HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-6328 Staff AnalysisJune 30, 1997
Item No.: 8
File No.: Z-6328
Owner. Fair Oaks Apartments
Address: 9600 West 36th Street
Description: Lot 1, Fair Oaks Addition
Zoned. R-2 (nonconforming)
Variance Requested: A variance is requested from the
fence height provisions of Section
36-516 to permit construction of an
8 foot tall perimeter fence.
Justification: Applicant's Statement: Recently,
Fair Oaks Apartments was the
recipient of a Drug Elimination
Grant from the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development for
the 1997 fiscal year. The funds
from this grant are to be used in
part to erect an 8' wrought -iron
fence around the perimeter of Fair
Oaks Apartments. Unfortunately,
being located in a predominantly
residential area, we are only zoned
for a 6' fence. The purpose of
erecting an 8' fence as opposed to
a 6' fence is to prohibit any
traffic over the fence.
As part of the grant application
process, I contacted the president
of the Coalition of West Central
Little Rock Neighborhood
Associations, Mr. David Carr. He
was given a copy of our plan of
action for the use of grant funds,
which included the erection of the
8 foot fence. The proposal was
then presented to the members from
the surrounding neighborhood
associations for their review. Our
plan of action was accepted without
amendment. I have included a copy
of Mr. Carr's letter stating their
support and commitment.
June 30, 1997
Item No.: 8 (Cont.)
I have also included a drawing of
the proposed layout of the fence.
Due to the limitation of available
funds, we are only able to have the
fence installed on three of the
four sides of the property (a
wooden privacy fence is currently
in place on the north side). A
second grant application for fiscal
year 1998 will be submitted within
the next 3 months. Upon the
approval of this application, we
will complete wrought -iron fencing
of the remaining side. Should the
decision on the grant application
be unfavorable, we will phase in
the wrought -iron fencing along the
north boundary.
Present Use of
Property:
Apartment
Complex
Proposed Use of
Property:
Apartment
Complex
Staff Report :
A. Public Works Issues:
Romine Road is a collector, dedicate right-of-way to 30 feet
from centerline. 36"` Street is a reduced standard minor
arterial with right-of-way required to be 70 feet (35 feet
from centerline) except where additional lanes are required
at Romine Road, thus 80 feet of right-of-way (40 feet from
centerline).
Lehigh Drive is a commercial and multifamily street with 60
feet of right-of-way required (30 feet from centerline) a 20
feet radial dedication is required at all intersections.
Fence shall be located at the prescribed Master Street Plan
right-of-way lines.
B. Staff Analysis:
Fair Oaks Apartments, a multibuilding 100 unit apartment
complex occupies the R-2 zoned property located at 9600 West
36`h Street. The development was constructed prior to the
site's annexation into the City. Fair Oaks was recently the
recipient of a drug elimination grant from the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development. These funds
are to be used in part to erect an 8 foot tall, wrought iron
fence around the perimeter of the site. Gates will be
installed at the four entrances to the site. The property
has frontage on three streets. Section 36-516(b) limits the
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June 30, 1997
Item No.: 8 (Cont.)
height of fences within the required setbacks adjacent to
streets to four feet. The fence along"the rear property
line is limited by Section 36-516(b) to six feet in height.
Staff believes the variance request to be reasonable. The
proposed decorative wrought iron fence will provide needed
security for the residents of the apartment development and
should have no impact on adjacent properties. A portion of
the site is enclosed by a chain link fence topped with
barbed wire. This fence will be removed when the new fence
is erected.
At this time there are two gates in place - one at the
Lehigh Street entrance and one at the Romine Road entrance.
Both gates are the swing -type and are padlocked, remaining
closed except in cases of emergencies. The gates to be
installed at these two locations will be still be swing
gates and padlocked, the only difference being the material
used to construct these gates, wrought -iron.
The gates to be installed at the two West 36`h Street
driveways will also be constructed of wrought -iron.
However, these gates will be cantilever slide gates. The
gate at the entrance closest to the office will be mounted
on brick columns topped with brass coach lights.
Additionally, there will be two walk gates, one to be
installed on 36`h Street, equipped with Card Access/Tele-
entry, and one on Romine Road to be controlled by a timer to
allow students access to Romine Road during the school year
to remove the necessity of having to walk the length of West
36`h Street.
Between the hours of 6:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. -
6:30 p.m., the driveway gates on West 36`h Street will remain
open for easier entrance/exit, so as not to cause any
bottlenecks during peak traffic hours. During the remaining
house, the driveway gates will be controlled with a Card
Access/Tele-entry system. In case of emergencies, each gate
system will be equipped with siren operated sensors to allow
emergency vehicles immediate access.
C. Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the requested fence height
variance subject to the following conditions:
1. Compliance with Public Works Comments
2. There is to be no use of barbed or concertina wire on the
fence.
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June 30, 1997
Item No.• 8 Cant.
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT•
(JUNE 30, 1997)
Carol Rudd was present representing Fair Oaks Apartments. George
Brown, of the John Barrow Neighborhood Association, was present
in support of the variance request. Staff presented the item and
a recommendation of approval, with conditions.
Ms. Rudd stated that she had no problem with staff's
recommendation.
The vote was called on the variance request with the conditions
recommended by staff. The vote was 8 ayes, 0 noes and 1 absent.
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