HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-7034 Staff AnalysisMay 21, 2001
Item No.: 8
File No.. Z-7034
Owner: Fourche Dam Pike Partners
Address: 7701 Frazier Pike
Description: Tract F, Area 104,
Little Rock Port Industrial Park
Zoned: I-3
Variance Requested: A variance is requested from the
buffer provisions of Section 36-522
to permit a reduction in a required
street side buffer.
Justification: The applicant's justification is
presented in an attached letter.
_Present Use of Property: Distribution warehouse for
Entergy Corporation
Proposed Use of Property: Distribution warehouse for
Entergy Corporation
Staff Re ort:
A. Public Works Issues:
No Comments.
B. Landscape Review:
The Zoning Ordinance requires an average on-site buffer
width of 50 feet along Fourche Dam Pike and with a minimum
width at any point of not less than 25 feet. The Landscape
Ordinance minimum width requirement is 9 feet.
Curb and gutter or another approved border will be required
to protect landscaped areas from vehicular traffic. A water
source within 75 feet of landscaped is required.
May 21, 2001
Item No.: 8 (Cont.)
C. Staff Analysis:
Entergy Corporation's Distribution Warehouse is located on
the I-3 zoned property at 7701 Frazier Pike. The property
is occupied by a large warehouse building, a parking lot and
a large area of outdoor storage. To accommodate a need for
additional outdoor storage, Entergy proposes to convert the
existing parking lot into additional storage space. A new
parking lot is proposed to be constructed on the west end of
the building,'fronting onto Fourche Dam Pike. The new
parking lot will result in a buffer width of 2118" along the
Fourche Dam Pike frontage. The Code requires an average
street buffer width of 50 feet; with a minimum width at any
point of not less than 25 feet.
With consideration given to enhancing the remaining buffer,
staff will support the requested variance. The property is
located in the Port Industrial Park and is surrounded by
similar, I-3 Heavy Industrial zoned properties. Although
the buffer width would be reduced to 211811, there is an
additional 45± feet of grassy right-of-way area between the
property line and the paved edge of Fourche Dam Pike. The
area of the buffer is now a landscaped yard with 5-6 nice
trees. That area would be replaced with pavement. The
applicant does propose to landscape the new parking lot with
trees and shrubs along the Fourche Dam Pike frontage and to
install interior and building landscaping. The landscape
area along Fourche Dam can be enhanced by including a berm.
Installing a 3 foot tall berm as well as the required trees
and shrubs would help to mitigate the visual impact of the
loss of so much of the required buffer depth.
The Little Rock Port Authority has submitted a letter
supporting Entergy's plans with one condition; that being
that there is no outside storage any further west than the
west building line (facing Fourche Dam Pike). Staff
believes this is a reasonable request and would agree to
include it as a condition of approval of the buffer
variance.
D. Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the requested buffer variance
subject to the following conditions:
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May 21, 2001
Item No.: 8 (Cont.
1. Compliance with the City's Landscape Ordinance
including any variance or waiver as may be granted by
the City Beautiful Commission.
2. The landscape/buffer area along the Fourche Dam Pike
perimeter of the new parking lot is to include, in
addition to the required landscaping, a 3 foot tall
berm to further screen the parking lot.
3. There is to be no outside storage on the site any
further west than the west building line adjacent to
the Fourche Dam Pike perimeter.
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT:
(MAY 21, 2001)
The applicant was present. There were no objectors present.
Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval subject
to compliance with the conditions outlined in the "Staff
Recommendation" above.
The applicant offered no additional comments.
The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved as
recommended by staff. The vote was 5 ayes, 0 noes and 0 absent.
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