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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-6780 Staff AnalysisJanuary 6, 2000 ITEM NO.: 23 FILE NO.: Z-6780 NAME: Southwestern Bell Telephone Exchange - Conditional Use Permit LOCATION: 6410 Highway 300 OWNER/APPLICANT: Southwestern Bell Telephone PROPOSAL: To obtain a conditional use permit to enlarge an existing telephone exchange facility on property Zoned R-2, Single Family Residential, at 6410 Highway 300. ORDINANCE DESIGN STANDARDS: 1. SITE LOCATION: This Southwestern Bell Telephone (SWBT) site is located on the east side of Highway 300, just north of the intersection with Highway 10. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: This site is Zoned R-2, Single Family Residential, and is surrounded by the same zoning. Church property surrounds the site to the north, east, and south. The property across Highway 300 is currently undeveloped. The property adjacent to the north of the church is Zoned MF 18, Multi -family Residential. The church is the only structure near the existing telephone exchange building. Staff believes the proposed expansion will not have an adverse impact on the surrounding area when properly screened from the church. The Aberdeen Court Property Owners Association was notified of the public hearing. 3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: An access drive to the church abuts the SWBT property along its entire north property line. SWBT has a an access easement from that drive and proposes to January 6, 2000 SUBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 23 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-6780 continue to take access from it. They propose five head -in parking spaces adjacent but perpendicular to the drive in the northeast corner of their property. That would result in asphalt covering the area between the new building and the driveway for about 765 of the north side of the SWBT property. That should adequately serve the site. 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: A screen consisting of either a 6 foot high opaque wood fence with its face side directed outward, or dense evergreen plantings which grow to 6 feet within three years, is required along the eastern side of the property. Save any trees possible on the site. 5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: a. Hwy. 300 is listed on the Master Street Plan as a collector. A dedication of right-of-way to 30 feet from centerline is required. b. Provide design of streets conforming to "MSP" (Master Street Plan). Construct one-half street improvements to these streets including 5 -foot sidewalks with planned development. c. Plans of all work in right-of-way shall be submitted for approval prior to start of work. d. Show access easements and construct improvements to access easement per City standards. e. Stormwater detention ordinance applies to this property. f. A Sketch Grading and Drainage Plan per Sec. 29-186(e) is required. g. A Grading Permit per Secs. 29-186(c) and (d) is required. 6. UTILITY AND FIRE DEPT. COMMENTS: Water: Execution of a pre -annexation agreement is required if water service is desired. An acreage charge of $300 per acre applies in addition to normal charges. E January 6, 2000 SUBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 23 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-6780 Wastewater: No sewer service appears to be required for this project. Contact the Wastewater Utility if service is desired. Southwestern Bell: Applicant for this submittal. ARKLA: Approved as submitted. Entergy: No comments received. Fire Department: Contact Dennis Free, 371-3752, at the fire department concerning fire protection. CATA: No comment. 7. STAFF ANALYSIS: The applicant is requesting a conditional use permit to add 5300 square feet to an existing exchange building that has existed at this site since 1958. The applicant has stated that the expansion is needed to provide room for equipment to service the growing population in West Little Rock, and to provide federally mandated space for competitors to locate equipment in the facility. The addition would be one story, approximately 17 feet high. SWBT planners estimate that this addition would satisfy their needs for at least five years. They have included a proposed future addition up to 3026 square feet on the east side of this addition to meet future growth as it occurs. The final proposed building would require setback variances on all four sides as follows: front 22 feet, rear 2 feet, north side 3 feet, and south side 2 feet. Other siting requirements are satisfied. Standard setbacks are 25 feet front and rear, and 8 feet on the sides. The applicant has stated that they have met with the Winfield United Methodist Church leaders, the neighbor to the east, and incorporated design features into the new building to help lesson the impact on the church such as: using a brick exterior to match the church exterior, lowering the site into the ground on the side adjacent to the church so that the building and 3 January 6, 2000 SUBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 23 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-6780 equipment will be less imposing, agreeing to install a 6 foot decorative wood fence above the retaining wall on the east to further lesson that impact, and instal- ling an emergency generator designed for maximum quiet operation. Staff believes SWBT has proposed to do as much as they can to make this proposal compatible with the neighborhood for a site that is critical to current and future growth of phone service in West Little Rock. 8. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the conditional use permit subject to compliance with the following conditions: a. Comply with the City's Landscape and Buffer Ordinances. b. Comply with Public Works Comments. c. Comply with Fire Department Comment. d. All exterior lighting must be low intensity and directed downward and inward to the property and not towards any residential zoned area. Staff also recommends approval of the reduced setback variance on all four sides of the expanded building as shown on the site plan. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENTS: (December 9, 1999) Don Walker of SWBT and Bill Canino of Canino/Peckham Architects were present representing the application. Staff gave a brief description of the proposal. The areas reviewed concentrated on Public Works Comments, Screening and Buffer requirements, setback requirements versus proposed setbacks, and site lighting requirements if exterior lighting is installed. The applicant reviewed the steps they planned to take to lesson the impact on the church and what was driving the need for expansion. 4 January 6, 2000 SUBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 23 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-6780 There being no further issues, the Committee accepted the proposal and forwarded the item to the full Commission for final action. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (January 6, 2000) Don Walker was present representing the application. There were no registered objectors present. Staff presented the item with a recommendation for approval subject to compliance with the conditions listed under "Staff Recommendation," paragraph 8 above. The item was placed submitted to include vote was 11 ayes, 0 on the Consent Agenda and approved as staff comments and recommendations. The nays and 0 absent. After the Consent Agenda had been passed and the people whose items had been approved had left, Mr. Lawson brought to the attention of the Chairperson that Mr. Charles Randel wanted to make a comment about the item. He had completed a card marking that he was in support of the item, and so he hadn't been recognized earlier since the item was listed for consent approval. The Chair recognized Mr. Randel. Mr. Randel commented that the Winfield United Methodist Church would like some additional shrubbery placed along the area shown to be a privacy fence on the site plan to break up the austerity of the fence. They also wanted some sod placed on a bare area along the south side of SWBT's property near the church's parking lot. The item had been approved so it was too late to more conditions, but Mr. Lawson suggested to the Staff pass on the desires to SWBT and let the two work it out. The Chair agreed. 5 add any Chair that parties