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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-08-19 MinutesMEETING OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT • A meeting of the Fayetteville Board of Adjustment was held on Monday, August 19, 1985 at 3:45 Pam. in Room 111 of the City Administration Building, 113 A. Mountain Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas, MEMBERS PRESENT: Chester House, Don Mills, Larry Tompkins, Dennis Becker, Robert Waldren, Gerald Boyd and Jerry Allred MEMBERS ABSENT: None The meeting was called to order by Chairman House and the minutes of the August 5th meeting were considered. MINUTES Chairman House corrected a typographical error on the last page, "her" should be "he". With this correction, the minutes stood approved upon a motion by Waldren and a second by Becker. PUBLIC HEARING APPEAL85-22 WAL-MART 2999 N. COLLEGE - PARKING VARIANCE The second item on the agenda was a Public Hearing, Appeal 85-22; • request for a parking variance submitted by Wal-Mart, located at 2999 N. College and represented by Co -Manager, Clyde Hulett. Requested is the elimination of 27 parking spaces by the addition s.f. building. Required parking: of a 5,000 1479 Requested parking: 1325 Hulett stated that Wal-Mart would like to add a 4,900 stockroom facility on the southwest corner of the existing building. He said the addition is needed badly because of the increase of business at this location. House noted that Wal-Mart keeps several trucks parked outside to hold some of their stock. Hulett said they would like to do away with the trucks as they are somewhat degrading to their business. Codes Technician, Bobbie Jones, stated that the Planning Office has received many phone complaints about the parked Wal-Mart trailers, mainly from the subdivision to the west. She said the reports regarded not only the trucks, but items stored underneath them. Hulett said the trucks are not only unsightly but promote vandalism and added that Wal-Mart has outgrown their present facility. • 42 Board of Adjustment August 19, 1985 Page 2 • There being no one present to speak either for or against this appeal, Chairman House closed the Public Hearing and returned discussion to Board members. House, in reviewing the area of subject Wal-Mart location, noted that a variance was recently granted by this Board for a new supermarket together with several other retail shops in the "shared parking" concept. He said he recognized Wal-Mart's need to keep stock on hand for display, especially at Christmas time. Hulett agreed, noting that there were 34 trailers parked outside last year with about 42 expected during this year's holiday season. Allred said it appears that Wal-Mart will outgrow the planned facility before it is even started. Hulett said the intention is to double -deck the new facility allowing nearly 10,000 s.f. Jones advised that this Board needs to be aware of the square footage of floor area planned for the addition as parking spaces required are based on floor area. Allred asked if the building will be two-story or stacked in racks and Hulett said he thought it would be stacked. Tompkins expressed some misunderstanding regarding the use being looked at and Jones said that she is considering this storage space, accessory • to a retail use. She advised that warehousing use requires Planning Commission approval in this zoning district. She added that this location and use requires one parking space per 200 s.f. Tompkins asked at what point the study on shared parking had progressed to and Jones replied that it is still being addressed by Larry Wood. He inquired as to what will happen in the area that currently holds the waste dumpster and Hulett replied that Wal-Mart is considering trash compactors that take care of most everything. Tompkins said he did not have a problem with this request except as a matter of policy. He noted that this area now has a Hardee's, a proposed department store, a theatre and a supermarket with each concern chipping away at the available parking spaces. He wondered whether the Planning Commission has examined this situation. Jones said the ordinance is based on a ratio -to -use computation. Tompkins asked what the use allocated to each of the concerns in this shipping center is and Jones replied that she has considered the total property uses against the total parking available. She added that, to this point, the parking is adequate, including the recent variance which covered total usage to total property with the exception of the vacant property in the northeast corner. Jones said that the Planning Commission originally approved this development plan with the off -site parking to be used jointly by the entire complex. .63 Board of Adjustment August 19, 1985 Page 3 • Jones advised that the Planning Commission has not yet approved concept of shared parking which was given to them to examine by Planning Consultant, Larry Wood. She said this concept would set decreased percentages of the total required parking based upon peak time of use for the various uses. She said the time would be based on a 24-hour period excluding holidays. Waldren asked what assurance this Board could be given that the trailers will be removed if the variance is granted. Hulett said he couldn't make any promises because of the flux of the business. He said Wal-Mart will do everything they can to eliminate the trailers from around the building but he didn't know how long it would take. Boyd said if this storage is approved at the same ratio as the principal business it is accessory to, and the proposed space ends used as retail, it would hurt the parking situation. up being Jones said it will be considered the same as a retail space and added that it is impossible to police and enforce a building's use. as storage only and not additional retail space. Waldren noted that, of two businesses that have recently requested a similar variance, one was approved with a stipulation that the space be used for he would like ttoasee ge oal stipulation y and the tthat her hthisad nobusinesstiu es theesaid • for storage only unless they return with a further request. Allred said he didn't have any problem with the addition whether it be retail or storage space, due to the fact that it takes more room to display items than to store them. He said a stipulation on the variance would stifle their growth, which he did not feel this Board has the authority to do as long as the business could meet guidelines. Allred said he felt that this Board sometimes addresses issues as to how they will not be advantageous to the City, but he added that the more shoppers going to Wal-Mart, the more revenue will be generated for the City, making things better for the City. He said he felt that this growth was good for the City and he was in favor of granting the variance. Boyd asked at what point the chipping away at the parking will stop and Allred said he felt that question should be addressed by another committee. House said he thought that Wood will come up with a shared parking plan that will address this situation. Waldren agreed with Allred and noted that if parking becomes a problem, people will go to another location to shop. Mills asked how many trucks will be eliminated and Hulett said there will always be a few trucks because of the unloading factor. He said they will mainly try to eliminate trucks within 24 hours of arrival. • 4N • Board of Adjustment August 19, 1985 Page 4 Becker said this was a difficult situation. He wondered if Wal-Mart has taken advantage of the number of compact cars allowed. Jones advised that the elevation plans indicate 18'8" but do not indicate that the space is on two floors. MOTION Tompkins moved approval of the variance as requested. Seconded by Allred, the motion to approve passed 7-0-0. Mills expressed her concern regarding the Planning Commission having not yet approved the shared parking concept noting that it puts a bind on this Board. Tompkins agreed, advising that the Commission is pushing this Board into a corner by forcing them to approve of violations to the zoning ordinance. • Mills said she felt these types of questions came under the Commission's jurisdiction and are not being dealt with. She requested that the Planning Commission be asked for a definite date by which the study will be submitted for a proposal. Other Board members concurred. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m. • 45