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HomeMy WebLinkAbout00071379STAFF REPORT Prepared by: Molly Hitchcock Date: August 20, 2001 Item: Public hearing, discussion, and possible action on a conditional use permit for Victory United Pentecostal located at 2730 B Longmire. (01-177) Applicant: Keith Castleberry Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the conditional use permit. Item Summary: Victory United Pentecostal is a church that has formed within the last few months. There are currently 13 members. They are proposing to meet in a rented space in the Village Square Office Park on Longmire across from Pepper Tree Apartments. There would be Sunday services and classes and group meetings on weeknights. The church hopes to own their own church facilities soon and that this location will be their temporary meeting place until that time. The subject property is in a C-N Neighborhood Business zoning district. The residential portion of Southwood Valley Subdivision Phase 5A is to the west (R-1 Single Family Residential); the Longmire Learning Center (C-N) is to the north; and Career Apparel (C-N) is to the south. Across the street east from the office complex is Pepper Tree Apartments (R-6 Apartment/High Density). With 49 parking spaces, the business center provides adequate parking for its approximate 11,151 square feet of office space (only 45 spaces are required). The church would be renting 1,000 sq.ft. The building that the church would occupy is at the back of the center, facing the rear of the residential lots. The church building and the residential area would be separated by a distance of approximately 97 feet and a 6-foot wooden fence. There are many mature canopy trees on the residential side of the fence. There are no nightclubs or restaurants in the immediate vicinity. Comprehensive Plan Considerations: The Land Use Plan shows the subject area to be Office. Churches are allowed in any zoning district with a conditional use permit. The church would have access to and from Longmire Drive, which is a major collector. Major collectors are designed to carry 5,000 to 10,000 vehicles a day, which is one reason why Office, Retail, Residential Attached, and Industrial R&D were included as acceptable land uses along Longmire in the Comprehensive Plan. Staff believes the impact of the church on traffic in the area will be minimal. 1 Utility demands will not be unreasonably increased as a result of the church moving into the proposed location. Utilities for the office development were planned for the appropriate intensity of the use. A church use in the complex will not exceed the development's utility capacity. Between the Office area on the Land Use Plan and the Single Family Residential Medium Density that represents the residential Southwood Valley, there is a thin strip of green that represents Floodplain/Streams. Near the residential lots abutting the subject property, there is a platted 70-foot drainage, utility, and access easement that includes a 100-year flood plain. This easement will help maintain the distance buffer that exists between the proposed church building/parking lot and the homes. Item Background: The land where the proposed church building is located was annexed into the city in 1974. It was first platted in 1975, replatted with a condominium declaration in 1993, and replatted into its current configuration in 1996. The Village Square Office Park and surrounding businesses have been in existence for several years. There have been recent fagade improvements and new business development along Longmire as the street has been extended to the south. Staff Analysis: Section 14 of the Zoning Ordinance authorizes the existence of conditional uses. The Commission may permit a conditional use subject to appropriate conditions and safeguards, when after public notice and hearing the Commission finds that: (Staff comments are in italics) 1. "The proposed use meets all the minimum standards established in the ordinance for the type of use proposed." Site plan review was not necessary in this case since the development is existing. 2. "That the proposed use meets the purposed and intent of the ordinance and is in harmony with the development policies and goals and objectives as embodied in the Comprehensive Plan for Development of the City. The request is in compliance with the Comprehensive Plan. 3. "That the proposed use will not be detrimental to the health, welfare, and safety of the surrounding neighborhood or its occupants, nor be substantially or permanently injurious to neighboring property." The public hearing is an opportunity for the Commission to measure the potential impact on surrounding land uses. The Commission may impose additional reasonable restrictions or conditions to carry out the spirit and intent of the ordinance and to mitigate adverse effects of the proposed use. These requirements may include, but are not limited to, increased open space, loading and parking requirements, additional 2 landscaping, and additional improvements such as curbing, sidewalks and screening." Commission Action Options: The Commission has final authority over the Conditional Use Permit and associated site plan. The options regarding the use permit are: 1. Approval as submitted; 2. Approval with conditions relating to specific site characteristics or with time limitations; 3. Denial with specified reasons for denial; 4. Table; or, 5. Defer action to a specified date. Supporting Materials: 1. Location Map 2. Application NOTIFICATION: Legal Notice Publication(s): The Eagle: 8-22-01 Advertised Commission Hearing Dates(s): 9-6-01 Number of Notices Mailed to Property Owners Within 200% 15 Response Received: None as of date of staff report. 3