HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-9126-A Staff AnalysisFILE NO.: Z-9126-A
NAME: Donaghey Building Revised Short -form PCD
LOCATION: 103 East 7th Street
DEVELOPER:
Jeannie Hilfiker (Owners Representative) of LRMU, LP
623 Herdon Parkway Suite 360
Herndon, VA 20170
SURVEYOR:
Global Surveying Consultant, Inc.
6511 Heilman Court
North Little Rock, AR 72118
AREA: 0.404 acres NUMBER OF LOTS:1
WARD: 1 PLANNING DISTRICT: 5 — Downtown
CURRENT ZONING: PCD
FT. NEW STREET: 0 LF
CENSUS TRACT: 44
ALLOWED USES: UU, Urban Use District uses including the allowance of multi -family
residential at a density greater than 72 units per acre
PROPOSED ZONING: Revised PCD
PROPOSED USE: Allow a change in the occupancy from 100% Market Rate
VARIANCE/WAIVERS: None requested.
BACKGROUND:
Ordinance No. 21,240 adopted by the Little Rock Board of Directors on May 17, 2016,
rezoned the site from UU, Urban Use District to PCD, Planned Commercial Development,
to allow the conversion of this 14-story structure at Seventh and Main Streets into a
mixed use development. The applicant proposed the use of the basement with
154 on -site storage lockers, 77 bike storage racks, bike work bench and dog wash. The
first floor was proposed with a fitness center, laundry facilities, community room,
15 seat movie -theater, meeting rooms and an outdoor patio with lawn. The ground floor
was to include an area that was proposed for retail and/or office lease space. The
FILE NO.: Z-9126-A (Cont.
remaining floors would be converted into 154 units of market rate apartments. The
applicant indicated an existing skywalk located over Main Street would be opened to allow
residents to access parking spaces in a nearby parking deck.
A. PROPOSAVREQUEST/APPLICANT'S STATEMENT:
The applicant is now proposing to amend the previously approved PCD, Planned
Commercial Development, to update the approval. The changes include the
proposed plan to open the skywalk to allow covered access to the nearby parking
deck and the change in the occupancy. The skywalk will not be opened and remain
closed. Residents will access the parking garage at street level. With the closure
of the sky bridge the developer is able to add one (1) additional living unit to the
project for a total of 155 units. The applicant also indicates the current economic
conditions have dictated the developer seek approval from ADFA to add a mixture
of affordable housing units into the planned development. All other conditions and
approvals will remain unchanged.
B. EXISTING CONDITIONS:
This area of Main Street is primarily owned and used by the State. There are a
number of buildings currently under redevelopment in this area to include lease
space for residential and non-residential uses. The City's project for improving
Main Street have been completed but stops at 6th and Main Streets.
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)
The applicant was not present. Staff presented the item stating there were no
outstanding technical issues in need of addressing related to the site plan. Staff
stated the request was to amend the previously approved PCD, Planned
Commercial Development, was to allow a mixed income development as opposed
to a 100% market rate development. There were no more issues for discussion.
The Committee then forwarded the item to the full Commission for final action.
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FILE NO.: Z-9126-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
PCD, Planned Commercial Development, to update the approval. The previous
approval proposed to open the skywalk to allow covered access to a nearby
parking deck. Based on agreements with an adjacent tenant the skywalk will not
be opened and will remain closed. Residents of the apartments will access the
parking garage at street level. With the closure of the sky bridge the developer
can add one (1) additional living unit to the project for a total of 155 units.
The original approval indicated all the units would be market rate apartments. The
applicant now requests to add a mixture of affordable housing units to the planned
development. The applicant states the current economic conditions have dictated
they seek approval from ADFA for a portion of the units to be offered for low income
residence. All other conditions and approvals will remain unchanged.
Staff is supportive of the applicant's request. The applicant is seeking approval to
allow a mixed income development. All other aspects of the development remain
as with the original approval including the tenant amenities within the ground floor
and basement. To staff's knowledge there are no remaining outstanding technical
issues associated with the request.
G. STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the request to amend the previously approved PCD,
to allow a change in the tenant mix of the building.
N1NG 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 amend the previously
approved PCD, to allow a change in the tenant mix of the building. 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.
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