CC - DA Modification Narrative
MEMO
RE Development Agreement Modification Submittal for new Costco
Warehouse
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The Lost Rapids Subdivision Development Agreement approved by the
Meridian City Council in March of 2018 required that Costco submit a
Development Agreement Modification to address the design of the
proposed Costco building. On July 24th we met with the City Council to
go over that application. Unfortunately, a number of neighbors felt like
they had not been given a chance to comment on the proposed design.
So, the DA Modification hearing was continued to give Costco and the
neighbors a chance to resolve some of their concerns. For that purpose,
Costco and their design team met with their future neighbors on August
14th and again September 11th.
While we cannot address every concern that has been raised over the
months, we have listened and responded with a design that has changed
significantly from our initial submittal. Feedback from the neighborhood
was fairly unanimous in their position that the building needed to have a
more residential feel. Our original design had a modern industrial
approach, which admittedly can feel a little cool. We are now proposing a
design vocabulary that is warmer and more familiar with residential
construction. The cool grey color palette has been replaced with warm
earth tones. Materials for the building include stone, brick, stucco, glass,
steel (used like a timber frame) and architectural metal siding panels.
The entry canopy builds on the idea of a timber framed pergola. This
approach then gets used throughout the building and site to create a
unified and cohesive design for the entire project. Nodes have been
created within the parking lot along pedestrian routes that provide
benches and shade structures.
To City of Meridian
From Steve Bullock, MG2
Peter Kahn, Costco
Cc
Date October 2, 2018
Project City of Meridian
New Costco
Warehouse
Page 2 of 2
Jane Albert, who facilitated communication between the Costco design
team and the neighborhood, provides the attached email and comments
from her distribution list of 77 individuals. As you can see from their
comments, we have in large part responded to their concerns and made
changes that they are in general supportive of.
For this continued hearing we are submitting updated site plans and
details and an updated building design with perspective images that
demonstrate those changes.
Please feel free to contact me at 206-962-6614 or email me at
steve.bullock@mg2.com if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Steve Bullock
MG2
1
Steve Bullock
From:Jane Albert <jane.albert@hotmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, October 04, 2018 10:16 AM
To:Steve Bullock
Subject:Design input
Attachments:Costco Design Input.pdf
Hello, Steve.
Attached is the input I have received from neighbors to date. My distribution list is 77 individuals.
I have put out another call for comments by 4:00 p.m. your time and will forward them to you in the
same format as they are received.
Thank you,
Jane
"I feel the whole project has been well planned, and we so appreciate
Costco listening to the neighbors and actively working toward the good of all.
Yes, it’s hard to hide an elephant, but Costco did a great job!"
____
"My husband and I like what they’ve done and hope they will adhere to them.
We will vote yes on this plan."
____
"Here are my thoughts re the Costco design pictures/ diagrams:
Change the cement barriers at the store entrance to cement planters.
Tone down the bright orange and blue Costco signage so it blends more organically
with the rest of the design.
Design shows a 5 foot high wood fence on Chinden. Could that be 6 feet high similar to
the Lost Rapids side? The berm that they just completed on the south side of Chinden
for Cadence is really nice. I wish they would do something like that on the Chinden
side."
____
"W e think the design looks good. Our only comment:
During our meeting with the Costco landscape representatives, we think they will do a
very nice job. The landscape is being completed on the southeast corner of Ten Mile
and Chinden and it looks really good. The Costco landscapers may want to use the
same design fence along Chinden Blvd. to the west of Ten Mile to provide some
continuity.
It looks like they tried to incorporate many of the suggestions given - native stone, no
red stripe, arbors with vines, etc. It won't be perfect to everyone but we appreciate
Costco working with the neighbors and are interested in being good neighbors."
____
“Thoroughly impressed by how they listened to our ideas. Well done!”
____
“Looks great! They really listened to all of us and did a great job. I'm all for this project
now. My thanks to everyone involved in this project.”
____
“…I do think that Costco is going way beyond the call of duty to work with us in the
neighborhood.
…thank Costco for listening and let us be good neighbors. Build it.”
“The design looks amazing!!
Thank you Costco for working with your neighbors and allowing us to provide feedback!”
____
“The red and blue do not fit or match the natural elements of the building. I sure hope
they will use a natural color similar to target in Eagle to not be so glaring. Everyone
knows it’s Costco, it doesn’t need to stick out like a sore thumb when you arrive. White
and light grey would look amazing!
I also agree the more we can shield it from Chinden the better. The landscape on the
other side of lost rapids did a great job. If they can also start with more mature trees it
would help the process.”
____
“…they have still failed to provide the design for the corner monument (Ten Mile and
Chinden), which I believe they are responsible for as the anchor tenant), and they have
failed to provide the signage for the Lost Rapids entrance on Chinden which is
supposed to show no truck traffic.”
____
“I appreciate Costo, etal, for allowing the neighbors to offer up input on the designs,
however, I still think this location is a bad idea and counter to what the previous
Comprehensive plan was before the City of Meridian, Council and Planning and Zoning
deciding on their own, disregarding the citizens. Costco and the public would be better
served moving their new site to Chinden/Highway 16 area. This is a very disappointing
undertaking. If the developers of the subdivisions were truthful and transpa rent to their
potential customers before these projects get approved by ignorant, uncaring city
staffers and leaders, we might not be here today fighting for our property values and
comforts. You could have chosen a dozen different locations to do this that made more
sense.”
Overall appreciation for incorporating neighbor input. We look forward to a beautiful
completion that fits this Boise River community.
Comments and requests:
Costco renderings:
• How many pergolas with benches are included throughout the property?
o Can they be built to protect from rain and sun?
• Cart collection areas not shown. Please show in renderings how they are hidden
as much as possible.
• Tire center not shown. Please show in renderings.
• Delivery docks not shown. Please show in renderings.
• Can the Northwest perspective include against the building planter boxes close
to building similar to the Southwest side, as well as the walkway and planted
tree and plant groupings as shown?
• And can the Southwest side include walkway and planted trees and plan t
groupings similar to Northwest, as well as against the building planters as
shown? This would show a balance for both western exposure sides.
• The fuel station rendering shows 12 pillars and 12 pumps total. Is that accurate?
o Plat drawings shows 15 pillars and 15 pumps. What is true?
o Please, can future dispensers be subject to an approval process with City
Council and Public input?
• Costco screening:
o For all screening at all roads:
o Please set height of all berms at 8’ instead of the two foot range of 6’-8’.
o Height of berm does not include the height of the fence, only the
berm. The fence height is 6” all around all roads please. Total combined
height to be 14” instead of 12’-14’ range.
Thank you!
____
Overall I don’t support a Costco in this location or the process in which it was
approved. With that said, I do think Costco has been engaged with neighbors and has
listened. The design reflect comments made by neighbors. I have read the comments
you attached to the e-mail and I agree with the comments. I have no further
suggestions.
____