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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-8626 Staff AnalysisJanuary 6, 2011 NO.: 12 FILE NO.: Z-8626 NAME: Arkansas Baptist College Welcome Center -- Conditional Use Permit and West 17th Street Right -of - Way Abandonment LOCATION: 1700 Martin Luther King Blvd. OWNER/APPLICANT: Arkansas Baptist College PROPOSAL: A conditional use permit is requested to allow for remodeling of the existing building located on this R-4 zoned lot to be used as offices and a student welcome center. Associated with this request is a proposal to abandon the block of West 17th Street right-of-way remaining west of MLK. SITE LOCATION: The site is located at the southwest corner of West 17th and Martin Luther King Blvd. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: Although the college has properties and facilities scattered throughout the general area, the main body of the campus is located within the four blocks bounded by MLK, Marshall, 16th and 18th Streets. Campus facilities are located to the northwest. Single-family residences are located to the south. The proposed office use on this property is compatible with the area. Screening will be required along the south perimeter. Notice of the public hearing was sent to all owners of properties located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified and the Central High and Downtown Neighborhood Association. 3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: Parking requirements for colleges are determined by the total square footage of all buildings and by the total number of students; one space per three hundred (300) square feet of gross floor area or one space for every four (4) students, whichever is greater. The campus building's total square footage is 117,200 square feet and the enrollment is 1,127 students. The main part of the campus, north of 17th Street, is located in the Central High Design Overlay District. The typical requirement based on square footage is 390 spaces; 195 under the DOD. The typical requirement based on enrollment is 280 spaces; 140 under the DOD. January 6, 2011 ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont)FILE NO.: Z-8626 There are an estimated 200 spaces either existing or proposed for construction on the campus. Four new spaces are being constructed with this project. 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: Compliance with the City's Landscape and Buffer Ordinances is required. Screening is required along the south perimeter of this site, where adjacent to residential property. 5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: 1. At least twenty (20) feet of driving surface should be located on 17tn Street. The twenty (20) feet should be measured from the face of curb to the face of curb at its narrowest point. 2. For this street design, 17th Street right-of-way should be abandoned to Martin Luther King. 6. UTILITY, FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS: Wastewater: Sewer available to this project. Entergy: No comments received. Centerpoint Energy: No comments received. AT&T (SBC): No comments received. Water: NO OBJECTIONS. All Central Arkansas Water requirements in effect at the time of request for water service must be met. The Little Rock Fire Department needs to evaluate this site to determine whether additional public and/or private fire hydrant(s) will be required. If additional fire hydrant(s) are required, they will be installed at the Developer's expense. Please submit plans for water facilities and/or fire protection system to Central Arkansas Water for review. Plan revisions may be required after additional review. Contact Central Arkansas Water regarding procedures for installation of water facilities and/or fire service. Approval of plans by the Arkansas Department of Health Engineering Division and Little Rock Fire Department is required. 2 January 6, 2011 ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont. FILE NO.- Z-8626 Contact Central Arkansas Water regarding the size and location of the water meter. Due to the nature of this facility, installation of an approved reduced pressure zone backflow preventer assembly (RPZ) is required on the domestic water service. This assembly must be installed prior to the first point of use. Central Arkansas Water (CAW) requires that upon installation of the RPZA, successful tests of the assembly must be completed by a Certified Assembly Tester licensed by the State of Arkansas and approved by CAW. The test results must be sent to CAW's Cross Connection Section within ten days of installation and annually thereafter. Contact the Cross Connection Section at 377-1226 if you would like to discuss backflow prevention requirements for this project. Fire Department: Place fire hydrants per code. County Planning: No Comments, CATA: The site if located on a CATA bus route. BDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (DECEMBER 9, 2010) The applicants were present. Staff presented the item and noted additional information was needed regarding days and hours of use, signage, fencing, site lighting, trash collection and the square footage of the buildings. The applicants were asked to provide the total number of parking spaces available on the campus, the total square footage of buildings on campus and the total student enrollment. Public Works, Utility and Landscape Comments were noted. It was noted by staff that the remaining '/2 block of 17th Street right-of-way needed to be abandoned. The applicants were