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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-8831 Staff Analysis1►1 Planning Staff Comments: SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENTS DECEMBER 20, 2012 1. The Original City of Little Rock Bill of Assurance does not address use issues. 2. Provide signage plan. 3. Provide square footage of structure. 4. Provide days of operation. Variance/Waivers: Parking Public Works: 1. At time of building permit, repair or replace any curb and gutter or sidewalk that is damaged in the public right-of-way prior to occupancy. Utilities and Fire Department/CounV Planning Wastewater: Sewer available to this project. Entergy: Approved as submitted. Relocation costs apply if required. Centerpoint Energy: No comment received. AT&T (SBC): No comment received. Water: 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. If there are facilities that need to be adjusted and/or relocated, contact Central Arkansas Water. That work would be done at the expense of the developer. Contact Central Arkansas Water if additional fire protection or metered water service is required. 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. 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: Fire hydrants (per Code). Maintain access of at least twenty (20) feet. County Planning: No Comments. ITEM NO.: 12. CON'T Z-8831 CATA: A CATA bus route is located just west of this site, along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Planning Division: No Comments. Landscape: Site plan must comply with the City's minimal landscape and buffer ordinance requirements. The zoning buffer ordinance requires a nine foot (9') wide land use buffer along the southern and eastern perimeters of the site next to the residentially zoned properties. Seventy percent (70%) of this area must remain undisturbed. A six (6) foot high opaque screen, either a wooden fence with its face side directed outward, a wall, or dense evergreen plantings, is required along the southern and eastern perimeters of the site, next to the residentially zoned properties. Any new parking areas must be landscaped per Chapter 15 of the Code of Ordinances. Other: Submit responses to staff issues and four (4) copies of a revised site plan (if required) no later than Wednesday December 26, 2012. Required notices are to be sent via certified mail to all owners of properties located within two hundred (200) feet of the site no later than Wednesday December 26, 2012. The City -provided notice form must be used. Proof of notice is to be provided to staff no later than January 4, 2013. January 10, 2013 ITEM NO.: 12 FILE NO.: Z-8831 NAME: Arkansas Baptist College Office Building — Conditional Use Permit LOCATION: 1319 West 16t" Street OWNER/APPLICANT, Arkansas Baptist College PROPOSAL: A conditional use permit is requested to allow a residential structure to be relocated to this R-4 zoned lot to be used as offices for the college. SITE LOCATION: The property is located on the south side of West 16th Street, mid -block between S. Pulaski Street and MILK. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: The property is located at the eastern edge of the college campus —use area. The main body of the campus is located across MLK to the east. Single family residences are located to the east and north. A temporary college dormitory building is located to the south. The property to the west is proposed for development with a charter school and four (4) small office buildings (Item 11on this agenda, Z-8830). The structure is a small, one- story frame residential structure. No parking will be constructed. For most appearances, the property will appear to be occupied by a small, single family residence. Staff believes the proposed use can be compatible with the neighborhood. Notice of the public hearing was sent to all owners of properties located within 200 feet of the site and the Central High and Downtown Neighborhood Associations. 3, ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING This 900 square foot office should have two on -site parking spaces. No parking is proposed so that the structure will maintain a residential appearance. It is anticipated that any office use of the structure will involve a small number of employees (perhaps no more than two) who will utilize other campus parking. There are currently 160± on -campus parking spaces. Additional parking (117± spaces) is proposed under other items on this agenda. January 10, 2013 ITEM NO.: 12 Cont. FILE NO.: Z-8831 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: Site plan must comply with the City's landscape and buffer ordinance requirements. The zoning buffer ordinance requires a nine foot (9) wide land use buffer along the southern and eastern perimeters of the site next to the residentially zoned properties. Seventy percent (70%) of this area must remain undisturbed. A six (6) foot high opaque screen, either a wooden fence with its face side directed outward, a wall, or dense evergreen plantings, is required along the southern and eastern perimeters of the site, next to the residentially zoned properties. Any new parking areas must be landscaped per Chapter 15 of the Code of Ordinances. 5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: 1. At time of building permit, repair or replace any curb and gutter or sidewalk that is damaged in the public right-of-way prior to occupancy. 6. UTILITY. FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS: Wastewater: Sewer available to this project. Entergy: Approved as submitted. Relocation costs apply if required. Centerpoint Energy: No comment received. AT&T (SBC): No comment received. Water: 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. If there are facilities that need to be adjusted and/or relocated, contact Central Arkansas Water. That work would be done at the expense of the developer. Contact Central Arkansas Water if additional fire protection or metered water service is required. 