HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-6989 Staff AnalysisFILE NO.: Z-6989
NAME: Southwestern Bell Wireless - Tower Use
Permit
LOCATION: 10,301 Stagecoach Road
OWNER/APPLICANT: Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems /
Mark Stodola
PROPOSAL: To obtain a tower use permit for a new
wireless communication facility with a
150 foot monopole and a 20 x 12 foot
equipment shelter on property zoned
R-2, Single Family Residential.
ORDINANCE DESIGN STANDARDS:
1. SITE LOCATION:
This 5 acre site is located on the east side of
Stagecoach Road at the intersection with Otter Creek
Parkway.
2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD:
The proposed site is zoned R-2, Single Family
Residential and is surrounded by R-2 zoning except for
the first few hundred feet of the south property line,
which has abutting C-3, General Commercial, and OS,
Open Space zoning. The eastern portion of the property
upon which the site is proposed to be located is in a
flood way. Two-thirds of the property lies in a flood
plane. The flood way and flood plane also cross the
adjoining properties on either side to varying
degrees. No development can occur in the flood way.
Also the property along the south side of this site
which is currently zoned R-2 and not in the flood way,
is not likely to ever develop residentially. The
portion that can be developed is more likely to be
rezoned commercial or office as property on the other
corners of this major intersection and property
fronting on Stagecoach have done. There is not much
area between the existing commercial property and the
FILE NO.: Z-6989 (Cont.)
flood way of Fourche Creek. Therefore, Staff believes
this is a good location for a WCF tower that would not
have an adverse impact on the surrounding area.
The Otter Creek Neighborhood Association and Southwest
Little Rock United for Progress, all property owners
within 200 feet, and all residents within 300 feet
that could be identified, were notified of the public
hearing.
3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING:
There are two access drives for the parent property
which serve the primary uses of a maintenance yard and
storage facility for Southwester Bell Mobile Systems.
There is plenty of space for parking maintenance
vehicles to service the proposed WCF.
4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS:
WCFs are required to have a six foot wide landscape
strip and eight foot tall opaque wood fence around the
entire WCF site except for an access point. The
applicant has requested a waiver to these requirements
due to the location of the site and nature of the
surrounding area.
5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS:
a.Stagecoach Road is classified on the Master Street
Plan as a minor arterial. A dedication of right-of-
way 45 feet from centerline will be required.
b.Dedicate regulatory floodway to the City of Little
Rock.
c. Property frontage needs to have the sidewalks and
ramps brought up to the current ADA standards.
d. Repair or replace any curb and gutter or sidewalk
that is damaged in the public right-of-way prior to
occupancy.
6. UTILITY, FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS:
Water: No objection.
Wastewater: Service not required for this project.
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FILE NO.: Z-6989 (Cont.)
Southwestern Bell: They are the applicant.
ARKLA: No comments received.
Entergy: No comments received.
Fire Department: Approved as submitted.
CATA: No comments requested.
7. STAFF ANALYSIS:
The applicant has requested a Tower Use Permit to
locate a new wireless communication facility
(WCF)including a 150 foot monopole and a 20 x 12 foot
equipment shelter.
Siting requirements are exceeded to the north, east
and west, but the distance of the tower to the south
property line which abuts residential zoning is less
than the height of the highest point on the proposed
WCF. Therefore, a Tower Use Permit is required. Staff
believes this is a good location for a WCF since it is
on existing Southwestern Bell property and is backed
up against a flood way which would preclude other
development close by that may be opposed to the WCF.
The surrounding property is heavily treed to help
naturally screen the site. WCFs are inevitable in this
area and this location would be one that would have
less direct impact on abutting property because of the
reasons described above in paragraph 2.
Staff believes this is a reasonable use of this site
and because of the nature of the surrounding
properties, its negative impact would be minimized.
The applicant is also asking for a waiver of the
landscaping and wood screening fence requirements for
this site. That request would have to go to the Board
of Directors for final approval. The applicant feels
this waiver would be justified because of the distance
from Stagecoach Road (679 feet), the natural screening
that already exists, and the nature of the surrounding
area (floodway 60 feet to the east). The site would be
within an existing chainlink fenced compound that is
always locked. So the applicant feels an additional
wood screening fence would not be needed for security,
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FILE NO.: Z-6989 (Cont.)
and that it would add no screening value because of
the reasons stated above. Staff agrees with the
applicant's justification and recommends the Planning
Commission send a favorable recommendation on to the
Board of Directors to waive the landscaping and
screening requirements.
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. Only lighting allowed is that required by State
or Federal law, and that required for safety and
security of equipment. Even that must be down
shielded and kept within the boundaries of the
site.
d. No signs, logos, decals, symbols or messages may
be displayed on the site except for a small
message containing provider identification and
emergency telephone numbers.
Staff also recommends approval of
landscaping and screening for this
request would have to go on to the
Planning Commission recommendation
decision.
SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENTS:
the waiver for
WCF. The waiver
City Board with a
for a final
(APRIL 12, 2001)
Mark Stodola was present representing the application.
Staff gave a brief description of the proposal and briefly
reviewed the comments provided to the applicant.
Staff explained why this proposal required a Tower Use
Permit and discussed the location of the proposed site in
relation to the flood way. Staff asked the applicant to
show on the site plan exactly where the flood way and flood
plane boundaries were. The issue of a higher tower was also
mentioned as reasonable for this location because of its
location and to reduce future separate towers in the area.
The applicant said they would consider a higher tower. The
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FILE NO.: Z-6989 (Cont.
applicant also stated their desire to obtain a waiver of
the landscaping and wood screening fence.
Staff reminded the applicant to provide notification by
certified mail to property owners within 200 feet no later
than April 18, 2001, and that the applicant must provide
postmarked certified outgoing receipts, the abstract list
of property owners, and the original notification letter
with affidavit completed, to Staff no later than six days
prior to the public hearing.
There being no further issues,
proposal and forwarded the item
final action.
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION:
the Committee accepted the
to the full Commission for
(MAY 3, 2001)
Mark Stodola 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 on the Consent Agenda and approved as
submitted to include staff comments and recommendations.
The vote was 10 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent.
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