advised to respond to staff issues by December 15, 2010. The Committee forwarded the item to the full Commission. STAFF ANALYSIS: The R-4 zoned lot located at 1700 Martin Luther King Blvd. contains a two-story, wood frame residence. A frame duplex structure was located on the rear of the lot. The duplex has been removed. Arkansas Baptist College is requesting 3 January 6, 2011 ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont. FILE NO.: Z-8626 approval of a conditional use permit to allow for remodeling of the remaining structure for use as a welcome center and offices. The welcome center will occupy the first floor with administrative offices to be located on the second floor. A future, one-story addition for more office space is indicated to be placed on the west half of the lot. Associated with this proposal is a request to abandon the block of remaining 17th Street right-of-way located just west of MLK, north of this lot. The right-of-way for 17th Street from this site west to Marshall Street was abandoned by the City in July 2010. The area of abandoned right-of-way will become a service drive and will provide access to 4 new parking spaces to be built on this lot. Days and hours of the welcome center are proposed as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Office hours will for the most part be the same but it is possible that office use may extend past 5:00 p.m. Signage will consist of a possible wall sign and a small ground sign that is typical of signage on the rest of the campus. A 6-foot tall wood privacy fence will be constructed on the south perimeter of the site. Any new site lighting will be shielded downward and into the site. Trash will be collected by ABC staff and deposited in an existing centralized trash collection area. To staff's knowledge, there are no outstanding issues. The applicants have responded to issues raised at Subdivision Committee. The site is not located in the Central High Design Overlay District. There is no opposition from any of the reviewing agencies to abandoning the remaining'/2 block of West 17th Street, subject to the area being retained as an easement. The century -old bill of assurance for Centennial Addition does not address use issues. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: 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 4, 5 and 6 of the agenda staff report. Staff recommends approval of the abandonment of the remaining 17th Street right-of-way located north of the site, subject to the area of abandonment being retained as easements. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (JANUARY 6, 2011) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval as outlined in the "staff recommendation" El January 6, 2011 ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont.) _ FILE NO.: Z-8626 above. There was no further discussion. The item was placed on the consent agenda and approved as recommended by staff by a vote of 8 ayes, 0 noes, 1 absent and 2 open positions. 5 FILE NO.: Z-8626 NAME: Arkansas Baptist College Welcome Center — Conditional Use Permit and West 171h Street Right -of - Way Abandonment LOCATION: 1700 Martin Luther King Blvd. OWNERIAPPLICANT: Arkansas Baptist College PROPOSAL: A conditional use permit is requested to allow for remodeling of the existing building located on this R-4 zoned lot to be used as offices and a student welcome center. Associated with this request is a proposal to abandon the '/z block of West 17th Street right-of-way remaining west of MLK. SITE LOCATION: The site is located at the southwest corner of West 17th and Martin Luther King Blvd. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: Although the college has properties and facilities scattered throughout the general area, the main body of the campus is located within the four blocks bounded by MLK, Marshall, 16th and 181h Streets. Campus facilities are located to the northwest. Single-family residences are located to the south. The proposed office use on this property is compatible with the area. Screening will be required along the south perimeter. Notice of the public hearing was sent to all owners of properties located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified and the Central High and Downtown Neighborhood Association. 3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: Parking requirements for colleges are determined by the total square footage of all buildings and by the total number of students; one space per three hundred (300) square feet of gross floor area or one space for every four (4) students, whichever is greater. The campus building's total square footage is 117,200 square feet and the enrollment is 1,127 students. The main part of the campus, north of 17th Street, is located in the Central High Design Overlay District. The typical requirement based on square footage is 390 spaces; 195 under the DOD. The typical requirement based on enrollment is 280 spaces; 140 under the DOD. There are an estimated 200 spaces either existing or proposed for FILE NO.: Z-8626(Cont.) construction on the campus. Four new spaces are being constructed with this project. 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: Compliance with the City's Landscape and Buffer Ordinances is required. Screening is required along the south perimeter of this site, where adjacent to residential property. 5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: 1. At least twenty (20) feet of driving surface should be located on 171h Street. The twenty (20) feet should be measured from the face of curb to the face of curb at its narrowest point. 