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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-7311 Staff AnalysisNovember 14, 2002 NO.: 9 FILE NO.- Z-7311 NAME: George Washington Carver Magnet School — Conditional Use Permit LOCATION: 2100 East 6 th Street OWNER/APPLICANT: Little Rock School District/Peters and Associates PROPOSAL: A conditional use permit is requested to allow additional parking to be constructed on this existing, R-4 zoned school campus. ORDINANCE DESIGN STANDARDS: SITE LOCATION: The campus is located on the north side of East 6 th Street, east of Fletcher Street; in the East End community. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: The school has been a part of this neighborhood for many years. Other than for a scattering of residences adjacent to the west, all other surrounding properties are nonresidential in use and zoning. Vacant, 1-3 zoned property is located north and south of this site. The Nathaniel Hill Community Complex is adjacent to the east. Allowing the proposed parking expansion should not affect the school's 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 East Little Rock Neighborhood Association were notified of this request. 3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: The school has 33 classrooms and a total of 67 employees; requiring 100 on-site parking spaces under'the current code. The site now has 58 parking spaces located on the west side of the school. This proposal would add 32 more on-site parking spaces; resulting in a total of 90 parking spaces. Bus loading/unloading takes place in a separate circular driveway located in front of the school. The new parking spaces are to be located west of the existing parking. An exit -only driveway will be opened onto Fletcher Street to improve circulation on the site. November 14, 2002 ITEM NO.: 9 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7311 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS, The proposed width of the land use buffer south of the proposed parking lot drops below the minimum width of 6.7 feet required by both the zoning and landscape ordinances. This takes into account the reduction allowed within the designated "mature area" of the city. 5. 'PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: 1. Repair or replace any curb and gutter or sidewalk that is damaged in the public right-of-way prior to occupancy. 6. UTILITY, FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS: Wastewater: Sewer availabI6, not adversely affected. Entergy: No Comments received. Reliant: No Comments received. Southwestern Bell: No Comments received. Water: If there are facilities that need to be adjusted and/or relocated, contact Central Arkansas Water. That work would be done at the expense of the developer. Fire Department: Approved as submitted. Counly Planning: No Comments received. CATA: No Comments received. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMM (OCTOBER 24, 2002) Doug Eaton and Earnest Peters, were present representing the application. Staff presented the item and noted additional information was needed regarding the number of classrooms, total number of parking spaces currently on the site, number of employees, signage and site lighting. In response to a question from staff, Mr. Eaton confirmed that the bus drop-off/pick-up area was in a separate area located in front of the school, off of East 6t Street. Public Works and Landscape Comments were presented. Mr. Peters stated the plan could be adjusted to provide the required land use buffer width. 4 November 14, 2002 ITEM NO.: 9 (Cont. LE NO.: Z-7311 The applicants were advised to provide 4 copies of a revised site plan and responses to staff issues no later than noon, Wednesday October 30, 2002. The Committee determined there were no other issues and forwarded the item to the full Commission. STAFF ANALYSIS: George Washington Carver Elementary School is located on the R-4 zoned property at 2100 East 6" Street. The school contains 33 classrooms. Bus load inglunloading takes place in a circular driveway located in front of the school. Employee and visitor parking is located on the west side of the school. 58 parking spaces are located along a circular driveway that is also used as stacking space for student drop-off/pick-up. The school district proposes to construct an additional 32 parking spaces in this area, including a one-way, exit - only driveway onto Fletcher Street. The new parking will result in a total of 90 on-site parking space; bringing the number of on-site parking spaces much closer to the current code requirement of 100 spaces for this school. The parking expansion is totally on school property and does not involve any additional property. On November 1, 2002, the applicant submitted a written response to issues raised at Subdivision Committee and reflected in the analysis above. No additional signage is proposed other than directional signage. No new site lighting is proposed. A revised site plan was not submitted. The only change that needs to be made is a slight adjustment in the proposed parking to provide the required 6.7 foot wide landscape strip along the south perimeter of the new parking area. This must occur prior to any permits being obtained for. development of the new parking area. Staff is supportive of the requested conditional use permit. To staff' s knowledge, there are no other outstanding issues. The expanded parking area should be of benefit to the neighborhood. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the conditional use permit subject to compliance with the following conditions: Compliance with staff comments and conditions outlined in Sections 4, 5 and 6 of this report. 2. Compliance with the City's Landscape and Buffer Ordinances. 3 November 14, 2002 ITEM NO.: 9 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7311 3. Any new site lighting must be low-level and directional, aimed inward to the site. 4. All new signage must not exceed office and institutional standards. 5. Three (3) copies of a revised site plan must be submitted addressing all requirements. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (NOVEMBER 14,2002) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff pres ' ented the item and a recommendation of approval subject to compliance with the conditions outlined in the "Staff Recommendation" above. There was no further discussion. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved as recommended by staff. The vote was 10 ayes, 0 noes and 1 absent. 1H