HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-5801 Staff AnalysisMarch 22, 1994
ITEM NO.: 15 FILE NO.: Z-5801
NAME: MEDICAL ELECTRONICS, INC. -- SHORT -FORM PLANNED
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
LOCATION: On the south side of Lawson Rd., approximately 0.6
miles west of Colonel Glenn Rd.
DEVELOPER:
ENGINEER:
PATRICK H. MORRIS J. RANDALL
MEDICAL ELECTRONICS, INC. 18700 Vimy
13311A Lawson Rd. Alexander,
Little Rock, AR 72210 847-2665
225-8077
AREA: 1.8 ACRES NUMBER OF LOTS: 1
ZONING• R-2
PLANNING DISTRICT: 17
CENSUS TRACT: 42.08
MANNES, P.E., P.L.S.
Ridge Rd.
AR 72002 '
FT. NEW STREET: 0
PROPOSED USES: Commercial
VARIANCES REOUESTED: Waiver from the requirement to provide
Master Street Plan improvements along the Lawson Rd. frontage.
STATEMENT OF PROPOSAL:
The applicant proposes a PCD in order to expand an existing non-
conforming use. The applicant, Medical Electronics, Inc., leases
space to Hospital Equipment Engineering Services and to Champion
Builders, Inc., They occupy a 30 foot by 60 foot, 1,800 square
foot building. Hospital Equipment Engineering Services employs
3 persons, and maintains office space and a laboratory for the
repair of medical equipment. The laboratory has one technician
and does not create a noise or environmental hazard. Champion
Builders maintains general offices for their construction
operation. A small, 15 foot by 15 foot accessory building is
used for storage of small items, and, occasionally, a
construction trailer is parked on the site pending its relocation
to a construction site. Champion Builders does not maintain a
material yard on the site.
The two occupants have outgrown their present facilities, and
propose to construct a'second duplicate building immediately
behind the existing building. Champion Builders would expand to
occupy the existing building; Medical Electronics would occupy
the new building. A drive would be extended from the existing
parking lot to the new parking area to be constructed. Sewer
disposal for the existing facility is by way of a septic tank.
An additional septic tank is proposed for the new building.
Existing mature hedges are in place along the east and west
March 22, 1994
SUBDIVISION
ITEM NO.: 15 (Continued) FILE NO.: 2--5801
property lines, and these are sufficient, the applicant states,
to provide the required landscape screening. The applicant
proposes to dedicate the required right-of-way along the Lawson
Rd. frontage, but asks for a waiver from the requirement to
construct the Master Street Plan improvements.
A. PROPOSAWREQUEST:
Review by the Planning Commission and approval by the Board
of Directors is requested for the establishment of a PCD for
Medical Electronics, Inc. The applicant requests approval
to construct an second office building on the site,
immediately south of the existing building, and to expand
the present two uses. Champion Builders, who occupies
one-half of the existing building, is proposed to expand
into the entire building. Hospital Equipment Engineering
Services, who occupies the remaining one-half of the
existing building, is proposed to relocate to the new
building. The new building will entail the construction of
a second parking area and the construction of an additional
septic tank. The existing 15 foot by 15 foot storage
building on the site is to remain. Dedication of the
required right-of-way for Lawson Rd. is provided; however, a
waiver from the Master Street Plan improvements is
requested.
B. EXISTING CONDITIONS:
The site is outside the Little Rock City Limits, but is
inside the City's Planning Boundary. The setting is rural,
with scattered homes on large tracts. The most prominent
characteristic of the area is that it is a farming area.
There is, however, a church building located on the property
immediately to the east of the proposed PCD site. The site
is currently occupied by an office building, which is a
non -conforming use in a residential area. The land is level
and cleared.
The existing zoning of the site is R-2. The land to the
east, south, and west is zoned R-2. Immediately across
Lawson Rd. to the north is a large AF area.
C. ENGINEERING UTILITY COMMENTS:
Engineering reports that the Ordinance will require
dedication of additional right-of-way along the Lawson Rd.
frontage, and will require construction of Master Street
Plan improvements. The Stormwater Detention and Excavation
Ordinances are applicable.
Water Works has no comments.
