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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-11-96455 Board of Directors Room City Hall - 500 W. Markham Little Rock, Arkansas June 11, 1996 - 4:15 P.M. The Board of Directors of the City of Little Rock, Arkansas reconvened from the June 4, 1996 regular meeting with Mayor Jim Dailey presiding. City Clerk Robbie Hancock called the roll with the following Directors present: Directors Sharp, Mason, Kumpuris, Adcock, Hinton, Keck, Joyce, and Wyrick - total 8; Absent - Directors Wilson and Hodges - total 2. With a quorum present, Mayor Dailey declared the Board of Directors in session and stated the purpose of the reconvened meeting was to consider a contract with Township Builders for Cloverdale Phase I, and a resolution of support for the CATA downtown transfer station. The first presentation was Resolution No. 9,725, entitled: A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH TOWNSHIP BUILDERS TO RECONSTRUCT STREETS AND DRAINAGE IN A SECTION OF CLOVERDALE (PHASE I). (Not to exceed $1, 727,362) Following the reading of the Resolution, Director Adcock moved for its adoption. The motion was seconded by Director Joyce, and the Resolution was unanimously adopted. Consideration was then given to Resolution No. 9,726, described as: A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE CENTRAL ARKANSAS TRANSIT AUTHORITY (CATA) DOWNTOWN TRANSFER STATION. (TO BE LOCATED BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH AND ROCK AND CUMBERLAND STREETS.) Mr. Keith Jones, Executive Director of Central Arkansas Transit Authority, made a slide presentation of the proposed downtown transfer station and addressed a list of citizen concerns, such as traffic, noise, air pollution, land values, visual impact, crime and transients, loss of housing, etc. He concluded by asking the Board to approve the Resolution of support to include with the application for site approval from the Federal Government because there are $3.1 million in federal funds already set aside for the project, pending site approval. The City of Little Rock set aside $600,000 or $700,000 in 1994 for the project. Mayor Dailey strongly favored using law enforcement officers rather than a private security service. Director Keck wanted to see a collaboration with private entities for food establishments. (Director Wilson enrolled at 4:45 o'clock P.M.) Mr. Maurice Lewis, speaking on behalf of Veterans Affairs of the American Legion Post No. 1 located at 315 East Capitol Avenue, introduced some of the leaders of the American Legion, Post No. 1: Claude Carpenter, Lawrence Fisher, Bill Bridges, Jerry Rogers, Elliot Flickinger, Wally Erwin, and John Lee; and stated the intention to withdraw objections to the site location under certain conditions: (1) that the advisory committee have three members from Post No. 1 designated by the Post Commander; (2) adequate security posted during closed hours; (3) a firm commitment to construct a 10 ft. wall for noise abatement on Capitol Avenue; (4) no buses on Capitol Avenue between Cumberland and Rock and Rock Street between 4th and 6th; and (5) that Capitol Avenue be extended. Director Mason moved to amend the Resolution to include the conditions. The motion was seconded by Director Sharp. City Manager Charles Nickerson pointed out that the Little Rock Code would not permit a 10 ft. wall. Mr. Jones said the CATA Board had committed to the total noise mitigation. City Attorney Tom Carpenter reminded the Board that this is a Resolution supporting the site selection, and recommended rather than getting into specifics, that Section 2 include a proviso to provide that appropriate steps are taken to assure noise abatement, security, and esthetic 1 456 Minutes June 11, 1996 appeal to the surrounding neighborhood. Directors Mason and Sharp withdrew the motion and second. Mr. Jones and Mr. Lewis with his group went to the conference room to discuss the issues while the Board heard from other speakers. Speaking in support of the CATA location were Ms. Mary Copeland, Jimmy Sparks, Searcy Ewell, and Bufford Stinnett. Speaking in opposition were Mr. John Bush - Chairman of the MacArthur Park Historic District Commission, Rusty Byrne, and Jean Ann Phillips. Director Keck implored Mr. Jones to look at all the options for leasing space to other entities to generate revenue. Mr. Lewis said the American Legion group agreed to a 6 ft. wall rather than the 10 ft. wall. In response to a question by Mayor Dailey, City Attorney Tom Carpenter recommended leaving the Resolution in its present forms and let the record reflect that the Board has heard these concerns about an advisory committee, about the wall, and about security, and that these matters need to be discussed more fully, if this site is approved. Mr. Carpenter also suggested that if this site is approved and it comes back for actual site plan approval, that it be a Planned Development and all these issues would be addressed. Director Sharp was uncomfortable with the location, stating "we need a plan for the downtown area. " The Resolution was then read in full and there was a motion and second by Directors Adcock and Keck, respectively, to adopt the Resolution. In response to a question by Mr. Claude Carpenter of the American Legion Post No. 1, Mayor Dailey stated that the Board heard from the American Legion on all the issues outlined and will make certain that as part of the planning process, if approved, it will go through as a Planned Unit Development and that any changes would have to come back to the Board of Directors for approval, and that the terms of the agreement will become a part of the record. City Attorney Tom Carpenter stated that Planning Director Jim Lawson said a PUD would not be available here, but CATA would have to get a Conditional Use Permit which would accomplish the same thing. A roll call vote was taken on the adoption of the Resolution as follows: Ayes - Directors Mason, Kumpuris, Adcock, Wilson, Hinton, Keck, Joyce, Wyrick, and Mayor Dailey - total 9; Noes - Director Sharp - total 1; Absent - Director Hodges - total 1. Whereupon, the Resolution was adopted. (Director Kumpuris was excused at 5:50 o'clock P.M.) Director Wyrick requested that the Board of Directors revisit a zoning issue that was discussed at the Board Meeting on Tuesday, June 4, 1996, regarding the appeal of the Planning Commission's denial of the application to rezone 1818 and 1824 Georgia Street (Z -6112) from "R -2" Single - family District to "R -5" Urban Residence District. (See pages 2 and 3 of the Minutes of June 4, 1996 The appeal was filed by Mr. Jim Harney and a public hearing was held before the Board of Directors on June 4, 1996 Following the public hearing, a motion was adopted to send the matter back to the Planning Commission for review) Director Wyrick stated that at the Joint Task Force meeting between the Board of Directors and the Planning Commission held on Thursday, June 6, 1996, this matter was discussed. Those present indicated they were trying to reflect the interests of the residents in the neighborhood, and did a very thoughtful evaluation of the issue. They did hear enough from the applicant, and the re- reversal of the property owners situation was not a reason for them to deny that application. Therefore, she moved to set the date for another public hearing on July 2, 1996, on the appeal of the Planning Commission's denial of the application to rezone 1818 and 1824 Georgia Street (Z -6112) from 11R -2" Single- family District to "R -5" Urban Residence District and not send it back to the Planning Commission. The motion was seconded by Director Adcock and unanimously adopted by the Board Members present. Therefore, another public hearing will be held on July 2, 1996, on the appeal of Zoning Application Z -6112 to rezone 1818 and 1824 Georgia Avenue. 2 Minutes June 11, 1996 There being no further business to be presented, the reconvened meeting was adjourned at 5:55 o'clock P.M. to meet again in regular session on Tuesday, June 18, 1996, at 6:00 o'clock P.M. ATTEST: APPROVED -- - q,2,.-,, & CL City Clerk Robbie Hancock MLyor Jim Dailey 3