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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-3642-A Staff AnalysisNovember 24, 1997 Item No.• 1 File No. Owner; Address• Description - Zoned• Variance Recuested: Justification: Present Use of Proper: Proposed Use of Property: Staff Report: A. Public Works Issues: Z -3642-A F. Eugene & Cynthia Rushing Mason/ City of Little Rock East side of 7900 Block of Jamison Road Long Legal, Part of South 1/2, SE 1/4, NE 1/4, Section 32, T -1-N, R -12-W I-2 A variance is requested from the pavement requirements of Section 36-508. See attached letter of explanation from City of Little Rock General Services Department. Undeveloped, vacant Vehicle impound facility 1. This property lies within the floodplain and floodway. A grading and drainage plan, development permit, and a Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and Ecology (ADPCE) and National Pollution and Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit are required. 2. Construct a 30 foot wide minimum concrete driveway entrance with 25 foot radii and pipe culvert under driveway with development. Submit a sketch and hydraulics for sizing pipe to Bruce Kemmet, Public Works Department. 3. Stormwater detention ordinance applies to this property. 4. Prepare letter for street lights as required by Sec. 31-403. B. Staff Analysis• The City of Little Rock Department of General Services proposes to develop a vehicle impoundment facility on the undeveloped property located on the east side of the 7900 Block of Jamison Road. The property is currently wooded, as are the abutting properties to the north, south and east. November 24, 1997 Item No.: 1 (Cont. The City proposes to clear a portion of this property and use it for the temporary storage of vehicles which have been impounded. A small office building will be placed on the property. Public parking will be located on the city maintenance facility property located directly across Jamison Road. This issue is before the Board because of the City's request not to have to pave the impound facility parking lot. Section 36-508 requires all areas subject to wheeled vehicle traffic to be paved. In addition to the obvious issue of cost, the General Services department feels that it would simply be impractical to pave the lot. Due to the nature of the use, heavy wreckers and tow vehicles will be frequenting the site daily. It is feared that the use of these heavy vehicles combined with the storage of potentially damaged vehicles would create a continuous maintenance problem. The property is located to the rear of the City's large maintenance yard. Other uses in the area include warehousing and large tracts of undeveloped, wooded land. Although General Services indicates a desire to use 10 of the 13 acres for impoundment services, a recently completed survey indicates that only the western 6-6.5 acres is out of the floodway. The entire eastern area is floodway and cannot be used. A 6 foot privacy fence will be installed on the property line adjacent to the street and many of the large trees and natural vegetation will be preserved to aid in screening the facility. C. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the requested waiver of the paving requirements of Section 36-508 subject to compliance with the following conditions: 1. No portion of the property which is in the floodway is to be used for the parking/storage of vehicles. 2. Compliance with Public Works Comments 3. A 6 foot privacy fence is to be installed on the Jamison Road property line. 4. A minimum 35 foot undisturbed buffer is to be left on the south perimeter where this property is adjacent to residentially zoned property. 5. Trees and other natural vegetation are to be preserved to aid in screening the facility. 2 November 24, 1997 Item No.: 1 BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (NOVEMBER 24, 1997) Wendell Jones and Andre Bernard were present representing the City of Little Rock Department of General Services. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval subject to compliance with the_ following conditions: 1. No portion of the property which is in the floodway is to be used for the parking/storage of vehicles. 2. Compliance with Public Works Comments 3. A 6 foot privacy fence is to be installed on the Jamison Road property line. 4. A minimum 35 foot undisturbed buffer is to be left on the south perimeter where this property is adjacent to residentially zoned property. 5. Trees and other natural vegetation are to be preserved to aid in screening the facility. Wendell Jones addressed the Board in support of the variance. He stated that it would be impractical to pave the site and that the public need would be served by allowing the use. Mr. Jones stated the unpaved lot would not create as much water run-off into the floodway as a paved lot would. Ann Palmer asked why the City's need for this variance was different than other persons requesting similar waivers. Mr. Jones responded that the floodway/floodplain issue makes it different. Ms. Palmer asked staff if paving the floodplain would cause additional drainage problems. Bruce Kemmet, of the Public Works Department, confirmed that it would. The vote was called on the variance request with the 5 conditions offered in the staff recommendation. The variance was approved by a vote of 5 ayes, 2 noes, 0 absent and 2 open positions. 3