Fa
March 22, 1994
SUBDIVISION
ITEM NO_: 15 (Continued) FILE NO.: Z-5801
Wastewater reports that the site is outside the service
boundary of the utility.
Arkansas Power & Light Co., and Arkansas Louisiana Gas Co.
approved the submittal without comment.
Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. will require a 5 foot
easement along the west, south, and east property lines.
Landscape review reports that the site will be required to
be screened from the residential properties to the South,
east, and west. The screen may be a 6 foot high "good
neighbor" wood fence or be dense evergreen plantings.
Existing and proposed vehicular use areas will have to
comply with the Landscape Ordinance.
D. ISSUESILEGAL/TECHNICALIDESIGN:
In response to the Subdivision Committee comments, the
applicant has submitted all required exhibits except for the
landscape plan. The applicant states that the existing
hedges on the east and west property lines will provide the
required screening device.
The Planning Staff reports that the site is in the Crystal
Valley District. The Land Use Plan recommends single family
development of the area. There have been no changes to
justify amending the Plan to permit commercial uses in the
area.
E. ANALYSIS•
The remaining items which are required for a complete PCD
application are minimal. The landscape plan and meeting the
requirement for parking lot landscaping are the major item
remaining to be submitted. There are, therefore, only minor
and easily corrected deficiencies at the time of this
writing.
The Land Use Plan recommends the property uses for the area
to be single-family residential. The proposed use is in
conflict with the Plan.
F. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff recommends denial of the request.
3
March 22, 1994,
SUBDIVISION
ITEM NO.: 15 Continued FILE Na.: Z-5801
SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (MARCH 3, 1994)
The applicant, Mr. Pat Morris, and the project engineer,
Mr. Randy Mannes, were present. Staff outlined the request, and
the Committee reviewed the discussion outline comments with the
applicant and engineer. Mr. Mannes responded that all required
documents and information would be forthcoming. The Committee
forwarded the item to the Commission for the public hearing.
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION:
(MARCH 22, 1994)'
Staff presented the item and indicated that the applicant had
requested a waiver from the requirement to make Master Street
Plan improvements along the Lawson Rd. frontage of the property.
Mr. Randy Mannes, the engineer for the project, addressed the
Commission. He introduced Mr. Pat Morris as the applicant and
owner of Medical Electronics, Inc.
Mr. Mannes outlined the proposal, indicating that Mr. Morris owns
the 1.8 acre tract, which he purchased in 1981. The tract, when
purchased, contained the building as it now stands, with the
building having been constructed in the late 70's. Mr. Morris
occupies one-half of the building with his medical electronics
service business. Champion Builders occupies the other one-half
with its construction company office. Mr. Morris is requesting,
he continued, to duplicate the size and style of the existing
building in a new building to be build directly behind the
present facility. Mr. Morris would occupy the new building;
Champion Builders would occupy the entire existing building.
There would be, then, no change in use of the property.
Mr. Mannes presented the Commission a series of photography of
the area showing the church next door, the 2 cabinet shops within
a few hundred feet, the electrical construction business in the
area, the automobile repair/body shop within a few hundred feet,
the upholstery shop almost directly across the street, as well as
of the applicant's site. He mentioned that a new church had
recently been approved for the area. He stated that, within one
mile of the applicant's business, there are 2 churches and 8
businesses. The area is zoned R-2, yet there are 10 non-
residential uses already in existence.
Mr. Mannes explained that Mr. Morris services hospital and clinic
electronic equipment, and that, primarily, the work is done at
the various hospitals and clinics.
4
March 22, 1994
SUBDIVISION
ITEM NO.: 15 (Continued) FILE NO.: Z -58-_d1
Mr. Mannes asserted that the addition of the new building to the
site would have no effect on the Lawson Rd. area. The same 2
businesses would be on the site. The two businesses are quiet
office uses.
Commissioner Oleson asked staff for clarification of the
recommendation for denial.
Ron Newman, of the Planning staff, responded that the Land Use
Plan shows the area to be for single-family use. He explained
that when the extraterritorial study was done a few year's back,
staff found many good, legitimate businesses in the area, but
that they are scattered; that there is no pattern to their
location. From a planning standpoint, the location of commercial
uses should be clustered at major road intersections. In the
.Crystal valley district, clustered businesses were found along
Crystal valley Rd., but, along Lawson Rd., the businesses are
scattered. There is a category called "existing business node"
designation, which requires a cluster of at least 3 commercial
uses, but the business along Lawson Rd. do not meet this
criteria. There is, then, no mechanism for dealing with the
businesses in the area; therefore, staff recommended denial of
the zoning request.
