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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-5820 Staff AnalysisMay 3, 1994 ITEM NQ.: 16 FILE NO.: Z-5820 NAME: LOCATION: OWNER APPLICANT: PROPOSAL: ORDINANCE DESIGN STANDARDS: 1. Site Location The Anthony School - Conditional Use Permit 7700 Ohio Street The Anthony School by Kay Patton, Director A conditional use permit is requested to allow for the expansion of the existing private scliool located on this R-2 zoned, 4.02 acre site. The proposed expansion includes a classroom addition and a gymnasium. A future addition will include a play room and library. The school is located on a 4 acre tract between Ohio and Iowa Streets, two blocks west of Mississippi Avenue. 2. Compatibility with Neighborhood The Anthony School has existed at this location for approximately 20 years. The neighborhood is predominately single family residential, but there are other uses in the vicinity. A MF -12 zoned condominium development is located adjacent to the east. A large area of commercial zoning and uses is located one block north and east of this site, along Cantrell Road and Mississippi Avenue, respectively. With proper attention given to screening the adjacent residential properties, the school should continue to be compatible with the neighborhood. 3. On -Site Drives and Parkin The school currently has 28 on-site parking spaces. Once the expansion is complete, 38 on-site parking spaces will be required. An intolerable situation now exists regarding the drop- off/pickup of students at the school. Traffic completely blocks Ohio Street and backs up to Watt Street and May 3, 1994 ITEM NO.: 16 (Continued) FILE NO.: Z-5820 Mississippi Avenue. It is imperative that the required number of on-site parking spaces be provided and some effort must be made to address the situation regarding the drop- off/pickup of students. 4. Screening -and Buffers Compliance with the City's Landscape and Buffer Ordinances is required. A 6 foot opaque screen is required to screen adjacent residential properties not already screened from this site. A landscape upgrade toward compliance with the Landscape Ordinance will be required equal to the building expansion proposed. 5. City Engineer Comments Detention and Excavation Ordinances apply. Dedicate right- of-way on Iowa and Ohio Streets to 25 feet from centerline. Provide in -lieu contribution for street improvements on Iowa Street. 6. Utility Comments No comments 7. Fire Department Comments Widen the driveway at the southwest corner of the site to a minimum of 18 feet. Construct an all-weather surface fire lane to access the existing buildings which will be inaccessible when the new gymnasium is constructed. An on-site fire hydrant may be required. 8. Analysis A conditional use permit is requested to allow for the phased expansion of this existing private school. The proposed expansion includes a classroom addition, gymnasium, library and playroom. The current enrollment at the school is approximately 265 students. No increase in enrollment is proposed. The classroom expansion will allow for a redistribution of the student population and will result in a lower student to teacher ratio. Staff is supportive of the proposal but believes that this is the opportunity to discuss improving two situations at the site, screening and the drop-off/pickup of students. The majority of the site currently has adequate screening to protect the adjacent residential properties, either in the form of natural vegetation or a solid wood fence. There 2 May 3, 1994 ITEM NO.: 16 Continued FILE NO.: Z---5820 are areas however where the vegetation is sparse or there is no screening whatsoever. The screening should be brought up to code in those areas. Children are currently dropped off and picked up at the front entrance to the school. During these times, traffic backs up both ways on Ohio Street and extends onto Watt Street and Mississippi Avenue. If the drop-off point were moved to the west side of the building and vehicles exited the site onto Iowa Street, it would provide much more stacking space and could help alleviate the problem. The exit onto Iowa Street could be made one-way with a left and right turn lane to further expedite the flow of traffic from the school site. Iowa Street is currently substandard but is scheduled for widening in the near future. 9. Staff Recommendation Staff recommends approval of this application subject to: 1. Compliance with the City's Landscape and Buffer Ordinances 2. Compliance with the City Engineer and Fire Department Comments 3. The drop-off/pickup site being relocated to the west side of the property and the driveway onto Iowa Street being a one-way exit with left and right turn lanes. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (APRIL 14, 1994) Kay Patton and Frank Whitbeck were present representing The Anthony School. Staff presented the item and pointed out the City Engineer, Fire Department and Landscape Comments noted above. Ms. Patton was advised to meet with the City Engineers' staff and the Plans Review Specialist to address the engineering and landscape comments. She was further advised to contact the Fire Marshal's Office regarding the design of the fire lane. A lengthy discussion then followed concerning the current traffic problems associated with the drop-off/pickup of children at the school. It was determined that the drop-off/pickup point would be moved to the west side of the building. The driveway will be redesigned to accommodate one-way traffic entering from Ohio Street and exiting onto Iowa Street. The Iowa Street exit will Kl May 3, 1994 ITEM NO.: 16 (Continued) FILE NO.: Z-5820 have a left turn and right turn lane. It was hoped that these changes would provide more stacking space and would allow for a more expedient flow of traffic through and off of the site. The applicant agreed to these changes and was advised to prepare a revised site plan for the full Commission. The item was then forwarded to the full Commission for final resolution. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MAY 3, 1994) The applicant, Ray Patton, was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and informed the Commission that a revised site plan had been received which addressed all staff concerns. As a part of the Consent Agenda, this item was approved as recommended by staff. The vote was 10 ayes, 0 noes and 1 absent. 4