HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-7237 Staff AnalysisJune 24, 2002
ITEM N
File No.:
Z-7237
Owner:
JSW, LLC
Address:
801 West 3rd Street
Description:
East Y2 of Lots 10, 11 and 12, Block 142,
Original City of Little Rock
Zoned:
UU
Variance Requested:
Variances are requested from the area and
development provisions of Section 36-
342.1 to allow a building addition which is
not located along the front property line, '
with the front fagade having less than 60%
transparent or window display.
Justification:
Present Use of Property:
Proposed Use of Property:
STAFF REPORT
A. Public Works Issues:
No issues.
B. Landscape and Buffer Issues:
The applicant's justification is presented in
an attached letter.
Law Office
Law Office
A landscaping upgrade toward compliance with the Landscape Ordinance
equal to the building expansion (21 %) proposed will be required.
C. Staff Analvsis:
The UU zoned property at 801 West 3rd Street is occupied by a one-story
brick office building. There is an asphalt parking lot on the south side of
the building, with access from State Street. The property owner proposes
to construct a 12 foot by 42 foot addition to the existing office building.
The proposed addition will be located along the west side of the building.
June 24, 2002
Item No.: 8 (C
The property owner is requesting two (2) variances from the Urban Use
District area and development provisions of Section 36-342.1 for the
proposed addition.
The first variance is from the area provisions of Section 36-342.1(f)(1).
This section requires that buildings be constructed to front property lines,
with a zero (0) front yard setback. The applicant proposes to locate the
building addition 33 feet back from the front (West 3rd Street) property
line. The applicant has noted that pushing the building addition to the
front property line would negatively change the architecture of the
building, and eliminate existing landscaping at the northwest corner of the
building.
The second variance is from the development provisions of Section
36-342.1(c)(8). This section reads as follows:
"Street -level floor. The ground -level (street fronting) floor
of nonresidential structures shall have a minimum surface
area of sixty (60) percent transparent or window display."
The applicant is requesting a variance from this requirement based on the
fact that the building addition will not be located on the front property line,
nor readily visible from West 3rd Street.
Staff is supportive of the variance requests. Staff feels that locating the
building addition on the front (West 3rd Street) property line would serve
no real purpose, and not be compatible with the other properties within
this block which front on West 3r Street. These other properties which
front on West 3rd Street have buildings with front setbacks of 15 feet or
greater. Additionally, constructing the building addition at the front
property line would eliminate a nice existing landscaped area at the
northwest corner of the building. Staff also feels that the requested
variance from the 60% glass coverage for the front fagade is reasonable.
The front of the building addition will be set back approximately 33 feet
from the front property line, and not very visible from West P Street.
D. Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the requested variances, subject to
compliance with the landscape and buffer requirement as noted in
paragraph B. of this report.
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June 24, 2002
Item No.: 8
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (JUNE 24, 2002)
The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented
the item and a recommendation of approval.
The applicant offered no additional comments.
The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved as recommended by
staff by a vote of 5 ayes and 0 nays.
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