Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutS-0916-A Staff AnalysisDecember 3, 1998 ITEM NO.: 11 FILE NO.: S-915-A NAME: Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. - Subdivision Site Plan LOCATION: 8,000 Scott Hamilton Drive; near the southwest corner of Scott Hamilton Dr. and Interstate 30 DEVELOPER: ENGINEER• AR Electric Cooperative Corp. Steve Sharp, P.E. 8000 Scott Hamilton Dr. P. O. Box 194208 Little Rock, AR 72209 Little Rock, AR 72219-4208 AREA: 125 acres NUMBER OF LOTS: 1 FT. NEW STREET: 0 ZONING: I-2 ALLOWED USES: Light Industrial PROPOSED USE: Light Industrial VARIANCES/WAIVERS REQUESTED: 1. Waiver of right-of-way dedication and cul-de-sac construction at the end of Community Lane. 2. Deferral of street improvements to Scott Hamilton Drive. BACKGROUND: Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC) provides wholesale electrical energy and services to member electric cooperatives around the state. The continued steady growth of AECC has required additions to staff and existing facilities. The AECC is proposing several new buildings and building additions to its current site. Due to the fact that this is a multiple building site plan, Planning Commission approval is required. A. PROPOSAL/REQUEST: The applicant is proposing short-term and long-term additions to the property. The short-term additions include new building construction over the next three (3) years. The largest short-term project will be the new office, board room and lobby addition to the existing office building near the northeast corner of the property. This addition will be approximately 24,000 square feet and 3 stories in height. December 3, 1998 SUBDIVISION ITEM ND • 11 (Cant.) FILE NO.: S-916-A Several other smaller buildings and building additions will be made during the short-term phase, as noted on the site plan. Small areas of parking will be added to serve some of the new buildings. A new 180 space parking area will be constructed at the west end of the existing office building to serve the additional office space. The long-term additions show the anticipated growth and expansion over the next 15 to 20 years. Long-term additions include a new two-story office building just south of the existing office building (which fronts on I-30), a new warehouse building, a new electrical equipment building, and several smaller buildings. Several new parking areas will also be added to serve the new buildings. All of the proposed buildings will be less than 45 feet in height. B. EXISTING CONDITIONS: The site contains several existing buildings and parking areas. The existing complex is concentrated on approximately 40 acres of the 125 acre site. The southernmost 40 acres which fronts on Baseline Road is vacant and heavily wooded as is the majority of 14.5 acres which fronts on Scott Hamilton Drive. A large portion along the western perimeter (25± acres) is also undeveloped. These undeveloped areas are not included in the 15 to 20 year development plan. The general area contains a mixture of uses, including single-family residential, commercial and industrial. Single-family residences are located along the southwest and southeast perimeters of the property. C. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS: As of this writing, staff has received no negative comments from the neighborhood. The Upper Baseline Neighborhood Association was notified of the public hearing. D. ENGINEERING COMMENTS: Public Works Conditions: 1. Provide public access easement and/or dedication of right-of-way and construct cul-de-sac or other approved construction to allow vehicles to turn -around prior to or on existing property at the end of W. 81" Streets and Community Cove. 2. Provide details of entry off I-30 frontage to Traffic Engineer for approval. 3. Construct detention with Phase I Construction and account 2 December 3, 1998 SUBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 11 Cont. FILE NO.: S-916-A for previous construction where detention was deferred. 4.Dedicate right-of-way to 45' from centerline and repair existing curb on Baseline Road. 5.Dedicate right-of-way to 45, from centerline and improve Scott Hamilton to minor arterial standards with Phase I Construction. E. UTILITIES AND FIRE DEPARTMENT/COUNTY PLANNING: Wastewater: Sewer available, not adversely affected. AP&L: No Comment received. ARKLA: No Comment. Southwestern Bell: No Comment. Water: Additional fire protection will be required for future phases. Fire Department: No Comment. County Planning: No Comment received. CATA: Served by CAT Route #15 (65`h Street). No foreseeable adverse impacts on transit. F. ISSUES/TECHNICAL/DESIGN: Planning Division: No Comment. Landscape Issues: Areas set aside for buffers meet with ordinance requirements. The proposed large parking