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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-5820-B Staff AnalysisI February 28, 2008 ITEM N NAME: LOCATION: OWNER/APPLICANT The Anthony School — Revised Conditional Use Permit 7700 Ohio Street The Anthony School/Sharon Morgan PROPOSAL: A conditional use permit is requested to allow for an addition onto the existing private school located on this R-2 zoned tract. SITE LOCATION: The site is located on the north side of Ohio Street; west of Mississippi Avenue. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: The Anthony School property is located near the fringe of what is primarily a single-family neighborhood; at the area where uses transition from single family to multifamily and more intensive uses. Single-family homes are located to the immediate north, west and south. Several homes have been removed from the lots to the south. An MF -12 zoned condominium development is adjacent to the east. One block to the east and north are multiple commercial uses fronting on Cantrell Road and Mississippi. The school has existed at this site for many years and, under this proposal, is not expanding beyond its current property boundary. The use should continue to be compatible with the neighborhood. All owners of properties located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified and the Meriwether Neighborhood Association were notified of this request. 3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: The school has 38 classrooms serving children ages 3 years to grade 8. The school currently has 403 students with a facility capacity of 460-470 students. There are currently 46 employees with the planned addition of a part-time school nurse. Access to the site is off of Ohio Street. 38 parking spaces are located on-site, in front of and to the west side of the school buildings. Stacking space is provided in the driveway that enters from Ohio and extends along the west side, exiting onto Iowa Street. No changes are proposed to either driveways or parking. February 28, 2008 ITEM NO.: 4 (Cont) FILE NO.: Z -5820-B 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: Site plan must comply with the City's minimal landscape and buffer ordinance requirements. A small amount of building landscaping will be required between the parking lot and this new building. All dead/diseased plant material must be replaced in conjunction with this request. All fencing and dumpster enclosures should be in good repair or replaced in conjunction with this request. Street trees are recommended. An automatic irrigations system to water landscaped areas will be required. Prior to the issuance of a building permit, it will be necessary to provide an approved landscape plan stamped with the seal of a Registered Landscape Architect. 5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: 1. Due to the proposed use of the property, the Master Street Plan specifies that Iowa Street for the frontage of this property must meet commercial street standards. Dedicate right-of-way to thirty (30) feet from centerline. 2. Due to the proposed use of the property, the Master Street Plan specifies that Ohio Street for the frontage of this property must meet commercial street standards. Dedicate right-of-way to thirty (30) feet from centerline. 3. At time of dedication, obtain a franchise agreement from Public Works (Bennie Nicolo, 371-4818) for the private improvements located in the right-of-way. 6. UTILITY. FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS: Wastewater: Sewer available to this property. Entergy: No comment received. Centerpoint Energy: No comment received. 2 February 28, 2008 ITEM NO.: 4 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z -5820-B AT&T (SBC): No comment received. Water: Contact Central Arkansas Water if larger and/or additional water meter(s) are required. 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). Fire Department: Fire hydrant may be required. Contact Captain Dennis Free at Little Rock Fire Department; Phone # 918-3757. County Planning: No Comments. CATA: The site is not located on or near a CATA bus route. Planning Division: No Comments. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (FEBRUARY 7, 2008) The applicants were present. Staff presented the item and noted additional information was needed regarding existing and proposed enrollment, current and proposed number of employees, number of classrooms by grade, fencing, signage and site lighting. Staff asked the applicant to provide a description of the proposed building construction and to provide a more detailed description of the uses proposed for the addition. The applicants were asked to locate the mechanical equipment. Staff asked if the building would be made available for use by groups and organizations outside of The Anthony School. Public Works, Utility and Landscape Comments were noted and discussed. The applicants commented that there were no plans to increase grades or to increase enrollment above the present level of 450 students. The applicants stated a neighborhood meeting was scheduled for February 19 at the school. After advising the applicants to respond to staff issues by February 13, 2008, the Committee forwarded the item to the full Commission. STAFF ANALYSIS: The Anthony School, a private school, is located on the R-2 zoned, 4.3± acre tract. A revision to the previously approved conditional use permit is requested to allow for construction of a 21,000 square foot cafeteria and general education 3 February 28, 2008 ITEM NO.: 4 (Cont. FILE NO.: Z -5820-B addition onto the rear of the existing school building. No expansion of the school property is proposed. The addition will be arranged on two levels to the north of the existing gymnasium. The addition will be used for a variety of educational support, classroom and food service uses by the school. The cafeteria addition will be used as a secondary drop-off area for students, an after school care area, 3 and 4 year old skate area, theater and stage for recitals, food preparation and service area and a stage area for educational events. Building height will be 38 feet and the building will be constructed of brick and metal to match the existing school. The standing seam metal roof will have a 2:12 pitch. Mechanical equipment will be roof mounted, in a location to be determined. Site lighting will be limited to the new addition. Any additional lighting will be determined at a later date. New signage will consist of a small ground sign on the west side of the new addition and wall signage on the west wall. The school has allowed other groups to schedule use of its facilities. That will continue. In the past, groups such as boy scouts, cub scouts, girl scouts, home school organizations and athletic organizations have used The Anthony School facilities. The School currently has 403 students enrolled for the spring 2008 semester. Projection for the 2008-2009 school year is approximately 27 to 30 new students. The existing facility capacity is 460 to 470 students. There are currently 46 employees with the possible addition of a school nurse for the 2008-2009 school year. Listed below is the number of classrooms by grade: [GRADE 3 Year 4 Year Kindergarten 1 St 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th NUMBER OF CLASSROOMS 3 Physical Education 4 Music 3 Spanish 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 TOTAL 38 CLASSROOMS Violin Computer Writing Lab Tutor Room Art Gym Cafeteria 4 NUMBER OF CLASSROOMS 2 1 February 28, 2008 ITEM NO.: 4 Cont. FILE NO.: Z- 820-B The applicant submitted responses to Subdivision Comments as noted in the analysis above. The school has stated they will comply with Public Works, Utility, Fire Department and Landscape Comments. There is no bill of assurance for this acreage tract. To staff's knowledge, there are no outstanding issues. Staff supports the proposed C.U.P. to allow the classroom/education addition. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the requested C.U.P. subject to compliance with the following conditions: 1. Compliance with the comments and conditions outlined in Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the agenda staff report. 2. Any new site lighting is to be shielded downward and into the site. 3. The roof mounted mechanical equipment is to be screened from adjacent residential property. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (FEBRUARY 28, 2008) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item with a recommendation of approval. 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 passed by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays and 2 absent. 5