Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-8325 Staff AnalysisFILE NO.: 315 NAME: Welspun Annexation & zoning REQUEST: 801.56 acres plus or minus to the City LOCATION: West of the Arkansas River, south and east of Frazier Pike & Thibault Road SOURCE: Jane Dikey, Agent for the Property Owners GENERAL INFORMATION: • The County Judge held a hearing and signed the Annexation Order on March 4, 2008. • The area requested for consideration is currently undeveloped. • There is two tracts with one owner. • The site is contiguous to the City of Little Rock along part of two sides. ■ The annexation request is to obtain sewer service and other City services. • The area in question is a larger area along the Arkansas river bank south of the Little Rock Port and west beyond Frazier Pike some 1300 plus feet. • Currently the property is not zoned. • The property owners have indicated they intend to develop this land as an industrial complex. AGENCY COMMENTS: Public Safety: Fire: The Little Rock Fire Department has indicated they have no issues with the annexation of this land. Police: The Little Rock Police Department reports they have no issues with the proposed annexation. Infrastructure and Community Facilities: Central Arkansas Transit: No Comment Received. There is no regularly schedule bus route close to this site. Parks and Recreation: No Comment Received. FILE NO.: 315 Cont. Public Works: Public Works Solid Waste indicated they have no issues and that waste disposal would be by private contract. Public Works Engineering indicates that the County is to make improvements to Thibault Road and Frazier Pike is to be closed through the site. If this occurs there would be no maintenance issues with Frazier Pike. There may be a need for an additional emergency siren to fully cover the site. Utilities: Central Arkansas Water: Central Little Rock Water has no objection to the annexation. All water service to existing or proposed structures will be borne by the developer. Entergy: No Comment Received. Reliant -Energy: No Comment Received. Wastewater Utility: The Little Rock Wastewater Utility indicates they have no objection to the annexation. However they note that Welspun must follow the procedures of Ordinances 17,965, 19,047, and 19,895 as well as receive written approval prior to connection to the Little Rock Wastewater System. Southwestern Bell: No Comment Received. Schools: Little Rock: No Comment Received. Pulaski County Special: No Comment Received. ANALYSIS: The 800 plus acres requesting annexation is low and has been used primarily for agricultural uses in the past. There are industrial buildings under construction in the southeast quadrant of the annexation area. There are no homes adjacent to the annexation area. The lands surrounding the land under request are agricultural to the south and west with industrial lands to the north. The Little Rock Port Industrial Park is to the north and northwest of the site. The Arkansas River is the eastern boundary of the site. The proposal is to construct and operate a large industrial development on this land. The development would be industrial in nature, initial constructed drilling 4 FILE NO.: 315 (Cont. equipment on site. The owner will use the port as well as rail and interstate connections to receive and distribute materials related to the operation. The Land Use Plan shows this land as Industrial. The City does not exercise extra -territorial zoning in this area. Therefore this land and lands to the south, west and immediate north are all not zoned. The land to the northwest and a little further to the north is all zoned 1-3, Heavy Industrial. This is part of the Little Rock Industrial Port, with manufacturing, distribution and related businesses on much of the zoned land. Outside the current City Limits there are also some manufacturing and distribution firms to the west of the site requesting annexation in areas not zoned. The Little Rock Wastewater Utility has a major treatment facility to the immediate north in an unzoned area. Most of the land to the south and east is agricultural in nature. All this land is low and within the Flood Plain. There are a few homes on this agricultural land. The Little Rock Port Authority has made some initial indications that it may expand into land to the east of this annexation area. The result of this action would be additional industrial lands to the east. The existing agricultural lands would be transformed into industrial sites. There is a Central Arkansas Transit route that serves the Little Rock Port area. It is Route 20 (College Station), however the closest the route gets to the annexation site is the intersection of Fourche Dam Pike with Sloane -Frazier Pike. This intersection is a mile or so to the northwest of the northern boundary of this annexation. Currently Frazier Pike traverses the western part of the annexation area, in a north -south direction. Frazier Pike is classified as a minor arterial and is not constructed to standard. Additional right-of-way and paving width is necessary to meet standard. It should be noted that the applicant has talked with the County and City about making improvements to Thibault