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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHDC2006-022 Staff Report, Project Background, And Description 10/09/2006DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND III! DEVELOPMENT LITTLE ROCK =`ri `HISTORIC 723 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 DISTRICT COMMISSION Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax: (501) 399-3435 :try STAFF REPORT ITEM NO. 1. DATE: October 9, 2006 APPLICANT: Colley Burrow, French Harris Architects ADDRESS: 1401 Scott Street COA Exterior lighting plan, air conditioning condensing units, etc. REQUEST: PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION: The subject property is located at 1401 Scott Street. The property's legal description is Lot 1 R, Block 20 Original City of Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas." The property in question is formerly known as the East Side Auditorium. The Auditorium was constructed c1910 and is of Beaux-Arts Classical Style. The Beaux Arts expressed the taste and values of America's industrial barons at the turn of the century. Significant Features of the Beaux-Arts style are: symmetrical facade; flat, low-pitched; mansard roofs similar to French Renaissance Revival architecture; walls with designs or ornamentation, facades with Location of Project quoins, pilasters, or columns (usually paired with Ionic or Corinthians capitals), constructed with smooth and light colored stone walls of masonry; large and grandiose compositions; projecting facades or pavilions; paired colossal columns; and pronounced cornices with a tall parapet, balustrade, or attic story. This structure is considered to be a prime example of the Beaux Arts Style in Little Rock and exemplifies numerous features typical of the style. The Building is a contributing structure within the MacArthur Park Historic District. This revision to the previously approved COA is for the following items: parking lot lighting plan; landscape plan clarification and sidewalks; air conditioner units and enclosures; wood fence enclosing mechanical systems and service areas (dumpster, electrical transformer); and the gravel paving system. The project's COA that was approved on June 2, 2005 left questions unanswered that will be addressed in this application. The major driving force of the revision of the COA was the location of 41 air conditioner condensing units on the ground. PREVIOUS ACTIONS ON THIS SITE: On June 2, 2005, a COA was - approved and issued to Arc Arkansas for "Repair and replace exterior building components and construct a new parking lot on the site". ANALYSIS: The East Side Auditorium north facade In the analysis, the individual topics will be discussed and analyzed individually. 1. The exterior lighting plan for parking lot and the entirety of site was not included in the original application for the site. There will be two pole ` mounted light fixtures for the parking lot. The guidelines state, "These lights, such as flood lights, should intrude as little as possible on the integrity of the neighborhood. They should be mounted on secondary and rear facades. Shields should focus the light down, not at neighboring property." The light fixtures proposed are manufactured by Lithonia Lighting, model KAD: Contour Soft Square Flat Lens Cutoff. This will be an aluminum housing with a dark bronze corrosion resistant finish. The flat lens will have a cutoff feature to be able to shield lights from the residential uses across the Parking lot light fixture street. The fixtures will be located on the north side of the parking lot as shown on page E1.0 in the submittals. Staff needs clarification on the height of the poles. 2. Clarification of the Landscape Plan. The applicant was asked to label all plants on site, both existing and proposed. The original COA approval was based on the retention of privet hedge on perimeter of site. The guidelines state: "Landscape 2 features, that are original or historic, and that are important in defining the overall character of the property, should be identified, retained and preserved." Historic plant materials are listed and in this case, the privet hedge would be considered historic. Check on page 1-1.1 for the revised Landscape Plan. The shrubbery between the existing lofts and the parking lot will be flowering shrubs with grass planted_n between. e plants in theilands will also be flowering shrubs. Cre e M rfie.s will be -planted aroun a penme er o e si a interspersed in the rive# edge. The gaps in the privet e ge wil be file in wr a i Bona privet i edges. Crepe My es cannot be "topped" n o e cut a ow six -feet per ci landscape ordinance. Staff recommends that these crepe myrtles be allowed to grow to full mature height with only minor pruning to shape. 3. The applicant was asked to y resolve the conflict of sidewalk r - T'�"•" ''"�' exiting from the north entry of "� �: •-� -� -, - w classroom building going to parking :�J „ 36 SPACES lot. Staff added the hatching to the ' = drawing as illustrated to the right."'