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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-5907 Staff AnalysisNovember 29, 1994 ITEM NO.: 12 FILE NO.: Z-5907 NAME: KIDSPORT -- SHORT -FORM PLANNED OFFICE DEVELOPMENT LOCATION: On the east side of Autumn Rd., approximately 0.15 mile south of Financial Center Parkway DEVELOPER: ROY ROGERS ENGINEER• MARK BUERKLE, AGENT WHITE-DATERS & ASSOCIATES, INC. 1501 N. University Ave. 401 S. Victory St. Little Rock, AR 72217 Little Rock, AR 72201 664-0104 374-1666 AREA: 2.22 ACRES ER OF LOTS: 1 FT. NEW STREET: 0 ZONING: R-2 PROPOSED ❑SES: Mixed Uses, including: Private School and Day Care Center; Dance Studio; and Commercial (inside) Amusement PLANNING DISTRICT,: 11 CENSUS TRACT: 24.04 VARIANCES REQUESTED: Approval of a variance to permit two driveway entrances to the site to be within 300 feet of each other. STATEMENT OF PROPO AL: The applicant proposes to develop a "Kidsports Fun and Fitness Center". The center, as proposed, is for "children of all ages and physical abilities", and the classes are "non -skill performing and non-competitive, self-confidence and self-esteem building" which are designed to teach children that fitness is fun. The curriculum helps children enhance their strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance.- The center offers a full dance instructional program. The facility provides U. S. G. F. regulation gymnastics equipment, and classes in recreational and competitive gymnastics and cheerleading are conducted by certified coaches. The program includes after school care, and an opportunity is provided for children to complete school homework assignments and -to participate in the full range of classes and utilize the equipment and facilities provided. The facility is available for special events, such as birthday parties, "lock -ins", swim parties, team parties, etc. There are summer and holiday camps, "kids nite out" programs, dances, and more. A game room is provided._ There is a snack bar November -29, 1994 SUBn2'VISION ITEM Na.: 12'Continue$ FILE NO.: Z-5907 included in the facility. The normal hours of operation are from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Mondays to Fridays, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Saturdays, and 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Sundays. As indicated, there are special events which will last later than these normal closing hours, and on some Saturday nights, there are over -night programs. The facility is proposed to be developed on a 2.22 acre tract. A 20,000 square foot, 20 -foot tall building is planned as the initial phase of development, with an additional 5,000 square feet expansion area provided. Parking for 109 vehicles is provided. The applicant proposes two driveway entrances off Autumn Rd. to the property in order to facilitate ingress and egress, and to reduce stacking of vehicles waiting to enter or leave the premises. Dedication of the required right -o -way and construction of the required Master Street :Plan improvements are anticipated. There will be exterior lighting attached to the building, as well as parking lot lighting. Dumpster servicing will be limited to daylight hours. A. PROPOSAL RE QEST: B. C. Review by the Planning commission and approval by the Board of Directors is requested for the establishment of a POD for the Kidsports Fun and Fitness Center. Approval of a variance from the regulation which requires drive approaches to be separated from one another by a minimum of 300 feet is requested, in order for the site to contain two drive approaches which are 210 feet apart. EXISTING CONDrTrONS: The site is occupied by three houses, but much of the site is overgrown and wooded. The high point of the Property at the northwest corner of the tract, and there Pris approximately a 23 foot drop from the northwest corner to the southeast corner of the tract. The existing zoning of the site is R-2, with R-2 zoning to the east, south, and across Autumn Rd. to the northeast. To the north is a C-3 tract occupied by the Pinnacle Pointe Hospital. To the south, in the R-2 zoned tract, is the new Federal Bureau of Investigation building. Across Autumn Rd. to the southwest, is an 0-3 tract. ENGINEERING �TxLITY COMMENTS: Public Works comments that: 1) the Ordinance allows only one driveway for the amount of frontage of this site, so a redesign of the access driveway off Autumn Rd. to provide one driveway will be required; 2) right-of-way dedication and street improvements are required for Autumn Rd.; 3) a 2 November .29, 1994 4 SUBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 12 Continued PTLE NO.: Z-507 grading permit, per Sec. 29-186, is required; 4) street plans, stormwater detention, and boundary survey information will be required. Water Works comments that on-site fire protection may be required. Wastewater comments that a sewer main extension, with easements, will be required. Arkansas Power and Light Co. comments that a 15 foot easement will be required along all four boundaries of the site. Arkansas Louisiana Gas Co. approved the submittal without comment. Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. will require a 5 foot easement along the north, east, and south boundary of the site. The Fire Department comments that regulation City "No Parking; Tow -Away" signs are to be posted around the perimeter of the building. An on-site fire hydrant may be required for this site. Landscape review comments that a portion of the southern buffer drops below the full requirements of 16 feet, but meets the minimum requirement. The landscape islands within the parking lot are short of the interior landscape requirement by 297 sf. A 3 foot wide building landscape strip between the public parking area and the building is required. A 6' high opaque screen along the southern and eastern property lines will be necessary. This screen may either be a wood fence with its structural supports facing inward, or be dense evergreen plantings. Curb and gutter, or another approved border to protect plantings, will be required. D. I SUES/LEGAL/TECMNICALIDESIGN: The Planning staff comments that the request is in the I-430 Planning District, and the adopted Land Use Plan recommends office uses .for the area. The Land Use Plan in this area has been violated massively over the last year, with major changes in use being approved. The Planning staff believes that this must stop, and cannot support further erosion of the original plan. Section 36-452 states that "the POD district is intended to ' accomodate—mixed use developments combining... commercial and offices uses...." The permitted uses include office 3 November 29, 1994 ITEM NO.: 12 FILE NO.: _ Z-5907 NAME: KIDSPORT -- SHORT -FORM PLANNED OFFICE DEVELOPMENT LOCATION: On the east side of Autumn Rd., approximately 0.15 mile south of Financial Center Parkway DEVELOPER• ROY ROGERS ENGINEER: MARK BUERKLE, AGENT WHITE-DATERS & ASSOCIATES, INC. 1501 N. University Ave. 401 S. Victory St. Little Rock, AR 72217 Little Rock, AR 72201 664-0104 374-1666 AREA: 2.22 ACRES NUMBER OF LOTS: 1 FT. NEW STREET: 0 ZONING: R-2 PROPOSED USES: Mixed Uses, including: Private School and Day Care Center; Dance Studio; and Commercial (inside) Amusement PLANNING DI TRICT• 11 CENSUS TRACT: 24.04 VARIANCES REQUESTED: Approval of a variance to permit two driveway entrances to the site to be within 300 feet of each other. STATEMENT OF PRQPQ$AL: The applicant proposes to develop a "Kidsports Fun and Fitness Center". The center, as proposed, is for "children of all ages and physical abilities", and the classes are "non -skill performing and non-competitive, self-confidence and self-esteem building" which are designed to teach children that fitness is fun. The curriculum helps children enhance their strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. The center offers a full dance instructional program. The facility provides U. S. G. F. regulation gymnastics equipment, and classes in recreational and competitive gymnastics and cheerleading are conducted by certified coaches. The program includes after school care, and an opportunity is provided for children to complete school homework assignments and to participate in the full range of classes and utilize the equipment and facilities provided. The facility is available for special events, such as birthday parties, "lock -ins", swim parties, team parties, etc. There are summer and holiday camps, "kids nite out" programs, dances, and more. A game room is provided. There is a snack bar November 29, 1994 SUBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 12 Continued FILE NO.: Z-5907 included in the facility. The normal hours of operation are from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Mondays to Fridays, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Saturdays, and 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Sundays. As indicated, there are special events which will last later than these normal closing hours, and on some Saturday nights, there are over -night programs. The facility is proposed to be developed on a 2.22 acre tract. A 20,000 square foot, 20 -foot tall building is planned as the initial phase of development, with an additional 5,000 square feet expansion area provided. Parking for 109 vehicles is provided. The applicant proposes two driveway entrances off Autumn Rd. to the property in order to facilitate ingress and egress, and to reduce stacking of vehicles waiting to enter or leave the premises. Dedication of the required right -o -way and construction of the required Master Street Plan improvements are anticipated. There will be exterior lighting attached to the building, as well as parking lot lighting. Dumpster servicing will be limited to daylight hours. A. PROPOSAL/REQUEST: B. C. Review