HomeMy WebLinkAboutS-0285-B Staff AnalysisApril 4, 1989
SUBDIVISION
ITEM NO.: 2
FILE NO.: S-285
NAME: The Ranch Preliminary/Pre-preliminary Plat
LOCATION: North and west of Katillius Road and State
Highway No. 10.
DEVELOPER: ENGINEER:
Johnson Ranch Partnership White-Daters & Associates
P. 0. Box 56350 401 Victory Street
Little Rock, AR 72215 Little Rock, AR 72201
224-9600 374-1666
AREA: 63.2 acres NUMBER OF LOTS: 3 FT. NEW STREET: 3600
ZONING: "C-2" and 110-2"
PROPOSED USES: Mixed use office and commercial development
PLANNING DISTRICT: 1
CENSUS TRACT: 42.03
VARIANCES REQUESTED:
1. None
A. PROPOSAL/REQUEST:
This preliminary plat proposes the preliminary platting
of three large tracts now zoned non-residential,
primarily "C-2", and the balance of the 362 acres to be
retained in a pre -preliminary plat format. This is
required inasmuch as the developer does not know the
specifics of the lot boundaries that may be required
for future development.
B. EXISTING CONDITIONS:
The property on which this plat is located, currently
known as the Johnson Ranch property, is a broad mixture
of floodplain/floodway, steep hill mass and some flat
buildable area along Highway 10. The immediate area of
the first preliminary plat is property of variable
terrain rising from an elevation along Highway 10,
which is approximately 290 feet, to an elevation on the
north boundary of Tract A which is somewhat over
April 4, 1989
SUBDIVISION
ITEM NO.: 2 (Continued)
300 feet in elevation. The east boundary of the
property is traversed by North Katillius Road. This is
an old county road, substandard in construction, and
containing a deficient wooden bridge structure. The
principal frontage of the preliminary plat is State
Highway No. 10 which is a principal arterial. There
are few structures of any substance on the property.
There is some fencing of use areas and a small pond.
C. ENGINEERING COMMENTS:
The Engineering Staff reports that this developer
should coordinate the Highway 10 street dedication and
potential improvements with the Master Street Plan and
Arkansas Highway Department requirements. The Ranch
Boulevard, as reflected, appears to show a 25 foot
street at this time which is a partial proposal for
construction to be built with Phase I. This should be
more fully explained and detail when the balance would
be constructed. Ranch Drive, which is generally a
east/west drive through the project, should reflect a
horizontal center line radius of 300 foot minimum.
There is none now indicated. The detention
requirements and excavation requirements of ordinance
will apply to this project. These items should be
reflected on the plat as appropriate. The developer
should be aware that in connection with the first
statement made in the Public Works comments that final
plats on Tracts B and C prior to initiation of the
Highway 10 project will cause this developer to build
those street standards specified by the State Highway
Department and the Master Street Plan.
The Public Works Engineering Staff expressed some
concern about the alignment of Ranch Boulevard with a
proposed minor arterial entering Highway 10 from the
south. Their concern is that these two streets should
intersect at the same point so as to provide for an
appropriate location for potential traffic signal. The
Engineering Staff would like to point out that the main
entrance to the Willis preliminary plat is across
Highway 10 from a lake on neighboring property and
approximately 700-800 feet to the Deltic road alignment
on the west.
d
I April 4, 1989
SUBDIVISION
ITEM NO.: 2 (Continued)
The last comment offered by the Public Works Staff
deals with Katillius Road which is the eastern boundary,
street of this preliminary plat. It was their feeling
that this street should be established as a commercial
street which would be constructed to a 36 foot standard
with a 60 foot right-of-way. It is understood at this
time that the street has drainage problems with the
existence of a deficient bridge. However, the
development of Tract B as a corner lot will necessitate
full improvements along the east side to the commercial
street standards. In connection with establishing
North Katillius as a 60 foot right-of-way, the
appropriate radius should be applied on the corner at
State Highway No. 10.
