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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-6969 Staff AnalysisFebruary 8, 2001 ITEM NO.: 4 Owner: Applicant: Location: Request: Purpose: Size: Existing Use: FILE NO.: Z-6969 Crain Investments Patrick McGetrick 6700 S. University Avenue Rezone from R-2 to C-4 Bring into compliance an area that is now being used by the automobile sales business 0.1± acres Auto sales business SURROUNDING LAND USE AND ZONING North - Commercial; zoned C-3 and C-4 and Single -Family; zoned R-2 South - Commercial; zoned C-4 and Single -Family; zoned R-2 East - University Avenue and Industrial; zoned I-2 West - Single -Family; zoned R-2 PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS 1. Mabelvale Pike is classified on the Master Street Plan as a collector street. A dedication of right-of-way 30 feet from centerline will be required. With Building Permit: 2. Provide design of street conforming to "MSP" (Master Street Plan). Construct one-half street improvement to these streets including 5 -foot sidewalks with planned development. 3. Driveways shall conform to Sec. 31-210 or Ordinance 18,031. 4. St.ormwater detention ordinance applies to this property. 5.Easements for proposed stormwater detention facilities are required. 6. Plans of all work in right-of-way shall be submitted for approval prior to start of work. February 8, 2001 ITEM NO.: 4 (Cont. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT FILE NO.: Z-6969 The site is located on a CATA Bus Route that extends down Mabelvale Pike. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified and the South Brookwood, Wakefield, Meadowcliff -Brookwood and SWLRUP Neighborhood Associations were notified of the rezoning request. LAND USE PLAN ELEMENT The site is located in the 65th Street West Planning District. The adopted Plan mirrors the zoning for the tract, showing Commercial for the portion of the site that is currently zoned C-4 and single family for that portion currently zoned R-2. Insomuch as plan lines are intended to be general in nature, and this rezoning request is more of a "clean-up" issue, staff believes no plan amendment is necessary. The site lies within the area covered by the 65th Street West Neighborhood Action Plan. This action plan is in the very early stages of development; to date, only one meeting has been held with the Steering Committee. STAFF ANALYSIS Crain Chevrolet Company occupies the property located at 6700 S. University Avenue. The bulk of the car dealership property is zoned "C-4" Open Display Commercial. As the properties along this stretch of University Avenue were zoned to commercial over the years, the western portion of each tract was left single family to provide a buffer for those residences located across Mabelvale Pike. That R-2 zoned buffer ranges in width from 80± feet to 200± feet between 65th Street and Forbing Road. At some point, over the past years, the Chevrolet dealership has expanded its use area to intrude on the R-2 zoned buffer on the rear of 2 February 8, 2001 ITEM NO.: 4 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-6969 the site. That intrusion has occurred in two areas; a smaller, .278± acre area on the southwest corner of the site and a slightly larger, .815± acre area along the northwest perimeter. These two areas have been paved and enclosed by the 6 -foot tall, wood privacy fence that encircles the rear of the dealership property. A neighborhood resident brought the violation to the attention of staff and Crain Chevrolet. The R-2 zoned "buffer" has been reduced to 23.71 feet on the northwest corner of the site. That buffer expands to 83± feet on the southwest corner. Although it is unfortunate that this unauthorized expansion has occurred, staff is supportive of the rezoning request. This segment of South University Avenue is distinguished by the number of intense open display, commercial businesses that front onto it. The impact of these commercial uses upon the residential properties to the west has been lessened somewhat by retaining the strip of R-2 zoned property along the east side of Mabelvale Pike. Neighborhood residents offered suggestions to the applicant on ways that the impact of the reduced buffer can be reduced. The applicant responded to each of those suggestions by offering the following conditions to be attached to the rezoning of the property: 1. We will curtail the use of loudspeakers after hours. 2. We have hired and will continue to retain a professional lawn care service to maintain our property including the cleaning up of limbs and trash on the Mabelvale Pike side of our west fence line. 3. We will insure that the buffer and landscaping adjacent to the residential area along Mabelvale Pike is maintained. C We will utilize the rear thirty feet for vehicle storage only. 5. We will not expand the lighting and have aimed the existing lighting downward as much as possible so as not to impact residents negatively. 6. We will continue to keep the Mabelvale Pike gate closed and used only as an emergency access point. 7. We will not replace the basketball goal on the Mabelvale Pike perimeter and will not use the "green area" in anyway except as a natural barrier for our property. 3 February 8, 2001 ITEM NO.: 4 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-6969 The conditions were presented to and favorably received by neighborhood residents at a meeting on Saturday, January 27, 2001. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends approval of the C-4 rezoning request, subject to the conditions proposed by the applicant. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (FEBRUARY 8, 2001) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval, to include the conditions offered by the applicant. A 00- letter of support had been submitted by Janet Berry, President of SWLR United for Progress. The item was placed on the consent agenda and approved as recommended by staff. The vote was 9 ayes, 0 noes and 2 absent. 4