by the Planning commission and approval by the Board of Directors is requested for the establishment of a POD for the Kidsports Fun and Fitness Center. Approval of a variance from the regulation which requires drive approaches to be separated from one another by a minimum of 300 feet is requested, in order for the site to contain two drive approaches which are 210 feet apart. EXISTING CONDITIONS. The site is occupied by three houses, but much of the site is overgrown and wooded. The high point of the property is at the northwest corner of the tract, and there is approximately a 23 foot drop from the northwest corner to the southeast corner of the tract. The existing zoning of the site is R-2, with R-2 zoning to the east, south, and across Autumn Rd. to the northeast. To the north is a C-3 tract occupied by the Pinnacle Pointe Hospital. To the south, in the R-2 zoned tract, -is the new Federal Bureau of Investigation building. Across Autumn Rd. to the southwest, is an 0-3 tract. ENGINEERING/UTILITY COMMENTS: Public Works comments that: 1) the Ordinance allows only one driveway for the amount of frontage of this site, so a redesign of the access driveway off Autumn Rd. to provide one driveway will be required; 2) right-of-way dedication and street improvements are required for Autumn Rd.; 3) a E November 2§, 1994, SUBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 12 (Continuedi -•-- - _FILE NO.: Z-5907 grading permit, per Sec. 29-186, is required; 4) street plans, stormwater detention, and boundary survey information will be required. Water Works comments that on-site fire protection may be required. Wastewater comments that a sewer main extension, with easements, will be required. Arkansas Power and Light Co. comments that a 15 foot easement will be required along all four boundaries of the site. Arkansas Louisiana Gas Co. approved the submittal without comment. Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. will require a 5 foot easement along the north, east, and south boundary of the site. The Fire Department comments that regulation City "No Parking; Tow -Away" signs are to be posted around the perimeter of the building. An on-site fire hydrant may be required for this site. Landscape review comments that a portion of the southern buffer drops below the full requirements of 16 feet, but meets the minimum requirement. The landscape islands within the parking lot are short of the interior landscape requirement by 297 sf. A 3 foot wide building landscape strip between the public parking area and the building is required. A 6' high opaque screen along the southern and eastern property lines will be necessary. This screen may either be a wood fence with its structural supports facing inward, or be dense evergreen plantings. Curb and gutter, or another approved border to protect plantings, will be required. D. ISSUES(LEGAL/TECHNICAL/DESIGN: The Planning staff comments that the request is in the I-430 Planning District, and the adopted Land Use Plan recommends office uses for the area. The Land Use Plan in this area has been violated massively over the last year, with major changes in use being approved. The Planning staff believes that this must stop, and cannot support further erosion of the original plan. Section 36-452 states that "the POD district is intended to accomodate... mixed use developments combining... commercial and offices uses...." The,permitted uses include office C_ 3 November 29, 1994 SUBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 12 FILE NO.: Z-5907 uses and limited commercial uses. Section 36-279, 36-280, and 36-281, the office district regulations, all permit - private schools and day care centers and dance studios. Ordinance No. 16,577 states that "industrial, commercial, office, or multi -family properties...shall be limited to one driveway or access point for each 300 feet of lot frontage." E. ANALYSIS• All technical requirements for the submittal have been met. There does, however, need to be discussion on the site lighting to assure that parking lot and building lighting do not produce bleedover to adjoining properties. Many of the proposed uses are the private school/daycare/dance studio uses, which are consistent with the office zoning districts. Much of the use, however, will fall into the commercial amusement category, since a game room and snack bar are included and special events for dances, "lock -ins", "kids night out", etc. are proposed. The applicant fees strongly that one driveway access point, as is required by the Ordinance, is insufficient for the site and for the traffic conditions generated by the use. With a great many children being picked up within a very short time frame, one driveway will be unsafe, causing vehicle stacking on Autumn Rd. or in the parking lot, and causing traffic movement conflicts. The applicant states that the driveways on abutting properties are in place, and that there is not the probability that these properties will need other driveway access points which might be located close to their property lines, and, consequently, would be too close to the applicant's access points to be safe. F. