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HomeMy WebLinkAboutS-0157 Staff AnalysisMr April 14, 1981 SUBDIVISIONS Item No. 5 NAME: Hooper Bond Addition 4W / S7 LOCATION: Markham and Shackleford, Northwest Corner AREA: 19.1 Acres NO. OF LOTS: 12 FT. OF NEW STREET: 1,300 VARIANCES REQUESTED: 1. Half street improvements along Markham. 2. Allow block length to exceed 1,000' . A. EXISTING CONDITIONS The area involved is a commercial one composed of varying types of businesses. Site characteristics of this specific property reveal excavation activity at the western boundary and a single office building on the east near Shackleford Road. Wooden and chain fences buffer the adjacent 20 acre residential subdivision that rises to the north and Markham Street forms the boundary to the south. No drainage problems of concern are apparent. B. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL This is a proposal to plat 19.1 acres into twelve lots for general commercial office use. The request includes two variances. One involves a waiver of half street improvements along Markham Street. The other is a request to allow the block length to exceed the required length of 1,000' . The applicant is of the belief that the City plans to improve West Markham Street by a bond issue, so any current improvements on his part would only serve to fragment and confuse the ultimate construction. To avoid a conflict, he prefers an in lieu cash contribution. Justification for the second variance is based on a fear of penetrating a 54" raw water line that runs parallel to Markham. The cost to lower this line is prohibitive until a point west of the property, which is in excess of the 1,000' block length requirement. The intention is to cul-de-sac or join with the adjacent property developer's road to the west. The lots are to be platted as they are sold. April 14, 1981 Item No. 5 - Continued C. ENGINEERING CONSIDERATIONS a. Recommends no waivers on West Markham Street improvements. They should be installed to minor arterial standards. b. Provision of a turnaround at the end of the access easement. C. Staff should be provided with followup information on internal drainage from Lot 11 to West Markham Street. d. Staff should be provided with information on the planned grade for the western portion of the street. Engineer should show source of title on triangular piece of land. D. ANALYSIS Staff has no particular problem with the development proposal or the request to allow the block to be approximately 1,300' instead of the required maximum length of 1, 000' . Staff is not in favor of waiving any improvements along West Markham Street. The City does have plans to improve Markham in the distant future when monies become available, but no bond issue is planned. Therefore, we are advocating that the applicant make the actual improvements or in -lieu contribution when any development west of Lots 1 and 2 is done. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Approval of the plat subject to both staff 's and Engineering's comments. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee moved and passed a motion to approve the plat with one waiver subject to staff's and Engineering's recommendation. The vote was: 3 ayes, 0 noes, 3 absent. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION During the meeting, the applicant requested that his application be amended to allow a 25' rear yard setback., in lieu of the required 40'. Justifications for this include the following: ' 6/ �j / April 14, 1981 AO Item No. 5--Continued 1. There will be no parking on the rear 251. 2. The rear 25' will be landscaped. 3. The grade differential between the residential lots on the north and the commercial lots varies from 0' to 401. 4. The soils in the area are competent shales which support these type slopes. 5. The architects have sited a building on this site. To require the building to be 40' from the rear yard would cripple an otherwise fine project. Due to the topographical makeup of the site, Staff and the Commission expressed no major concerns. A motion was made and passed for approval of the plat and two variances. The vote: 10 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent.* * Commissioner Arnett was absent. to