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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-6434 Staff AnalysisDecember 22, 1997 Item No.• 7 File No.: Owner- Address• Description• Zoned• Variance Requested: Justification: Present Use of Propert : Proposed Use of Property: Staff Report• A. Public Works Issues: Z-6434 Trustees of First Baptist Church Highland Park 3721, 3723, 3801, 3821 and 3823 W. 18th; 3720 and 3724 W. 19th Street Lots 1, 7 and 8, Block 15; Lots 5, 6, 9 and 10, Block 14, all in Braddock's Addition R-3 A variance is requested from the location of off-street parking provisions of Section 36-507 to permit church parking lots on residentially zoned property. These lots have been used in an unimproved state for overflow parking. The church now wishes to develop proper paved and landscaped parking. Lot 10, Block 15 contains a condemned structure. The remaining lots are vacant and have been used for overflow parking. Church parking lots 1. Dedicate 30 feet of right-of-way from the centerline of Oak, 18th and Pine Streets including 20 foot radial dedication at intersection of West 18th Street, Oak Street, and Pine Streets. Also submit for franchise to landscape right-of-way. 2. Improve streets to minimum minor commercial standard of 31 feet. Construct 5 foot wide sidewalks at the back of right-of-way on West 18th Street and Oak Street including handicap ramps per ADA standards with development. 3. Existing driveway aprons are to be removed and seed with grass and replace curb and gutter with development. 4. Repair of curb and gutter and/or sidewalk damaged during or prior to construction with construction. December 22, 1997 Item No.: 7 (Cont. 5. All driveways shall be concrete aprons per City Ordinance. 6. Driveways shall conform to Sec. 31-210 or Ordinance 16,577, combine the two entrances on West 18th Street at lots 1-3. 7. Obtain barricade permit prior to any work done in right- of-way. ($30.00 per day) 8. Obtain street cut permit prior to any work done in right-of-way. 9. Dedicate 20 feet for alley right-of-way and improve to 18 feet for access. B. Staff Analysis: First Baptist Church Highland Park is located at 3800 W. 18th Street. For some years, church members have utilized several vacant lots in the area for parking. These lots are mostly grass covered with some scattering of gravel. The church now proposes to develop those lots into properly paved and landscaped parking lots. Additionally, the vacant, boarded residential structure is to be removed from the property at 3720 W. 19th Street and the property incorporated into the new parking lot. The properties are all zoned R-3. The church is requesting a variance under the provisions of Section 36-507 to permit development of these residential properties as parking. Once completed, the project will provide an additional 95 parking spaces. Staff believes the request to be reasonable. With the exception of one property (the property at 3720 W. 19th Street), the lots have been used as parking by church members. It is to the City's and the neighborhood's benefit to have these lots properly developed. There will need to be some minor modification to the site plan to accommodate the requirements indicated by Public Works. Dedication of right-of-way and improvements to the streets and alleys may reduce the final number of parking spaces. As proposed, the development provides adequate buffer and screening/landscaping where the lots are adjacent to residences. Additional interior landscaping may be required. None of the proposed spaces are designated as handicap accessible. It is the church's desire to keep all handicap parking in the parking lot immediately adjacent to the church so that handicapped individuals will not have to cross 18th Street. The church provides a stabilizing influence in the neighborhood and allowing for the proposed improvements should have a positive effect. December 22, 1997 Item No.: 7(Cont.) C. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the requested variance to allow the R-3 zoned properties to be developed as church parking lots subject to compliance with the following conditions: 1. Compliance with Public Works Comments 2. Compliance with all applicable landscape and buffer regulations BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (DECEMBER 22, 1997) Charles Johnson was present representing the Church. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval subject to compliance with the following conditions: 1. Compliance with Public Works Comments. 2. Compliance with all applicable landscape and buffer regulations. Mr. Johnson questioned Public Works Comments #1, 2 and 9. He stated that the church would request a waiver of these requirements from the Board of Directors. Mr. Johnson questioned whether agreeing to staff's recommendation would hinder a waiver request at the Board of Directors level. He was assured that it would not since the Board of Adjustment was not empowered to grant waivers of Master Street Plan or Boundary Street Ordinance requirements. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved as recommended by staff by a vote of 6 ayes, 0 noes, 1 absent and 2 open positions. 3