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff recommends denial of the POD application, since the proposed commercial uses are in conflict with the adopted Land Use Plan. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE_ COMMENT: (NOVEMBER 10, 1994) Representatives of the developer and of the engineering firm were present. Mr. Mark Buerkle, with Rector Phillips Morse, and Mr. Joe White, with White-Daters & Associates, were present. Mr. Buerkle and Mr. White reviewed with the Committee and staff the various comments contained in the discussion outline. There was discussion with the Public Works staff regarding the requirement that there be only one driveway access point on the property, with Mr. Buerkle and Mr. White indicating that a 4 November- 29, 1994 SgBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 12 (Continued) FIVE NO.: 'Z=5907 variance would need to be sought to permit the two driveways as proposed. Mr. Buerkle and Mr. white indicated that the required additional information would be forthcoming, and the Committee forwarded the item to the full Commission for the public hearing. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (NOVEMBER 29, 1994) Staff presented -the request, and pointed out that the applicant is seeking a variance from the ordinance provision which limits the number of driveway access points along a street frontage to, in this case, one driveway. Mr. Mark Burkle, identifying himself as representing the applicant, indicated that Mr. Roy Rogers will be developer of the proposed building. He indicated that the Kidsports operation is a fitness center, education center, physical enhancement center for children of 3 years old to, normally, 13 years of age. There are, however, some older teenagers who are involved in, primarily, the gymnastics program, who are clients of the program. He said that the proposed program consists of a mixture of uses which are permitted in the office zoning districts; that, consequently, a POD had been requested, and that the commercial uses are very limited in scope and in floor area of the building. Ms. Glenda Pigue identified herself as the owner -operator of the Kidsports facility in Benton, Arkansas, and the proposed operator of the Little Rock Kidsports facility. She said that Kidsports is an international fun and fitness program, and is a franchised operation. Ms. Lea Oken outlined the various types of activities and programs operated at the Kidsports facility, and said that there is a great need for the types of programs offered at Kidsports. She said that approximately 500-600 children per day utilize the facility, depending on the day and season. She said that a game room is provided, which has approximately a dozen game machines, with a room area of 600 square feet. She said that, at the Benton Kidsports, a seminar on kids games and fun activities was held for adults, and they would anticipate holding such activities involving adults at the Little Rock facility. On a daily basis, though, she said that ninth graders are the normal upper age limit of participants. She said that at Benton, they held a senior prom, but young persons of that age are not the usual attendees. She assured the Commission that children are not allowed to leave the building when they are participating in activities. Mr. Burkle said that the dances, "lock -ins", parties, etc. are not the routine activities for Kidsports; the dance lessons, gymnastics, daycare, etc. are the daily routine -type activities. 5 November 29, 1994 SUBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 12 (Continued) FILE NO.: Z-5907 He said that there are few residences which would be affected by the proposed development. Mr. Tim Daters, of White-Daters & Associates, Inc., the project engineer, said that the developer was in the process of discussing with the City Engineering office whether to pursue the two driveway access points, as shown on the site plan which had been presented, or to re -design the access to comply with the ordinance which allows only one access point. He said that the owner -operator would prefer the two driveway access points for proper and safe access to and from the site, especially with the number of children which will be coming and going within short time -frames. He said that the site plan, as presented, shows approximately 240 feet from centerline of driveway to centerline of driveway. He said that there are no driveways to the north along Autumn Rd., along the Pennical Pointe Hospital frontage of their site, and that, to the south, the nearest driveway is approximately 150 feet from the centerline of the south Kidsports driveway. He indicated