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HomeMy WebLinkAboutS-1231-B Staff AnalysisAugust 19, 1909 ITEM NO.: 10 FILE NO.: S-1231-B NAME: Office Max - Revised Subdivision Site Plan Review LOCATION: South side of Chenal Parkway, between Gamble and Atkins Roads DEVELOPER: ENGINEER: Realm Realty White-Daters and Associates 900 Town and Country Lane 401 S. Victory Street Suite 210 Little Rock, AR 72201 Houston, TX 77024 AREA: 5.5 acres NUMBER OF LOTS: 1 FT. NEW STREET: 0 ZONING: C-3 ALLOWED USES: General Commercial PROPOSED USE: General Commercial VARIANCES/WAIVERS REQUESTED: None requested. BACKGROUND: On January 21, 1999, the Planning Commission approved a multiple building site plan for the property. The site plan included the larger Office Max commercial building (62,492 square feet) and a smaller 3,682 square foot restaurant building at the northwest corner of the property. As part of the site plan, the Commission also approved a variance from the ordinance requirement for minimum number of parking spaces. The applicant proposed 266 parking spaces for the site. This was 29 spaces short of the minimum ordinance requirement of 295 spaces. On May 27, 1999, the applicant withdrew an application for a revised site plan. The revised plan proposed additional area August 19, 1999 SUBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 10 (Cont.) FILE NO.: 5-1231-B for the larger commercial building and a parking variance for 60 spaces. A. PROPOSAL/REQUEST: The applicant is proposing to revise the previously approved site plan. The applicant proposes to increase the size of the larger commercial building from 62,492 square feet to 67,992 square feet. The applicant also proposes to decrease the size of the smaller building from 3,682 square feet to 2,100 square feet. The smaller building is now labeled as retail instead of restaurant use. The overall increase in building area is approximately 5.6 percent. With the increase in building area proposed, the new ordinance requirement for minimum number of parking spaces is 311 spaces. The applicant proposes 284 parking spaces with the revised site plan, 27 spaces short of the ordinance required minimum. As noted previously, on January 21, 1999 the Commission approved a variance for 29 parking spaces for this site. The 27 space deficiency in parking is within the previously approved variance, therefore no additional variance is required. B. EXISTING CONDITIONS: The Office Max portion of the larger commercial building is complete. The remainder of this building is currently under construction. The site sits below the grade of West Markham Street and a portion of Gamble Road. The general area contains a mixture of uses and zoning. There is an auto dealership to the west across Gamble Road and a new bank office building to the east. Commercial property is located across Chenal Parkway to the north. There is a church and undeveloped 0-3 zoned property to the south across West Markham Street. C. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS: The Parkway Place and Gibralter Heights/Point West/Timber Ridge Neighborhood Associations were notified of the public hearing. As of this writing, staff has received no comment from the neighborhood. K August 19, 1999 SUBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 10 (Cont.) D. ENGINEERING COMMENTS: PUBLIC WORKS CONDITIONS: FILE NO.: S-1231-B Building permit for this application will be held until closure of Atkins right-of-way has been finalized as previously requested. 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 received. Water: No Comment. Fire Department: No Comment. County Planning: No Comment received. CATA: Site is near CATA Route #5 - West Markham; sidewalks are adequate, will have to have pedestrian crosswalks clearly identified from sidewalks to building entrances; approved for transit purposes as submitted. F. ISSUES/TECHNICAL/DESIGN: Planning Division: No Comment. Landscape Issues: Area set aside for buffers and landscaping meet with ordinance requirements. G. ANALYSIS: The applicant submitted a revised site plan to staff on August 2, 1999. The revised plan addresses the concerns as raised by staff and the Subdivision Committee. The smaller commercial building meets the required minimum setbacks and the applicant has noted that the Atkins Road right-of-way will be abandoned. As noted in the Subdivision Committee comments, the applicant has expressed a willingness to identify pedestrian crosswalks as suggested by CATA. 3 August 19, 1999 SUBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 10 (Cont.) FILE NO.: 5-1231-B The proposed site is located within the Chenal/Financial Center Design Overlay District. Signage, site lighting and utilities must conform to the following DOD requirements: 1. Ground -mounted signs must be "monument" type with a maximum height of 8 feet and a maximum area of 100 square feet. 2. Parking lot lighting must be directed to the parking areas and not reflected to adjacent property. 3.No overhead utilities shall be constructed within 100 feet of the Chenal Parkway right-of-way. 4. All lighting and utilities in front of the rear line of the building must be underground. As noted with the previously approved site plan, the applicant will be required to plant one (1) evergreen tree every 20 feet along the south and west property lines to help screen the building in the areas where the building is below the grade of the streets (W. Markham Street and Gamble Road). The applicant will also be required to plant evergreen trees at the southeast corner of Chenal Parkway and Gamble Road where several small evergreen trees were removed during site preparation. The applicant will work with Bob Brown, Site Plan Review Specialist, regarding the placement. Otherwise, there should be no outstanding issues. The proposed revised site plan should have no adverse effects on the general area. H. STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff recommends approval of the revised site plan subject to the following conditions: 1. Signage, site lighting and utilities must conform with the Chenal/Financial Center Design Overlay District as noted in paragraph G. 2. Staff recommends approval of the Atkins Road right-of-way abandonment. 3. Clearly identified pedestrian crosswalks from the sidewalks to the building must be provided as requested by CATA. 4. The evergreen trees must be replanted at the southeast corner of Chenal Parkway and Gamble Road as noted in paragraph G. 4 August 19, 1999 SUBDIVISION ITEM NO.: 10 (Cont.) FILE NO.: S-1231-B 5.Evergreen trees (1 every 20 feet) must be planted along the south and west property lines where the proposed commercial building is below the grade of West Markham Street and Gamble Road. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (DULY 29, 1999) Joe White and Jeff Yates were present, representing the application. Staff gave a brief description of the revised site plan, noting the differences between this plan and the previously approved site plan. Staff noted that the side yard setback for the small commercial building needed to be increased from 23 to 25 feet. Staff also noted that signage, site lighting and utilities must conform to the Chenal Design Overlay District Ordinance. Public Works noted that the Atkins Road right-of-way along the east property line must be abandoned. The CATA request to have clearly identified pedestrian crosswalks from the sidewalks to the building was briefly discussed. Mr. Yates indicated a willingness to comply with this request. Debbie Allen, of CATA, stated that she could supply Mr. Yates with suggestions as to how to delineate these areas. There being no further issues for discussion, the Committee forwarded the revised site plan to the full Commission for final action. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (AUGUST 19, 1999) The 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 Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for approval as recommended by staff. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays and 5 absent. 5 City of Little Rock Department of anning and DevelopmentPlanning Zoning and 723 West Markham Subdivision Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 13 (501) 371-4790 White-Daters and Associates Joe White 401 S. Victory Street Little Rock, AR 72201 Date: August 24, 1999 Dear Mr. White: Re: Case No. S-1231-B Location: Office Max - Revised Subdivision Site Plan Review This is to advise you that in connection with your application case no.'S-1231-B, the following action was taken by the Planning Commission at its meeting on August 19, 1999. (a) X Approved with conditions. (b) Recommended approval with conditions. (c) Recommended approval as submitted. (d) Denied your request as submitted. (e) Deferred to Meeting. (f) Other: Please submit 3 copies of the approved site plan to staff as soon as possible, so that your file can be closed out. If you have any questions, please call me at 371-4792. Sincerely, Monte Moore, Subdivision Administrator Department of Planning and Development