Commissioner McDonald indicated that he is generally supportive
of requests to allow non -conforming uses in the extraterritorial
areas to continue, but that his support is normally for owners of
businesses caught in the non -conforming situation. He questioned
Mr. Mannes and Mr. Morris regarding Mr. Morris having a tenant
who shares the building, saying that if Mr. Morris did not have a
tenant, there would be no need to build another building.
Mr. Mannes explained that Champion Builders had been a long-term
tenant, in fact, had been a tenant since Mr. Morris had bought
the property. Mr. Morris explained that his business is growing,
and that the added space he needs is primarily for additional
manuals.
Commissioner McDonald pointed out that J. A. Fair High School
which is within the area of the applicant's business, and is
another non-residential use.
Commissioner Willis asked the applicant whether he would expect
to outgrow the new building.
Mr. Mannes responded that it had taken 13 years to need to
expand, and that he would be doubling his available space with
the construction of the new building.
5
March 22, 1994 ,
SUBDIVISION
ITEM NO.: 15 [Continued] FILE NO.: Z-5801
Commissioner Nicholson indicated that she is familiar with Mr.
Morris' business, and had been to his office on several
occasions. She indicated that it was really an office use, and
asked why it was not considered for a POD designation in lieu of
a PCD designation.
Staff responded that the Champion Builders narrative had included
a statement that construction site office trailers and trucks or
equipment are sometimes stored on the site; therefore, the PCD
designation was chosen.
Commissioner Nicholson indicated that she has a struggle with the
imposition of strict requirements on businesses in the
extraterritorial area; that if we vote to deny the use, we force
the businesses out. Addressing the applicant, however, she
.indicated that she was not supportive of the request for a total
waiver of the street improvements along Lawson Rd. Maybe, she
continued, the applicant should put up an "in -lieu" contribution
for the costs of improvements which would be made at some later
date.
Staff responded that an "in -lieu" contribution is not appropriate
in a situation such as the applicant's. where there is no
planned improvement project, the City does not take "in -lieu"
payments. A deferral for a certain number of years, on the other
hand, is the way deferrals are normally handled.
Commissioner Nicholson replied that since the Lawson Rd. area is
rural, in 3 or 5 years, it may not be appropriate to have the
applicant build a 4 or 5 lane roadway for the 167 foot frontage
of his property. The requirement to construct the street should
be tied to whether development has caught up with a need for such
a street in the area.
Staff reported that the Board of Directors, in its recent
approval of the church in the area, had approved a 5 -year
deferral of the street improvements.
Deputy City Attorney Steve Giles added that there is nothing to
prohibit the applicant from seeking an additional deferral in 5
years, if the development is still sparse and there is no
justification for requiring the improvements at that time.
The applicant was asked if he would agree to an amendment of his
request to substitute a deferral for the requested waiver.
The applicant indicated that he would request a 5 -year deferral
of the street improvements requirement.
6
March 22, 1994
SUBDIVISION
ITEM NO.: 15 Continued FILE Z-5841
A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of the PCD
and of the 5 -year deferral of the street improvements. The
motion carried with the vote of 8 ayes, 1 nay, 2 absent, and no
abstentions.
Mr. Newman reported that, since staff had recommended denial of
the request, no Land Use Plan amendment had been prepared. He
indicated that staff did not know how to handle the situation,
since it would be inappropriate to show a commercial node in an
area that does not meet the requirements for such a designation.
Commissioner Walker said that he had always maintained that it is
not "spot zoning" when the Commission finds that there is
justification for the use, as is the case in the applicant's
situation.
Mr. Newman said that staff would determine an appropriate means
of dealing with the situation, and indicated that further thought
and discussion needs to be had on how to handle these types of
situation.
7
1. Meetinq Date: April 19, 1994
2. Case No.: Z-5801
3. Regj;est: Establishment of MEDICAL ELECTRONICS, INC.
SHORT -FORM PCD
4. Location: On the south side of Lawson Rd., approximately
0.6 miles west of Colonel Glenn Road, outside the City
Limits.
