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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-6018 Staff AnalysisOctober 3, 1995 ITEM NO.• B Z- 018 Owner: Applicant: Location: Request: Purpose: Size: Existing Use: Carl Bridges Carl Bridges 8700 Block of Cunningham Lake Road, south side Rezone from R-2 to C-4 Sell cut Christmas trees in season 1.21 acres Vacant SURROUNDING LAND ❑SE AND ZONING North - Various commercial uses, zoned C-3 South - Grassy Flat Creek and Henderson Junior High School, zoned R-2 East - Various Commercial and Industrial uses, zoned C-3 and I-2 West - Various Commercial uses, zoned C-3 ENGINEERING COMMENTS Dedicate right-of-way for adjacent streets. Commercial use dictates 30 foot of ROW from centerline. With any planned construction street improvements conforming to 36 foot wide commercial street standards with sidewalks and improved drainage will be required. The legal description appears to indicate that the property is in the regulatory floodway. Sketch Grading and Drainage plan information is required prior to Planning Commission action. A development permit and setback distances from regulatory floodway will be required. Dedication of easement for floodway is required. Traffic Engineering recommends denial based on the insufficient width and condition of Cunningham Lake Road to handle commercial traffic. Without planned construction, applicant will not be required to improve roads. October 3,'1995 ITEM O.: H z-6 18 n . LAND SE ELEMENT The site is located in the West Little Rock District. The Land Use Plan recommends Park/Open Space. For any portion of the property which may not be in the floodway/floodplain, the Plan recommends Commercial. If the site is not in the floodway and the Parks Department does not need the area as part of the priority one open space shown on the Master Parks Plan, then a commercial rezoning would be in conformance. Staff believes this site is not suitable for C-4 rezoning and that a more restrictive commercial classification is more appropriate. TAFF ANALYSIS The request before the Commission is to rezone this 1.21 acre tract from R-2 to C-4. The property is located one block south of West Markham Street, between Cunningham Lake Road and Grassy Flat Creek. The property is currently vacant and covered with trees and scrub brush. The applicant has indicated the proposed use to be display and sales of cut Christmas trees, when in season. Staff feels that the C-4'rezoning request is inappropriate for this site and offers the following reasons to support that conclusion. The City Engineer's Office has determined that the property lies in the regulatory floodway. It has been established city policy that properties lying within the floodway be dedicated and zoned OS. The West Little Rock District Plan recommends Park/Open space for this property. This designation is based on the assumption that the property is in the floodway/floodplain. The C-4 rezoning request is not in compliance with the adopted Plan. The Land Use Plan recommends commercial for any portion of the site which may not be in the floodway/floodplain. Again, staff does not believe C-4 to be an appropriate commercial zoning for this site. The purpose and intent of the C-4 district states that appropriate locations for this district are along heavily traveled major traffic arterials. This property is located one block off of West Markham Street and can only be accessed by Cunningham Lake Road, an extremely substandard street. A more restrictive commercial reclassification is more appropriate for any portion of the site which may not be in the floodway/floodplain. E October 3, 1995 ITEM B Z- STAFF RECOMME DAT_ION Staff recommends denial of the C-4 rezoning request. PLANNING rommIgSIQH ACTIO : (AUGUST 22, 1995) The applicant was not present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of denial. It was noted that the applicant was not present and a motion was made to defer the item to the October 3, 1995 Commission meeting. Commissioner Daniel stated that he would prefer to see the application amended to a PCD for Christmas tree sales only. Dana Carney, of the Planning Staff, noted that the property in question may have been created as the result of an illegal subdivision which is being investigated by staff. A vote was taken on the motion to defer the item. The vote was 9 ayes, 0 noes, 0 absent, 1 abstaining (McCarthy) and 1 open position. PLANNING COMMISSION A TION: (OCTOBER 3, 1995) The applicant, Carl Bridges, was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and noted that Mr. Bridges had amended the application to request C-3 zoning rather than C-4. Staff noted that C-3 zoning would be appropriate for the site, if any of the property was not in the regulatory floodway. Staff noted that the applicant would need a Corps of Engineer's study to determine if any portion of his property was out of the floodway. A discussion then followed concerning the proper way to address the issue. It was determined that it was possible to recommend approval of C-3 zoning and have that portion of the site which is in the floodway zoned OS and dedicated to the City. It would be the applicant's responsibility to have it determined where the floodway line lies, if indeed the whole property is not in the floodway Mr. Bridges briefly addressed the Commission in support of his application, as amended. In response to a question from Chairman Walker, Mr. Bridges stated he would accept C-3 zoning for that portion of the site which is not in the floodway and that he would work to obtain a description of that property which is in the floodway. f October 3, 1995 ITEM O.: B Z- 01(Cont.) The item was brought to a vote as amended to C-3, with that portion of the site in the floodway to be zoned OS and dedicated to the City. The vote was 9 ayes, 0 noes, 1 absent and 1 abstaining (Daniel). 4