DECEMBER 16, 2004
ITEM
NO.: F
SUBJECT:
Proposed Amendment to Section 36-556.(b) of Chapter 36 of the Code of
Ordinances to add Kanis Road, Stagecoach Road and portions of Colonel Glenn
Road and Financial Center/Chenal Parkway to the list of scenic corridors.
REQUEST:
That the Planning Commission receives comments from interested parties
and the Plans Committee and vote on a recommendation to the Board of
Directors.
Public
Notice:
Notice
of the proposed Ordinance Amendment and of the Commission hearing was sent to
the following:
Billboard
Companies
Lamar
Outdoor Advertising
Arkansas
Sign and Neon
Cuerdon
Sign
Cynthia
Neal, 361 LLC
Custom
Outdoors Advertising
Affected
Neighborhood Associations
John
Barrow
Westwood
Tall
Timber
Pecan
Lake
Stagecoach-Dodd
Crystal
Valley
Otter
Creek
SWLR
United for Progress
PLANS
COMMITTEE:
(MAY 26, 2004)
Staff
presented the item. There was
little discussion. The consensus
was that the proposed amendment was a positive change.
The Committee forwarded the item to the full Commission.
STAFF
REPORT:
On
April 5, 1983, the Board of Directors passed Ordinance No. 14,430 which
designated I-430, I-630, I-440, Highway 10 and Rebsamen Park Road as scenic
corridors for the purposes of billboard regulation.
On
July 7, 1992, Ordinance No. 16,244 was passed which established additional
criteria for billboards and added Chenal Parkway from Kanis Road to Arkansas
State Highway 300 to the list of scenic corridors.
A
scenic corridor is defined by Section 36-530. of the Code of Ordinances of the
City of Little Rock, Arkansas as “a public right-of-way which, in the
opinion of the board of directors, exhibits special aesthetic and visual
characteristics worthy of protection through enhanced billboard regulation. Section 36-556.(b) of the Code states:
“No
billboard may be altered or erected within six hundred sixty (660) feet of the
nearest edge of the right-of-way of the scenic corridors.”
Recently,
development has started to increase in the general area along Stagecoach Road
and Colonel Glenn Road, west of the Stagecoach/Colonel Glenn split.
In conjunction with the increase in development, several permits have
been issued for new billboards on those corridors.
In response to concerns raised by citizens about the possible
proliferation of billboards in those areas, staff is proposing adding those
two streets to the list of scenic corridors.
Any existing billboards along Stagecoach Road and Colonel Glenn Road,
west of the Stagecoach/Colonel Glenn split will become nonconforming and no
new permits will be issued.
Staff
believes the two roads in question meet the definition of “scenic
corridor” and it is appropriate to add them to the designated scenic
corridors.
STAFF
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff
recommends approval of the proposed ordinance amendment.
PLANNING
COMMISSION ACTION:
(JUNE 17, 2004)
Staff
presented the item and requested that action be deferred to the July 29, 2004
meeting. There was no additional
discussion.
The
item was placed on the Consent Agenda and deferred to the July 29, 2004
meeting. The vote was 9 ayes, 0
noes and 2 absent.
PLANNING
COMMISSION ACTION:
(JULY 29, 2004)
Staff
presented the item and requested that the item be deferred to the September 9,
2004 meeting to allow further study. There
was no further discussion.
The
item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved for deferral to the
September 9, 2004 meeting. The
vote was 10 ayes, 0 noes and 1 absent.
STAFF
UPDATE:
After
further consideration and review of the issue, staff has determined that it is
appropriate to add two additional streets to the list of designated scenic
corridors, in addition to the previously suggested Colonel Glenn Road and
Stagecoach Road. Staff believes
it is appropriate to add Kanis Road, from 12th Street to the
western boundary of the planning boundary, and Financial Center/Chenal
Parkway, from Shackleford Road to Kanis Road.
In staff’s opinion, Kanis Road clearly meets the definition of a
scenic corridor. Much of the
Kanis Corridor is still undeveloped and rural in nature.
The new developments that have occurred along the corridor have been
constructed with the newer landscape and buffer provisions.
Staff also believes it is appropriate to “fill in the gap” along
the I-630/Chenal Parkway corridor by adding that portion of the Financial
Center/Chenal Parkway corridor between Shackleford Road and Kanis Road.
Again, the development that has occurred in that area has been built
with the newer landscape and buffer provisions.
Portions of the Parkway are bordered by parks and park-like settings.
Notice
of the currently proposed Ordinance Amendment and of the September 9, 2004
Commission hearing was sent to the following:
Billboard
Companies
Lamar
Outdoor Advertising
Arkansas
Sign and Neon
Cuerdon
Sign
Cynthia
Neal 361, LLC
Custom
Outdoors Advertising
Affected
Neighborhood Associations
John
Barrow
Westwood
Tall
Timber
Pecan
Lake
Stagecoach-Dodd
Crystal
Valley
Otter
Creek
SWLR
United for Progress
Birchwood
Gibralter
Heights-Pointe West-Timber Ridge
Leander
Parkway
Place
St.
