Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-6163 Staff AnalysisJuly 18, 1996 ITEM Nd.: 17 FILE Nd.: 7-6163 NAME: LOCATION: OWNER APPLICANT: PROPOSAL. dRDxNANCE DESIGN STANDARDS: 1. Site Location: Rex Playground Equipment - Conditional Use Permit 7311 Kanis Road Pamela Brown Courtney/ Mike Pacheco A conditional use perm't is requested to allow for two (2) areas of outdoor display for the existing sales office at 7311 Kanis Road. The property is zoned C-3. The site is located on the south side of Kanis Road, approximately 3/4 mile west of University Avenue. 2. Cam atibilit withNeihborhood: There is a mixture of commercial and industrial uses and zoning in this general area. The variety of uses range from retail commercial to heavy industrial. other commercial uses in this general area which utilize outdoor display/storage include the equipment rental business located immediately west of this site and the u -Haul dealership located across Kanis Road to the northwest. The proposed outdoor display should not have an adverse effect on the surrounding properties. 3. On -Site Drives and Parkin Access to the site will be gained by utilizing an existing drive from Kanis Road. The required parking (2 spaces) for this commercial building is provided within the fenced area on the south side of the building. The proposed outdoor display area will not effect the required parking. July 18, 1996 SUBDIVISIOPI ITEM NO.: 17 Cont. FILE NO.: -6163 4. Screenincr and Bu£f_ers : No Comments 5. City Engineer Comments: Right-of-way required for Kanis Road is 45 feet from centerline. Confirm dedication meets Master Street Plan. 6. Utility Comments: No Comments received. 7. Staff Analysis: The applicant is requesting a conditional use permit to allow for two (2) areas of outdoor display for the existing sales office at 7311 Kanis Road. The property is zoned C-3, which does not allow open outdoor display of merchandise. Rex Playground Equipment currently maintains a sales office within the 26 foot by 26 foot (676 square feet) building on this site. The flat -roofed building is located very close to Kanis Road and has a fenced area behind it. It is the applicant's desire to have a "hands-on" display of some of the company's playground equipment. The small building size makes it impossible to have an indoor display area. Therefore, the applicant is proposing two (2) areas of outdoor display. The first is a 30 foot by 30 foot area located within the fenced area at the rear of the building. This area will be utilized for the display of one large piece of playground equipment and possibly some smaller pieces. The second area of outdoor display would be located on the roof of the building. This area would be used to display one smaller piece of playground equipment - a swingset and slide combination. This piece of equipment would be properly anchored to the roof. The applicant does not intend to mount any type of sign or advertisement (price, etc.) to the roof -top display. According to the Little Rock Zoning ordinance, the definition of a "sign is as follows: Sign means any device, structure, fixture or placard using graphics, symbols, and/or written copy designed specifically for the purpose of 2 July 18, 1996 SUBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 17 Cont. FILE N Z-61 advertising or identifying any establishment, product, goods or services. And the definition of a "roof sign" is as follows: Roof sign means any sign erected over or on the roof of a building. It is staff's opinion that the roof -top display is proposed for the purpose of identifying the building and product, and therefore qualifies as a roof sign. According to Ordinance Section 36-543(7), roof signs or any sign that is not mounted on a vertical surface are prohibited in all zoning districts within the City of Little Rock. Approving the roof -top display/sign would establish a precedent which the staff wishes not to set. 8. Staff Recommendat ion : Staff recommends denial of the roof -top display area. Staff recommends approval of the 30 foot by 30 foot outdoor display area within the fenced area south of the existing building, subject to compliance with the City Engineer Comment. s SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (JUNE 27, 1996) Mike Pacheco was present, representing the application. Staff presented the item with a brief description of the proposal. There was a brief discussion regarding the proposal and the surrounding uses. The Committee accepted the presentation and forwarded the issue to the full Commission for final action. PLANNING COMi+MISSION ACTION: (JULY 18, 1996) Mike Pacheco was present, representing the application. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item with a recommendation of approval as noted in the "Staff Recommendation" (no display on the roof of the building). Staff informed the Commission that the staff's opinion was that the roof -top display qualified as a sign and was strictly prohibited by the City's Zoning Ordinance. r July 18, 1996 SUBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 17 Cont. FILE NO.: Z-6163 Mike Pacheco spoke in support of the application. He referenced other roof top signs (River Market) in the City. Commissioner Putnam asked Cindy Dawson to define "sign". Mrs. Dawson referenced the definition in the agenda staff analysis. Jim Lawson, Planning Director, stated that the river market sign was an ordinance passed by the Board of Directors and the airplane on the roof of Diego's on Rebsamen Park Road was approved as an architectural feature of the building. Commissioner Brandon asked if there was room to display in front of the building. Mr. Pacheco stated that there was not. Mr. Lawson stated that Mr. Pacheco could take his sign request to the Board of Adjustment. A motion was made to approve the application subject to there being no outside display or sign on the roof of the building (as recommended by staff). The motion was passed by a vote of 7 ayes, 4 nays, 3 absent, and 1 open position. 4