D. ISSUES/LEGAL/TECHNICAL/DESIGN:
The following points of information should be dealt
with by the engineer and/or the developer. These are:
Identification of the various points of termina-
tion for street construction for phasing of these
three lots;
The location of the fire station site as
previously negotiated with City of Little Rock on
the occasion of rezoning;
Coordination of the 6 foot fence and 40 foot
buffer along the north and east sides of Tract A
with the site plan review currently on this
agenda;
Explanation as to the design on the Ranch Road;
A request for elimination of the island in the
center of the Ranch Boulevard at State Highway
No. 10 or a basis be provided for its permanent
maintenance.
E. ANALYSIS:
The Staff review of this preliminary and pre -
preliminary plat reflects little in the way of problems
internal to the plat. There are the several boundary
issues dealing with the coordination of State Highway
No. 10 improvements with the Highway Department, the
n
I�
April 4, 1989
SUBDIVISION
ITEM NO.: 2 (Continued)
Katillius Road improvement and the alignment of the
Ranch Boulevard with the adjacent south arterial
street.
A concern that should be dealt with prior to the
developer moving to the Tract B area for development
would be the fire station site previously negotiated.
If the Little Rack Fire Department and the City of
Little Rock pursue the agreement and a decision is made
that this location is needed, a tract separate from
Tract B should be provided in this plat.
The only remaining comment that Planning Staff has
concerning this plat deals with the western bOUndary
street of the pre -preliminary area. This roadway is an
old county road running north off state Highway No. 10,
terminating in a steep terrain area northwesterly of
this subdivision. It has not been determined at this
time what standard of street improvements will be
needed. The Sta'rf reserves comment on that subject
until such time as the preliminary plat and/or a
development plan are filed on the balance of the
property.
F. STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the preliminary plat and
acceptance of the balance as a pre -preliminary for file
record purposes, subject to resolution of the comments
raised by the Public Works Department and Planning
Staff.
SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT:
(March 23, 1989)
The application was represented by Mr. Ed Willis and Mr. Joe
White, the engineer on the project. A lengthy discussion of
the preliminary plat was held. There were four or five
areas of involvement which received attention. These were
the dedication and right-of-waY improvements for State
Highway No. 10. Jerry Gardner of the Public Works
Department indicated that until such time as the
improvements are placed under contract by the Highway
Department, this developer would be responsible for that
improvement via an in -lieu contribution. The right-of-waY
dedication is a given and would be accomplished on the final
plat if it is placed of record prior to that contract.
April 4, 1989
SUBDIVISION
ITEM NO. 2 (Continued).
Discussion followed on the arterial street alignment
entering Highway 10 from the south and the Deltic
properties. The discussion centered on the appropriate
alignment of the principal entry to this preliminary plat.
Specific resolution was not gained in this discussion.
Planning Staff indicated the several concerns that developed
in their review. These had to do with the exact alignment
and termination of the several streets, and the improvements
that would be required internal to the plat to serve the
lots. The Planning Staff did not insert in the conversation
the issue of the fire station site previously negotiated by
Mr. Willis. However, this issue is still outstanding and
resolution would have to be gained by the Planning
Commission at the public hearing. Mr. White, the engineer -
of -record on the project, indicated that he would work with
the City Staff to resolve the several issues pointed out in
the Staff write-up and be prepared to deal with those items
at the public hearing on April 4.
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (April 4, 1989)
The applicant, Mr. Willis, was in attendance as was his
engineer, Mr. Joe White from White-Daters, Inc. The
Planning Staff reported that this item should be placed on
the Consent Agenda for approval inasmuch as there were no
remaining issues to be resolved. The Staff asked that Mr.
White address two points dealing with preliminary plat
requirements. Mr. White offered for the record a plan
indicating the phasing of the subdivision and the
improvement requirements to be placed upon the first phase
with Lot A. After a brief discussion, the Commission
determined it appropriate to place this item on the Consent
Agenda for approval. A motion was made to that effect. The
motion passed by a vote of 9 ayes, 9 nays, 2 absent.