5. Owner/Applicant: Patrick H. Morris
6. Existin acus: Commercial (legal non -conforming); Zoned
R-2, Single -Family District
7. Proposed Use: Commercial
8. Staff Recommendation: Denial
9. Planning Commission Recommendation: Approval
10. Conditions or Issues Remaining to b!�!_Resolved: Deferral of
street improvements on Lawson Road
11. Right -of -Way Is ues: None
12. Recommendation Forwarded with: A vote of 8 ayes, 1 nay,
2 absent, and 0 abstentions
13. Objectors: None
14. Neighborhood Plan: Crystal Valley (17)
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A PLANNED UNIT
DEVELOPMENT AND ESTABLISHING A PLANNED
COMMERCIAL DISTRICT TITLED MEDICAL
ELECTRONICS, INC. SHORT -FORM PCD (Z-5801),
AND LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF LAWSON ROAD,
APPROXIMATELY 0.6 MILES WEST OF COLONEL GLENN
ROAD IN THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS,
AMENDING CHAPTER 36 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES
OF THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK; AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.
SECTION 1. That the zone classification of the following
described property be changed from R-2 to PCD.
A parcel of land in Section 20, T -1-N, R -13-W,
and located on the south side of Lawson Road,
approximately 0.6 miles west of Colonel Glenn Road,
Little Rock, Arkansas, being more particularly
described as follows:
Beginning 25.0' south and 297.5' west of the NE
corner of the W 1/2, NW 1/4, SE 1/4 of the said
section 20, thence S 470.0'; thence W 167.0';
thence N 470.0'; thence E 167.0' to the POB, and
containing 1.8018 acres, more or less.
SECTION 2. That the preliminary site development plan/plat
be approved as recommended by the Little Rock Planning
Commission.
SECTION 3. That the change in zoning classification
contemplated for MEDICAL ELECTRONICS, INC. SHORT -FORM PCD is
conditioned upon obtaining a final plan approval within the time
specified by Chapter 36, Article VII, Section 36-454(d) of the
Code of Ordinances.
SECTION 4. That the map referred to in Chapter 36 of the
Code of Ordinances of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas, and the
designated district map be and it is hereby amended to the extent
and in the respects necessary to affect and designate the change
provided for in Section 1 hereof.
SECTION 5. That this ORDINANCE shall take effect and be in
full force upon final approval of the plan.
PASSED:
ATTEST:
City Clerk
APPROVED:
Mayor
FILE NO.: Z-5801
NAME: MEDICAL ELECTRONICS, INC. -- SHORT -FORM PLANNED
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
LOCATION: On the south side of Lawson Rd., approximately 0.6
miles west of Colonel Glenn Rd.
DEVELOPER: ENGINEER:
PATRICK H. MORRIS J. RANDALL MANNES, P.E., P.L.S.
MEDICAL ELECTRONICS, INC. 18700 Vimy Ridge Rd.
13311A Lawson Rd. Alexander, AR 72002
Little Rock, AR 72210 847-2665
225-8077
AREA:
1.8 ACRES
NUMBER OF LOTS: 1
FT. NEW STREET: 0
ZONING:
R-2
PROPOSED
USES: Commercial
PLANNING DISTRICT: 17
CENSUS TRACT: 42.08
VARIANCES REQUESTED: Waiver from the requirement to provide
Master Street Plan improvements along the Lawson Rd. frontage.
STATEMENT OF PROPOSAL:
The applicant proposes a PCD in order to expand an existing non-
conforming use. The applicant, Medical Electronics, Inc., leases
space to Hospital Equipment Engineering Services and to Champion
Builders, Inc., They occupy a 30 foot by 60 foot, 1,800 square
foot building. Hospital Equipment Engineering Services employs
3 persons, and maintains office space and a laboratory for the
repair of medical equipment. The laboratory has one technician
and does not create a noise or environmental hazard. Champion
Builders maintains general offices for their construction
operation. A small, 15 foot by 15 foot accessory building is
used for storage of small items, and, occasionally, a
construction trailer is parked on the site pending its relocation
to a construction site. Champion Builders does not maintain a
material yard on the site.
