HomeMy WebLinkAboutCBC-661-McDONALD'S Staff MinutesLITTLE REICK
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C'r1 Y BEAUTIFUL
( 5Nq M IssION
The City Beautiful Commission held its regular meeting at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, July
12, 2018, at Curran Hall, 615 E. Capitol Avenue. Chairman Sanders -Woods, called the meeting to
order.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
MEMBERS ABSENT
ALSO PRESENT:
BJ Sanders -Woods
Steve Homcyer
Justin Blau
Bobby Cushman
Wally Loveless
Melissa 1-lenshaw
One Open Position
Michael Harvey
Michael Mason
Ed Peek
Bob Winchester
Beth Carpenter, City Attorney's Office
D. Tracy Spillman, Plans Development Administrator, Department
of Planning and Development, City of Little Rock.
APPROVAL OF TILE MAY MEETING MINUTES:
Chairman Sanders -Woods entertained a motion to approve the June 2018 Minutes.
Motion: Commissioner Blagg made a motion that the June 07, 2018 Minutes be approved.
Second: Commissioner Peel: seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
VARIANCE REQUEST: CBC Case 11661 - McDonald's - 515 W 6th Street
Variance Re uested:
To allow a reduction 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:
McDonald's USA is proposing to construct a new restaurant on the Urban Use (UU) zoned
property located at the southwest corner of W. 01' and Broadway Streets. The proposed site consists
of a half -block, bounded by W. 6°i Street on the north, Broadway on the east and Arch Street on
the west.
The UU district was established to help create a dense, compact distinguishable core area which
allows for a broad mix of uses. While there are large areas of downtown that are pedestrian urban -
oriented, there are also areas that are less so. Broadway south of 6"' Street is one such area that
retains its US Highway -vehicle orientated presence. The new "fast food" restaurant is compatible
with how Broadway I'rom 6"' Street south to I-630 has developed.
The property at 515 W. 6"' Street is currently occupied by a commercial surface parking lot. The
existing site is paved to the south property line and the south neighboring building is constructed
to this same boundary. To develop this property as indicated on the submitted site/landscape plan
the applicant had requested several zoning variances from the City of Little Rock's Board of
Adjustment (BOA). These request included waivers related to the drive -through facility, street tree
requirements, building and sidewalk orientation, building fagade transparency, parking, and
surface area / height of the L round mounted sign. Staff believed these requested variances where
appropriate for this particular development and wcre supportive of the proposal. On June 25`h the
BOA reviewed the applicants petition and voted unanimously to approve these appeals.
Interior parking, perimeter, and building landscape areas are not required for developments in the
UU district. However, proposed developments that do include surface level parking areas are
required to meet current zoning and landscape code specifications. As part of this new
development the applicant purposes to provide interior parking. The perimeter planting areas
associated with this new parking area CNceed the minimum width requirements on the north, east,
and west street sides of the property by 2 '/n - 3 '/, I"cet while leaving the south perimeter deficient
by three (3) feet nine (9) inches.
The new restaurant parking proposes a perimeter planting strip three (3) feet in width between the
proposed paving and the existing building to the south. This 300 foot vehicular use area adjacent
to the neighborin" property would normally require ten (10) trees and thirty (30) shrubs. At both
the east and west ends of this planter are existing; trees. There is one adjacent to the Broadway
Street right-of-way at the east and one adjacent to the S Arch Street right-of-way to the west. Both
are willow oaks, in good health, and each forte -seven (47) inches in diameter at breast height
(DBH). In accordance with the T-R.13.1: Credit Chrirt in Sec 15-52 each of these trees would be
equivalent to ten (10) newly planted three 3" inch caliper trees. The development of this property
as shown would require a minimum ofthirty-nine (39) trees to satisfy all of the minimum landscape
requirements. The submitted landscape plan shows a total of twenty-seven (27) proposed trees
consisting ofthrec (3) different varieties. 1Fpresc,-\-ed and protected during construction the credit
for the two (2) existing willow oak wou Icl provide a surplus of eight (8) trees for the overall project.
STAFF RECON! iA FNDATIONS:
Due to the additional perimeter plantin!� width 1-nwided adjacent to the street right-of-ways and
the adjacent building to the south being construcI l to the property line Staff is supportive of the
request to allow a reduction of the south perimc',_r landscape strip to a minimum width of three
(3) feet. Staff recommends approval of the requc�tcd variance with the condition that the existing
willow oak located at the soutliN est and southc�ist portion of the site be retained and protected
during construction and that the thirty (30) shruhS required for the south perimeter be provided in
this area or other areas of -the site.
