (C.U.P.) to amend their existing C.U.P. to double
the current parking lot temporary seasonal display area and
to also permit a permanent year round sidewalk display area
between the main store entrance and garden center fenced in
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April 15,:1995
SUBDIVISION
ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont.)
FILE NO.: Z -3442-G
outside area. No structural changes are proposed. This
request is a follow-on development of converting this store
into a supercenter. A revised C.U.P. was approved in
April 30, 1998 for the building expansion.
The existing parking lot area which is to be expanded for
seasonal display is set off to the side of the rest of the
parking. It consists of 40 spaces and does not serve as a
path to any other parking areas. Therefore, using it for
seasonal display will not affect any other parking. It is
the closest parking area to the outside garden center,
however. The only time of the year that the loss of the 40
parking spaces would probably have much of an impact would
be the Christmas shopping season, and the area would not be
used for seasonal display during that time period. The
applicant has requested to use the area from February 1 to
July 1 each year. That time period would require a
variance because it would be five 30 -day periods. The
ordinance allows only four 30 -day periods per year.
The proposed area for sidewalk display is a large concrete
area 113 feet wide by 35 feet deep. A normal width walk
area of 10 feet adjacent to the main driveway access road
would be maintained. The area is in a recessed area
between the main entrance and the garden center fenced in
area. It is not in a thoroughfare. This part of the
proposal would also require a variance because the
ordinance does not allow permanent full time sidewalk
displays.
A variance is also required because of the total area used
for both outside display areas. The ordinance allows only
the equivalent of 50% of the fagade area of the front of
the building to be used for outside display. This proposal
is for an area equal to 105% of the front facade area.
Staff does not believe there will be a negative impact to
using these two areas as proposed.
8. Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the revised conditional use
permit as submitted to include the variance for one
additional 30 day period (total of 150 days) for the
parking lot seasonal display area, and a permanent sidewalk
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April 15,' 1999
SUBDIVISION
ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont.)
FILE NO.: Z -3442-G
display area as shown on the site plan, both to include an
area equal to 105% of the front facade.
SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (MARCH 25, 1999)
Scott Sanders, Wal-Mart store manager, was present representing
his application. Staff gave a brief description of the
proposal.
Committee members questioned the applicant as to why these
requests were not included in the submittal in March of 1998.
Mr. Sanders became the manager since that time and did not know
why.
Commissioner Adcock asked if the parking lot seasonal display
could be located in the northern part of the lot, the area
farthest from the store, rather than taking away parking close
to the store. Mr. Sanders responded that generally the area is
placed close to the store so that all shopping can be done
together after parking in one spot. Customers do not like to
have to drive over to another area away from the main store.
Being closer also facilitates staff coverage of both the inside
and outside garden center areas, and security of the
merchandise. In addition the range for remote registers is
limited and would not reach the area suggested. He would prefer
to leave it as requested.
There being no further issues, the Committee accepted the
proposal and forwarded it to the full Commission for final
resolution.
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (APRIL 15, 1999)
Scott Sanders, Wal-Mart store manager, was present representing
his application. There was one registered objector present.
Staff presented the item with a recommendation for approval as
submitted including the variance for 150 -day display period in
the parking lot, a permanent sidewalk display area as shown on
the site plan, and a total area used for the two displays to
equal 105% of the front fagade.
Ruth Bell representing the League of Women Voters spoke in
opposition. Ms. Bell stated their position is that three months
is enough time for open seasonal display, especially since it
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April 15, 1999
SUBDIVISION
ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont.)
FILE NO.: Z -3442-G
usually is unsightly. She stated that increasing that time or
the area used opens the door to moving toward permanent open
very large outside displays.
Janet Berry spoke for West Baseline Neighborhood Association in
support of the proposal stating Wal-Mart has been a good
neighbor and has provided a needed line of merchandise.
Commissioners Adcock, Berry and Rahman spoke in favor of the
proposal, but emphasized the points that this kind of display
should be designed into the original construction and that this
shows they have more parking than they need since they can give
up 40 spaces for four months out of the year.
A motion was made to approve the application as submitted
including the variance as detailed under "Staff Recommendation."
The motion passed by a vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, and 1 absent.
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