Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-9204 Staff AnalysisMarch 30, 2017 ITEM NO.: 8 FILE NO.: Z-9204 NAME: Village at the Gateway — Tower Use Permit LOCATION: 12506 Vimy Ridge Road OWNER/APPLICANT: Big Rock Development/Bob Francis PROPOSAL: A tower use permit is requested to allow for construction of a 140 foot tall, self-supporting tower on this R-2 zoned property. SITE LOCATION: The tower site is located at the northwest corner of the Village at the Gateway subdivision which is in the early stages of development. The development is located on the west side of Vimy Ridge Road, south of Alexander Road. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: The Village at the Gateway residential subdivision is currently developing to the south and east of the proposed tower site. A large tract of undeveloped, R-2 zoned property extends to the west. A burial vault company is located on the PID zoned property to the north. The proposed tower is to provide wireless internet access to the residents of the subdivision now under construction. The use should 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 SWLR United for Progress, Quail Run and Alexander Road neighborhood associations. 3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: Access to the tower site will be via a 10 foot access easement off of one of the streets in the subdivision. No parking is required other than a space for any technician needing access to the tower. 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: Screening and landscaping of the tower site must comply with the provisions of Chapter 36, Article XI I, Section 36-593 as follow: a. All WCF subject to this section shall contain a permanent six-foot landscape strip parallel with all sides of the primary use area and March 30, 2017 ITEM NO.: 8 (Cont.) _ FILE NO.: Z-9204 outside of the opaque fence but within the lease area, except for a space for ingress and egress to the primary use area. b. An eight -foot opaque fence shall be constructed, finished side facing outward, around the primary use area to provide screening and a background for required landscaping within the six-foot landscape strip. c. The opaque fence shall also satisfy the security fence requirement of subsection (f). d. The landscape strip on each side of the primary use area shall be planted with two (2) trees of a two-inch caliper which will grow to a spacing of fifteen (15) feet which will grow to a minimum twenty (20) feet in height at maturity. Each landscape strip shall also be planted with evergreen shrubs of thirty (30) inches height at planting, with a maximum spacing of forty-eight (48) inches on center and which will grow to a minimum height of sixty (60) inches at maturity. 5. PUBLIC WORKS: All driveways shall be concrete aprons per City Ordinance. The proposed driveway must be constructed to City of Little Rock commercial driveway Detail PW-34 by the owner at the time the street is constructed. 6. UTILITY FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS: Little Rock Wastewater: Sewer main extension required with easements if new sewer service is required for this project. Entergy: Entergy does not object to this proposal. An existing three phase, power line exists to the east of this location along Vimy Ridge Road. It is not in conflict with the proposed development. Contact Entergy in advance to discuss future service requirements, new facilities locations and adjustments to existing facilities (if any) as this project proceeds. Centerpoint Energy: No comments received. AT&T: No comments received. Central Arkansas Water: No objection Fire Department: No comments County Planning: No comments 2 March 30, 2017 ITEM NO.: 8 (Cont. FILE NO.: Z-9204 Building Code: Project is subject to full commercial plan review and approval prior to issuance of a building permit. For information on submittal requirements and the review process, contact a commercial plans examiner: Mark Alderfer at 501.371.4875; malderferCcDlittlerock gov Rock Region METRO: a) Location is not currently served by METRO. We have no objections to the mobile communications tower. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (MARCH 8, 2017) The applicant was present. Staff presented the item and noted no additional information was required. Staff commented that screening and landscaping of the tower site must comply with the provisions of Chapter 36, Article XI I, Section 36-593. Staff noted that any expansion of the tower compound or addition of other WCF carriers will require Planning Commission approval as a revision to the TUP. Staff informed the Committee that this TUP application was necessary since the proposed 140 foot tall tower was to be located less than 140 feet from abutting residential properties. The applicant stated the tower will be used to provide wireless internet to the residents of the Village at the Gateway Subdivision. The Committee determined there were no outstanding issues and forwarded the item to the full Commission. STAFF ANALYSIS: The applicant is requesting approval of a Tower Use Permit to allow for construction of a 140 foot tall tower on the rear of the Village at the Gateway subdivision currently under development at 12506 Vimy Ridge Road. The tower is proposed to be located at the northwest corner of the subdivision. The proposed tower will be used to provide wireless internet access to the residents of the subdivision. The 140 foot tall, self-supporting tower will hold one 15± pound 24 GHz microwave antenna and up to two 10± pound 5 GHz sector antennas. The