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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-9357 Staff AnalysisOctober 4, 2018 ITEM NO.: 7 FILE NO.: Z-9357 NAME: Ritter Communications Mini -fiber Distribution Substation — Conditional Use Permit LOCATION: NW corner of Maryland and Park OWNER/APPLICANT: Union Rescue Mission: Owner Ritter Communications, John Peterson: Authorized Agent PROPOSAL: A conditional use permit is requested to allow for construction of a single structure to contain a fiber optics distribution substation. The property is zoned R-4. SITE LOCATION: The property is located at the northwest corner of Maryland Avenue and S. Park Street. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: The site is located in an area of mixed zoning and uses. The 1-630 right- of-way is directly adjacent to the north. A women and children's shelter is located across Park Street to the east and Children's Hospital is located beyond the shelter. A church is located across Maryland Avenue to the south. Single family residences are adjacent to the west. The R-3 and R-4 zoned properties to the south and west are occupied by single family homes, vacant -boarded structures and vacant lots. Staff believes the small, unmanned fiber-optic facility will have no effect on the surrounding neighborhood. Notice of the public hearing was sent to all owners of properties located within 200 feet of the site and the Capitol Hill and Central High Neighborhood Associations. 3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: The proposed facility will be unmanned. It will only require available parking space for a technician who will occasionally visit the site. A single driveway will access the site off of Maryland Avenue. A drive-thru gate will provide access to the site. The driveway will be constructed to city standards from the street to the fenced compound. The compound will have a gravel surface. October 4, 2018 ITEM NO.: 7 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-9357 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: Site plan must comply with the City's minimal landscape and buffer ordinance requirements. Any new site development shall adhere to the current landscape code. Provide screening on the west and south sides of the property adjacent to the existing residential property and Maryland Avenue. The City Beautiful Commission recommends preserving as many existing trees as feasible on this site. Credit toward fulfilling Landscape Ordinance requirements can be given when preserving trees of six (6) inch caliper or larger. 5. PUBLIC WORKS: Due to the proposed use of the property, the Master Street Plan specifies that Maryland Ave for the frontage of this property must meet commercial street standards. Dedicate right-of-way to 30 feet from centerline. 2. Gravel driveway or parking pads are not permitted within the right-of- way. A concrete driveway apron should be provided in conformance with City of Little Rock Detail PW-32. The concrete apron should extend to the right-of-way line with a total driveway length of 25 feet to not block the future sidewalk. 6. UTILITIES/FIRE DEPARTMENT/BUILDING CODES: Little Rock Water Reclamation: Sewer Available to this site. Entergy: Entergy does not object to this proposal. There do not appear to be any conflicts with existing electrical utilities at this location. Contact Entergy in advance to discuss electrical service requirements, or adjustments to existing facilities. Centerpoint Energy: No comments received. AT&T: No comments received. Central Arkansas Water: No objection. Fire Department: No comment. 2 October 4, 2018 ITEM NO.: 7 (Cont) FILE NO.: Z-9357 Building Codes: No comments. 7. TRANSPORTATION/PLANNING: County Planning: No comments received. Rock Region METRO: A RRM bus route is located along West 12tn Street, south of the site. Planning Division: No comments. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (SEPTEMBER 12, 2018) The applicants were present. Staff presented the item and noted some additional information was needed. In response to a question from staff, the applicants stated the proposed security fence would be 8 feet tall, topped by standard security wire. The applicant was asked how often and what hours the generator would be tested. The applicants responded that it was tested once a week, mid -day. The applicants were asked to provide a signage plan. Staff stated a single properly paved driveway was required from the street to the property line. The drive must be perpendicular to the street. Once inside the fenced compound area, gravel may be used and the gravel vehicular use area must be designed and maintained in a manner that does not result in the creation of dust, mud, silt or standing water. Public Works Comments were discussed. The applicants were advised that the proposed lease/compound area would need to be moved north 5 feet to allow for right-of-way dedication. Landscape and Screening comments were discussed. Staff stated screening was required along the west perimeter, where the site was adjacent to residential. Staff stated evergreen plantings could fulfill that requirement. The Committee members stated they also wanted screening along the south side where the site fronted onto Maryland Avenue. Other Agency Comments were noted. The applicants were advised to respond to staff issues by September 19, 2018. The Committee then forwarded the item to the full Commission. 3 October 4, 2018 ITEM NO.: 7(Cont.)FILE NO.: Z-9357 STAFF ANALYSIS: Ritter Communications is requesting approval of a conditional use permit to allow for construction of a small building within a lease area on this R-4 zoned lot to contain a mini -fiber distribution operation. The lease area is 35' X 40' in size. It will be enclosed by a 6 — 8 foot tall chain link fence with three strands of security (barbed wire) above the fence. The structure containing the fiber optics distribution equipment is 14 feet by 10 feet, 9 feet tall. The exterior will be washed gravel composite. The structure will house equipment for the purpose of providing fiber optic network services. Access to the compound will be from a single driveway off of Maryland Avenue. The driveway will be constructed to city standards from the road to the gate of the lease area. The lease area will have a gravel surface. The facility is unmanned so the only traffic to the site once it is constructed will be the occasional technician. The site will contain a generator which is normally exercised weekly on Tuesday — late morning or early afternoon. The exercise normally lasts 20 — 30 minutes. Generators are common on communication sites such as wireless communication facilities (cell tower sites). Signage will consist of a sign on the gate identifying the facility and containing various safety information messages. Screening shrubbery will be installed along the west and south perimeters of the site to provide screening from the residential property to the west and Maryland Avenue to the south. The applicant is to work with city staff to determine an appropriate screening plant. Staff is supportive of the proposed use. The plat/bill of assurance for Capitol Hill Extension does not address use issues. The applicant submitted a revised plan indicating the right-of-way dedication for Maryland Avenue. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the requested CUP subject to compliance with the comments and conditions outlined in Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the agenda staff report. ll October 4, 2018 ITEM NO.: 7 (Co PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: FILE NO.: Z-9357 (OCTOBER 4, 2018) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval as outlined in the "staff recommendation" above. There was no further discussion. The item was placed on the consent agenda and approved as recommended by staff, including all staff comments and conditions. The vote was 10 ayes, 0 noes and 1 absent. 5