Charles
Twin
Lakes
Staff
subsequently met with a representative of the billboard industry.
The industry has proposed segmenting the scenic corridors and removing
the 660 foot prohibition in some areas. The
proposal submitted by the industry is as follows:
PROPOSED
SEGMENTED AREAS AND 660’ ZONE REMOVAL
(SEGMENTATIONS)
|
Area 1 |
Colonel
Glenn 600’ E/O Shackleford to 600’ W/O David O’Dodd.
(Three
units placed in this zone (1) 14’ X 48’ and (2) 12’ X 24’s) |
|
Area 2 |
Kanis
Road from I-430 to 2500’ W/O Bowman Road.
(Two
unites placed in this zone (1) 14 X 48’ and (1) 12’ X 24’) |
|
Area 3 |
Highway
10 from I-430 to 600’ W/O Taylor Loop.
(Three
units placed in this zone (3) 12’ X 24’s) |
|
Area 4 |
I-430
from the Markham overpass to 600’ north of Rodney Parham Road. (Two
units placed in this area (2) 14’ X 48’s) |
|
Area 5 |
Chenal
600’ E/O Bowman to the intersection of Markham.
(Two
units to be placed in this area, either 12’ X 24’ or 14’ X 48’) |
(660’
ZONE REMOVALS)
|
Area 1 |
Remove
the 660’ zone exclusion from the I-630 and Rodney Parham intersection.
(Two units placed in this area (1) 12’ X 24’ and (1) 14’ X
48’) |
|
Area 2 |
Remove
the 660’ zone exclusion from the I-30 and 440 intersection.
(One
unit placed in this area (1) 14’ X 48’) |
|
Area 3 |
Remove
the 660’ zone exclusion from I-630 and 430 intersection.
(One unit to be placed in this area, either 14’ X 48’ or
12’ X 24’) |
|
Area 4 |
Remove
the 660’ zone exclusion from the Chenal and Bowman intersection.
(Two units to be placed in this area.
(1) 12’ X 24’ and (1) 14’ X 48’) |
|
Area 5 |
Remove
the 660’ zone exclusion from I-30 and 430 intersection. (Two
units to be placed in this area. (2)
14’ X 48’s) |
|
Note: |
Number of permits used under
this proposal totals 20. Remaining
3 permits shall be placed in C-4, I-1 or I-2 zoning. |
|
|
|
|
Other Suggested Changes:
Any
interstate location shall be built at a height no more than 50’, 12’
X 24’ poster sign can be built in C-2 as well as C-3 and Industrial,
and no billboard shall be placed within 1,000’ of any residential
subdivision entrance. Any
nonconforming wood pole sign may be upgraded to a single pole sign as
long as the upgrade does not exceed 250 square feet (small poster sign). |
|
The
issue is scheduled to be discussed at the September 1, 2004 Plans Committee
meeting. The Plans Committee
report and staff recommendation will be presented at the September 9, 2004
Commission meeting.
PLANNING
COMMISSION ACTION:
(SEPTEMBER 9, 2004)
Staff
presented the item and recommended that it be deferred to the October 21, 2004
Commission meeting to allow time for further study. There was no additional discussion.
The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved for deferral to the October 21, 2004 meeting. The vote was 7 ayes, 0 noes and 4 absent.
STAFF
UPDATE:
On
September 14, 2004, the Board of Directors passed Resolution No. 11824
establishing a one hundred twenty (120) day moratorium on the issuance of
billboard permits along the specific streets which are under consideration for
inclusion in the list of designated scenic corridors.
On
October 7, 2004, the scenic corridor proposal was presented at the meeting of
the City Beautiful Commission. Staff
presented the proposal to add the four (4) new scenic corridors and answered
questions from the Commission.
Thomas
Gibbens, of Lamar Outdoor Advertising, presented a proposal to place a limited
number of billboards in specific sites along the proposed new scenic corridors
and the existing scenic corridors.
Staff
voiced concern about the concept of segmenting the scenic corridors.
Pete Rausch, the City’s Urban Forester, also voiced those same
concerns. Nancy Clark, of the
League of Women voters, stated the League had supported the scenic corridor
concept for 25 years and supported the addition of the proposed new scenic
corridors.
Troy
Laha, CBC member, presented a resolution stating the CBC favored the
segmentation proposal for the proposed new scenic corridors.
The motion failed by a vote of 3 ayes and 4 noes.
Mr.
Laha also presented a resolution stating the CBC found the moratorium to be
inappropriate and the Commission supported continued dialogue between the City
and the billboard industry. That motion also failed by a vote of 3 ayes and 4 noes.
