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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-8580 Staff AnalysisAugust 26, 2010 ITEM NO.: 9 LOCATION: OWNER/APPLICANT FILE NO.: 2 Arkansas Baptist College Student Lounge — Conditional Use Permit 1515 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive Arkansas Baptist College PROPOSAL_: A conditional use permit is requested to allow for construction of a student lounge to serve Arkansas Baptist College on this R-3 zoned property. 2 3 SITE LOCATION: The site is located on the east side of Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, between West 15th and West 16th Streets. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD - The property is located within the larger Arkansas Baptist College campus area. Although outside of the main campus body, this property and several others along MLK are being used or are proposed to be used for the college. Parking will be on existing campus parking lots. Uses in the general area are varied and include residential, commercial and the college. Staff believes the proposed use is appropriate for the site. All owners of properties located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified and the Central High, Downtown and Wright Avenue Neighborhood Associations were notified of the Commission meeting. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: The proposed use of the property is a student lounge building to serve the students at the college. Parking is already provided for the students who will then walk to the student lounge. No parking is proposed on this site. Staff supports a parking variance to not require on -site parking for this lot. 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: Site plan must comply with the City's landscape and buffer ordinances requirements. Street trees are both highly encouraged and appreciated. August 26, 2010 ITEM NO.: 9 (Contl FILE NO.: Z-8580 Screening is required on the north and south property lines, from the front setback line to the rear property line. 5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: 1. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive is classified on the Master Street Plan as a collector street. A dedication of right-of-way thirty (30) feet from centerline will be required. Revise plan to show the centerline of the right-of-way. 6. UTILITY, FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS. Wastewater: Sewer available to this project. Entergy: No comment received. Centerpoint Energy: No comment received. AT&T (SBC): No comment received. Water: NO OBJECTION. All Central Arkansas Water requirements in effect at the time of request for water service must be met. Contact Central Arkansas Water regarding the size and location of the water meter. Fire Department: Approved as submitted. County Planning: No Comments. CATA: The site is located on a CATA bus route. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (AUGUST 5, 2010) Robert Turner was present representing the College. Staff presented the item and noted additional information was needed regarding signage, fencing, site lighting, typical hours of usage and building materials. Staff asked if there would be any outside use area. Public Works, Utility and Landscape Comments were noted. 2 August 26, 2010 ITEM NO.: 9 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-8580 The applicant was advised to respond to staff issues by August 11, 2010. The Committee determined there were no outstanding issues and forwarded the item to the full Commission. STAFF ANALYSIS: Arkansas Baptist College is requesting approval of a conditional use permit to allow for construction of a student lounge building on the vacant, R-3 zoned lot located at 1515 Martin Luther King Drive. The building will be one-story in height and will comply with the required zoning setbacks. The building will have a prefinished painted metal exterior. The front of the building and '/ of the way down the sides will have a stone and EIFS finish similar to other buildings on the campus. Signage will consist of a ground sign and wall signage on the building's facade facing the street. A six-foot tall wood privacy fence will be erected on the north and south property lines, from the front setback line to the rear property line. The front yard will be landscaped. Two post -top pedestrian light fixtures on 14-foot tall poles will be placed on either side of the entry plaza in the front yard. Lighting will comply with dark sky regulations. The interior of the building is basically one large room with separate restrooms, a janitor's closet and storage room. Amenities will include a television, wireless internet access, vending machines and various seating configurations. The lounge will also be used as a small assembly area for student meetings or group sessions. The College does not currently have a formal student lounge area and this facility will help to meet that need. Parking will be provided at existing parking lots on the campus. No on -site parking is needed since the lounge is to serve the students who are already on the campus. Hours of usage are proposed as 10:00 a.m. = 9:00 p.m., seven days a week. No outside use area is proposed. No dumpster is proposed. To staff's knowledge, there are no outstanding issues. The applicant provided responses to the questions raised at Subdivision Committee and noted in the analysis above. The century -old bill of assurance for Centennial Addition is handwritten and illegible but likely does hot address use issues. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the requested CUP subject to compliance with the following conditions: 1. Compliance with the comments and conditions outlined in Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the agenda staff report. 3 August 26, 2010 ITEM NO.: 9 Cont. FILE NO.: Z-8580 2. Signage is to be limited to that allowed in the office -institutional zones. 3. All uses are to remain within the enclosed building. Staff recommends approval of a parking variance to allow no on -site parking. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (AUGUST 26, 2010) The applicants were present. There was one objector present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval as outlined in the "staff recommendation" above. Billy Owens, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice-president of Arkansas Baptist College, spoke on behalf of the application. He stated the school's enrollment had grown to about 1,100 students and there was a need for a student lounge . Mr. Owens stated the College did not desire to create any problems for the neighborhood. He said the building would be used only during specified hours and would be insulated for sound. Mr. Owens stated the Campus' security officers would assure there were no problems. Bobbie Singleton, of 1515 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, spoke of concerns she had. She stated she was not opposed to the expansion of the College but she was opposed to having the student lounge so close to her home. She voiced concerns about trash, noise and traffic. She asked if a screening fence would be placed between her property and the student lounge site. Billy Owens responded that the College had staff that went out every morning to pick up trash on the ABC campus. Dana Carney, of the Planning staff, stated a six (6) foot tall, wood privacy fence would be erected along the north and south property lines of the student lounge property. He stated the fence would be constructed in "good neighbor" fashion; with the finished side facing out. In response to a question from Commissioner Devine, Mr. Owens stated the College was committed to work with the neighbors and to be a good neighbor. He said they would meet with Ms. Singleton to address her concerns. A motion was made to approve the application, including all staff comments and conditions. The motion was approved by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 noes, 1 absent and 1 open position. n