HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-7991 Staff AnalysisMarch 2, 2006
ITEM NO.: 11 FILE NO.: Z-7991
NAME: MEMS Ambulance Substation —
Conditional Use Permit
LOCATION: #3 Pine Mountain Road
OWNER/APPLICANT: Christopher Maris/MEMS
PROPOSAL: A conditional use permit is requested to allow a
MEMS ambulance substation to be located in the
existing residence located on this R-2 zoned property.
1. SITE LOCATION:
The property is located on the east side of Pine Mountain Road; just off of
Pinnacle Valley Road at Cantrell Road.
2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD:
The property is located in an area of mixed zoning and uses. The PCD
zoned properties to the east contain a landscape service company;
mini -warehouses and commercial uses. A PD -O zoned veterinary clinic is
located slightly west of the site. Cantrell Road and the new alignment of
Pinnacle Valley Road are located to the south. A variety of commercial
uses extend west of the intersection. Single-family homes are located
along Pine Mountain Road. Under the applicant's proposal, this property
would continue to maintain its residential appearance. Other than for
parking an ambulance, there would be no external evidence of the use
change.
All owners of properties within 200 feet of the site, all residents within
300 feet who could be identified and the Secluded Hills, Westchester,
Westbury and River Valley Neighborhood Associations were notified of
this proposal.
3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING:
The site contains a singlewide concrete driveway and a two -car wide,
paved parking pad. The parking pad will serve as parking for the two
employees who are on duty. The ambulance will be parked in the
driveway. MEMS proposes to widen the driveway from its existing width
of 12 feet to 17 feet to better accommodate the ambulance. The
proposed parking is sufficient for the use and maintains the residential
appearance of the site.
March 2, 2006
ITEM NO.: 11 (Con
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SCREENING AND BUFFERS:
FILE NO.: Z-7991
Site plan must comply with the City's minimal landscape and buffer
minimal ordinance requirements.
Screening of vehicular use areas and landscaping will be required with
any new vehicular use areas.
Any adjoining property that is zoned residential will also require a six (6)
foot high opaque screen, either a wooden fence with its face side directed
outward, a wall, or dense evergreen plantings.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS:
No Comments.
UTILITY, FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS:
Wastewater: Sewer available, not adversely affected.
Entergy: No Comments received.
CenterPoint Energy: No Comments received.
Southwestern Bell: No Comments received.
Water: If this conditional use permit is approved and this becomes a
MEMS facility, the customer should contact Central Arkansas Water to
request that the water account be changed to commercial status.
Fire Department: Approved as submitted.
County Planning: No Comments.
CATA: The site is not located on a CATA bus route.
SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (FEBRUARY 9, 2006)
The applicant was present. Staff presented the item and noted there was little
additional information needed. Staff asked the applicant to provide a copy of the
bill of assurance. The applicant was also asked if this was a permanent use or
only temporary until a different site was located. Staff presented the conditions,
which had been offered by the applicant. Utility, Public Works and Landscape
Comments were noted.
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March 2, 2006
ITEM NO.: 11 (Cont.
FILE NO.: Z-7991
The applicant discussed the need to have a substation to serve this part of the
City. He stated the nearest substation was at Rodney Parham and Treasure
Hills. He stated an ambulance occasionally parked at Chenal and Bowman.
The applicant was advised to respond to staff issues by February 15, 2006. The
Committee forwarded the item to the full Commission.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services (MEMS) proposes to utilize the
existing R-2 zoned, single-family residence at #3 Pine Mountain Road as an
ambulance substation. Other than for a slight widening of the driveway, no
changes will be made to the property. Two employees will be located at the
house on a rotating 24 hours on — 48 hours off basis. No changes will be made
to the residence. Employees receive calls on hand-held radios or cell phones.
An ambulance will be parked in the residence's driveway. The on -duty
employees will park on the existing parking pad adjacent to the house.
Staff is supportive of the proposed use. MEMS has submitted the following list
of conditions which will be attached to their use of the property:
• We will house a crew on a rotating 24 hours on, 48 hours off basis (same as
the fire department)
• We agree not to turn on the siren until we approach the intersection at
Cantrell, or until we pass the neighbors in the cases where we are turning
towards Maumelle Park.
• As far as improvements we would like to widen the driveway by 5' to allow for
the ambulance to enter the drive more easily.
■ There is an existing concrete pad beside the house that will be adequate
parking for the two employee's cars that are on duty.
• We have no plans for signage other than a sign (approx. 6" X 12") at the front
door that explains if an ambulance is not in quarters and you need help to call
911.
• We expect no public traffic.
The City's adopted land use plan shows this area to be Transition, which is
appropriate for office uses. In this case, the proposal is to maintain the
residential character of the property while allowing the substation use. It is likely,
in fact, that this use may serve as a holding use for the property. There is a
potential that long-term the larger area around this site may redevelop as some
thing other than the existing, detached single family. The applicant has stated
this may not be a permanent use; that the substation may relocate in the future,
perhaps in conjunction with a new fire station. No commitment on any type of
time frame can be made at this point.
K
March 2, 2006
ITEM NO.: 11 (Cont.
FILE NO.: Z-7991
The bill of assurance for Pine Mountain Subdivision was created in 1958 and
appears to still be valid. Section 1 of the bill of assurance contains the following
statement:
No lot other than Lot "P" shall be used except for residential purposes.
The subject property is Lot "O".
In light of the specifics of this proposal, staff supports a waiver of the screening
requirements. The driveway is located on the south side of the lot where there is
no abutting residential property. There is no outside activity other than for
parking of the ambulance.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the requested C.U.P. subject to compliance with
the conditions proposed by MEMS.
Staff recommends approval of a variance from the screening and buffer
requirements.
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION:
(MARCH 2, 2006)
The applicant was present. There was one objector present. Staff informed the
Commission that, on March 2, 2006, the applicant had requested withdrawal of
the item.
A motion was made to waive the bylaws to accept the late withdrawal request.
The motion was approved by a vote of 10 ayes, 0 noes and 1 absent. The item
was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved for withdrawal by a vote of
10 ayes, 0 noes and 1 absent.
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