The two occupants have outgrown their present facilities, and
propose to construct a second duplicate building immediately
behind the existing building. Champion Builders would expand to
occupy the existing building; Medical Electronics would occupy
the new building. A drive would be extended from the existing
parking lot to the new parking area to be constructed. Sewer
disposal for the existing facility is by way of a septic tank.
An additional septic tank is proposed for the new building.
Existing mature hedges are in place along the east and west
property lines, and these are sufficient, the applicant states,
FILE NO.: Z-5801 Continued
to provide the required landscape screening. The applicant
proposes to dedicate the required right-of-way along the Lawson
Rd. frontage, but asks for a waiver from the requirement to
construct the Master Street Plan improvements.
A. PROPOSAL Z RE CTEST:
Review by the Planning Commission and approval by the Board
of Directors is requested for the establishment of a PCD for
Medical Electronics, Inc. The applicant requests approval
to construct an second office building on the site,
immediately south of the existing building, and to expand
the present two uses. Champion Builders, who occupies
one-half of the existing building, is proposed to expand
into the entire building. Hospital Equipment Engineering
Services, who occupies the remaining one-half of the
existing building, is proposed to relocate to the new
building. The new building will entail the construction of
a second parking area and the construction of an additional
septic tank. The existing 15 foot by 15 foot storage
building on the site is to remain. Dedication of the
required right-of-way for Lawson Rd. is provided; however, a
waiver from the Master Street Plan improvements is
requested.
B. EXISTING CONDITIONS:
The site is outside the Little Rock City Limits, but is
inside the City's Planning Boundary. The setting is rural,
with scattered homes on large tracts. The most prominent
characteristic of the area is that it is a farming area.
There is, however, a church building located on the property
immediately to the east of the proposed PCD site. The site
is currently occupied by an office building, which is a
non -conforming use in a residential area. The land is level
and cleared.
The existing zoning of the site is R-2. The land to the
east, south, and west is zoned R-2. Immediately across
Lawson Rd. to the north is a large AF area.
C. ENGINEERING UTILITY COMMENTS:
Engineering reports that the Ordinance will require
dedication of additional right-of-way along the Lawson Rd.
frontage, and will require construction of Master Street
Plan improvements. The Stormwater Detention and Excavation
Ordinances are applicable.
Water Works has no comments.
wastewater reports that the site is outside the service
boundary of the utility.
2
FILE NO.: Z-5801 Continued
Arkansas Power & Light Co., and Arkansas Louisiana Gas Co.
approved the submittal without comment.
Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. will require a 5 foot
easement along the west, south, and east property lines.
Landscape review reports that the site will be required to
be screened from the residential properties to the south,
east, and west. The screen may be a 6 foot high "good
neighbor" wood fence or be dense evergreen plantings.
Existing and proposed vehicular use areas will have to
comply with the Landscape Ordinance.
D. ISSUES/LEGAL/TECHNICAL/DESIGN:
In response to the Subdivision Committee comments, the
applicant has submitted all required exhibits except for the
landscape plan. The applicant states that the existing
hedges on the east and west property lines will provide the
required screening device.
The Planning Staff reports that the site is in the Crystal
Valley District. The Land Use Plan recommends single family
development of the area. There have been no changes to
justify amending the Plan to permit commercial uses in the
area.
E. ANALYSIS:
The remaining items which are required for a complete PCD
application are minimal. The landscape plan and meeting the
requirement for parking lot landscaping are the major item
remaining to be submitted. There are, therefore, only minor
and easily corrected deficiencies at the time of this
writing.
The Land Use Plan recommends the property uses for the area
to be single-family residential. The proposed use is in
conflict with the Plan.
F. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff recommends denial of the request.
SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT:
The applicant, Mr. Pat Morris, and the
Mr. Randy Mannes, were present. Staff
the Committee reviewed the discussion
3
(MARCH 3, 1994)
project engineer,
outlined the request, and
outline comments with the
FILE NO.: Z-5801 (Continued)
applicant and engineer. Mr. Mannes responded that all required
documents and information would be forthcoming. The Committee
forwarded the item to the Commission for the public hearing.
