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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-5675-D Staff AnalysisDecember 15, 2011 ITEM NO.: 5 FILE NO.' Z -5675-D NAME: Philander Smith College Campus Center Building — Conditional Use Permit LOCATION: 900 Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive OWNER/APPLICANT' Philander Smith College/Crafton Tull and Associates PROPOSAL: A conditional use permit is requested to allow for the construction of a campus center building on this R-4 zoned college campus. SITE LOCATION: The campus is bounded by 1-630, Chester, Gaines and Daisy L. Gatson Bates (14th). The proposed new building is within the middle of the campus. 2. COMPATIBILITY WI FH NEIGHBORHOOD: The College has been at this location for 130 years. The boundary of the campus is not being expanded to accommodate the new building. It is being constructed within the existing campus. On December 17, 2009, the College's master plan was presented to the Planning Commission. That plan indicated a 62,000 square foot dining/student center building at this location on the campus. The proposed campus center building is being located as indicated on the previously reviewed master plan. The proposed building will not affect the school's continued compatibility with the neighborhood. Notice of the public hearing was sent to all owners of properties located within 200 feet of the site and to the Downtown Neighborhood Association. 3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: The parking requirement for a college is space for each 300 square feet of gross building area or 1 space for every 4 students, whichever is greater. The total square footage on the campus, including the new building, will be 471,155 square feet; requiring 1,570 parking spaces. Current enrollment is 732 students; requiring 183 parking spaces. There are 646 parking spaces available. The 2009 Master Plan states as a growth objective to reach an enrollment of 1,000 students. The plan encourages the use of attractive modes of transportation, including buses and bicycles. Many of the students attending this relatively small urban campus do not drive. In 2009, a CUP was approved for construction of December 15, 2011 ITEM NO.: 5 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z -5675-D 2 5. A dormitories. At that time, a survey revealed about 150 parking spaces being used. Staff supports using the lower parking requirement for this project. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: No Comments. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: No Comments. UTILITY. FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS: Wastewater: Sewer available to this property. Entergy: No comments received. Centerpoint Energy: No comments received. AT&T (SBC): No comments received. Water: All Central Arkansas Water requirements in effect at the time of request for water service must be met. The Little Rock Fire Department needs to evaluate this site to determine whether additional public and/or private fire hydrant(s) will be required. If additional fire hydrant(s) are required, they will be installed at the Developer's expense. Please submit plans for water facilities and/or fire protection system to Central Arkansas Water for review. Plan revisions may be required after additional review. Contact Central Arkansas Water regarding procedures for installation of water facilities and/or fire service. Approval of plans by the Arkansas Department of Health Engineering Division and Little Rock Fire Department is required. Contact Central Arkansas Water regarding the size and location of the water meter. Due to the nature of this facility, installation of an approved reduced pressure zone backflow preventer assembly (RPZ) is required on the domestic water service. This assembly must be installed prior to the first point of use. Central Arkansas Water (CAW) requires that upon installation of the RPZA, successful tests of the assembly must be completed by a 2 December 15, 2011 ITEM NO.: 5 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z -5675-D Certified Assembly Tester licensed by the State of Arkansas and approved by CAW. The test results must be sent to CAW's Cross Connection Section within ten days of installation and annually thereafter. Contact the Cross Connection Section at 377-1226 if you would like to discuss backflow prevention requirements for this project. Fire Department: Approved as submitted. Fire hydrant per Code, maintain access at least twenty (20) foot wide. County Planning: No Comments. CATA: The site is located on a CATA bus route. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (NOVEMBER 23, 2011) Frank Riggins and Terry Wallace were present representing Philander Smith. Staff presented the item and noted there were no outstanding issues. Staff commented that the easements remaining in the former State Street right-of-way would need to be abandoned prior to a building permit being issued. Mr. Riggins stated he was preparing the documentation to file that abandonment. Staff commented that the campus center building had been indicated on the previously presented campus master plan. There were no other issues discussed. The Committee forwarded the item to the full Commission. STAFF ANALYSIS: Philander Smith College occupies the 9+ blocks of property bounded by Chester, Gaines, Daisy L. Gatson Bates and 1-630. The campus contains many buildings and parking areas; typical of a small college campus. Previous conditional use permits have been approved to allow various buildings to be built. The last CUP, in 2009, approved the construction of four (4) dormitory buildings. A CUP is now being requested to allow for the construction of a two-story, 65,000 square foot campus center building. The building will be located at the convergence of the former rights-of-way of West 12th and State Streets, in the middle of the campus. The campus center building was indicated at this site on the 2009 Master Plan, which was presented to the Planning Commission on December 17, 2009. The two-story building will have a maximum height of 45 feet and will have an exterior of brick, precast concrete, glass and aluminum panels. No variance is needed for the height increase from 35 to 45 feet, due to the increased setbacks being provided (Sec. 36-156). The building will contain student services, 3 December 15, 2011 ITEM NO.: 5 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z -5675-D administrative offices, ballroom, auditorium, post office, bookstore, recreation room, diner/coffee shop and cafeteria/dining area/kitchen. Wall signage and directional signage matching that currently in use throughout the campus, will be implemented. Lighting will be associated with building ingress and egress as well as sidewalks and terraces. This is a LEED project, which limits the amount of light to be used. Days and hours of operation vary with building function. The cafeteria will close after the last meal is served in the evening, whereas the coffee shop will probably stay open later in the evening, perhaps until 11:00 p.m. Administrative offices will be open during regular business hours. The auditorium and ballroom will be open in the evening for occasional events. The dumpster will be located inside the building in the service dock area and will be accessed via overhead door. Landscaping will conform to the recently completed campus master plan. Landscaping will conform to LEED criteria and will use many of the same species as were incorporated in the dorm project. There is no additional parking to be constructed as part of this project. This building is designed and oriented to accommodate pedestrian users. The site is located in the Original City of Little Rock and there is no bill of assurance. When the rights-of-way within the campus were abandoned, the area of the former rights-of-way were retained for easements. The building is proposed to be constructed over the former State Street right-of-way. Prior to approval of a building permit, the easement abandonment must be approved by the Board of Directors. To staff's knowledge, there are no other outstanding issues. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the requested CUP subject compliance with the following conditions: 1. Compliance with the comments and conditions outlined in Section 4, 5 and 6 of the agenda staff report. 2. Prior to a building permit being approved, the easements within the former State Street right-of-way must be abandoned by the Board of Directors. Staff recommends approval of a parking variance for this campus center building. a] December 15, 2011 ITEM NO.: 5 Cont. FILE NO.: Z -5675-D PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (DECEMBER 15, 2011) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval as 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 by a vote of 8 ayes, 0 noes and 3 absent. 61