2. For this street design, 17th Street right-of-way should be abandoned to Martin Luther King. 6. UTILITY FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS: Wastewater: Sewer available to this project. Entergy: No comments received. Centerpoint Energy: No comments received. AT&T (SBC): No comments received. Water: NO OBJECTIONS. All Central Arkansas Water requirements in effect at the time of request for water service must be met. The Little Rock Fire Department needs to evaluate this site to determine whether additional public and/or private fire hydrant(s) will be required. If additional fire hydrant(s) are required, they will be installed at the Developer's expense. Please submit plans for water facilities and/or fire protection system to Central Arkansas Water for review. Plan revisions may be required after additional review. Contact Central Arkansas Water regarding procedures for installation of water facilities and/or fire service. Approval of plans by the Arkansas Department of Health Engineering Division and Little Rock Fire Department is required. Contact Central Arkansas Water regarding the size and location of the water meter. E FILE NO.: Z-8626 (Cont. Due to the nature of this facility, installation of an approved reduced pressure zone backflow preventer assembly (RPZ) is required on the domestic water service. This assembly must be installed prior to the first point of use. Central Arkansas Water (CAW) requires that upon installation of the RPZA, successful tests of the assembly must be completed by a Certified Assembly Tester licensed by the State of Arkansas and approved by CAW. The test results must be sent to CAW's Cross Connection Section within ten days of installation and annually thereafter. Contact the Cross Connection Section at 377-1226 if you would like to discuss backflow prevention requirements for this project. Fire Department: Place fire hydrants per code. County Planning: No Comments. CATA: The site if located on a CATA bus route. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (DECEMBER 9, 2010) The applicants were present. Staff presented the item and noted additional information was needed regarding days and hours of use, signage, fencing, site lighting, trash collection and the square footage of the buildings. The applicants were asked to provide the total number of parking spaces available on the campus, the total square footage of buildings on campus and the total student enrollment. Public Works, Utility and Landscape Comments were noted. It was noted by staff that the remaining'/2 block of 17th Street right-of-way needed to be abandoned. The applicants were advised to respond to staff issues by December 15, 2010. The Committee forwarded the item to the full Commission. STAFF ANALYSIS: The R-4 zoned lot located at 1700 Martin Luther King Blvd, contains a two-story, wood frame residence. A frame duplex structure was located on the rear of the lot. The duplex has been removed. Arkansas Baptist College is requesting approval of a conditional use permit to allow for remodeling of the remaining structure for use as a welcome center and offices. The welcome center will occupy the first floor with administrative offices to be located on the second floor. 3 FILE NO.: Z-8626 (Cont. A future, one-story addition for more office space is indicated to be placed on the west half of the lot. Associated with this proposal is a request to abandon the'/z block of remaining 17th Street right-of-way located just west of MLK, north of this lot. The right-of-way for 17th Street from this site west to Marshall Street was abandoned by the City in July 2010. The area of abandoned right-of-way will become a service drive and will provide access to 4 new parking spaces to be built on this lot. Days and hours of the welcome center are proposed as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Office hours will for the most part be the same but it is possible that office use may extend past 5:00 p.m. Signage will consist of a possible wall sign and a small ground sign that is typical of signage on the rest of the campus. A 6-foot tall wood privacy fence will be constructed on the south perimeter of the site. Any new site lighting will be shielded downward and into the site. Trash will be collected by ABC staff and deposited in an existing centralized trash collection area. To staff's knowledge, there are no outstanding issues. The applicants have responded to issues raised at Subdivision Committee. The site is not located in the Central High Design Overlay District. There is no opposition from any of the reviewing agencies to abandoning the remaining'/2 block of West 17th Street, subject to the area being retained as an easement. The century -old bill of assurance for Centennial Addition does not address use issues. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: 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 4, 5 and 6 of the agenda staff report. Staff recommends approval of the abandonment of the remaining 17th Street right-of-way located north of the site, subject to the area of abandonment being retained as easements. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (JANUARY 6, 2011) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval as outlined in the "staff recommendation" above. There was no further discussion. The item was placed on the consent agenda and approved as recommended by staff by a vote of 8 ayes, 0 noes, 1 absent and 2 open positions. 0