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION:
(MARCH 22, 1994)
Staff presented the item and indicated that the applicant had
requested a waiver from the requirement to make Master Street
Plan improvements along the Lawson Rd. frontage of the property.
Mr. Randy Mannes, the engineer for the project, addressed the
Commission. He introduced Mr. Pat Morris as the applicant and
owner of Medical Electronics, Inc.
Mr. Manns outlined the proposal, indicating that Mr. Morris owns
the 1.8 acre tract, which he purchased in 1981. The tract, when
purchased, contained the building as it now stands, with the
building having been constructed in the late 70's. Mr. Morris
occupies one-half of the building with his medical electronics
service business. Champion Builders occupies the other one-half
with its construction company office. Mr. Morris is requesting,
he continued, to duplicate the size and style of the existing
building in a new building to be build directly behind the
present facility. Mr. Morris would occupy the new building;
Champion Builders would occupy the entire existing building.
There would be, then, no change in use of the property.
Mr. Mannes presented the Commission a series of photography of
the area showing the church next door, the 2 cabinet shops within
a few hundred feet, the electrical construction business in the
area, the automobile repair/body shop within a few hundred feet,
the upholstery shop almost directly across the street, as well as
of the applicant's site. He mentioned that a new church had
recently been approved for the area. He stated that, within one
mile of the applicant's business, there are 2 churches and 8
businesses. The area is zoned R-2, yet there are 10 non-
residential uses already in existence.
Mr. Mannes explained that Mr. Morris services hospital and clinic
electronic equipment, and that, primarily, the work is done at
the various hospitals and clinics.
Mr. Mannes asserted that the addition of the new building to the
site would have no effect on the Lawson Rd. area. The same 2
businesses would be on the site. The two businesses are quiet
office uses.
Commissioner Oleson asked staff for clarification of the
recommendation for denial.
4
FILE NO.: Z-5801 Continued
Ron Newman, of the Planning staff, responded that the Land Use
Plan shows the area to be for single-family use. He explained
that when the extraterritorial study was done a few years back,
staff found many good, legitimate businesses in the area, but
that they are scattered; that there is no pattern to their
location. From a planning standpoint, the location of commercial
uses should be clustered at major road intersections. In the
Crystal Valley district, clustered businesses were found along
Crystal Valley Rd., but, along Lawson Rd., the businesses are
scattered. There is a category called "existing business node"
designation, which requires a cluster of at least 3 commercial
uses, but the business along Lawson Rd. do not meet this
criteria. There is, then, no mechanism for dealing with the
businesses in the area; therefore, staff recommended denial of
the zoning request.
Commissioner McDonald indicated that he is generally supportive
of requests to allow non -conforming uses in the extraterritorial
areas to continue, but that his support is normally for owners of
businesses caught in the non -conforming situation. He questioned
Mr. Mannes and Mr. Morris regarding Mr. Morris having a tenant
who shares the building, saying that if Mr. Morris did not have a
tenant, there would be no need to build another building.
Mr. Mannes explained that Champion Builders had been a long-term
tenant, in fact, had been a tenant since Mr. Morris had bought
the property. Mr. Morris explained that his business is growing,
and that the added space he needs is primarily for additional
manuals.
Commissioner McDonald pointed out that J. A. Fair High School
which is within the area of the applicant's business, and is
another non-residential use.
Commissioner Willis asked the applicant whether he would expect
to outgrow the new building.
Mr. Mannes responded that it had taken 13 years to need to
expand, and that he would be doubling his available space with
the construction of the new building.
Commissioner Nicholson indicated that she is familiar with Mr.
Morris' business, and had been to his office on several
occasions. She indicated that it was really an office use, and
asked why it was not considered for a POD designation in lieu of
a PCD designation.
Staff responded that the Champion Builders narrative had included
a statement that construction site office trailers and trucks or
equipment are sometimes stored on the site; therefore, the PCD
designation was chosen.
5
FILE NO.: Z-5801 Continued
Commissioner Nicholson indicated that she has a struggle with the
imposition of strict requirements on businesses in the
extraterritorial area; that if we vote to deny the use, we force
the businesses out. Addressing the applicant, however, she
indicated that she was not supportive of the request for a total
waiver of the street improvements along Lawson Rd. Maybe, she
continued, the applicant should put up an "in -lieu" contribution
for the costs of improvements which would be made at some later
date.
