HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-6289 Staff AnalysisApril 28, 1997
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File No.
Owner•
Address•
DescriDtiO
Zoned•
Variance Requested:
Justification:
Present Use of Property:
Proposed Use of Property:
staff Report•
A. Public Works Issues:
No issues
B. Staff Analysis:
Z-6289
City of Little Rock
400 East Markham Street
Block 1, Pope's Addition
GB
A variance is requested from
parking requirements of Section
36-417 to permit a development
(River Market) with no on-site
parking.
Redevelopment of the site left no
available location for on-site
parking. It is the nature of the
River Market District to encourage
pedestrian traffic.
River Market, mixed retail uses
River Market, mixed retail uses
The City of Little Rock is requesting a variance from the.
parking requirements of Section 36-417 for the River Market
which has no on-site parking. Staff recognizes this is an
"after the fact application" in that the River Market is
already open and occupied. Staff feels it is appropriate to
obtain the required variance just as any developer within
the District would have to. The River Market, itself is the
anchor or focal point of the River Market District located
between I-30, Cumberland, East 3rd and the Arkansas River.
The District itself is envisioned as developing as a
downtown entertainment and retail center. The Central
Arkansas Library, Arkansas Museum of Science and History and
multiple retail and office uses have committed to the
District. Included within this redevelopment is the River
Market itself, a mixed-use, multiple building development
April 28, 1997
Item No.: 4 Cont.
located between Rock Street, St. Vincent's Plaza, East
Markham Street and the Arkansas River.
The Parking requirement for the River Market is as follows:
1. River Market Hall
A. Grand Hall 38 spaces
Restaurant 7 spaces
Offices 7 spaces
2. Pavilion 1 36 spaces
3. Pavilion 2 36 spaces
TOTAL 124 spaces
Although the River Market itself has no on-site parking
spaces. Staff has identified 871 parking spaces within the
area defined as the River Market District. 227 of these
spaces are located on the streets and 644 spaces are within
surface parking lots or parking decks. A large public
parking deck is located two blocks to the southwest and
numerous other surface parking and on -street parking spaces
are located within close proximity of the District.
The District itself was designed as an Urban Retail and
Entertainment Center which encourages pedestrian traffic.
Shuttle service is provided from many downtown locations and
much of the customer traffic walks from the downtown area
offices. It was an important aspect of the District's
design to preserve the existing buildings rather than to
remove the buildings to create additional surface parking.
Staff believes the requested parking variance to be
reasonable and within the spirit of the River Market
District.
The River Market Design Review Committee has voted to
recommend approval of the requested variance.
C. Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the requested parking variance
for the River Market.
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT:
(APRIL 28, 1997)
Shawn Spencer was present representing the City. There were no
objectors present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation
of approval. It was noted that the River Market Design Review
Committee had submitted a letter in support of the variance.
The Chairman called the question on the issue of the requested
variance. The variance was approved by a vote of 6 ayes, 0 noes,
2 absent and 1 open position.
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