HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-8998-A Staff AnalysisFILE NO.: Z-8998-A
NAME: MEMS Revised Short -form PDO
LOCATION: 1121 West 7th Street
DEVELOPER:
MEMS
Metropolitan Emergency Medical Service
1022 West 8t" Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
ENGINEER:
Cromwell Architects Engineers
101 South Spring Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
AREA: 3.13 acres NUMBER OF LOTS: 1 zoning lot FT. NEW STREET: 0 LF
WARD: 1 PLANNING DISTRICT: 5 — Downtown CENSUS TRACT: 44
CURRENT ZONING- POD
ALLOWED USES: Ambulance service, headquarters post
PROPOSED ZONING: Revised POD
PROPOSED USE:
Allow the placement of a ground sign on West 7t" Street
VARIANCEMAIVERS: None requested.
BACKGROUND:
Ordinance No. 20,985 adopted by the Little Rock Board of Directors on January 20, 2015,
rezoned the site from UU, Urban Use District to PD-O, Planned Development Office, to
allow the development of the MEMS Campus. The plan included the placement of the
currently constructed buildings as well as plans for future development of the site. The
approval allowed for wall signage as allowed within the UU, Urban Use Zoning District.
The plan did not include the placement of ground signage.
FILE NO.: Z-8998-A Cont.
A. PROPOSAL/REQUEST/APPLICANT'S STATEMENT:
The applicant is now proposing to amend the previously approved PD-O, Planned
Development Office, to allow the placement of a ground sign along West 7th Street.
The campus has been dedicated to "David J. Jones" Little Rock Ambulance
Authority Board Member Emeritus for his role in the founding of MEMS as well as
years of devoted service to the organization.
The sign is indicated three (3) feet in height and five (5) feet long. The lettering on
the sign:
David J. Jones Campus
MEMS
Headquarters
1121 W. 7th Street
The UU, Urban Use Zoning District states off -premise signs are not allowed.
Ground mounted signs are discouraged and may only be permitted as a variance.
Permitted signs are to comply with the Office and Institutional Zoning District,
maximum of six (6) feet in height and 64 square feet in area.
B. EXISTING CONDITIONS:
The MEMS site is located along 1-630 at the Chester Street entrance ramp. The
new buildings have been constructed including the new office and headquarter
building. There are a number of uses in the area including State and Federal
offices, a City of Little Rock Fire Station, restaurants, retail uses and residential
uses.
C. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS:
All property owners located within 200-feet of the site along with the Downtown
Neighborhood Association were notified of the public hearing.
D. ENGINEERING COMMENTS:
PUBLIC WORKS CONDITIONS:
No comment.
E. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT:
(February 22, 2017)
Mr. Kent Taylor of Cromwell Architects and Engineers was present representing
the request. Staff presented an overview of the item stating there were no
outstanding technical issues in need of addressing related to the proposed
request. There were no more issues for discussion. The Committee then
forwarded the item to the full Commission for final action.
FILE NO.: Z-8998-A Cont.
F. ANALYSIS:
There were no outstanding technical issues associated with the request in need of
addressing via a revised site plan raised at the February 22, 2017, Subdivision
Committee meeting. The applicant is proposing to amend the previously approved
PD-O, Planned Development Office, to allow the placement of a ground sign along
West 7th Street. The ground mounted sign follows all requirements laid out in the
Little Rock Cord Ordinance, Section 36-553. One (1) freestanding sign per
premises, not to exceed two (2) square feet in sign area for each linear foot of main
street frontage up to a maximum of sixty-four (64) square feet. Such sign may not
exceed a height of six (6) feet.
Staff is supportive of the applicant's request. The applicant is seeking approval to
allow the placement of a ground sign along West 7th Street to identify the newly
redeveloped MEMS complex. Although ground signs are not prevalent within the
UU, Urban Use Zoning District there are locations which do have ground signs.
The applicant has proposed signage which is smaller than signage typically
allowed in office zones. The sign is proposed three (3) feet by five (5) feet with a
maximum sign area of 15 square feet.
G. STAFF RECOMMENDATION;
Staff recommends approval of the request to allow the placement of a ground sign
along West 7th Street as proposed by the applicant.
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 16, 2017)
The applicant was present. There were no registered objectors present. Staff presented
the item with a recommendation of approval of the request to allow the placement of a
ground sign along West 7th Street as proposed by the applicant. There was no further
discussion. The item was placed on the consent agenda and approved as recommended
by staff by a vote of 10 ayes, 0 noes and 1 absent.
3