�°'"� Staff's comment was that "If it is to be grass, it will be mud and dirt soon after installation". The applicant's answer was that "the hatched areas ,v will be grass, but we can install sidewalk (concrete) in several areas near the back entrance of the existing Eastside Loft Apartments to prevent future dirt or mud problems." Areas to be added to sidewalk Staff recommends that the concrete sidewalk be extended and installed into the hatched area flush with the existing sidewalk and the top of the curb to prevent this maintenance issue. 4. The applicant was asked to locate all utility transformers and utility equipment to be located on the site (electric transformers, phone boxes, etc.) and to provide a plan for screening these from street. The guidelines state that "Mechanical systems and service areas should be as unobtrusive to the historic neighborhood as possible... Large metal containers for garbage at multi -family or institutional sites should be located in the rear and screened from street view with fencing or shrubbery." The trash dumpster is located to the southeast of the parking lot. The location is shown on page 1-1.1. The dumpster enclosure elevation is also shown on that page in the upper left as Detail A-D. The enclosure is faced with 1 x6 cedar pickets that are to be painted. The height of the enclosure is to be 8' tall. Staff feels that the guidelines have been met by the proposed improvements. On page E1.0, it is shown that a utility company transformer is to be located between the dumpster and the building. The transformer is expected to be six feet in height, and 91 7 would be screened from 14th Street by the dumpster enclosure. It would not be screened from Scott Street to the west, but would be approximately 200 feet from Scott Street. Staff feels that this distance is sufficient. 5. The applicant was asked to clarify the locations of the air conditioning condensing units for the auditorium, to include all exposed piping and wiring in application and show the enclosure to screen the units. The guidelines state: "HVAC units should be located where not readily visible from the street and should be screened with shrubbery or fencing." There will be 14 condensing units on the east side of the building, 15 condensing units on the west side of the building and 12 condensing units in two groups of six units each on the south side as shown on page A1.1. Each condensing unit cannot be more that 70 feet from the apartment that it serves. Otherwise, Staffs recommendation would be to put all of the units to the south of the auditorium north of the classroom building. (An earlier version has units on the north side of the building; those have since been relocated.) Staff is supportive of the locations of the condensing units. fill s,,V711+1[IV1fn1 �W) PW ri+.ai..y vi r.a The units would be screened by a wood picket fence as described on page A1.1 Detail A in the lower left corner. The guidelines state: Wood picket fences may be located in front, side, or rear yards, generally following property lines. They should be no taller than three feet (36') tall, pickets should be no wider than four inches (4') and set no farther apart than three inches (3`). The design shall be compatible with and proportionate to the house." The proposed fence will be a 36-inch�ick-e-LfenQe w� the pickets bein 2x4's cedar painted. e spacing between t inch. This screen will b. nd-alL our sets of condensin n an page Hardware will be traditional ar ware hinges and gravity latches by the Hoover Fence Company Staff supports the pouring of a continuous slab to support the Hardware set for ac unit enclosures rd multiple units within the enclosure area and supportive of the screening materials. Each unit will require an individual circuit breaker box. The circuit breakers will be insta he building;u be ow fhe-recommended 3�". This -wq rec uce the visibility of these numerous boxes by placing them below the level of the fence enclosure. Location of ac units on east side. 6. The applicant was asked to provide information on permeable gravel paver system for the north portion of the parking lot. The guidelines state that: "surfaces of parking lots should be gravel or concrete." Gravelpave2, as proposed, could adhere to the guidelines without the rutting and mud associated with a typical gravel parking area. Gravelpave2 is + ,� comprised of a porous geotextile fabric, molded directly to the one -inch high integrated ring and { `L grid system. Gravelpave2 sits above an engineered porous base course, is anchored down with galvanized anchors, and is filled with decorative gravel. Photo of Gravelpave2 7. Staff asked the applicant to retain the sidewalk from northwest corner of property to north edge of proposed parking lot. The guidelines state: "Landscape features, that are original or historic, and that are important in defining the overall character of the property, should be identified, retained and preserved." Sidewalks are listed and this one would be considered historic. The pplicant sta Fd that they would keep the walk. a j � U� '-V i A4- - � NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS AND FACTION: At the time of distribution, there was one comment regarding this application. The caller wanted to know what the application entailed. 