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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-5773-A Staff AnalysisJanuary 19, 2006 ITEM NO.: 7 NAME: LOCATION: OWNER/APPLICANT: FILE NO.: Z -5773-A St. Margaret's Episcopal Church — Revised Conditional Use Permit 20900 Chenal Parkway Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas/Brian Tempas, AIA PROPOSAL: A revision to the previously approved conditional use permit is requested to allow for the addition of a Prayer House (meditation space) to this existing, R-2 zoned church site. SITE LOCATION: The property is located at the southeast corner of Chenal Parkway and Chenal Valley Drive. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: The property is located in an area that is principally single family in zoning and use. Single family homes are located to the south and to the west, across the Parkway. Undeveloped, C-2 zoned property is located to the north. A recently approved development of elderly housing is to be located on PD -R zoned property across the parkway, to the northwest. Allowing the addition of the proposed prayer house will not affect this existing church's compatibility with the neighborhood. All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site and all residents within 300 feet of the site who could be identified were notified of this request. There is no neighborhood association in the vicinity of this site. 3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: Access to the site is from a single driveway onto Chenal Parkway. A future driveway will provide access to Chenal Valley Drive. The phased development plan included 259 on-site parking spaces, most of the parking has been constructed with the last phase remaining. At ultimate build -out, the church will have a worship area seating 1,000 persons; requiring 250 parking spaces. 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: No Comments. January 19, 2006 ITEM NO.: 7 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z -5773-A 5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: 1. A grading permit in accordance with Section 29-186(c) and (d) will be required prior to any land clearing or grading activities at the site. Site grading, and drainage plans will need to be submitted and approved prior to the start of construction. 2. Repair or replace any curb and gutter or sidewalk that is damaged in the public right-of-way prior to occupancy. 3. All driveways shall be concrete aprons per City Ordinance. 4. Plans of all work in right-of-way shall be submitted for approval prior to start of work. Obtain barricade permit prior to doing any work in the right-of-way from Traffic Engineering at (501) 379-1817 (Derrick Bergfield). 5. If disturbed area is 1 or more acres, obtain a NPDES storm water permit from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality prior to the start of construction. 6. UTILITY FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS: Wastewater: Sewer main extension required, with easements, if service is required for this project. Entergy: No Comments received. CenterPoint Energy: No Comments received. Southwestern Bell: No Comments received. Water: Contact Central Arkansas Water if larger and/or additional meter(s) are needed. Additional fire hydrant(s) will be required. Contact the Little Rock Fire Department to obtain information regarding the required placement of the hydrant(s) and contact Central Arkansas Water regarding procedures for installation of the hydrant(s). This will be installed at the expense of the developer. Fire Department: Fire hydrants will be required. Contact LRFD Fire Marshall at 918-3710. County Planning: No Comments. CATA: The site is not located on or near a CATA bus route. 4 January 19, 2006 ITEM NO.: 7 Cont. FILE NO.: Z -5773-A SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (DECEMBER 22, 2005) The applicant was present. Staff noted there was very little additional information needed. Staff asked if the previously approved walking trail was to remain on the plan. The applicant responded that it would and he would revise the plan to reflect such. Public Works, Utility and Landscape Comments were noted. The applicant was advised to contact those individual agencies. The applicant was asked to provide a lighting plan for the Prayer House and walkway. The Committee advised the applicant to respond to staff issues by Wednesday, December 28, 2005. The item was then forwarded to the full Commission. STAFF ANALYSIS: On January 4, 1994, the Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit to allow for the phased development of this R-2 zoned, 10.8± acre tract by St. Margaret's Episcopal Church. The phased development included three buildings to be connected by a central lobby area_ Phase I is a two-story multipurpose building containing classrooms and administrative offices on the first floor and a multipurpose space on the second floor. The multipurpose space can accommodate up to 400 persons for worship services. Phase II is a second two-story building containing additional office and classroom space and a 1,000 seat sanctuary. Once this phase is completed, the Phase I multipurpose space will become a formal fellowship hall. The Phase III building is a two-story open space to be used for recreation and fellowship hail. Phased parking for 259 on-site parking spaces was included. The eastern 1/3 of the property was shown to remain wooded and natural with hiking/interpretative trails and benches for contemplation. On November 11, 1999, the Director of Planning approved a modification to the plan allowing for the reorientation of the buildings and parking and the addition of a garden, outdoor altar and Columbarium. Initial access to the site was to be from a single driveway onto Chenal Parkway. A later phase added access to Chenal Valley Drive on the north. The Phase I building, much of the parking and the Columbarium have been constructed thus far. The church is now requesting a revision to the C.U.P. to allow for construction of a Prayer House (meditation space) in the woods on the eastern 1/3 of the property. The Prayer House will consist of an approximately 1,500 square foot enclosed space and two adjacent gardens. There will be a path from the proposed new driveway to the Prayer House. The path will be constructed of 3 January 19, 2006 ITEM NO.: 7 (Cont. FILE NO.: Z -5773-A crushed rock and will be ADA compliant. The enclosed meditation space is designed to have an occupancy of no more than 24 people and will be used on an intermittent basis. The building is designed to fade into the texture of the woods. The building will have a foundation of native stone and will be clad in textured copper shingles to imitate the bark of the pine trees on the site. As the copper ages, it will oxidize and form a patina that will blend in with the color and texture of the native pines and oaks. The roof form is an arc that reaches upward to the sky, with a ribbon of translucent glass between the roof and the top of the copper -clad wall. The height of the building will be approximately 26 feet. All other elements of the previously approved plan (November 1999) will remain. There is no bill of assurance for this acreage tract. Lighting in this area will consist of low-level path lighting. On December 28, 2005, the applicant submitted responses to issues raised at Subdivision Committee and reflected in the analysis above. To staff's knowledge, there are no outstanding issues. Staff believes the addition of the proposed Prayer House to this existing church site will have no effect on neighboring properties. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the proposed revision to the C.U.P. subject to compliance with the comments and conditions outlined in Sections 5 and 6 of the agenda staff report. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (JANUARY 19, 2006) 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, including all comments and conditions. The vote was 9 ayes, 0 noes, 1 absent and 1 recusal (Laha). 4