6 January 10, 2013 ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont. FILE NO.: Z 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. 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: Fire hydrants (per Code). Maintain access of at least twenty (20) feet. County Planning: No Comments. CATA: A CATA bus route is located just west of this site, along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (DECEMBER 20, 2012) The applicants were present. Staff presented the item and noted little additional information was needed. Staff requested a signage plan, the square footage of the structure and the proposed days of operation. Staff had previously requested the total number of on -campus parking spaces in conjunction with other items on this agenda. Public Works, Utility and Landscape Comments were noted. The applicants were advised to respond to staff issues by December 26, 2012. The Committee determined there were no other 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 the relocation of a 900 square foot residential structure that is used as January 10, 2013 ITEM NO.: 12 {Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-8831 an office from 1322 West 16th Street to 1319 West 16th Street. The 1322 West 16th Street property has previously been approved for development as a parking lot to serve the new Community Union building which is to be built at the northeast corner of 16th and MLK. Once the structure is relocated to 1319 West 16th Street, it will continue to be used as an office. No parking is proposed. Any employees working in the small office will utilize other campus parking. A small ground sign and possible wall sign (typical of signage throughaLit the campus) will be used. No new fencing is proposed. Portions of the property are already enclosed by a 4-foot chainlink fence. Screening should be placed along the east and south perimeters where the site abuts other residential properties, if they are not owned by the college. Any office use will be limited to 8:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Staff is supportive of the proposed CUP. The structure will retain its residential character with limited office use. It should fit in with the neighborhood. Placement of the structure will exceed required zoning setbacks. The Original City of Little Rock does not have a bill of assurance that addresses 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. 2. Screening, either a wood fence or dense evergreen plantings, should be placed along the east and south perimeters of the site where it abuts any residential properties not owned by the college. Staff recommends approval of a variance to allow no on -site parking. Other campus parking is to be used. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (JANUARY 10, 2013) This item was discussed by the commission as a package including Z-8442-A, Z-8830, Z-8831 and Z-8832. There were four (4) items on the agenda for Arkansas Baptist College and three (3) persons were present with concerns about two (2) of the items. The applicant was present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval as outlined in the "staff recommendation" above. The applicant, Dr. Fitz 4 January 10, 2013 ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont. FILE NO.: Z- Hill of Arkansas Baptist College, stated he would reserve his time to respond to any issues raised by the objectors. Odies and Frankie Nelson, of 1301 W. 16th Street spoke of their concerns about the proximity of the charter school and office building (s) to their house. They also spoke of their concerns about the nature of the students who would be attending the charter school. Ward 1 Director Erma Hendrix read a statement from Joyce Matthews of the Central High Neighborhood Association asking that the items be deferred for further consideration. In response to her request, staff explained the nature of the four (2) various applications, specifically the two (2) that were in closest proximity to the Nelson's property. Commissioner Nunnley commented that the proposals by the College were in line with the Campus Master Plan that had previously been reviewed by the Commission. Dr. Hill stated the college met with the neighborhood association at the beginning of each semester and had met them on January 8, 2013 to discuss these specific proposals. He asked that the items move forward. He discussed the need for the charter school which would have as its focus at -risk students. Dr. Hill presented a letter from the Department of Arkansas Heritage stating that the college's plans to relocate some houses would not impact the Central High Historic District's National Register status. Dr. Hill stated the college was committed to working with the neighborhood and was working to improve the neighborhood. Billy Owens, the college's Executive Vice-president and Chief Financial Officer, stated he had attended the meeting with the neighborhood on January 8 and there appeared to be no unresolved questions from the neighbors. Commissioner Changose commented that it seemed to him that whatever Arkansas Baptist College touched appeared to be improved. Commissioner Nunnley agreed. Commissioner Fountain stated he was impressed by the plans for the charter school. Chairman Rector noted that a commissioner had left and there were now only eight (8) commissioners present. He stated the applicant could request a deferral since it would take six (6) votes to approve an item. Dr. Hill stated he wished to move forward. A motion was made to approve the application, including all staff comments and conditions. The motion was approved by a vote of 8 ayes, 0 noes, 2 absent and 1 open position. 5