Road to the west and closing Frazier Pike through their property. Preliminary work has begun on and along Thibault Road to improve so that this might occur. This change would also move the Minor Arterial designation to Thibault Road, which is currently classified as a Collector. There are existing 16-inch water lines both along Frazier Pike and Zeuber Roads. The line along Frazier Pike stops just north of the annexation area. The line along Zeuber Road is over half a mile to the west of the annexation area. Extension of water service to this site would be at the cost of the developer. The closest wastewater line is along Frazier Pike. Extension and connections would be done at the cost of the developers. The closest fire station is located along Lindsey Road just west of Fourche Dam Pike. This station is just over 1.5 miles from the northern boundary of the annexation area. The Little Rock Fire Department has indicated they have reviewed the request and have no issues with the annexation as filed. 3 FILE NO.: 315 (Cont. The use appears to be consistent with the area. That is the industrialization of lands along the Arkansas River and south of Interstate 440. Development of this land takes advantage of the existing river, rail and highway access. The zoning is consistent with the City's adopted Land Use Plan for the area and compatible with the uses in .place and developing to the north and west. The review of the annexation request has not turned up any agencies expressing concern. The developers of the land have been working with both the City and County to address infrastructure issues around the site. The development is seen as a major economic plus to Little Rock and the Central Arkansas area. Staff Recommendation: Approval of the annexation and zoning of the land to 1-3, Heavy industrial. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (APRIL 10, 2008) The item was placed on the consent agenda for approval. By a vote of 11 for and 0 against the consent agenda was approved. 2 April 10, 2008 ITEM NO.: 13 FILE NO.: 315 NAME: Welspun Annexation & zoning REQUEST: 801.56 acres plus or minus to the City LOCATION: West of the Arkansas River, south and east of Frazier Pike & Thibault Road SOURCE: Jane Dikey, Agent for the Property Owners GENERAL INFORMATION: ■ The County Judge held a hearing and signed the Annexation Order on March 4, 2008. • The area requested for consideration is currently undeveloped. ■ There is two tracts with one owner. • The site is contiguous to the City of Little Rock along part of two sides. • The annexation request is to obtain sewer service and other City services. • The area in question is a larger area along the Arkansas river bank south of the Little Rock Port and west beyond Frazier Pike some 1300 plus feet. • Currently the property is not zoned. • The property owners have indicated they intend to develop this land as an industrial complex. AGENCY COMMENTS: Public Safety: Fire: The Little Rock Fire Department has indicated they have no issues with the annexation of this land. Police: The Little Rock Police Department reports they have no issues with the proposed annexation. Infrastructure and Community Facilities: Central Arkansas Transit: No Comment Received. There is no regularly schedule bus route close to this site. Parks and Recreation: No Comment Received. April 10, 2008 ITEM NO.: 13 Cont. FILE NO.: 315 Public Works: Public Works Solid Waste indicated they have no issues and that waste disposal would be by private contract. Public Works Engineering indicates that the County is to make improvements to Thibault Road and Frazier Pike is to be closed through the site. If this occurs there would be no maintenance issues with Frazier Pike. There may be a need for an additional emergency siren to fully cover the site. Utilities: Central Arkansas Water: Central Little Rock Water has no objection to the annexation. All water service to existing or proposed structures will be borne by the developer. Entergy: No Comment Received. Reliant -Energy: No Comment Received. Wastewater Utility: The Little Rock Wastewater Utility indicates they have no objection to the annexation. However they note that Welspun must follow the procedures of Ordinances 17,965, 19,647, and 19,895 as well as receive written approval prior to connection to the Little Rock Wastewater System. Southwestern Bell: No Comment Received. Schools: Little Rock: No Comment Received. Pulaski County Special: No Comment Received. ANALYSIS: The 800 plus acres requesting annexation is low and has been used primarily for agricultural uses in the past. There are industrial buildings under construction in the southeast quadrant of the annexation area. There are no homes adjacent to the annexation area. The lands surrounding the land under request are agricultural to the south and west with industrial lands to the north. The Little Rock Port Industrial Park is to the north and northwest of the site. The Arkansas River is the eastern boundary of the site. 2 April 10, 2008 ITEM NO.: 13 (Cont.) FILE NO.: 315 The proposal is to construct and operate a large industrial development on this land. The development would be industrial in nature, initial