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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1962-02-23 Minutes35-2 BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MINUTES • The Board of Adjustment met on Friday, February 23, 1962, at 4:00 p.me in the City Council Room in the City Administration Building. U Members present: Mr. John I. Smith, Mr. James Pennington, Mr. J. F. Robinson and Mr. T. M. Schiewetz. Others present: Mir. Harold E. Lieberenz, City Building Inspector, and two applicants: Mr. C. W. Tune and the Methodist Student Center. The Methodist Student Center was represented by Reverend A. W. Martin, Ms. Warren Segraves, Architect, and Mr. Thad Rowden. Mr. Ted Wylie and Mr. and Mrs. William K: Noyce were also present. Absent: Mr. George Bowen. The Chairman called the meeting to order. The minutes of the last meeting (January 26, I 1962) were approved as written and mailed to the members. The first application considered by the Board was that of Mr. C. W. Tune. The vari- ation requested by Mr. Tune to the Zoning Ordinance is for the use of property located at 1370 North Leverett Avenue. This property is located in a R-2 Two Family Residenti District. Mr. Lieberenz explained Mr. Tune's problem to the Board members. .Mr. Tune has a piece of property 317 feet deep (east and west) and 105 feet wide. There are two existing houses already on the lot. A duplex residence is located on Leverett Avenue and a single family residence is located on the rear of the lot. There is a 12 -foot private drive on the south side of the property extending back to the rear house. Mr. Tune would like to locate another residence on this property between the two existing resi- dences. There is 124.5 feet between the two existing houses. Section 3 of Article VI (Exceptions and Modifications) states that the Board may approve more than two buildings on a plot of ground under certain conditions. Mr. Tune has enough lot area under the ordinance, but the houses would front on the 12 -foot private drive instead of a public street. Ns. Schiewetz asked if the private drive -way was located on Mr. Tuners property; Mr. Tune said that the drive was on his property. Mr. Robinson wanted to know how close the nearest neighbor was to the property in question. The nearest neighbor is about 50 feet to the north. Mr. Smith asked the City Building Inspector if there had been any objections to Mr. Tuners proposal. Mr. Lieberenz said he had not received any objections. There was no further discussion, and the applicant was dismissed. The second and last application was that of the Methodist Student Center. Mr. Thad Bowden acting on behalf of the Methodist Student Center requested a variation of the Zoning Ordinance for the use of the property located at 730 West Maple Street. This property is located in a R-4 multi -family Residential and Dormitory District. • Mr. Lieberenz explained to the members that according to the Zoning Ordinance all public assembly buildings must be brought before the Board of Adjustment for clearance before a building perr,it could be issued. 36-2 The Methodist want to move or tear down two existing buildings located on their property and erect two new buildings. Their plans call for these two new buildings and one small residence to be located on the property when the plans . are completed. They plan to leave the small residential building on the north- east corner of their lot. Mr. Lieberenz continued by comparing the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance with what the Methodist Student Center proposed. The ordinance requires one acre of land; the Student Center has .633 of an acre. The ordinance requires side yard setbacks of 50 feet, a rear yard setback of 50 feet and a front yard setback of 35 feet. The proposed north building has a side yard setback of 31.81 feet, a rear yard setback of 16.0 feet and a front yard setback of 18.56 feet. The pro- posed south building has a side yard setback of 16.0 feet and a front yard set- back of 22.5 feet. The distance between these two buildings is 14.0 feet. The ordinance requires off-the=street parking in the side or rear yards at the rate of one 101 by 201 space for each 5 persons. The plans of the Methodist Student Center show ten 10? by 201 spaces of perpendicular parking on the north side of the north building. Mr. Schiewetz asked the purpose of the drive way off Maple Street. The drive is just to serve the Methodist Student Center property and is not a public drive. The erection of the proposed buildings would close this drive way. Mr. Lieberenz was aksed if he had received any telephone calls or visits from persons who objected or questioned the proposed plans of the Methodist Student Center. Mr. Lieberenz said he had received a telephone call from the lady who lives north of the Methodist Student Center. She was upset about the proposed buildings. Someone had told her that the building facing Leverett Avenue would • be right on the west property line. Mr. Segraves said that the lady came to his office and he explained what the Methodist Student Center people proposed. She left his office with the feeling that the proposed building would not be detri- mental to the area. Mr. Lieberenz said that another party who owns property to the north was disturbed about the parking and a party from the west called in regard to the parking. Reverend Martin said that the consistency of those who attended the student center did not attend in cars. As far as parking is concerned he felt that the nature of their situation was different. He stated that the largest assembly would be in the evenings during the week. Mr. Segraves said that there was enough space for ten cars to park on the north side of the north building. This plan replaces the parking on Maple Street. It is undesirable to have traffic on Maple Street as it is a thoroughfare street and Leverett is a secondary street. Mr. Noyce said he was deeply concerned about the lack of sufficient parking space. He said he had counted 7 or 8 cars parked on the church property. Reverend Martin said that other people often took advantage of their parking space. Mr. Schiewetz asked if Leverett Avenue were not open to parking on one side of the street. Reverend Martin said the west side of Leverett could be used for parking. Mr. Pennington wanted to know if any of the University of Arkansas officials had said anything about the proposed building plans. Reverend Martin said that the • University of Arkansas had sold the property to the church and that nothing had been said. 37-2 Minutes of February 23, 1962 • Mr. Noyce asked if the chapel could be built parallel to the other building and comply with the ordinance. Mr. Rowden showed a drawing of a building which complied with the ordinance. He said that a building about 10 feet wide is all that could be constructed and still comply with the ordinance. Mr. Lieberenz explained to Mr. Noyce how close to the property lines a residence or an assembly building with less than 45 people could be built. Mr. Schiewetz asked why the chapel was so designed as hi . Segraves was aware of the ordinance requirements. Mr. Segraves replied that the building he designed was economical and suited to the surrounding buildings architecture -wise. Reverend Martin said he felt that the nature of the two buildings called for a separation which was another reason for the proposed design. Mr. Noyce wanted to know if the Methodist Student Center had tried to purchase any property. Mr. Rowden, speaking as a member of the building committee, said when they learned that their proposed building was not going to meet the requirements of the ordinance they tried to pruchase more land. The property owners in the southwest corner wanted too much money for their property. The Methodist Student Center did, however, purchase some property to the north and west of their property fronting on Leverett Avenue, Mr. Smith wanted to know who owned the property to the south and if the property owner had any objections to the proposed buildings. Reverend Martin said that a couple of elderly ladies lived in the house and that they did not object. There was no further discussion, and the applicant was dismissed. • Mr. Schiewetz moved that the Board of Adjustment approve the variation from the requirements of the City Zoning Ordinance No. 1239 requested by Mr. C. W. Tune. The motion was seconded by Mr. Pennington and passed unanimously. The Board members discussed the application of the Methodist Student Center, and after a lengthy discussion, B's. Robinson moved that the Board of Adjustment approve the variation from the requirements of the City Zoning Ordinance No. 1239 requested by the Methodist Student Center. The motion was seconded by Mr. Schiewetz and passed unanimously. A letter was presented to the Board of Adjustment members from Mr. J. C. Cox in regard to the canopy of the Drum Stick Drive -Inn on Highway 71 North. The Board of Adjustment members suggested that the City Building Inspector check this matter with the City Attorney and then write Pr. J. C. Cox a letter. The canopy problem is still before the Board for consideration. 0