that the applicant wished to pursue the requested driveway variance. Mr. Mark Burkle said that any subsequent use of the building, if Kidsports failed or was no longer the tenant, would be office uses. He said that when the future building addition is accomplished, the uses in the added space would occupy no more than the proportion of floor space occupied in the initial phase of development. The subsequent phase would take place as the demand for space increases. A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of the POD, and the motion carried with the vote of 7 ayes, 3 nays, 1 absent, and 0 abstentions. G 1. Meeting Date: December 20, 1994 2. Case No.: Z-5907 3. Re�c_ruest: Establish KIDSPORTS -- SHORT -FORM POD 4. Location: On the east side of Autumn Rd., approximately 0.15 mile south of Financial Center Parkway 5. Owner A licant: Roy Rogers 6. Existing Status: There are three houses located along the Autumn Rd. frontage of the t-ract; the rear of the tract is undeveloped. The existing zoning is R-2 7. Proposed Use: Private School and Day -Care Center; Dance Studio; and Limited Inside Commercial Amusement 8. Staff Recommendation: Denial 9. Planning Commission Recommendation: Approval 10. Conditions or Issues Remaining to be Resolved: None 11. Ri ht -of -Way Issues: None. The required right-of-way is being dedicated. 12. Recommendation Forwarded With: A vote -,of 7 ayes, 3 nays, 1 absent, and 0 abstentions 13. Objectors: None 14. Neighborhood Contact Person/Others: Georgiana Henry, Birchwood Neighborhood Association 15. Neighborhood Plan: I-430 (11) FILE NO.: Z-5907 NAME: KIDSPORT -- SHORT -FORM PLANNED OFFICE DEVELOPMENT LOCATION: On the east side of Autumn Rd., approximately 0.15 mile south of Financial Center Parkway DEVELOPER: ROY ROGERS ENGINEER: MARK BUERKLE, AGENT WHITE-DATERS & ASSOCIATES, INC. 1501 N. University Ave. 401 S. Victory St. Little Rock, AR 72217 Little Rock, AR 72201 664-0104 374-1666 AREA: 2.22 ACRES NUMBER OF LOTS: 1 FT. NEW STREET: 0 ZONING: R-2 PROPOSED USES: Mixed Uses, including: Private School and Day Care Center; Dance Studio; and Commercial (inside) Amusement PLANNING DISTRICT: 11 CENSUS TRACT: 24.04 VARIANCES REQUESTED: Approval of a variance to permit two driveway entrances to the site to be within 300 feet of each other. STATEMENT OF PROPOSAL: The applicant proposes to develop a "Kidsports Fun and Fitness Center". The center, as proposed, is for "children of all ages and physical abilities", and the classes are "non -skill performing and non-competitive, self-confidence and self-esteem building" which are designed to teach children that fitness is fun. The curriculum helps children enhance their strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. The center offers a full dance instructional program. The facility provides U. S. G. F. regulation gymnastics equipment, and classes in recreational and competitive gymnastics and cheerleading are conducted by certified coaches. The program includes after school care, and an opportunity is provided for children to complete school homework assignments and to participate in the full range of classes and utilize the equipment and facilities provided. The facility is available for special events, such as birthday parties, "lock -ins", swim parties, team parties, etc. There are summer and holiday camps, "kids nite out" programs, dances, and more. A game room is provided. There is a snack bar FILE NO.: Z-5907 (Continued included in the facility. The normal hours of operation are from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Mondays to Fridays, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Saturdays, and 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Sundays. As indicated, there are special events which will last later than these normal closing hours, and on some Saturday nights, there are over -night programs. The facility is proposed to be developed on a 2.22 acre tract. A 20,000 square foot, 20 -foot tall building is planned as the initial phase of development, with an additional 5,000 square feet expansion area provided. Parking for 109 vehicles is provided. The applicant proposes two driveway entrances off Autumn Rd. to the property in order to facilitate ingress and egress, and to reduce stacking of vehicles waiting to enter or leave the premises. Dedication of the required right -o -way and construction of the required Master Street Plan improvements are anticipated. There will be exterior lighting attached to the building, as well as parking lot lighting. Dumpster servicing will be limited to daylight hours. A. PROPOS.AL/REOUEST: Review by the Planning commission and approval by the Board of Directors is requested for the establishment of a POD for the Kidsports Fun and Fitness Center. Approval of a variance from the regulation which requires drive approaches to be separated from one another by a minimum of 300 feet is requested, in