HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-5936-E Staff AnalysisMARCH 27, 2006
ITEM NO.:
File No.:
Owner:
Applicant:
Address:
Description:
Zoned:
Z -5936-E
Bank of the Ozarks
White-Daters and Associates
Northwest corner of Chenal Parkway and Rahling Road
Tract 4A (unrecorded), Chenal Valley Addition
PCD (Future C-3)
Variance Requested: A variance is requested from the height provisions of Section 36-301 to allow
a new office building with increased height.
Justification: The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter.
Present Use of Property: Undeveloped
Proposed Use of Property: Bank
STAFF REPORT
A. Public Works Issues:
No Comments.
B. landscape and _Buffer Issues:
Site plan must comply with the City's minimal landscape and buffer ordinance requirements.
Eight percent (8%) of the paved surface area must be allocated for landscaped area, per the
city landscape ordinance. These interior islands are to be evenly distributed throughout the
site.
Berming is encouraged along Chenal Parkway.
An automatic irrigation system to water landscaped areas will be required.
MARCH 27, 2006
ITEM NO.: 2 (CON'T.
Prior to issuance of a building permit, it will be necessary to provide an approved landscape
plan stamped with the seal of a Registered Landscape Architect.
The City Beautiful Commission recommends preserving as many existing trees as feasible
on this tree covered site. Credit toward fulfilling Landscape Ordinance requirements can be
given when preserving trees of six (6) inch caliper or larger.
C. Staff Analysis:
The PCD zoned property at the northwest corner of Chenal Parkway and Rahling Road is
currently undeveloped and wooded. The property slopes downward from Chenal Parkway
to the west. The adjacent properties to the north, south and west are also undeveloped and
wooded. The Planning Commission approved a request to revoke the PCD zoning on
February 16, 2006. With the revocation, this portion of the property will revert to its original
C-3 zoning. The Board of Directors will rule on the revocation request on March 21, 2006.
Staff expects the Board to formalize the revocation with the property becoming C-3.
The applicant is proposing to develop the 4.72 acre property by constructing a new office
building with a drive-thru bank facility. The proposed building will be four (4) stories in height
with underground parking. The overall building height will be approximately 75 feet. There
will be surface parking along all four (4) sides of the proposed building. There will be a 36
foot wide access easement along the property's north and west property lines. Access to
the office/bank development will be off of this access easement, as noted on the attached
site plan.
Section 36-301(d) of the City's Zoning Ordinance allows a maximum building height of 35
feet for C-3 zoned property. Therefore, the applicant is requesting a variance to allow the
proposed 75 foot building height. To staff's knowledge, the development will comply with all
other ordinance required development criteria.
Staff is supportive of the requested height variance. Staff feels the request is reasonable.
The proposed office/bank building will be located well over 100 feet back from all property
lines. This alleviates any concern that staff might have with regards to any impact the
increased height could have on adjacent property. The proposed building height will not be
out of character with the heights of other office buildings in this area along Chenal Parkway
(GMAC and Arkansas Systems Developments). Staff believes the increased building height
will have no adverse impact on the adjacent properties or the general area.
D. Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the requested building height variance, as filed.
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MARCH 27, 2006
ITEM NO.: 2 (CON'T.)
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (MARCH 27, 2006)
The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation
of approval.
The applicant offered no additional comments.
The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved as recommended by staff by a vote of 4 ayes, 0
nays and 1 absent.
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