constructed drilling equipment on site. The owner will use the port as well as rail and interstate connections to receive and distribute materials related to the operation. The Land Use Plan shows this land as Industrial. The City does not exercise extra -territorial zoning in this area. Therefore this land and lands to the south, west and immediate north are all not zoned. The land to the northwest and a little further to the north is all zoned 1-3, Heavy Industrial. This is part of the Little Rock Industrial Port, with manufacturing, distribution and related businesses on much of the zoned land. Outside the current City Limits there are also some manufacturing and distribution firms to the west of the site requesting annexation in areas not zoned. The Little Rock Wastewater Utility has a major treatment facility to the immediate north in an unzoned area. Most of the land to the south and east is agricultural in nature. All this land is low and within the Flood Plain. There are a few homes on this agricultural land. The Little Rock Port Authority has made some initial indications that it may expand into land to the east of this annexation area. The result of this action would be additional industrial lands to the east. The existing agricultural lands would be transformed into industrial sites. There is a Central Arkansas Transit route that serves the Little Rock Port area. It is Route 20 (College Station), however the closest the route gets to the annexation site is the intersection of Fourche Dam Pike with Sloane -Frazier Pike. This intersection is a mile or so to the northwest of the northern boundary of this annexation. Currently Frazier Pike traverses the western part of the annexation area, in a north -south direction. Frazier Pike is classified as a minor arterial and is not constructed to standard. Additional right-of-way and paving width is necessary to meet standard. It should be noted that the applicant has talked with the County and City about making improvements to Thibault Road to the west and closing Frazier Pike through their property. Preliminary work has begun on and along Thibault Road to improve so that this might occur. This change would also move the Minor Arterial designation to Thibault Road, which is currently classified as a Collector. There are existing 16-inch water lines both along Frazier Pike and Zeuber Roads. The line along Frazier Pike stops just north of the annexation area. The line along Zeuber Road is over half a mile to the west of the annexation area. Extension of water service to this site would be at the cost of the developer. The closest wastewater line is along Frazier Pike. Extension and connections would be done at the cost of the developers. 3 April 10, 2008 ITEM NO.: 13 Cont. FILE NO.: 315 The closest fire station is located along Lindsey Road just west of Fourche Dam Pike. This station is just over 1.5 miles from the northern boundary of the annexation area. The Little Rock Fire Department has indicated they have reviewed the request and have no issues with the annexation as filed. The use appears to be consistent with the area. That is the industrialization of lands along the Arkansas River and south of Interstate 440. Development of this land takes advantage of the existing river, rail and highway access. The zoning is consistent with the City's adopted Land Use Plan for the area and compatible with the uses in place and developing to the north and west. The review of the annexation request has not turned up any agencies expressing concern. The developers of the land have been working with both the City and County to address infrastructure issues around the site. The development is seen as a major economic plus to Little Rock and the Central Arkansas area. Staff Recommendation: Approval of the annexation and zoning of the land to 1-3, Heavy industrial. 0 April 10, 2008 ITEM NO.: 13 Cont. FILE NO.: 315 The closest fire station is located along Lindsey Road just west of Fourche Dam Pike. This station is just over 1.5 miles from the northern boundary of the annexation area. The Little Rock Fire Department has indicated they have reviewed the request and have no issues with the annexation as filed. The use appears to be consistent with the area. That is the industrialization of lands along the Arkansas River and south of Interstate 440. Development of this land takes advantage of the existing river, rail and highway access. The zoning is consistent with the City's adopted Land Use Plan for the area and compatible with the uses in place and developing to the north and west. The review of the annexation request has not turned up any agencies expressing concern. The developers of the land have been working with both the City and County to address infrastructure issues around the site. The development is seen as a major economic plus to Little Rock and the Central Arkansas area. Staff Recommendation: Approval of the annexation and zoning of the land to 1-3, Heavy industrial. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (APRIL 10, 2008) The item was placed on the consent agenda for approval. By a vote of 11 for and 0 against the consent agenda was approved. M