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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-7048 Staff AnalysisJune 14, 2001 ITEM NO.: 18 FILE NO.: Z-7048 NAME: City of Little Rock Visitor's Center Parking Lot Conditional Use Permit LOCATION: 619 East 6t' Street OWNER/APPLICANT: City of Little Rock PROPOSAL: Build a parking lot on the R -4A zoned property located at 619 East 6t' Street. ORDINANCE DESIGN STANDARDS: 1. SITE LOCATION: The property is located at the southeast corner of the intersection of East 6t' and Ferry Streets. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site and the Downtown and McArthur Park Neighborhood Associations were notified of the request. The property is located at the northeast corner of an R -4A zoned Neighborhood. The properties across 6t' Street and Ferry Street are zoned UU. Residential properties, containing a variety of residential uses, extend to the south and west. A large hotel is located across Ferry Street to the east. Offices and the City's Visitor Center are located to the north. The property is It block west of the 6th Street exit of I-30. With attention given to properly screening and landscaping the site, the proposed parking lot should be compatible with the neighborhood. 3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: The application consists solely of developing a small parking lot on this site. The parking lot contains 14, standard vehicle parking spaces and 3, RV spaces. A single, one-way drive accesses the site from East 6t' Street. A second, one-way drive exits the site onto Ferry Street. A variance is requested to allow the Ferry Street driveway which does not meet Ordinance spacing requirements. June 14, 2001 ITEM NO.: 18 (Cont.) 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: FILE NO.: Z-7048 Areas set aside for landscaping and buffers meet with ordinance requirements. A 6 -foot high opaque screen, either a wooden fence with its face side directed outward or dense evergreen plantings, is required along the southern and western perimeters. Curb and gutter or another approved border is required to protect landscaped areas from vehicular traffic. A water source will be required within 75 feet of all landscaped areas. 5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: 1. A 20 -foot radial dedication of right-of-way is required at the corner of East 6t'' and Ferry Streets. 2. Property frontage needs to have the sidewalks and ramps brought up to the current ADA standards. 3. Repair or replace any curb and gutter or sidewalk that is damaged in the public right-of-way prior to occupancy. 4. Plans of all work in right-of-way shall be submitted for approval prior to start of work. 5. Driveways shall conform to Sec. 31-210 or Ordinance 18,031. 6. UTILITY. FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS: No issues. 7. STAFF ANALYSIS: The City of Little Rock proposes to construct a small parking lot on the vacant, R -4A zoned property located at the southwest corner of East 6t' and Ferry Streets. The parking lot is to serve the City's new Visitor Center which is to be located in the renovated Curran Hall, across 6t' Street to the north. This small parking lot contains 14 standard vehicle parking spaces and 3 oversized, RV spaces. Single driveways are located on East 6t' and Ferry Streets. 2 June 14, 2001 ITEM NO.: 18 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7048 The property is located at the northeast corner of an R -4A zoned neighborhood, in an area of mixed uses. The properties immediately north and east of the site contain uses including offices, a large motel and a service station. The 6th Street exit ramp off of I-30 is ;� block east of the site. The properties south and west of the site contain a variety of residential uses, both single family and multifamily. The parking lot has been designed to conform to the City's Landscape and Buffer requirements. Screening will be required on the southern and western perimeters, where the parking lot is adjacent to residentially zoned properties. A single ground -mounted sign will be located at the 6t' Street entrance, east of the driveway. The sign is less than 3 feet in height and has an area of 6 square feet (2' X 31). Lighting will consist of 7, pole -mounted lights mounted around the perimeter of the parking lot. Each pole will be no more than 9.5 - 10 feet in height. Sidewalks and handicap ramps will be installed on the street frontages. The property is located within the boundary of the McArthur Park Historic District. The Historic District Commission is scheduled to review this issue at its June 7, 2001 meeting. Approval is expected and no unusual conditions are anticipated. A variance is requested to allow the driveway spacing, as shown. The driveways will be one-way entrance and exit and are necessary to accommodate the traffic flow and the expected RV traffic. Staf£ believes the proposed parking lot is an appropriate use of the site. Proper screening and landscaping should assure compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood. 8. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the requested conditional use permit subject to compliance with the following conditions: 1. Compliance with the City's Landscape and Buffer Ordinances. 3 June 14, 2001 ITEM NO.: 18 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7048 2. Compliance with Public Works Comments. 3. Signage and site lighting are to be as proposed. 4. Approval must be received from the Historic District Commission. Staff also recommends approval of the requested driveway spacing variance. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENTS: (MAY 24, 2001) Tad Borkowski, of Public Works, was present representing the applicant. Staff presented the issue. Public Works and Landscaping Comments were presented, as noted. Additional information was requested on signage and lighting. Mr. Borkowski explained the need for the driveway spacing variance. The Committee determined there were no other outstanding issues and forwarded the item to the full Commission for final resolution. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (JUNE 14, 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 Commission was informed that the Historic District Commission had not reviewed the issue but that the C.U.P. included the condition that approval must be received from the Historic District Commission. There was no further discussion. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved as recommended by staff. The vote was 7 ayes, 0 noes, 3 absent and 1 open position. 4