HomeMy WebLinkAboutCBC-669-TEMPLO CHRISTANO PENTECOSTE Staff MinutesJuly 11, 2019
ITEM NO. 1 C. 669 _ NEW MATTERS
Applicant: Terry Burruss, Architect
Owner
Rafael Miranda
2605 Cherry Xing
Benton, AR 72015
Agent
Terry Burruss, Architect
Address: 4819 Baseline Rd
Description: ALL LT 1 EXC 04AC USED FOR
BASELINE RD
ORDINANCE RE UIRMENTS:
Chapter 15, Sec. 15-96. Perimeter planting strips.
(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 of the south perimeter planting strip and a reduction of a portion of the east
perimeter planting strip to less than the nine (9) feet as typically required to comply with the minimum
ordinance standards.
FINDINGS:
This C-3 zoned property located at 4819 Baseline Rd is occupied by a former residential structure that is
now serving as a church. The surrounding properties include an office use adjacent to the east, and
single-family homes located to the south and west. In addition, there are a variety of commercial uses
located across Baseline Rd to the north.
The existing building being utilized as a church is approximately 2,000 sq. ft. with a paved parking area
located at the front of the site. The applicant is proposing to add a one story 2,660 sq. ft. sanctuary
building and an additional parking behind the existing structure. The parking at the front of the site will
be rehabbed. The driveway and parking areas will be asphalt with concrete curbing. The existing building
will be used for classrooms and office.
The applicant petitioned the Little Rock Planning Commission and requested site plan review approval to
allow for the construction of a second building. As part of this review zoning variances were requested
to reduce buffers for the south and the west perimeters and to reduce the side yard setback on the
west. Zoning buffers are required at six (6) percent of the average depth/width of the lot but no less
than nine (9) feet when the property is adjacent to those of a more restrictive use. The purposed
development would require and eighteen (18) foot buffer on the south and a nine (9) foot buffer on the
west. Staff supported these requests and noted that an additional landscape variance would be required
before the south and west perimeters could be developed less than nine (9) feet in width. On June 06,
2019 the Planning Commission approved the site plan and associated zoning variances with the
condition that a landscape variance be sought from the City Beautiful Commission for any perimeter
planting strip less than nine (9) feet in width.
The purposed reconditioned parking area at the front of the property and the newly planned parking
adjacent to the west property line encroaches into the nine (9) foot perimeter planting strip
approximately two feet at their widest points and four (4) feet at its narrowest. This presents a seven (7)
foot planting strip adjacent to the end parking bays and a four (4) foot planting strip twenty (20) feet in
width in both parking areas to allow for a vehicle backup area. The purposed parking area adjacent to
the south property line encroaches into the perimeter planting strip three (3) feet with the vehicle back-
up area leaving a six (6) feet of planting space, twenty (20) feet wide. This is the only area on the south
perimeter planting strip that is deficient.
As shown on the attached site plan the perimeter planting strips do fall below the minimum nine (9)
foot width required for planting perimeters. However, additional land area between the purposed
development and the south and west property lines often exceeds this nine (9) foot minimum width
allowing enough space for all required plant materials to be installed. In addition, the applicant intends
to meet or exceed the minimum landscape requirements for this development. Any trees or shrubs that
can not be planted within the reduced perimeters due to space restraints will be relocated in close
proximity of the vehicular use areas adjacent to the south and west property lines. The applicant
understands that before a building permit can be issued a final landscape plan that meets or exceeds
the minimum landscape code requirements must be submitted and approved.
AFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff is supportive of the request to allow the reduction in width of the west perimeter landscape strip
and a portion of the south perimeter landscape strip providing that the placement of all required
landscape and irrigation be installed between the new development and the south or west property
line.
Staff recommends approval of the requested variance.