HomeMy WebLinkAboutCBC-645 WELLINGTON Staff MinutesFeburary 04, 2016
ITEM NO. 2, C.B.C. 645 — NEW MATTERS
Applicant: Jeremiah Russell
Rogue Architecture LLC
Owner
Wellington Plaza LLC
Agent
Jeremiah Russell
Address: 222 Wellington Hills Road
Description: N of Intersection at Chenal
Pkwy & Wellington Hills Rd
W side
ORDINANCE REQUIRME_NTS:
Chapter 15, Sec. 15-96. Perimeter planting strips.
(b) Trees shall be planted with an average linear spacing of not less than thirty (30) feet within the
required landscape or buffer area. Three (3) shrubs or vines for every thirty (30) linear feet shall
be planted in the perimeter planting strip. Massing is permitted as long as trees are spaced not
more than one hundred (100) linear feet apart including width of driveway.
VARIANCE REQUESTED
To allow the Owner and Developer of the property at 222 Wellington Hills Road to install a lesser
number of trees than required for the north perimeter and a portion of the northeast perimeter of the
development effected by the existing 100 foot Entergy easement.
FINDINGS:
The proposed development is located at 222 Wellington Hills Road The site encompasses 2.6 acres of
land and is currently zoned 03. A proposed 4,400 square feet single story structure is proposed as the
only building on the site.
There will be a single drive extending east from Wellington Hills Road that will serve as the only entry to
the site. Parking is proposed in the front and rear of the building on the east and west sides with a total
of thirty-six (36) spaces. The site plan indicates an Entergy easement one hundred and ten (110) feet in
width north of the proposed development. The outer edge of this easement is located on the north
property line while the inner edge is located twenty (20) feet inside the proposed vehicular use area.
This twenty (20) foot drive aisle is required to provide Entergy service vehicles access to the utility
easement. No trees or shrubs are allowed within this aisle. Further to the north is an undeveloped
neighboring property zoned C-1. To the south is a fifty (50) foot waterline easement and an
undeveloped neighboring lot zoned 03. To the west of the proposed building and parking is an area of
mature trees and dense understory vegetation that is not affected by the power or water easements
and will remain undisturbed.
Entergy has stated that it will not allow any plantings that exceed a height of six (6) feet in their
easement. It is estimated seven (7) trees will be vacated from the north perimeter and one (1) tree from
the access aisle adjacent to Wellington Hills Road. Seven (7) shrubs will also need to be eliminated from
the right -of way screening shrubs which conflict with the access aisle.
In addition to the plant material being eliminated due to the power easement the applicant has also
requested that the four (4) trees and eleven (11) shrubs be eliminated on the west perimeter. In
accordance with Section 15-102 Protection of Landscaping, natural vegetation and undergrowth may be
approved by the city official to satisfy landscaping requirements. The existing plant materials to remain
on the west perimeter will meet this requirement.
A required total of eight (8) trees and seven (7) shrubs are being eliminated from the project. Due to the
small area being developed the applicant has requested that these materials not be installed elsewhere
on site. The applicant is also requesting in lieu of making a donation to the T.R.E.E. Fund the existing
stand of mature vegetation that will remain intact on the west portion of the site be counted towards
meeting the landscape requirements of the plant materials being eliminated within the easement
boundaries. The existing mature trees and dense vegetation being retained will more than compensate
for the perimeter trees and shrubs being eliminated.
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff is supportive of the requested variance with the condition that the existing stand of undisturbed
trees on the western side of the developed area remain as preserved trees to fulfill the required tree
count.