Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-4423-F Staff AnalysisSeptember 30, 2002 ITEM NO.: 5 File No.: Owner: Address: Description: Zoned: Variance Requested: Justification: Present Use of Property: Proposed Use of Property: STAFF REPORT A. Public Works Issues: No Comments. B. Landscape and Buffer Issues: Z -4423-F Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 700 S. Bowman Road Southwest corner of Chenal Parkway and Bowman Road C-3 A variance is requested from the development standards of Section 36-301 to allow the outdoor storage of merchandise. The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter. Commercial Commercial Areas set aside for buffers and landscaping, including screening, meet with ordinance requirements. C. Staff Analysis: The property at 700 S. Bowman Road (southwest corner of Bowman Road and Chenal Parkway) is occupied by a Wal-Mart retail store development. Wal-Mart offers a "lay -a -way" program for its customers, who can pay money down on Christmas purchases, and then pay off those purchases over a 90 day period. Because of the demand for this service, Wal-Mart must utilize temporary/seasonal storage containers for the excess "lay -a -way" and Christmas merchandise each year. September 30, 2002 Item No.: 5 Wal-Mart proposes to utilize no more than thirty (30) temporary/seasonal storage containers to be located along the paved drive and on the grassy area behind the store. Wal-Mart requests that these storage containers be utilized from September 151 through January 15th of each year. After the temporary/seasonal storage containers are removed, the grass will be reseeded. Last year the Planning Commission approved (by way of a conditional use permit) the 30 temporary/seasonal storage containers from October 1, 2001 through January 1, 2002 (90 days) only. It was determined at that time that future requests for temporary/seasonal storage containers or trailers be dealt with by the Board of Adjustment as a variance from the development standards of Section 36-301(b) of the City's Zoning Ordinance. Section 36-301(b) states that all commercial uses within the C-3 zoning district shall be restricted to closed buildings, except parking lots, seasonal and temporary sales per Section 36-298.4, and the normal pump island services of service station operations. Therefore, the applicant is requesting a variance to allow up to 30 temporary/seasonal storage containers to be located on the site from September 1St through January 15th of each year. Staff is supportive of the requested variance. Staff believes the request is reasonable. The containers are located in the service area behind the store. Due to the presence of a retaining wall, privacy fence and a 50 -foot open space strip, the containers are not visible from adjacent properties behind the site. The applicant has planted a dense landscape screen along the north perimeter of the service area to further screen that area from Chenal Parkway. The screening has been extended beyond the containers to cover the entire north perimeter of the service area. Some of the containers are on the service drive adjacent to the back wall of the store. A 20 -foot driveway remains. The applicant must satisfy Fire Department requirements that sprinkler FDC's and hydrants are not blocked. The grassy area where some of the containers are located will be reseeded each year after the containers are removed. That area may be paved since it is not part of any required landscape or buffer area. D. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the requested variance, subject to the following conditions: 1. The placement of the storage containers is limited to September 1St through January 15th of each year. 6 September 30, 2002 No.: 5 2. The storage containers must not block any sprinkler FDC's or fire hydrants, as per the Little Rock Fire Department. 3. The grassy area used for placement of some of the storage containers must be reseeded within thirty (30) days of removal of the containers each year and properly maintained. If not, the area must be paved or the issue will be brought back to the Board for reconsideration. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (SEPTEMBER 30, 2002) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval. The applicant offered no additional comments. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved as recommended by staff by a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent.