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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-7016 Staff AnalysisMay 3, 2001 ITEM NO.: 19 NAME: LOCATION: OWNER/APPLICANT FILE NO.: Z-7016 Faith Care/Inner City Garden Center - Conditional Use Permit 1422 Bishop Street Faith Care Corporation -Inner City FutureNet PROPOSAL: To obtain a conditional use permit for a community garden plot area with a small building for a greenhouse and tool storage on property zoned R-4, Two Family Residential. ORDINANCE DESIGN STANDARDS: 1. SITE LOCATION: This 0.16 acre site is located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Bishop and 15th Streets. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: The proposed site is well within a residential neighborhood, is zoned R-4, Two Family Residential, and is surrounded by mostly R-3, Single Family Residential zoning. There is one R-4 property directly south across 15th Street. The surrounding properties have residences on them. The proposed site was a vacant lot until it was bought by Inner City FutureNet about one year ago. There have been neighborhood garden plots on this site for several months. Staff is not aware of any adverse impact caused by this use. Staff believes that the addition of the small greenhouse will not change the compatibility or have any adverse impact. The Central High Neighborhood Association, all property owners within 200 feet, and all residents within 300 feet that could be identified, were notified of the public hearing. May 3, 2001 ITEM NO.: 19 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7016 3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: There are no ordinance parking standards for this particular use. The applicant has proposed no driveways, parking area or other vehicle access into this site. The applicant plans to use the alley on the west side of the property to make deliveries to the greenhouse. There is on -street parking allowed in this area. The garden plots are expected to continue to be used by residents in the immediate surrounding area who would walk to the site. The storage room in the proposed greenhouse where tools could be stored will encourage walking since people would not have to carry tools to the site. Therefore, Staff believes that the request to waive on-site parking is reasonable. 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: A six-foot high opaque screen is required along the northern and western perimeters of the site. This screen can be a wooden fence with its face side directed outward or dense evergreen plantings. 5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: No comments. 6. UTILITY, FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS: Water: Contact the Water Works regarding meter size and location. Wastewater: Sewer available, not adversely affected. Southwestern Bell: Approved as submitted. ARKLA: No comments received. Entergy: No comments received. Fire Department: Approved as submitted. CATA: Site is close to bus routes #9, 11 and 16 and has no effect on bus radius, turnout and route. 2 May 3, 2001 ITEM NO.: 19 (Cont.) 7. STAFF ANALYSIS: FILE NO.: Z-7016 The applicant has requested a conditional use permit to add a greenhouse to this existing garden plot site. The greenhouse would also serve as a storage area and contain a restroom. The greenhouse would be "open" with activities going on from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. normally on Saturday. The garden plots would be available during daylight hours. The area would not be lighted except for security lights on the greenhouse. Inner City FutureNet is a 501(c)(3) private non-profit organization which bought this vacant overgrown lot about a year ago. They divided it into small garden plots a few months ago to be used by the residents in the immediate area. Since then they obtained a grant from the City of Little Rock to further develop the property for the community based on the residents' desires. Recently Inner City obtained a 3 -year grant form Heifer Project International initiating a partnership to develop this community garden and greenhouse as part of the Neighborhood Property Pride Program. This is the first such partnership with Heifer Project in the South Central Region. That partnership has provided the resources to improve the garden plots and fund the greenhouse and accompanying gardening activities. The activities will focus on how to grow organic vegetables to eat and flowers to beautify the neighborhood. The proposal meets height and setback siting requirements. Opaque screening would have to be provided on the north and west sides except for reasonable access from the alley. The applicant has requested approval of a 3x3 foot sign, 5 feet tall to be placed on the site at the southeast corner. Staff considers that a reasonable sized sign. Staff believes this would be a reasonable use of this property, which would have no adverse impact on the neighborhood and be a good community -building project. 3 May 3, 2001 ITEM NO.: 19 (Cont.) 8. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: FILE NO.: Z-7016 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. 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 waiver of on-site parking and approval of the requested 3x3 sign. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENTS: (APRIL 12, 2001) The applicant was not present representing the application. Staff gave a brief description of the proposal and briefly reviewed the comments written for the applicant. Staff talked briefly with the Committee regarding the need to obtain operating hours, signage plans if any, the need for screening, and the reasoning for not having on site parking. There being no further issues, the Committee accepted the proposal and forwarded the item to the full Commission for final action. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MAY 3, 2001) Howard Gardner of Faith Care Corporation -Inner City FutureNet was present representing his 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. 4