HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-4255-B Staff AnalysisApril 26, 2007
ITEM NO.: 9 FILE NO.: Z-42
NAME: Dreamland Academy Charter School —
Conditional Use Permit
LOCATION: 5615 Geyer Springs Road
OWNER/APPLICANT: Greater Second Baptist Church/David Jones, Agent
PROPOSAL: A conditional use permit is requested to allow a K -8th
grade Charter School to operate in this existing
church facility. The property is zoned R-2.
2.
SITE LOCATION:
The church campus is located on the northeast corner of Geyer Springs
Road and 57th Street.
COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD:
A church has existed at this site for many years. At one time it was a
much larger church with many more activities on the site. The site has
been home to similar activities, including day care and Head Start. The
applicants propose to utilize a portion of the existing facility with no
structural expansion. The school will operate during typical school hours,
Monday through Friday. At its maximum the school will have an
enrollment of 500 students, which is relatively small for a K -8th grade
school. The proposed use should be compatible with the area. The site is
located at the edge of a neighborhood and provides a transition from the
single family to the higher intensity, commercial activities to the west.
All owners of properties located within 200 feet of the site, all residents
within 300 feet of the site and the Geyer Springs, Wakefield and SWLR
United for Progress Neighborhood Associations were notified of this
request.
3. ON SITF DRIVES AND PARKING:
The parking requirements for the school are as follow:
Kindergarten 1 space per employee and 1 space for each 10 children
Grades 1- 8 1 space per employee and 1 space per classroom
April 26, 2007
ITEM NO.: 9 (Cont.
FILE NO.: Z -4255-B
The grades and projected school population are as follow:
YEAR 1,
12 classrooms YEAR 2
K —
50 students
1 st
— 50 students
2nd
— 50 students
3rd
-- 50 students
4th
— 50 students
5th
— 50 students
0
5.
[el
YEAR 3 YEAR 4
Add 2 classrooms Add 2 classrooms Add 2 classrooms
6th — 50 students 7th — 50 students 8th — 50 students
The site has several hundred parking spaces located in parking lots on all
sides of the building and across 57th Street. There is more than sufficient
parking and drop-off space to accommodate the proposed school.
SCREENING AND BUFFERS:
No comments on this use issue.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS:
1. Geyer Springs Road is classified on the Master Street Plan as a minor
arterial. A dedication of right-of-way 45 feet from centerline will be
required.
2. Due to the proposed use of the property, the Master Street Plan
specifies that West 57th Street for the frontage of this property must
meet commercial street standards. Dedicate right-of-way to 30 feet
from centerline.
3. A 20 feet radial dedication of right-of-way is required at the intersection
of Geyer Springs Road and West 57th Street. This dedication should
be on the north and south sides of West 57th Street.
4. Obtain a franchise agreement from Public Works (John Barr,
371-4646) for the improvements located in the right-of-way.
UTILITY, FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS:
Wastewater: Sewer available to this property.
Entergy: No Comment received.
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April 26, 2007
Cont.
CenterPoint Energy: Approved as submitted.
AT&T (SBC): No Comment received.
Water: No objection.
Fire Department: Fire hydrant may be required.
County Planning: No Comments.
CATA: The site is not located on a CATA bus route.
P
NO.: Z -4255-B
SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT. (APRIL 15, 2007)
The applicants were present. Staff presented the item and noted little additional
information was needed. Staff requested the days and hours of operation, a
signage plan and a playground location. The applicant responded that days and
hours of operation would follow the typical Little Rock School District, Monday
through Friday schedule. In response to staff's suggestion, the applicant stated
signage would comply with that allowed in Office and Institutional zones. The
applicant stated the existing playground on the north side of the campus would
be utilized.
In response to a question from staff, the applicant stated most children would be
brought to the school by their parents or other private individuals and day cares;
that there would be no buses,
Public Works Comments were discussed, specifically the issue of dedicating
right-of-way. Other agency comments were noted.
The Committee determined there were no other issues and forwarded the item to
the full Commission.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
The Greater Second Baptist Church campus occupies the R-2 zoned, 6.18 acre
tract located at 5615 Geyer Springs Road. A second 1.44 acre tract across 57th
Street contains an additional paved parking lot.
Dreamland Academy, a proposed charter school, is proposed to locate on the
site, utilizing a portion of the existing church facility. The charter school will have
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April 26, 2007
ITEM NO.: 9 Cont. FILE NO.: Z -4255-B
as its focus, arts and communication. The school will serve children ages K — 8th
grade. The applicant's development plan is as follows:
a. Grades and Projected Dreamland Academy Student Population:
K:
50 students
1 st:
50 students
2nd:
50 students
3`d:
50 students
4th:
50 students
5th:
50 students
Total = 300 students for Year 1.
b. Student goals per year:
Year 2 — 5: Increase by 50 students each year. Each year Dreamland
will add a grade through 8th grade.
c. Classrooms: Dreamland Academy will have 12 classrooms in Year 1.
Increase at the rate of 25 students per 1 classroom (excluding other
areas).
d. Other Rooms:
1 media/library center
1 multi-purpose room
2 specialty rooms (smaller than classrooms)
small office area
small gym/mini-auditorium area
Ultimately, the school will have an enrollment of 500 students in 20 classrooms.
Days and hours of operation will mirror those of the LRSD. The existing
playground on the north side of the campus will be utilized. No additional
playing fields will be constructed. Signage will be limited to that allowed in Office
and Institutional zones. Children will be delivered to and picked up from the
school by parents and other private individuals or childcare centers. There will
be no buses.
Drop-off and pick-up will occur in the parking area on the north side of the
campus. There is sufficient drop-off parking and stacking space in this area.
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April 26, 2007
ITEM NO.: 9 Cont.) FILE NO.: Z -4255-B
To staff's knowledge, there are no outstanding issues. The applicant responded
to staff's inquiries at the Subdivision Committee meeting. Utilizing this existing,
large institutional facility for the school seems to be an appropriate use for the
site. The campus is located at the edge of a residential neighborhood,
separating the neighborhood from the more intense commercial development to
the west. There is no bill of assurance for this acreage tract.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the application subject to compliance with the staff
comments, conditions and analysis as Outlined in Sections 4, 5, 6 and the staff
analysis of this agenda staff report.
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (APRIL 26, 2007)
The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented
the item and a recommendation of approval subject to compliance with the
conditions outlined in the "staff recommendation" above. There was no further
discussion.
The item was placed on the consent agenda and approved as recommended by
staff. The vote was 10 ayes, 0 noes and 1 absent.
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