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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-4478-D Staff AnalysisJuly 18, 1996 ITEM NO.= 12 FILE NG.: 7.-4478-D NAME; LOCATTDN: TER/APPLICANT-. P,ROP Arkla Gas Company Amended - Conditional Use Permit 13625 Saddle Hill Drive Little Rock Municipal Water Works/ Arkla Gas Company by Kenny W. Henderson An amended conditional use permit is requested to allow for the permanent placement of the existing 130 foot tall communications tower on this site. The tower was previously approved by the Planning Commission (July 9, 1985) on a temporary basis only. The property is zoned R-2. ORDINANCE DESIGN STANDARDS: 1. Sit Location: The existing tower site is located just west of Saddle Hill Drive, between Pleasant Heights Dr. acid Fox Chapel Court, adjacent to Phase I of the Pleasant Heights Subdivision. This subdivision is located just south of the Hillsborough Subdivision, which is located south off of Hinson Road, approximately 1/3 mile west of Pulaski Academy School. 2. Com atibilit with Nei hborh od: The Arkla Gas tower site is within the existing Little Rock Water Works' water tank site. The surrounding properties are zoned R-2. The property to.the south and west of this site is vacant and tree -covered, with a few single-family residences further west on Belle Point Drive. The property to the north and east contains new single-family residences. This existing Little Rock Water Works site is located on a hill, overlooking the property to the north and east. The site contains the existing 130 foot tall Arkla Gas tower, with a second 130 foot tall tower located adjacent to the site (immediately west). A 75 foot tall tower was approved by the Little Rock Planning July 18, 1996 SUBDIVISION ITEM ND.: 12 Cont. FILE No.: z -4478-D Commission for this site Commission also approved Rock Wastewater Utility) This proposal should not surrounding properties. for 11 years. on May 9, 1996. The Planning a 58 foot tall antenna (Little for this site on June 6, 1996. have an adverse effect on the This tower has been in place 3. On -Site Drives and Pa.rkinnc : Access to the property will be gained by utilizing an existing drive which runs west off of Saddle Hill Dr. to the Water Works site. Parking is provided at the tower site for a service technician who will occasionally visit the site for maintenance purposes. No additional parking is required. 4. Screenin and Buffers: No Comments 5. city Engineer Comments: No Issues 6. Utility Comments: No Comments received 7. staff AnLly_s i s: The applicant, Arkla Gas Company, is requesting an amended conditional use permit to allow for the permanent placement of the existing 130 foot tall communications tower which is located within the Water Works site at 13625 Saddle Hill Drive. The property is zoned R-2. This 130 foot tall tower is Arkla's only tower structure within the City of Little Rock. The tower range covers the entire City of Little Rock as well as areas just outside the city limits. The existing tower serves Arkla in several capacities. The tower provides voice radio and data communications to Arkla employees in the field. This allows the field employees to communicate with one another and also allows data to be sent directly to them in the field. The tower also serves as a telemetry repeater site. The tower sends information to the various metering sites throughout the City. 2 July 18, 1996 SUBDIVISION IT ND.: 12 {Cant. FILE N Z -447$-D On August 6, 1985, the Little Rock City Board of Directors passed Ordinance No. 14,924, granting Arkla a conditional use permit to construct and operate a radio tower on the property of the Little Rock Municipal Water Works located at 13625 Saddle Hill Drive in West Little Rock. The Ordinance was passed pursuant to the recommendation of the Little Rock Planning Commission, which recommended the issuance of a temporary conditional use permit. On July 9, 1985 the Little Rock Planning Commission approved the conditional use permit application to construct the Arkla Gas tower at 13625 Saddle Hill Dr., with the tower approved being on a temporary basis. The motion stated that the tower could remain on this site until a new water tank facility could be located to the west of this area and constructed. According to Arkla, at the time of the issuance of the permit, it was anticipated that the Water Works would be developing another site further up Saddle Hill and that Arkla's tower would be moved to that location after it was developed. The second site was subsequently not developed and Arkla, therefore, never moved its tower. However, the Water Works did construct another site further west on what is known as Highland Ridge. The Highland Ridge Water Works site is located approximately 1 1/2 miles to the northwest. A question has now arisen as to whether Arkla should be required to move its existing tower to that location. For the reasons stated herein, Arkla does not believe that it is in violation of the current conditional use permit. However, in order to clarify the situation and to avoid any further confusion, Arkla is requesting that the conditional use permit in question be amended to make it permanent rather than temporary. Given the fact that this is a multiple tower location, it is staff's opinion that the amendment to the conditional use permit is appropriate. The proposal to make the Arkla Gas tower permanent should not have an adverse effect on the surrounding properties. 8. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the amended conditional use permit application. 3 July 18, 1996 EosnxvlszGH ITEM NO.• 12 C nt. FILE NO.: UBDIVI ION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (JUNE 27, 1996) Walter St. John was present, representing the application. Staff presented the item with a brief description of the proposal. There was a brief discussion regarding the history of the property and the Arkla Gas tower, relating to the proposed amendment to the conditional use permit application. The Committee accepted the presentation and forwarded the issue to the full Commission for final action. PLANNING COIISSION ACTION: (JULY 18, 1996) The Staff presented a positive recommendation on this application, as there were no further issues for resolution. There were no objectors to this matter. The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for approval as recommended by staff. A motion to that effect was made. The motion was passed by a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 3 absent, and 1 open position. 4 JUN- 3-96 MON 15:32 POLICE DEPT July 9, 1985 SUBDIVISIONS Item No. 19 NAME: LOCATION: OWNER/APPLICANT: PROPOSAL: 5013716863 P.02 ATTACHMENT 1 Arkla Radio Tower Conditional Use Permit (Z-4478) 1/4 Mile West of the End of Morrison Road City of Little Rock Water Works/Benny R. Martin, Arkla Gas Company To construct a 130 -foot radio tower (with the necessary zoning variance) on 1.51 acres of land that is zoned "R-2.^ ORDINANCE DESIGN STANDARDS: 1. Site Location This site is located about 1/4 of a mile west of the end of Morrison Road on a gravel road. The nearest development is about 1/4 of a mile east of this site. 2. Compatibility with Neighborhood This property contains an adjacent water tank and is surrounded by vacant land. This proposal is compatible with the surrounding area. 3. On -Site Drives and Parkin This site is served by a gravel access road. No parking area is proposed. 4. Screening and Buffers This site is naturally screened by the ekisting terrain and vegetation. 5. Analysis This site is well suited for the proposed use. JUN- 3-96 MON 15:33 POLICE DEPT 5013716863 P.03 July 9, 1985 SUBDIVISIONS Item No. 19 - Continued City En ineerin Comments: No comment. 6. Staff Recommendation Approval, subject to the Board of Adjustment granting the requested 95 -foot height variance. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE REVIEW: The applicant was present and there were no unresolved issues. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: .The applicant was present. One objector was also present. Mr. Nat Griffin of Flake and Company represented property owners that owned land adjacent to this site to the west. Mr. Griffin stated that he was working on an agreement with Arkla gas, Mr, Griffin stated that his client did not oppose the construction of the radio tower, if the tower was of a temporary nature or if the future single family homeowners did not object to its presence. A lengthy discussion ensued. A motion was made to approve the application to construct a radio tower with the tower approval being on a temporary basis. The motion stated that the tower could remain on this site until a new water tank facility could be located to the west of this area was constructed. The applicant and Mr. Griffin accepted this proposal. The Commission then voted 6 ayes, 0 noes and 5 absent to approve this application.as outlined in the motion.