order for the site to contain two drive approaches which are 210 feet apart. B. EXISTING CONDITIONS: The site is occupied by three houses, but much of the site is overgrown and wooded. The high point of the property is at the northwest corner of the tract, and there is approximately a 23 foot drop from the northwest corner to the southeast corner of the tract. The existing zoning of the site is R-2, with R-2 zoning to the east, south, and across Autumn Rd. to the northeast. To the north is a'C-3 tract occupied by the Pinnacle Pointe Hospital. To the south, in the R-2 zoned tract, is the new Federal Bureau of Investigation building. Across Autumn Rd. to the southwest, is an 0-3 tract. C. ENGINEERINGIUTILITY COMMENTS: Public Works comments that: 1) the Ordinance allows only one driveway for the amount of frontage of this site, so a redesign of the access driveway off Autumn Rd. to provide one driveway will be required; 2) right-of-way dedication and street improvements are required for Autumn Rd.; 3) a grading permit, per Sec. 29-186, is required; 4) street 0a FILE NO.: 7,-5907 (Continued) plans, stormwater detention, and boundary survey information will be required. Water Works comments that on-site fire protection may be required. Wastewater comments that a sewer main extension, with easements, will be required. Arkansas.Power and Light Co. comments that a 15 foot easement will be required along all four boundaries of the site. Arkansas Louisiana Gas Co. approved the submittal without comment. Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. will require a 5 foot easement along the north, east, and south boundary of the site. The Fire Department comments that regulation City "No Parking; Tow -Away" signs are to be posted around the perimeter of the building. An on-site fire hydrant may be required for -this site. Landscape review comments that a portion of the southern buffer drops below the full requirements of 16 feet, but meets the minimum requirement. The landscape islands within the parking lot are short of the interior landscape requirement by 297,sf. A 3 foot wide building landscape strip between the public parking area and the building is required. A 6' high opaque screen along the southern and eastern property lines will be necessary. This screen may either be a wood fence with its structural supports facing inward, or be dense evergreen plantings. Curb and gutter, or another approved border to protect plantings, will be required. D. ISSUES/LEGAL/TECHNICAL/DES,IGN: The Planning staff comments that the request is in the I-430 Planning District, and the adopted Land Use Plan recommends office uses for the area. The Land Use Plan in this area has been violated massively over the last year, with major changes in use being approved. The Planning staff believes that this must stop, and cannot support further erosion of the original plan. Section 36-452 states that "the POD district is intended to accomodate... mixed use developments combining... commercial and offices uses...." The permitted uses include office uses and limited commercial uses. Section 36-279, 36-280, and 36-281, the office district regulations, all permit private schools and day care centers and dance studios. 3 FILE NO.: Z-5907 (Continued Ordinance No. 16,577 states that "industrial, commercial, office, or multi -family properties... shall be limited to one driveway or access point for each 300 feet of lot frontage." E. ANALYSIS: All technical requirements for the submittal have been met. There does, however, need to be discussion on the site lighting .to assure that parking lot and building lighting do not produce bleedover to adjoining properties. Many of the proposed uses are the private school/daycare/dance studio uses, which are consistent with the office zoning districts. Much of the use, however, will fall into the commercial amusement category, since a game room and snack bar are included and special events for dances, "lock -ins", "kids night out", etc. are proposed. The applicant fees strongly that one driveway access point, as is required by the Ordinance, is insufficient for the site and for the traffic conditions generated by the use. With a great many children being picked up within a very short time frame, one driveway will be unsafe, causing vehicle stacking on Autumn Rd. or in the parking lot, and causing traffic movement conflicts. The applicant states that the driveways on abutting properties are in place, and that there is not the probability that these properties will need other driveway access points which might be located close to their property lines, and, consequently, would be too close to the applicant's access points to be safe. F. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff recommends denial of the POD application, since the proposed commercial uses are in conflict with the adopted Land Use Plan. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (NOVEMBER 10, 1994) Representatives of the developer and of the engineering firm were present. Mr. Mark Buerkle, with Rector Phillips Morse, and Mr. Joe white, with White-Daters & Associates, were present. Mr. Buerkle and Mr. White reviewed with the Committee and staff the various comments contained in the discussion outline. There was discussion with the Public Works staff regarding the requirement that there be only one driveway access point on the property, with Mr. Buerkle and Mr. White indicating that a variance would need to be sought to permit the two driveways as proposed. Mr. Buerkle and Mr. White indicated that the required additional information would be forthcoming, and the Committee forwarded the item to the full Commission for the public hearing. 4 FILE NO.: Z-5907 (Continued) PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (NOVEMBER 29, 1994) Staff presented the request, and pointed out that the applicant is seeking a variance from the ordinance provision which limits the number of driveway access points along a street frontage to, in this case, one driveway. Mr. Mark Burkle, identifying himself as representing the applicant, indicated that Mr. Roy Rogers will be developer of the proposed building. He indicated that the Kidsports operation is a fitness center, education center, physical enhancement center for children of 3 years old to, normally, 13 years of age. There are, however, some older teenagers who are involved in, primarily, the gymnastics program, who are clients of the program. He said that the proposed program consists of a mixture of uses which are permitted in the office zoning districts; that, consequently, a POD had been requested, and that the commercial uses are very limited in scope and in floor area of the building. Ms. Glenda Pigue identified herself as the owner -operator of the Kidsports facility in Benton, Arkansas, and the proposed operator of the Little Rock Kidsports facility. She said that Kidsports is an international fun and fitness program, and is a franchised operation. Ms. Lea Oken outlined the various types of activities and programs operated at the Kidsports facility, and said that there is a great need for the types of programs offered at Kidsports. She said that approximately 500-600 children per day utilize the facility, depending on the day and season. She said that a game room is provided, which has approximately a dozen game machines, with a room area of 600 square feet. She said that, at the Benton Kidsports, a seminar on kids games and fun activities was held for adults, and they would anticipate holding such activities involving adults at the Little Rock facility. On a daily basis, though, she said that ninth graders are the normal upper age limit of participants. She said that at Benton, they held a senior prom, but young persons of that age are not the usual attendees. She assured the Commission that children are not allowed to leave the building when they are participating in activities. Mr. Burkle said that the dances, "lock -ins", parties, etc. are not the routine activities for Kidsports; the dance lessons, gymnastics, daycare, etc. are the daily routine -type activities. He said that there are few residences which would be affected by the proposed development. Mr. Tim Daters, of White-Daters & Associates, Inc., the project engineer, said that the developer was in the process of discussing with the City Engineering office whether to pursue the two driveway access points, as shown on the site plan which had been presented, or to re -design the access to comply with the 5 FILE NO.: Z-5907 (Continued ordinance which allows only one access point. He said that the owner -operator would prefer the two driveway access points for proper and safe access to and from the site, especially with the number of children which will be coming and going within short time -frames. He said that the site plan, as presented, shows approximately 240 feet from centerline of driveway to centerline of driveway. He said that there are no driveways to the north along Autumn Rd., along the Pennical Pointe Hospital frontage of their site, and that, to the south, the nearest driveway is approximately .150 feet from the centerline of the south Kidsports driveway. He indicated that the applicant wished to pursue the requested driveway variance. Mr. Mark Burkle said that any subsequent use of the building, if Kidsports failed or was no longer the tenant, would be office uses. He said that when the future building addition is accomplished, the uses in the added space would occupy no more than the proportion of floor space occupied in the initial phase of development. The subsequent phase would take place as the demand for space increases. A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of the POD, and the motion carried with the vote of 7 ayes, 3 nays, 1 absent, and 0 abstentions.