HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC -11-30 Easy Jet Letter Joanne St CharlesNovember 26, 2015
City Clerk
Meridian City Hall, Suite 104
33 E Broadway
Meridian, ID 83642
Response to the Staff Report
RE: REVISED EASY JET SUBDIVISION APPLICATION (RZ 15‐012, PP 15‐016, CUP 15‐017)
To Members of the Meridian City Council,
After reviewing the Staff reports and doing some additional research, I am concerned that some things
may have been overlooked. When the land in question was annexed it was done so with R-4, L-O and C-
G zoning. As the report indicates, the planned unit development was conceptually approved to include
multi-family housing under Meridian City Code 12-6-3. What is not clear in the Staff report is that the
original plan indicated where that multi-family housing was to be. Here is that information:
Excerpt from PP 02-004:
(Map provided below)
Plat map from 2002 (PP02-004)
Such a plan made sense as it provided a nice buffer for all residences, transitioned well, and offered a
large area for a multi-family complex where there was also access to turn right onto either Easy Jet or
Eagle Rd. This was an intelligent and thoughtful design that would have fit well with the rest of
Sutherland Farms.
In 2004 the developer amended the plan seeking to achieve density goals by adding more R-8 density
with a special variance to reduce minimum land area frontage required by the R-8 Zone. The
developer’s (J.U.B) application also states, “No other variances or waivers are required or requested.”
Plat map from 2004 (PP04-009)
Reviewing “Sutherland Farm AZ 02-004” we find that the Easy Jet Drive, which prohibits street parking
west of South Nephrite Way, and also allowed no front-on housing, was constructed as a “collector” and
industrial road way, not as a simple local street.
Excert From Sutherland Farm AZ 02-004
Excerpt from ACHD Idaho
If Easy Jet Drive is a Collector, then based on the charts below, it would appear that the min landscape
buffer should be 20ft (not 10 ft. as indicated in the staff report). Meanwhile, the developer’s proposed
plan indicates a buffer of only 5-10 feet from the street.
Based on the chart below, it would appear that a minimum landscaping buffer of 25 feet should be
provided between the C-G multi-family development and the R-4 residential use area. The demeloper’s
proposed plan indicates a buffer of only 10-20 ft.
With regard to land uses, this area has already been developed with multiple residential uses. The
original Development plan (made for annexation) included substantial plans to develop places of work
and services for the community. We’ve seen those plans cut in the past. Now the developer is asking to
cut them further by adding an apartment building to the land that was part of the 2002 Sutherland
Farms Master Development Plan.
Developments of 20 units or more are required to provide a property management office, maintenance
and storage area, and central mailbox location. We do not see those things on the revised plan.
The character of the proposed structures does not comply with the CC&Rs of the Sutherland Farms
Development. With regard to one family, there are no assurances that renters would not be allowed to
sublet rooms to others or that other CC&Rs would be observed. Most obviously the fact that the
proposed building are to be hardiplank in three colors will do little to fit into a neighborhood that
requires substantial stone or masonry on all front facing elevations.
Excerpt from CC&Rs below:
The Staff report indicates that an arterial abuts this street and notes the signal light. They reach the
conclusion that the site is therefore easily accessible. They might not be taking into account that the
site has no direct access to Eagle rd. Also the site is south of Easy Jet Drive. So the only access to leave
the site toward Eagle Rd, is by making a left hand turn. The site is close enough to Eagle Rd that traffic
already backs up there during peak times. We are concerned that an R-15 development on this site will
result in traffic being forced to turn right and head east on Easy Jet Drive through other neighborhoods
to gain access to arterials, because Eagle Rd will be difficult to access.
In summary, it seems likely that this land is well suited for light office and services as was designated in
the original master plan for Sutherland Farms back in 2002. Given that the proposed plan does not fit
within the required set backs, or leave room to accommodate the required buffers, it does not seem to
be a good site for the development proposed.
Respectfully,
Joanne St Charles and Robert Nelson
3482 E Yesternight St Meridian ID 83642