Staff responded that an "in -lieu" contribution is not appropriate
in a situation such as the applicant's. Where there is no
planned improvement project, the City does not take "in -lieu"
payments. A deferral for a certain number of years, on the other
hand, is the way deferrals are normally handled.
Commissioner Nicholson replied that since the Lawson Rd. area is
rural, in 3 or 5 years, it may not be appropriate to have the
applicant build a 4 or 5 lane roadway for the 167 foot frontage
of his property. The requirement to construct the street should
be tied to whether development has caught up with a need for such
a street in the area.
Staff reported that the Board of Directors, in its recent
approval of the church in the area, had approved a 5 -year
deferral of the street improvements.
Deputy City Attorney Steve Giles added that there is nothing to
prohibit the applicant from seeking an additional deferral in 5
years, if the development is still sparse and there is no
justification for requiring the improvements at that time.
The applicant was asked if he would agree to an amendment of his
request to substitute a deferral for the requested waiver.
The applicant indicated that he would request a 5 -year deferral
of the street improvements requirement.
A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of the PCD
and of the 5 -year deferral of the street improvements. The
motion carried with the vote of 8 ayes, 1 nay, 2 absent, and no
abstentions.
Mr. Newman reported that, since staff had recommended denial of
the request, no Land Use Plan amendment had been prepared. He
indicated that staff did not know how to handle the situation,
since it would be inappropriate to show a commercial node in an
area that does not meet the requirements for such a designation.
Commissioner Walker said that he had always maintained that it is
not "spot zoning" when the Commission finds that there is
justification for the use, as is the case in the applicant's
situation.
6
FILE NO.: Z-5801 (Continued)
Mr. Newman said that staff would determine an appropriate means
of dealing with the situation, and indicated that further thought
and discussion needs to be had on how to handle these types of
situation.
7
1. Meeting Date: April 19, 1994
2. Case No.: Z-5801
3. ReQuest: Deferral for five (5) years of the Master Street
Plan and Subdivision Regulations requirement to construct
one-half of boundary street improvements along the Lawson
Rd. frontage of MEDICAL ELECTRONICS, INC. SHORT-FORM PCD
4, Location: On the south side of Lawson Rd., approximately
0.6 miles west of Colonel Glenn Road, outside the City
Limits
5. OwnerlApylicant: Patrick H. Morris
6. Existlno Status: Commercial (legal non-conforming use);
Zoned R-2, Single -Family District
7. Proposed Use: Commercial
8. Staff Recommendation: Denial
9. Planning Commission Recommendation: Approval
10. S'pnditions or I;sues Rema_ininQ to )pe Resolved: None
11. Right-of-Way Issues: None
12. Recommendation Forwarded With: A vote of 8 ayes, 1 nay,
2 absent, and 0 abstentions
13. Ob'ectors: None
14. Nei hborhood Plan: Crystal Valley (17)
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 31 OF THE
CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF LITTLE
ROCK, ARKANSAS, PROVIDING FOR A DEFERRAL
FOR A FIVE YEAR TIME PERIOD OF THE
REQUIREMENT TO CONSTRUCT STREET
IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THE LAWSON ROAD
FRONTAGE OF MEDICAL ELECTRONICS, INC. PCD
(Z-5801), LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF
LAWSON ROAD, APPROXIMATELY 0.6 MILES WEST
OF COLONEL GLENN ROAD; AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS:
SECTION 1. That Chapter 31 of the Code of Ordinances be
amended to provide for a deferral of certain requirements within
the Subdivision Regulations of the City of Little Rock for
MEDICAL ELECTRONICS, INC. PCD (Z-5801), located on the south side
of Lawson Road, approximately 0.6 miles west of Colonel Glenn
Road, as follows:
Subsection a. That a deferral for a time period
of five (5) years be granted of the requirements
of Section 31-209 of the Subdivision Regulations
which would require the construction of one-half
of Master Street Plan improvements along the
Lawson Road frontage of MEDICAL ELECTRONICS,
INC. PCD.
SECTION 2. This ORDINANCE shall take effect thirty (30)
days from and after its passage.
PASSED:
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Mayor