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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-9176 Staff AnalysisNovember 17, 2016 ITEM NO.: 1 FILE NO.: 2-9176 Name: Newton Parolee/Probationer Housing Facility — Special Use Permit Location: 1709 East 19th Street Owner: Terrell Newton Applicant: Terrell Newton Proposal: A Special Use Permit is requested to allow a parolee/probationer housing facility to be operated in the single family residence located on the R-3 zoned property at 1709 East 19th Street. A. Public Notification: All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site and the Hanger Hill and East Little Rock Neighborhood Associations were notified of the public hearing. B. Public Works Issues: The driveway apron near the street should be replaced. All driveways shall have concrete aprons per City Ordinance. C. Staff Analysis: 1709 East 19th Street is located on the south side of East 19th Street, between Security Avenue and Boyce Street. The property is occupied by a one-story brick and frame single family residence. There is a one -car wide driveway from East 19th Street at the northwest corner of the property. The concrete drive leads to a carport on the west end of the house. This allows off-street parking for two (2) to three (3) vehicles. On -street parking is allowed on East 19th Street. All of the surrounding properties are zoned R-3, with single family residences to the east, west and south. A church is located across East 19th Street to the north. There are several vacant lots in this general area. The applicant, Terrell Newton, proposes to utilize the existing 1,002 square foot structure as a parolee/probationer housing facility. The residential facility will house up to four (4) male residents who are November 17, 2016 O.: 1 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-9176 parolee/probationers. There will be one (1) staff member at the residence at all times. The staff member(s) will work twelve (12) hour shifts. The applicant notes that some services such as job placement and employment training will take place at the residence. An additional staff person will report to the residence for these services. The applicant also notes that the residents will not drive. They will utilize public bus transportation where possible. The applicant will provide transportation when bus routes are not sufficient. The site is not located on a Rock Region Metro bus route. However, bus route #20 (College Station Route) runs along Security Avenue to the west and Boyce Street to the east. Section 36-54(e) (4) of the City's Zoning Ordinance provides the following provisions for Group Care Facilities, as adopted by the Board of Directors on September 6, 2005: 1. family care facility, group care facility, group home, parolee or probationer housing facility, rooming, lodging and boarding facility. (a) Separation, spacing and procedural requirements for family care facilities, group care facilities, group homes, parolee or probationer housing facilities and rooming, lodging and boarding facilities will be determined by the planning commission so as not to adversely impact the surrounding properties and neighborhood. Unless the commission determines that a different area is more appropriate, a neighborhood shall be defined as an area incorporating all properties lying within one thousand five hundred (1,500) feet of the site for which the permit is requested. (b) There shall be a presumption that a special use permit for a group home of 5, 6, 7, or 8 handicapped persons will be granted if all ordinance requirements are met, except that individuals whose tenancy would constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals of whose tenancy would result in substantial physical damage to the property of others shall not be allowed in such a home. �A November 17, 2016 ITEM NO.: 1 (Cont. FILE NO.: Z-9176 (c) Issues that the planning commission will consider during its review of a family care facility, group care facility, group home, parolee or probationer housing facility, or rooming, lodging and boarding facility include, but are not limited to: 1. Spacing of existing similar facilities. 2. Existing zoning and land use patterns. 3. The maximum number of individuals proposed to be served, the number of employees proposed and the type of services being proposed. 4. The need and provision for readily accessible public or quasi -public transportation. 5. Access to needed support services such as social services agencies, employment agencies and medical service providers. 6. Availability of adequate on -site parking. (d) The Fire Marshal must approve the use of any structure proposed as a family care facility, group care facility, group home, parolee or probation housing facility or rooming, lodging and boarding facility. (e) Family care facilities, group care facilities, group homes and parole or probation housing facilities shall be operated within any and all applicable licensing and procedural requirements established by the State of Arkansas. According to an area survey, there are no other transitional -type residential facilities within 1,500 feet of the property. The applicant notes that there will be two (2) bedrooms within the residence, with the maximum residents per bedrooms as noted below. The total number of residents within the home will not exceed four (4). ■ Bedroom (1) 169 square feet — 2 occupants ■ Bedroom (2) 169 square feet — 2 occupants 3 November 17, 2016 ITEM NO.: 1 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-9176 Section 8-406(a) of the City's Buildings and Building Regulations Ordinance (minimum area per dwelling unit) requires 150 square feet for the first occupant and 100 square feet for each additional occupant. Therefore, the minimum area for a residence occupied by four (4) persons is 450 square feet. As noted earlier the residential structure contains 1,002 square feet. Section 8-406(b) (minimum area per bedroom) requires 70 square feet for the first occupant and 50 square feet for each additional occupant. All of the proposed bedrooms will conform to this requirement. The applicant submitted a bill of assurance for this subdivision. The bill of assurance does not appear to address use issues. Staff informed the applicant that the Little Rock Fire Marshal needed to inspect the residential structure, with a written inspection report submitted to staff prior to the public hearing. As of this writing, staff has not received the inspection report. Staff is supportive of the requested special use permit to allow a parolee/probationer housing facility at 1709 East 19th Street. Staff views the request as reasonable. Staff's support is based primarily on the fact that the facility will house only four (4) residents. As such, the proposed use should generate only a minimal level of activity. As noted previously by the applicant, none of the residents will have their own vehicle. They will rely on public transportation. A bus route runs along Security Avenue and Boyce Street, less than one (1) block to the west and east. The applicant will provide transportation to residents when a bus route is not available. Therefore, only one (1) or two (2) vehicles should be at the residence at any time. Additionally, the occupancy of four (4) unrelated residents in a single family home would typically meet the ordinance definition of a "single family". If the applicant had no staff person at the residence and if no services (training, counseling, etc.) were provided at the residence, the use of renting the home to four (4) unrelated persons would meet the definition of a "single family" and no special use permit would be required. Staff believes that a parolee/probationer housing facility for four (4) residents at this location will have no adverse impact on the adjacent residential properties or the overall neighborhood. D. Subdivision Committee Comment: (October 26, 2016) Terrell Newton was present, representing the application. Staff briefly described the proposed parolee/probationer housing facility request. -19 November 17, 2016 ITEM NO.: 1 (Cont.) _FILE NO.: Z-9176 The issue of parking was briefly discussed. Mr. Newton stated that he would provide transportation to the residents if a bus route was not available, as none of the residents would drive. Staff noted that ample parking existed for the staff person(s) who would be at the residence. Staff noted that no additional information was needed at this time. After the discussion, the Committee forwarded the application to the full Commission for final action. E. Staff Recommendation - Staff recommends approval of the requested Special Use Permit to operate a parolee/probationer housing facility, with a maximum of four (4) residents, at 1709 East 19th Street. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (NOVEMBER 17, 2016) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the application with a recommendation of approval. The application was placed on the Consent Agenda for approval. The Consent Agenda was approved by a vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 2 absent and 1 open position. The application was approved. 5 November 17, 2016 IIC181►Lem fflo•Ti� FILE NO.: Z-9176 (c) Issues that the planning commission will consider during its review of a family care facility, group care facility, group home, parolee or probationer housing facility, or rooming, lodging and boarding facility include, but are not limited to: 1. Spacing of existing similar facilities. 2. Existing zoning and land use patterns. 3. The maximum number of individuals proposed to be served, the number of employees proposed and the type of services being proposed. 4. The need and provision for readily accessible public or quasi -public transportation. 5. Access to needed support services such as social services agencies, employment agencies and medical service providers. 6. Availability of adequate on -site parking. (d) The Fire Marshal must approve the use of any structure proposed as a family care facility, group care facility, group home, parolee or probation housing facility or rooming, lodging and boarding facility. (e) Family care facilities, group care facilities, group homes and parole or probation housing facilities shall be operated within any and all applicable licensing and procedural requirements established by the State of Arkansas. According to an area survey, there are no other transitional -type residential facilities within 1,500 feet of the property. The applicant notes that there will be two (2) bedrooms within the residence, with the maximum residents per bedrooms as noted below. The total number of residents within the home will not exceed four (4). Bedroom (1) 169 square feet — 2 occupants Bedroom (2) 169 square feet — 2 occupants 3