5 r DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVUOPb[ENT LITTLE ROCK 723 West Madchsm Street HISTORIC Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 P' DISTRICT Phone: (501) 371.4790 Fax (501) 399-3435 COMMISSION APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Application Date: 13 / qti, 1. Date of Public Hearing:.lt._ day of ���� 200 .mat 2, 0' P.M. 2. Address of Property: 1401 Se_"'tt' STAE c.t zrtr� Izo AizkA..-rat 2 z o 2 3. Legal De sc Wn of Property. LQ (-,- — G �-r 7L rw aC, uG¢.f Cow. ••TY iic.a..,yw! La"i Irook PA&fs 3l -- ^- • _T�i E AfG 5. Owner's Agent �icH 44.(L hen ax ail) So . 623 6a x. Sol. 4 2 31 tsS a a f.t.KY 1° i'Ut0*J+AFf. 1 6. Project Description (addtional pages maybe added): EA5 t E A� trOfzl Z_�Pr r MTi eo.ti — 1ru.T-e oft. G &A-i + (. PA r eo7' 11 -( Oe S 7B . _ _ . _. -, c _ _ _ .n - . -. .r r _.na .,s._,r_ tlydf-rc V-OX n+�w .JIL T. Estimated Cost of improvements: *,f • q I�'►1 �+-+ o..� 3. Zoning Classification: tU Is the proposed change a permitted use? ® No �. Signature of Owner or Agent- '6 --::� (ne owner will need to audhorire any Agent or person representing the owner of the public heartag J NOTE:' Should there be changes (design, materials, size, etc.) From the approved COA, applicant shall notifyComsnission staff and Wm appropriate actions. Approval by the Coaonissioa daes not MUM applicant or property from Compliance with other applicable codes, ordinances or policies of the city unless stated by ft Commissioner staff. Responsibility for identifying such codes, ordl- nances or poUcies rests with the applicant, owner or agent. ohis section to be completed by staff): Little Rock IMtoric District Commission Action ❑ Denied ❑ Withdrawn ❑ Approved ❑ Approved with Conditions ❑ See Attached Conditions Staff Signature: Date: Little Rock Historic District Commission ♦ Department of Planning and Development 723 West Markham Street ♦ Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 ♦ Phone: (501) 371-4790 ♦ Fax: (501) 399-3435 Cover letter from applicant STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval with the following conditions: 1. Obtaining a building permit. 2. Staff recommends that the crepe myrtles on the site be allowed to attain full mature height as stated in paragraph 2. 3. Install sidewalk on south side of new parking lot as stated in paragraph 3. 4. Submit gravel sample to Staff before installation in parking lot. 5. Submit lighting specifications to Staff before installation for north fagade lighting. COMMISSION ACTION: October 9. 2006 Staff person Brian Minyard clarified for the record that the property owner for Lot 1 R and Lot 2R are the same owner and that Steve Hitt is an authorized agent as a managing member of Arc Arkansas. The legal notices notified all owners within 150 feet except the owner of Lot 2R. Debra Weldon, of the City Attorney's office stated that the legal notice requirement has been met. Mr. Minyard made a brief presentation of the item as filed. In the presentation, the height of the lighting poles in the parking lot was discussed and it was clarified that the poles will be as short as possible to adequately light the parking lot. He continued by reading the staff recommendation with the five conditions. The applicant a reed to the five conditions. Colley Burrows, architect for the project, stated that the gravel in the parking lot will be a pea gravel. It was designed to aid in the preservation of the existing trees. Commissioner Wesley Walls asked about the number of lights in the parking lot. Mr. Burrows told him the number of lights shown on page 2 of 3 was incorrect. Colley Burrow and Steve Hitt, when asked to make a presentation on the item, stated that they had nothing to add to the presentation. Mr. Hitt stated that they would do whatever the Commission wanted them to do. Chair Carolyn Newbern had a question about the color and size of the gravel. Mr. Hitt said that it would be a darker color of pea gravel. Commissioner Wesley Walls asked if the light fixtures in the parking lot had a full cutoff. Mr. Burrows said that they had a full cutoff. Commissioner Walls explained full cutoff for the benefit of the other commissioners and stated that it was probably not a problem. Commissioner Walls continued and asked what style the lighting fixtures were. Chair Newbern asked if the ac units facing Cumberland Street took up the entire area between the building and the walk. Mr. Burrows stated the sidewalk would not be closed but they would take up all of the area between the two. Chair Newbern stated that she thought that the height of the fence was similar to the height of the foundation. 7 She also continued about the infill of the privet hedge and adding additional hedges was beneficial. Boy Maher, of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, stated that his is a tax credit project and that his office has had "lot of dialogue" previously on this project. A motion was made by Commissioner Walls to approve the project as submitted by staff including staff recommendations. Commissioner Kay Tatum seconded. Further discussion added one additional condition to the staff conditions: "6. Submit parking lot light fixture pole height for Staff approval prior to obtaining building permit." The motion passed with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 noes and 1 absent.