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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-7615 Staff AnalysisMay 26, 2004 ITEM NO.: A File No.: Z-7615 Owner: James Terry Address: 2317 East 6th Street Description: The west 25 feet of Lot 15, Block 8, East End Addition Zoned: 1-3 Variance Requested: Variances are requested from the area provisions of Section 36-321 to allow construction of a building with reduced setbacks. Justification: The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter. Present Use of Property: Vacant Commercial Building Proposed Use of Property: Office STAFF REPORT A. Public Works Issues: 1. Drainage and Grading plans must be approved by Public Works Engineering, David Hamilton (501) 244-5402, prior to construction. Do not obstruct drainage from adjacent property to the west and the ditch located in the 7th Street right-of-way. B. Landscape and Buffer Issues: Area set aside for buffers and landscaping appear to meet with ordinance requirements. C. Staff Analysis: The 1-3 zoned property at 2317 E. 6th Street is occupied by a one-story frame commercial building which is in a state of disrepair. The property is located at the southwest corner of E. 6th and Calhoun Streets. The site May 26, 2004 ITEM NO.: A (Cont. contains no off-street parking. The remainder of the property is mostly grass covered. The lot has dimensions of 25 feet wide and 144 feet deep. The lot was originally platted as 50 feet wide, but the east 25 feet of the lot was taken for Calhoun Street right-of-way at some point in the past. The applicant proposes to remove the existing structure and construct a 20 foot by 30 foot building within the north Y2 of the property for use as an office. The building will be located 40 feet from the front property line and 5 feet from the side (west) property line. The applicant proposes to locate the building on the east property line with a 0 side setback. As part of the lot redevelopment, the applicant proposes to construct two (2) paved parking spaces on the south side of the proposed building. The parking will be accessed by way of a new drive from Calhoun Street. The proposed use of the building as office requires one (1) off-street parking space. Section 36-321(e)(1) of the City's Zoning Ordinance requires a minimum front setback off 50 feet. Section 36-321(e)(2) requires side yard setbacks (east and west sides) of 30 feet. Therefore, the applicant is requesting variances from these ordinance standards. Staff does not support the requested variances. Although staff recognizes the fact that the right-of-way dedication for Calhoun Street cut the size of the lot in half some time in the past, staff has informed the applicant that the appropriate way to request a re -development plan for the property would be through the PZD (Planned Zoning Development) rezoning process. However, the applicant chose to file a variance application to the Board of Adjustment. Staff's main reason for requesting the PZD process be used is so that the use of the property could be tied down. The applicant is proposing office use for the building. Other 1-3 permitted uses (such as warehouse) require more parking. The Board of Adjustment does not handle use issues and cannot restrict the use of the proposed building, as the zoning controls the use. Staff suggests that the applicant file a PZD rezoning application for the property, so that the use issues, as well as other possible site design issues, can be addressed. D. Staff Recommendations: Staff recommends denial of the requested variances. 4 May 26, 2004 NO.: A (Cont. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (MAY 26, 2004) Staff informed the Board that the "staff recommendation" had changed to approval with the following conditions: 1. Compliance with the Public Works requirements as noted in paragraph A. of the staff report. 2. Compliance with the City's Landscape and Buffer Ordinances. 3. Any future uses of the building which require (as per section 36-502) more than two (2) off-street parking spaces, must be brought back to the Board of Adjustment for a parking variance to be addressed. The item was place on the Consent Agenda and approved as recommended by staff by a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent. 3