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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCBC-643-BASSETT Staff MinutesDecember 03, 2015 ITEM NO. 1. C.B.C. 643 — NEW MATTERS Applicant. Address: Description: ORDINANCE REQUIRMENTS: Chapter 15, Sec. 15-96. Perimeter planting strips. Paulette Bassett Owner Harry & Paulette Bassett 3211 & 3215 Arch Street LOT 22 BLOCK 2 TWEN CEN ADDITION LESS (a) A perimeter planting strip is required along any side of a vehicular use area that abuts adjoining property or the right-of-way of any street, highway or freeway. This strip shall be at least nine (9) feet wide. The perimeter planting strip adjacent to freeways or expressways shall be at least thirty (30) feet wide except within mature areas. VARIANCE REQUESTED To allow a reduction and removal of a portion of the south perimeter planting strip to less than the six (6) feet nine (9) inches that is typically required for developments in areas designated "mature" by the department of planning and development and approved by the planning commission and the city beautiful commission. FINDINGS: The applicant has requested a rezoning of this site from R-2, Single —family to Planned Commercial Development to allow the reuse of this commercial building as a multi -tenant building. On November 19, 2015 (file no. Z-9092) the Planning Commission approved C-1 Neighborhood Commercial uses and other uses specific to the applicants' current use of the building. In addition the commission approved the site plan showing the incorporation of parking on the south side of the building and the reduced south side perimeter buffer/landscape strip. Currently River City Doors is operating from the rear of the building. The applicant is requesting to use the front portion of the building, an area containing 850 square feet of floor area (28-feet by 30.42 — feet) as lease space for a commercial user. The owner also stores antique autos within the building. The request includes the allowance of the C-3, General Commercial District uses. There are commercial uses located further to the south. The property located across South Arch Street is zoned commercially. A number of the lots are vacant. There is a church located one (1) block west of this site. There are occupied single-family homes located to the north. The parking for this building has been lost due to a project funded by the Arkansas State Highway Department. The applicant indicates eight (8) spaces can be added to the south side of the existing building. To allow for the proposed parking and one way drive lane the required six (6) feet nine (9) inch landscape perimeter adjacent to the residentially zoned property to the south has been reduced to (3) feet three (3) inches. A proposed six (6) foot wood privacy fence is to be placed on the south property line to provide screening for the neighboring R-2 zoned property. In addition to the proposed fence five (5) trees and fifteen (15) shrubs are required for this perimeter. Four (4) Emerald Green Arborvitae are proposed to partially satisfy the tree requirements. Due to space restrictions these trees will also provide screening towards the east and west property lines in lieu of the fence. Also, eight (8) additional shrubs located in the approximate center of the perimeter are proposed to compensate for the remaining (1) tree. A total of twenty (24) shrubs will be provided on this perimeter. All other landscape requirements have been met. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff is supportive of the request to allow the reduced perimeter landscape strip as purposed.