Staff
informed the Commission that there would be a meeting with representatives of
the billboard industry on October 13, 2004.
The CBC was asked to provide comment on the proposed Ordinance
Amendment by that date or, if that was not possible, by the October 21, 2004
Planning Commission meeting.
PLANNING
COMMISSION ACTION:
(OCTOBER 21, 2004)
Staff
recommended to the Commission that the proposed ordinance amendment be
deferred to the December 16, 2004 Agenda.
The
Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the
Consent Agenda for deferral to the December 16, 2004 Agenda. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays and 2 absent.
The proposed ordinance amendment was deferred.
STAFF
UPDATE:
Staff met with representatives of the billboard industry on October 27, 2004 where a revised segmentation plan was discussed. The revised segmentation plan submitted by the billboard industry is as follows:
|
Area #1 |
Beginning
300’ south of Chenal Parkway to the intersection of Pride Valley Road.
(Kanis Road) |
|
Area #2 |
From
the beginning of Chenal Parkway to the intersection of Markham Street.
In addition, 660’ both north and south from the Chenal Parkway
intersect along Bowman Road. (Chenal
Parkway) |
|
*NOTE: |
Three
outdoor bus bench ads have recently been placed along Financial Center
and Chenal Parkway. |
|
Area #3 |
1000’
both east and west from the Kanis Road and Bowman Road intersection.
In addition, 660’ both north and south along Bowman. |
|
Area #4 |
From
the beginning of Kanis to 100’ west of Leander Street. |
|
Area #5 |
Beginning
on Colonel Glenn Road 660’ west of I-430 to the intersection of Lawson
Road. In addition, 660’
north and south along Bowman Road and David O Dodd Road.
(Colonel Glenn and Bowman Road) |
|
Area #6 |
Beginning
on Colonel Glenn Road 660’ east of I-430 running eastbound 1000’
east of Shackleford. (Colonel
Glenn Road) |
|
Lamar
shall place nine of its remaining eighteen permits in the six proposed
Segments. |
|
|
*NOTE: |
Lamar
proposes any sign placed upon Chenal shall not exceed dimensions of
10’6” x 22’8” and shall not exceed a height of more than fifteen
feet and shall be ground-mounted. (Monument style) |
Under
the segmentation plan, the proposal to add to the scenic corridors would go
forward as proposed by staff. Billboards
would be permitted in the specifically designated segments.
The segmentation plan is for only the newly designated scenic
corridors. No changes are
proposed to the existing scenic corridors.
Staff
will support some aspects of the segmentation proposal.
Staff’s response to each proposed segment is as follows:
|
Area #1 |
Along
Kanis Road, beginning 660 feet south of Chenal Parkway to Pride Valley
Road. Signs in this area
must not exceed 10’6” by 22’8” in area, must not exceed a height
of 15’ and must be constructed in monument style, not pole-mounted. |
|
Area #2 |
Staff
does not support this segment. |
|
Area #3 |
Along
Kanis Road, 1,000 feet both east and west of Bowman Road; and along
Bowman Road, both 660 feet north and south of Kanis Road. |
|
Area #4 |
Along
Kanis Road, from Rodney Parham Road to 100 feet west of Leander Street. |
|
Area #5 |
Along
Colonel Glenn Road, beginning 660 feet west of I-430 to Lawson Road; and
along Bowman Road and David O Dodd Road, both 660 feet north and south
of Colonel Glenn Road. |
|
Area #6 |
Along
Colonel Glenn Road, beginning 660 feet east of I-430 to 1,000 feet east
of Shackleford Road. Signs in this area must not exceed 10’6” by 22’8”
in area, must not exceed a height of 15’ and must be constructed in
monument style, not pole-mounted. |
Under
either segmentation proposal, placement of the signs will comply with
ordinance standards regarding setbacks, zoning, etc.
The
segmentation plan was presented and discussed at the November 4, 2004 meeting
of the City Beautiful Commission. After
the discussion, two motions were made. The
first motion was to support the 660 foot setback from scenic corridors.
That motion was approved by a vote of 6 ayes, 0 noes, 2 absent and 1
abstaining (Hicks). The second
motion was to approve reducing the setback from Chenal Parkway along Bowman
Road from 660 feet to 300 feet. That
motion failed by a vote of 2 ayes, 4 noes, 2 absent and 1 abstaining (Hicks).
The
segmentation plan was then presented and discussed at the November 10, 2004
meeting of the Planning Commission Plans Committee.
The Committee member present stated he supported staff’s
recommendation, with one exception. He
stated he supported reducing the setback from Chenal Parkway along Bowman Road
to 300 feet and requiring signs in that segment to be the monument style
signs.
STAFF
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff
recommends that the following public rights-of-way be designated scenic
corridors and added to the list of currently designated scenic corridors: