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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-8104 Staff AnalysisSeptember 28, 2006 ITEM NO.: 12 FILE NO.: Z-8104 NAME: Rawls Electronics Recycling Center — Conditional Use Permit LOCATION: 801 South Chester Street OWNER/APPLICANT: Clarence Rawls PROPOSAL: A conditional use permit is requested to allow an electronics recycling center utilizing the garage bays in this existing service station building. The property is zoned UU. 1. SITE LOCATION: The site is located at the southeast corner of Chester and West 8th Streets. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: The site is located within the densely developed downtown area. Uses are varied in the immediate area; including warehouses, a television studio, restaurants, theatre, the Central Fire Station and the 1-630 Interstate. The recycling facility consists of receiving and storing electronics in the existing garage bays. There will be no outside storage of materials. Since the use will be enclosed, staff believes the use could be compatible with uses in the area. All owners of properties located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet of the site who could be identified and the Downtown Neighborhood Association were notified of this request. 3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: The site is fully developed with driveways onto West 8th Street only. No access is permitted onto Chester Street due to the proximity of the site to the 1-630/Chester Street interchange. Parking is available at both pump islands and in front of the building. There appears to be adequate parking available for the proposed use. 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: No Comments. September 28, 2006 ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont. 5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: WW: 1. Chester Street is classified on the Master Street Plan as a minor arterial. A dedication of right-of-way 45 feet from centerline will be required. Provide survey showing centerline of Chester Street. 2. A 20 feet radial dedication of right-of-way is required at the intersection of Chester Street and 8tn Street if not already dedicated. 6. UTILITY, FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS: Wastewater: Sewer available to this property. Entergy: No Comments received. CenterPoint Energy: No Comments received. AT&T (SBC): No Comments received. Water: Contact Central Arkansas Water if larger and/or additional water meter(s) are required. Fire Department: No Comments received. County Planning: No Comments. CATA: The site is located on a CATA Bus Route. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT (SEPTEMBER 7, 2006) The applicant was present. Staff presented the item and noted little additional information was needed. Staff requested the applicant provide the days and hours of operation and describe measures to prohibit after-hours dumping on the site. Staff asked the applicant to locate the dumpster on the site plan. The applicant responded that there will be no dumpster on the site. The applicant stated that, unlike other recycling drop-offs the City has had experience with, there will be no outside recycling containers that might tempt someone to leave items after hours. In response to a question, the applicant stated he would use a box truck for some pick-up of recyclables from area businesses and a semi -truck would come to the site on a regular basis to pick up collected materials and transfer them. 2 September 28, 2006 ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-8104 Public Works Comments were noted. The applicant was advised to respond to staff issues by September 13, 2006. The Committee forwarded the item to the full Commission. STAFF ANALYSIS: The UU zoned property located at 801 South Chester Street is occupied by a vacant service station. The applicant is in the process of reopening the service station for the sales of bio -fuels. The applicant also proposes to operate an electronics recycling facility on the site. It is the recycling center that requires a C.U.P. in the UU district. The site is proposed to be used as a transfer station for temporary storage of electronic materials enroute to reuse or recycling. Such electronic materials include computers and peripherals, fax machines, copiers, cell phones, microwaves and other devices containing electronic components. Hazardous waste will not be stored at the site. Electronic materials collected would be taken from offices or homes to this facility in order to be palletized and then shipped to an electronics processing facility. The materials will be kept in the building, in the former service bays. There will be no outside storage. The applicant will utilize a box truck for some pick-up of items. A semi -truck will regularly visit the site to pick up the collected items for transfer. Hours of operation for the recycling center have not been finalized but the applicant anticipates accepting materials during the hours of 8:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The applicant's business plan focuses on receiving materials from area businesses. The center will not be presented as being generally open to the public. The applicant anticipates offering consumer e -waste on Saturday mornings from 7:00 a.m. — 12:00 noon. Hours of operation are not a sensitive issue due the site's relationship with surrounding uses and zoning. Signage will be restricted to wall/canopy placement and will fall within applicable standards for UU zoning. There will be no outside storage of materials or equipment other than the applicants box truck, which is used for pick-up of electronics. There is no bill of assurance issue for this Original City of Little Rock site. Staff is supportive of the proposed use. Allowing this enclosed recycling operation, as proposed, should have no effect on nearby properties. 3 September 28, 2006 ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: FILE NO.: Z-8104 Staff recommends approval of the requested C.U.P. subject to compliance with the following conditions: 1. Compliance with the comments and conditions outlined in Sections 5 of the agenda staff report. 2. There is to be no outside storage of materials or equipment. 3. The recycling center is to be only for recycling of electronics. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (SEPTEMBER 28, 2006) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the application with a recommendation of approval. The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for approval. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, and 2 absent. The application was approved. 12