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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-7284 Staff AnalysisOctober 3, 2002 ITEM NO.: 12 FILE NO.: Z-7284 NAME: College Station Elementary School — Conditional Use Permit LOCATION: 4710 Frazier Pike OWNER/APPLICANT: Pulaski County Special School District/Carter- Burgess, Inc. PROPOSAL: A conditional use permit is requested to allow for construction of a tornado safe room — community room on the site of this existing, R-2 zoned elementary school. ORDINANCE DESIGN STANDARDS: SITE LOCATION: The property is in the College Station community, but is within the Little Rock city limits. The school is located on the south side of Frazier Pike, just east of its intersection with Bankhead Drive. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: The school has existed in this community for many years. The adjacent neighborhood is characterized by a mixture of single family homes, vacant lots, undeveloped tracts and non -conforming businesses. Allowing construction of the proposed tornado safe room — community room within the existing school site will not affect the school's continued compatibility with the neighborhood. All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified and the College Station Neighborhood Association were notified of this request. 3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: The site has an existing, 23 -space parking lot in front of the school and an existing, 11 -space parking lot at the rear of the school. The front lot is accessed via a circular driveway off of Frazier Pike that also serves as the bus drop-off/pick-up area. The rear lot and service areas are accessed via a separate driveway on the east side of the school. The school proposes to add one more handicap space in the front lot; bringing total October 3, 2002 ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont. FILE NO.: Z-7284 on-site parking to 35 spaces. The school has 35 classrooms and 40 employees; requiring 75 parking spaces. No increase in the number of classrooms or employees is proposed. 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: Because of the small expansion proposed, no landscaping upgrade will be required. 5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: 1. Frazier Pike is classified on the Master Street Plan as a minor arterial. A dedication of right-of-way 45 feet from centerline will be required. 2. Stormwater detention ordinance applies to this property. 6. UTILITY, FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS: Wastewater: Sewer available, not adversely affected. Entergy: Approved, as submitted. Reliant: No Comments received. Southwestern Bell: No Comments received. Water: No objection. Fire Department: Approved as submitted. County Planning: Pulaski County has no comments or concerns with this project as proposed. CATA: The site is located on a CATA Bus Route. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (SEPTEMBER 12, 2002) Sally Horsey, of Carter -Burgess, was present representing the application. Staff presented the item and made note of additional information that was needed, including: height of all existing and proposed buildings, building setbacks, signage, number of classrooms and employees, bus loading/unloading area, site lighting, dumpster location and fencing. Additional information on playground areas was also sought. 2 October 3, 2002 ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7284 Public Works and Landscape Comments were also noted. The applicant was advised to submit 4 copies of a revised site plan and responses to staff issues no later than noon, Wednesday September 18, 2002. The Committee determined there were no other issues and forwarded the item to the full Commission. STAFF ANALYSIS: College Station Elementary School is located on the R-2 zoned, 10+ acre tract at 4710 Frazier Pike. Although this is a Pulaski County Special School District school, it is within the Little Rock city limits. The campus consists of 6 buildings containing 35 classrooms and associated support facilities, two playground areas and a total of 34 parking spaces divided into two parking lots. Bus loading and unloading takes place in a circular driveway located in front of the school. The school district proposes to construct a 60' X 66.66' tornado safe room in front of the existing school buildings. This 4,150 square foot, reinforced masonry and concrete structure is designed to withstand winds up to 250 mph and the impact of objects with a speed of 100 mph. The tornado safe room will provide protection for the school's students, staff members and over 300 visitors and local residents. A playground, currently located on the site where the tornado safe room is to be constructed, will be relocated to a point behind one of the classroom buildings. One additional handicap parking space will be added to the front parking lot. No other changes are proposed to the site. On September 18, 2002, the applicant submitted a revised site plan and an addendum to the cover letter addressing those issues raised at Subdivision Committee and noted in the analysis above. Building setbacks and heights have been labeled and existing signage, fencing, bus loading/unloading, dumpster and playground have been indicated. Other than the relocation of the one, small playground, none of the other site elements will change. To staff's knowledge, there are no outstanding issues. Allowing construction of the proposed tornado safe room will have no impact on the adjacent properties and will provide an element of safety for the citizens in this area of the City. The room will also provide a location for community activities and meetings when not in use by the school. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the requested conditional use permit subject to compliance with the comments and conditions noted in the staff analysis and Sections 4, 5 and 6 of this report. K October 3, 2002 ITEM NO.: 12 Cont. FILE NO.: Z-7284 PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (OCTOBER 3, 2002) 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. Staff noted that Public Works' comment number 1 had been withdrawn; no right-of-way dedication is required. There was no further discussion. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved as recommended by staff. The vote was 9 ayes, 0 noes and 2 absent.