Presentation:
The applicant, N1r. Matt Korte of Adams En ,incering was present to address any specific
questions. Mr. Korte presented the site and landscape plans to the commissioners and answered
questions while further discussing how the new restaurant property was to be developed.
Commissioner I-iarvev noted that there were several dead limbs in the tree that is to be saved and
protected adjacent to the Broadway right-of-wa... The commissioner further inquired about the
replacement of this tree if it did not survive construction or perished at some other time in the
future.
Staff Member Spillman summarircd the preserve; ion section of landscape code and explained the
different remedies to keep the landscape in coml,l innce with the code if any of the plant materials
used to meet the minimum rcquircmeW.s (lie or irc destroyed.
The commissioners generally discussed the three (3) foot wide planting bed on the south side of
the property and inquired if the proposed shrub material would be disrupted by parked vehicles
encroaching into the landscape area. \�� heel stops Ior additional protection and parking islands for
increased planting space was generally discussed by the commissioners.
Staff Member Spillman expressed that the proposcd curb and gutter met the minimum wheel
protection requircmcnts. Mr. Korte ol'lCrcd to p-l-wide two (2) new parking areas to this south
parking area to provide additional landscape spa.:'.
Chairman Sanders -Woods entertained a motion t ) approve the variance.
Motion: Commissioner Blagg made a motion tll:, t the variance be approved as recommended by
Staff with the condition that two new parking iskiiids be added to the proposed south parking
area to provide additional landscape space.
Second: Commissioner Mason sccon(Ic(I the mo, on and it passed unanimously.
TREASURER'S RVPORT:
Expense Repo rt:
Commissioner Cushman stated that the .I une 1 bc,,!: nce was $404.35, that the interest in the account
had increased $0.39, and as of July 1 the total of Jlc account was $404.74.
COMMITTEE REPORTS, IJPDAT',"';:
Community Projects
City Hall South Yar(1:
Commissioner Homeyer stated that there was no:l,,ing new to report.
Public Relations
Commissioner Blagg requested to be grandsted aiMistrative rights to the CBC Facebook page so
that he can assume the responsibilities as (-,.)-Chair of the Public Relations Committee.
Commissioner Homeyer indicated he would c itact former CBC Commissioner and Public
Relations Chairman, Mr. Chris l-lancock for instructions on how this can be accomplished. Staff
Member, Spillman also agreed to contact Co-Ch: it Ms. Melissa Henshaw for instructions.
The commissioners generally discussed this com,!]ittee and the status of the CBC trifold brochure
that was being produced. Commissioner Pcek indicated that he no longer had access to the software
to continue the brochure production. Commissioncr Blagg stated that he had some experience
creating this type of pamphlet and woulcl be able to continue the work that Commissioner Peek
had begun.
KLRB:
In the absence of Commissioncr I leash:m there w eis no new report.
Adopt-A-Strect:
In the absence of Commissioncr Loveless there was no new report.
Eye of the Beholder:
In the absence Commissioncr Loveless thc;re way no new report.
Landscape Awards:
Commissioner Homeyer stated nominal.ions I'Or this award will close in August. He also
encouraged the other commissioners to make am additional recommendations for this award
before the end of next month.
T.R.E.E Fund:
Commissioner I fomever stated that duc to a recent tree protection violation there is the possibility
that of a substantial donation being made to the T.R.L.E. Fund. The commissioner also stated that
this is pending on an upcomin"} action I)v the City ol'Little Rock Board of Directors.
The commissioners generally di�cusscd the,arc;i of violation and the possible areas that could
benefit from a decision that would create additional funding.
City Beautiful Exhibit:
In the absence oPConunissioncr Loveless there was no new report.
Commissioner Cushman presented two cardboard banners that he was given. The banners
(possible panels for the side of a parade car) were found after the recent sale of a residential
property in which Commissioner Cushman was involved. The banners commemorated the 1954
City Beautiful Comm fission, Bcauty Pa,_,cmit and that year's winner.
Commissioner Cushman stated that he would deliver these to Commissioner Loveless to be
included in with the other exhibit materials.
NEW BUSINESS:
There was no nc\-v business.
ANOUNCEMENTS:
The next regularly scheduled meeting w i l i be Thursday, August 02, 2018, at 11:30 am.
ADJOURNMENT:
Chairman Sanders -Woods entertained a motion to adjourn.
Motion: Commissioner Blagg, made a motion to adjourn.
Second: Commissioner Peck seconded tl,,c motion and it passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:25pm.
LI'I"I 1,1: ROCI: CITY BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OP PLANNING AND DEVEL_ P,\IENT - 723 WEST MARKHAM -LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS 72201
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