HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-4016-B Staff AnalysisMarch 26, 1985
Item No. 3 - Z -4016-B
Owner:
Applicant:
Location:
Request:
Purpose:
Size:
Existing Use:
P & L Investment Company
Perry Gravitt
Wanda Lane, North of I-30
Rezone from "R-2" to "0-3"
Office
.48 acres +
Vacant
SURROUNDING LAND USE AND ZONING:
North
- Si.ngle
Family,
Zoned "R-2"
South
- Vacant,
Zoned
"C-3"
East
- Single
Family,
Zoned "R-2"
West
- Single
Family,
Zoned "R-2"
PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS
1. The request is to rezone two vacant lots to "0-3" for a
small scale office development. Tentative plans
submitted to the staff indicate that the two lots in
question will be combined with one of the "C-3" parcels
to the south and developed with a single office
building. It appears that the design concept is to
orient the office activity away from the residential
neighborhood. In the past, efforts have been made to
rezone the site to a commercial classification because
of the existing "C-3" which is somewhat misplaced at an
entrance to a residential subdivision. The two lots
under consideration have been vacant for a number of
years, and it can be questioned whether there will ever
be any residential development on them. Because of the
existing situation, an office rezoning could be the
most appropriate way of putting the lots to use and
buffering the residential area from the "C-3." The
property abuts residential use on two sides and there
are two residences across Wanda Lane.
2. The site is two typical residential lots that are
vacant.
3. There are no right-of-way requirements or Master Street
Plan issues.
March 26, 1985
Item No. 3 Continued
4. There have been no adverse comments received from the
reviewing agencies at this time. The traffic engineer
reports some concern with the parking and access.
5. There are no legal issues.
6. In 1983, an application was filed to rezone the "C-3"
tract and the two lots in question to "C-4." The
request was denied by both the Planning Commission and
the Board of Directors. A petition with over 100
signatures was submitted opposed to the rezoning.
Another request was made to rezone the two lots in
question to "C-3" in 1984. The neighborhood was
against the rezoning and presented a petition with 112
names. The Planning Commission voted down the rezoning
request. With both applications, the staff recommended
denial.
7. Staff's position is that an office classification is
more suitable for the location and should have less of
an impact on the surrounding neighborhood. Staff is
encouraged by the proposed development because of
utilizing one of the "C-3" lots. It is highly
recommended that the remaining "C-3" parcel be
incorporated into the site plan and create one unified
tract. This would remove the potential for an
inappropriate "C-3" use at the corner and possibly
eliminate the need for any curb cuts on Wanda Lane.
With the proper setbacks and building design, this
could be accomplished. Setbacks will be critical
because of the property abutting residential lots on
two sides. Because of this situation, staff recommends
that the "O-1" district be utilized for this location.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends denial of "O-3" and approval of "0-1."
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION:
The applicant, Perry Gravitt, was present. There were eight
objectors present. Staff informed the Planning Commission
that a petition with 100 names opposed to the request had
been submitted prior to the meeting. Mr. Gravitt spoke
first and said that he was surprised about the petition
because there appeared to be no opposition generated in the
meetings that he had with the neighborhood. He went on to
say that an effort had been made to reach a compromise with
the residents. Steven Cobb representing the neighborhood
spoke and discussed the petition. He said that the
March 26, 1985
Item No. 3 - Continued
residents had problems with the previous owner and the
neighborhood still feared the possibility of an undesirable
commercial use. Mr. Cobb said that there was some support
for the proposed site plan. There was a long discussion
about utilizing the "PCD" process for the site. D. Murray
discussed the intersection of Wanda Lane and Frontage Road.
She indicated that location had one of the highest rates of
accidents in the City. A motion was then made to convert
the request to a short -form "PCD" and to waive any
additional filing fees. Mr. Gravitt agreed to amending the
application to a "PCD." The motion was approved by a vote
of 9 ayes, 0 noes and 2 absent.
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