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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-7781 Staff AnalysisApril 28, 2005 ITEM NO.: D FILE NO.: Z-7781 Name: Adkins Day Care Family Home — Special Use Permit Location: 9617 Wilderness Road Owner: Willie and Shirley Adkins Applicant: Shirley Adkins Proposal: A Special Use Permit is requested to allow a Day Care Family to be operated in the single family residence located on the R-2 zoned property at 9617 Wilderness Road. A. Public Notification: All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified, and the West Baseline and SWLR United for Progress Neighborhood Associations were notified of the public hearing. B. Staff Analysis: 9617 Wilderness Drive is located on the southeast corner of Wilderness Road and Frontier Road. All surrounding properties are zoned R-2 and contain single family residences. There is a large area of undeveloped R-2 zoned property to the west, along the south side of Mann Road. The applicant's home is a one-story brick and frame structure, and is typical of those in the general area. The rear yard is fenced and provides a safe play area. The applicant proposes to operate the day care from 6:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., Monday through Friday. The applicant has noted that she will have one (1) employee, as required by the State Department of Human Services. There is a one -car wide driveway from Wilderness Road, with parking for three (3) vehicles (including the carport). The applicant has noted that the driveway will be widened to a two -car width, which will allow parking for two (2) additional vehicles (5 total). Staff feels that this will allow sufficient space for drop-off and pick-up of children. On inspection of the site, staff observed no vehicles parked on unpaved areas. Staff also observed no vehicles on the site which were not operational. April 28, 2005 ITEM NO.: D (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7781 The applicant notes that she has been licensed by the State to operate a day care family home at this location for approximately two (2) years. The applicant is licensed for up to 10 children. The principal use of the property will remain single family residential. No signage beyond that allowed in single family zones will be permitted. The applicant submitted a copy of the Bill of Assurance for this neighborhood, which was recorded in 1971 and appears to still be in effect. The Bill of Assurance contains the following language: 1. No lot shall be re -subdivided into nor shall any dwelling be erected or placed on any lot or building site having a width of less than 60 feet at the building line or an area of less than 6,000 square feet, and said lands shall only be used for residential purposes as set forth herein." Section 36-54(e)(3) of the City of Little Rock Zoning Ordinance establishes the site and location criteria for day care family homes as follows: Day care family home: a. This use may be located only in a single family home, occupied by the care giver and which is the full time residence of the care giver. b. Must be operated within licensing procedures established by the State of Arkansas. State regulations shall control the number of employees residing off premises. c. The use is limited to ten (10) children including the care givers. d. The minimum to qualify for special use permit is six (6) children from households other than the care givers. e. This use must obtain a special use permit in all districts where day care centers are not allowed by right. After the effective date of this subsection, no Special Use Permit will be approved for a day care family proposed to be located within 300 feet of a licensed day care center or an operating day care family home for which a Special Use Permit has previously been approved. For the purposes of this subsection, the distance between properties shall be measured in a straight line without regard to intervening structures or objects, from property line to property line. 2 April 28, 2005 ITEM NO.: D (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7781 g. All day care family homes located in the City of Little Rock are required to obtain a City of Little Rock business license and to pay an annual business tax as specified in Chapter 17. of the Code. h. A copy of the day care family home's current State of Arkansas license must be submitted to the City Collector's Office each year at the time of payment of the annual business tax. i. All vehicles must be parked on an on-site paved surface. j. All vehicles located on the site must be operational. k. All pick-up and drop-off of children shall be on the property's driveway and not on the public right-of-way unless otherwise approved by the Planning Commission. I. Special Use Permits for day care family homes shall be reviewed by staff every three (3) years for compliance with the development criteria and Planning Commission approval. m. The Fire Marshall must approve use of the residence for the proposed day care family home. Special Use Permits are not transferable in any manner. Permits cannot be transferred from owner to owner, location to location or use to use. To staffs knowledge, there are no outstanding issues associated with this application. Staff feels that the proposed day care family home at this location will have no adverse impact on the general area. Based on information provided by the State, there are no permitted/licensed day care family homes or day care centers within 300 feet of the site. C. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (JANUARY 6, 2005) Willie Adkins was present, representing the application. Staff presented the proposed special use permit request. Staff noted that inspection of the property revealed no violations of the ordinance requirements for day care family homes. Staff also noted that the applicant has been licensed by the State for a day care family at this address for approximately two (2) years. Staff noted that the proposed day care family home was not located within 300 feet of another day care family home or day care center. 3 April 28, 2005 FILE NO.: Z-7781 After the discussion, the Committee forwarded the application to the full Commission for final action. D. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the Special Use Permit to allow a day care family home at 9617 Wilderness Road, subject to the following conditions: 1. Compliance with the site and location criteria established in Section 36-54(e)(3). 2. There is to be no signage beyond that permitted in single family zones. 3. Outdoor activities, including playground use, are to be limited to day -light hours. 4. If approved, the driveway must be widened to a two -car width within 30 days of the final approval date. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (FEBRUARY 3, 2005) Staff informed the Commission that the application needed to be deferred to the March 17, 2005 Agenda due to the fact that the applicant failed to complete the notifications to surrounding property owners as required by the Commission. The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for deferral to the March 17, 2005 Agenda. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays and 2 absent. The application was deferred. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 17, 2005) Staff informed the Commission that the application needed to be deferred to the April 28, 2005 Agenda due to the fact that the applicant failed to complete the notifications to surrounding property owners as required by the Commission. The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for deferral to the April 28, 2005 Agenda. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays and 2 absent. The application was deferred. 4 April 28, 2005 ITEM NO.: D Cont. FILE NO.: Z-7781 PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (APRIL 28, 2005) Willie Adkins was present, representing the application. There was one (1) person present in opposition and one (1) person present in support. Staff presented the item with a recommendation of approval. Troy Laha addressed the Commission in opposition. He stated that he opposed all day care uses in residential areas and explained. He explained that day care uses are businesses and should not be in residential areas. Ruth Bell addressed the Commission in support. She noted that the proposed day care family home complied with all ordinance standards and should be approved. She stated that there was a need for day care family homes. Commissioner Floyd asked when the driveway would be widened. Staff stated that it would be widened within 30 days of the final approval date. The applicant, Willie Adkins, offered no additional comments. There was a motion to approve the application as recommended by staff. The motion passed by a vote of 8 ayes, 2 nays and 1 absent. The application was approved. 5