Developer Plans Condos
City’s Streamside Protection Ordinance Could Force Changes
Posted: March 25, 2013 at 5 a.m.
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Concept plan as of Monday, March 25, 2013
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Developer Plans Condos
City’s Streamside Protection Ordinance Could Force Changes
Monday, March 25, 2013
FAYETTEVILLE Developers plans to build a 68-unit condominium project at 15th Street and Razorback Road may have to be adjusted to conform with the streamside protection ordinance.
About 1.6 acres, or 35 percent, of the 4.4-acre site south of Baum Stadium lies close enough to a tributary of Town Branch creek to make the land essentially undevelopable, according to Steven Beam, an engineer for the project with Crafton, Tull & Associates.
The streamside protection ordinance, which aldermen approved in March 2011, limits construction activity and parking lots within 50 feet of waterways in an effort to protect water quality.
MEETING INFORMATION
Fayetteville Planning Commission
When: 5:30 p.m. today
Where: Room 219, City Administration Building, 113 W. Mountain St.
On the Agenda: A request by Crafton, Tull & Associates for a variance to the city’s streamside protection ordinance on 4.4 acres at 15th Street and Razorback Road.
The ordinance, given the property layout relative to the stream, takes ... the site out of development potential, Beam wrote in a March 8 letter to city planning staff. Leaving only a narrow developable portion significantly hinders the use of the property.
Preliminary site plans show a 234-space parking lot closest to the stream on the west side of the property. Crafton, Tull & Associates will seek a variance to the streamside ordinance at todays Planning Commission meeting. City staff is recommending commissioners deny the request.
There seems to be several things that could happen to move the parking lot away from the creek, Sarah Wrede, a city engineer, said at an agenda review session Thursday.
Planning staff suggested reducing parking spaces; elevating the building and putting parking underneath it; installing retaining walls along Razorback Road and moving the parking lot further east; or reducing the overall size of the development.
According to city code, commissioners can only grant a variance to the streamside ordinance if an undue hardship is identified.
Beam did not return a phone call Friday asking what changes might be made to the projects design. Neither did Wes Bradley with University Housing Group, the Roanoke, Va.-based company that plans to build the condos.
According to Beams correspondence with city staff, University Housing Group plans to replace invasive species along the Town Branch tributary with native shrubs. A preliminary site plan also shows a rain garden on the west side of the property and pervious pavement that would capture and slow stormwater runoff.
City Council members approved zoning and development plans for what was then called the Champions Club condos in 2007. University Housing Group planned to build 143 condos in two phases. One-, two- and three-bedroom units were going to be marketed to University of Arkansas alumni, graduate students and fans of UA athletics.
The project was never built.
Current plans show 68 units with 232 bedrooms in two buildings.
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