lot (at the new electrical equipment building) does not provide for building landscaping. If this parking lot is to be used for public parking, then landscaping will be needed between the parking and building flexibility is allowed with this requirement. If the screening is not currently in place adjacent to the mobile home park to the east, then it should be provided. This screen may be a wooden fence with its face directed outward or dense evergreen plantings. The City Beautiful Commission recommends saving as many trees as feasible. Extra credit toward fulfilling ordinance requirements can be given when saving trees of six inch caliper or larger. G. ANALYSIS• All of the new buildings and building additions shown on the proposed site plan comply with all setback and height requirements of the City's Zoning Ordinance. The proposed 3 December 3, 1998 SUBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 11 (Cont.) FILE NO.: S-916-A site plan shows no planned construction within the 50 foot OS buffer along the southern portion of the east property line nor within the 200 foot wide R-2 zoned buffer along the west property line. The applicant is proposing to plant additional evergreens within the OS buffer area just west of Community Lane to aid in screening the adjacent residential uses. The total proposed office space (after long-term additions) near the northeast corner of the property will require approximately 219 parking spaces. The site plan shows 280 parking spaces in this area, with additional small parking areas to serve the smaller buildings throughout the site. There should be no parking issues associated with the site plan. The applicant is requesting a deferral of street improvements to Scott Hamilton Dr. along their property frontage and a waiver of right-of-way dedication and street improvements to Community Lane. Public works supports a deferral of street improvements to Scott Hamilton Dr. for 5 years or until development of adjacent property along Scott Hamilton Dr. Public works also supports the waiver of right-of-way dedication and street improvements to Community Lane based on the fact that the improvements would encroach into the OS buffer area and the applicant does not wish to access the property from Community Lane. Otherwise, staff can foresee no issues left to be resolved and feels that the proposed development plan will have no adverse effect on the general area. H. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff recommends approval of the site plan subject to the following conditions: 1. Compliance with the requirements as noted in paragraphs D, E and F of this report. 2. Any site lighting must be low-level and directed away from adjacent property. 3. None of the existing vegetation should be removed from the OS strip along the east property line nor the 200 foot R-2 strip along the west property line. 4. Staff recommends approval of the deferral of street improvements to Scott Hamilton Dr. as noted in paragraph G. 5. Staff also recommends approval of the waiver of right-of- way dedication and street improvements to Community Lane. 4 December 3, 1998 SUBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 11 (Cont. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: FILE NO.: 5-916- (NOVEMBER 5, 1998) Steve Sharp and Hank Kelley were present, representing the application. Staff briefly reviewed the site plan. Hank Kelley gave an overview of the development plan. Bob Turner, of Public works, reviewed his departments, requirements. Mr. Sharp indicated that a deferral of the improvements to Scott Hamilton Drive would be requested as would a waiver for the Community Lane right-of-way dedication and street improvements. Mr. Sharp also stated that some of the stormwater detention facilities would be constructed with the short-term phase. In response to a question from staff, Mr. Sharp noted that only employees will have access to the portion of the development which is south of the main office building. Staff noted that the 50 foot undisturbed open space buffer along the south portion of the east property line must be maintained. Staff noted that if a cul-de-sac were' constructed at the end of Community Lane it would intrude into this open space area. After the brief discussion, the Committee forwarded the site plan to the full Commission for final action. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (DECEMBER 3, 1998) Staff presented a positive recommendation on this application, as there were no further issues for resolution. There were no objectors to this matter. The Chairman placed the item before the within the Consent Agenda for approval A motion to that effect was made. The 7 ayes, 0 nays and 4 absent. Commission for inclusion as recommended by staff. motion passed by a vote of A