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APRIL 22, 2004

ITEM NO.:       26

FILE NO.:        300

NAME:             Hatcher Annexation

REQUEST:      Accept 11.97 acres plus or minus to the City

LOCATION:     North of the City, west of Pinnacle Valley Road along Ison Creek

SOURCE:        Greg and Lee Hatcher

 

GENERAL INFORMATION:

 

AGENCY COMMENTS:

Public Safety:

Fire:   There may be a need for another fire hydrant. The closest is a quarter mile away. Note a 12-inch line exists on Pinnacle Valley Road.

The closest fire station is Station #14, located at Cantrell Road and South Ridge. This station is approximately 3.3 driving miles and 3 miles 'as the crow flies'. The next closest is fire station #19, located on Chenal Drive near Rahlings Road. This station is approximately 4.8 driving miles and 2.5 miles 'as the crow flies'. There is an approved fire station site at Taylor Loop and Rahlings Road. This location is approximate 2 miles driving distance and around 1.5 miles 'as the crow flies'.

Police:   The Police Department has indicated they have no issues or concerns related to this annexation.

The annexation site is adjacent to Patrol District 72, which covers all of Chenal, the Ranch and other points west. Patrol District 70, which covers Walton Heights, Pleasant Valley and Walnut Valley areas may actually serve the site. The two Patrol Districts have a common boundary of Pinnacle Valley Road, which is the access to the annexation area.

Infrastructure and Community Facilities:

Central Arkansas Transit:     No Comment Received. There is no Bus service in the area of this annexation. The closest Bus route is Route 22, which ends near Rodney Parham and Pleasant Valley Roads. The closest point on Route 22 to the annexation area is more than three miles away.

Parks and Recreation: The Parks and Recreation Department has indicated they have no issues or concerns related to the annexation of this land. Taylor Loop Park is the closest public park. This park is not currently developed, however the City does own the land. The Master Parks Plan shows the 'River Trail' moving by or through this annexation area. The 'River Trail' follows the Arkansas River west from Downtown to the Little Maumelle River, which the trail generally follows to Pinnacle State Park. Based on the Plan recommendation this area would be within '8-blocks' of a park or open space.

Public Works:   The Traffic Engineering Division of Public Works, provided cost information for streets. The Public Works Section dealing with the emergency sirens indicated that you do not know if the existing sirens would cover the area requesting annexation. The Operations Section of the Public Works Department has indicated they have no kisses or concerns about the proposed annexation. The Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department has indicated that the proponent will have to bring all waste materials to Pinnacle Valley Road for collection. The area requesting annexation is developed and does not and will not have any streets, which the City would have to maintain or light. There is and will be only a private driveway which accesses Pinnacle Valley Road.

Utilities:

Central Arkansas Water:     Central Arkansas Water already serves the site with they believe a 2-inch line. They indicate based on the information they have there is a need for a larger line to the house for fire protection. This line should be able to provide a flow rate of 1500 gallons per minute. Any new installation would have to be approved by Central Little Rock Water and the Little Rock Fire Department. (Note a 2-inch line would provide a flow rate at only 160 gallons per minute).

There is a 12-inch water main in Pinnacle Valley Road to the east of the annexation area.

Entergy:     Entergy has indicated they have no objections or concerns about the requested annexation.

Reliant-Energy:     No Comment Received.

Wastewater Utility:     The Little Rock Waste Water Utility has indicated they have no objection to the annexation as requested.

There is a sewer trunk line, which is on the south portion of this annexation area. The only area to be serviced is approximately 1000 feet to the north within the annexation area.

Schools:

Little Rock:     No Comment Received. The annexation area is within the Little Rock School District.

Pulaski County Special:     No Comment Received. The annexation is within the Pulaski County Special School District. This area is within the Joe T Robinson Elementary, Middle and High School attendance zone.

ANALYSIS:

The site is within the City of Little Rock Planning Jurisdiction. The City exercises both subdivision and zoning authority over the land, currently. Almost all of the twelve acres requesting annexation is currently zoned 'AF', Agricultural and Forestry. The southern and eastern limits of the annexation area is zoned 'OS', Open Space for Ison Creek. This area is not developable. (Note a recreational use may be appropriate for the OS zoned area.)

The area requesting annexation is part of a larger ownership. The total owner consists of approximately 42 acres. There is a field and gym facility located on the remaining land. The owners do not intend to develop this property any further. The only development desired for the ownership is a single family home with accessory uses. That portion of the ownership where the home is located is now requested for annexation.

There will be no additional, new or existing, streets added to the City by the annexation. The police, fire and sanitary sewer service to one home is the only demand on City services. The home is existing.

The proponent has indicated that Central Arkansas Water currently serves the home with a 3-inch line running to the proponent's home from the line in Pinnacle Valley Road. The proponent has further indicated there is a fire hydrant near the home.

The annexation would result in the addition of seven people - one family. Whether the area is annexed or not, the population density of the annexation area is not likely to change.

As the current zoning implies this property is low. The annexation area as well as the surrounding area is within or near the level of the floodplain. This makes development of the land harder and less likely. Just up stream from the site is Pinnacle State Park and down stream a short distance is Two Rivers Park. The proponent contacted City Staff several months ago about annexation and related issues. In these discussions, City Staff indicated that the proponent's entire property did not have to be annexed. Issues related to access, fire protection and taxes were discussed. The proponent had a survey done to allow for their home to be added to the City without annexing their entire ownership. This survey has now been submitted for annexation to the City.

The various City and Outside agencies have been notified of the requested annexation. One concern has been raised, the need or desirability for a fire hydrant.

The proponent has indicated that there is an existing fire hydrant, which was not noted by the Fire Department or Central Arkansas Water in their reviews. However even if the fire hydrant is in place as indicated by the proponent, based on information provided by Central Arkansas Water a larger line would need to be place from Pinnacle Valley Road to the hydrant.

The Plans Committee of the Little Rock Planning Commission was presented with the proposed annexation. At this meeting a concern was expressed about annexation of just the home and not the entire ownership.

The City currently has areas where one must leave the City to get to another section of the City. The only requirement is that they must be contiguous to the City, not that the roads to get there are also within the City. The City Staff does not believe annexation of only a portion of an ownership is a reason not to accept the annexation.

The current City Limits has been in place for almost twenty years. If approved, the annexation would increase the City's area 0.016 percent.

Staff Recommendation:

Accept the requested annexation to the City of Little Rock subject to the installation of a CAW/Fire Department approved hydrant with sufficient water.