tower compound will measure 16' X 16'. An 8 ft. tall wood privacy fence will enclose the compound. A 6 ft. wide landscape strip will be located around all 3 March 30, 2017 ITEM NO.. 8 Cont. FILE NO.: Z-9204 perimeters of the compound, outside the fence. The entire tower site will be located within a 50' X 50' easement. Access to the tower will be via a 10' access easement off of one of the streets in the new subdivision. The tower use permit is required because the proposed tower is located less than 140 feet (the height of the tower) from abutting residential property. The residential properties to the south and east are owned by the applicant and are part of the newly developing subdivision that the tower is being designed to serve. The large tract of R-2 zoned property to the west is undeveloped and heavily wooded. The proposed tower will be located 48± feet from the property to the west and 75± feet and 63± feet from the proposed lots to the south and east respectively. Staff is supportive of the requested TUP. The residential properties affected by the reduced setback are either undeveloped or are being developed as part of this applicant's subdivision. The bill of assurance for Village at the Gateway subdivision will reflect the tower as being a permitted use of this tract. STAFF RECOMMENDATIO Staff recommends approval of the requested revised Tower Use Permit 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 and landscaping of the tower site must comply with the provisions of Chapter 36, Article XI I, Section 36-593. 3. Any expansion of the tower compound or addition of other WCF carriers will require Planning Commission approval as a revision to the TUP. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 30, 2017) The applicant's engineer was present. There was one objector present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval as outlined in the "staff recommendation" above. The applicant stated he would reserve his time to respond to the objector. Cathy Graves, of 12705 Alexander Road, spoke in opposition. She stated she had lived and worked in the area for many years and she was concerned about the possible impact of the tower on the value of her property. She asked if the tower could be placed elsewhere on the site, farther away from her property. !! March 30, 2017 ITEM NO.: 8 Cont. FILE NO.: Z-9204 The engineer responded that the tower was very minimal and had only a couple of small antennas. He stated he did not see how it could impact Ms. Graves' property. Commissioner Laha stated he felt the tower could be relocated. Commissioner Mays stated he had personal experience with having a tower near his home and found that there was no impact. Staff informed the commission that Ms. Graves property was the PID-zoned, concrete burial vault manufacturing industrial site adjacent to the north, not a residential property. In response to question from Commissioner Latture, Ms. Graves stated she did not live on the property. A motion was made to approve the application, including all staff comments and conditions. The motion was approved by a vote of 9 ayes, 2 noes and 0 absent. 5 SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENTS MARCH 8, 2017 ITEM NO.8: VILLAGE AT THE GATEWAY TOWER USE PERMIT 12506 VIMY RIDGE ROAD Z-9204 Planning Staff Comments: 1. The bill of assurance for Village at the Gateway will reflect the tower as being a permitted use of this tract 2. Screening and landscaping of the tower site must comply with the provisions of Chapter 36, Article XII, Section 36-593 3. Any expansion of the tower compound or addition of other WCF carriers will require Planning Commission approval as a revision to the TUP. Variance/Waivers: • Setback from adjacent residential Public Works: All driveways shall be concrete aprons per City Ordinance. The proposed driveway must be constructed to City of Little Rock commercial driveway Detail PW-34 by the owner at the time the street is constructed. Utilities and Fire Department/County Planning:: Little Rock Wastewater: Sewer main extension required with easements if new sewer service is required for this project. Entergy: Entergy does not object to this proposal. An existing three phase, power line exists to the east of this location along Vimy Ridge Road. It is not in conflict with the proposed development. Contact Entergy in advance to discuss future service requirements, new facilities locations and adjustments to existing facilities (if any) as this project proceeds. Centerpoint Energy: No comments received. AT&T: No comments received. Central Arkansas Water: No objection Fire Department: No comments ITEM NO.8: CON'T Z-9204 County Planning: No comments Building Code: Project is subject to full commercial plan review and approval prior to issuance of a building permit. For information on submittal requirements and the review process, contact a commercial plans examiner: Mark Alderfer at 501.371.4875; malderfer@littlerock.gov . Rock Region METRO: a) Location is not currently served by METRO. We have no objections to the mobile communications tower. Planninm Division: No comments Landscape: Screening and landscaping of the tower site must comply with the provisions of Chapter 36, Article XII, Section 36-593 Other: Submit responses to staff issues and four (4) copies of a revised site plan (if required) no later than Wednesday March 15, 2017. 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 March 15, 2017. The City - provided notice form must be used. Proof of notice is to be provided to staff no later than March 24, 2017.