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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 17, 2005 Meridian Planning & Zoning March 17, 2005 Page 24 of 60 Newton-Huckabay: I think we ought to move it to May 5th. If we have that many projects on the 21 stof April, that's getting huge. Rohm: This is your opportunity to make a motion to that effect. Zaremba: The chair would entertain a motion to that effect, Commissioner Newton- Huckabay. Newton-Huckabay: Mr. Chair, I'd like to recommend that we move AZ 05-007, PP 05- 009, and CUP 05-008 to our May 5th, 2005, Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. Rohm: Second. Zaremba: We have a motion and a second. All in favor say aye. Anyopposed? That motion carries. Those three are continued to May 5th. MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES. Item 10: Public Hearing: RZ 05-002 Request for a Rezone of 1.28 acres from R-4 to L-Q for Meridian Fire Station No.4 by the City of Meridian - Lot 1, Block 4, Thousand Springs Subdivision No.1: Zaremba: Okay. Next we will open the Public Hearing for Item No. 10. This is RZ 05- 002, request for a rezone of 1.28 acres from R-4 to L-O for Meridian Fire Station No.4 by the City of Meridian, Lot 1, Block 4 of Thousand Springs Subdivision No.1. And we will begin with the staff report. Wilson: Thank you, Chairman Zaremba, Members of the Commission. The City of Meridian and Meridian fire department have jointly applied to rezone approximately 1.28 acres on South Eagle Road from R-4 to L-O construction of a Meridian fire department sub station. The subject property was identified on the 2002 Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map as a potential location for a fire station and it was also identified on the face of the plat for Thousand Springs Subdivision No.1 recorded in 1999 as a site for a Meridian department fire sub station as well. There are no outstanding issues that staff is aware of for the Commission. I would just mention that the surrounding land uses are Bonito Subdivision, a commercial subdivision zoned C-G is to the north across the Ridenbaugh Canal. Thousand Springs Subdivision No.1 does lie to the west and south of the subject lot. Directly to the south of the lot -- of the subject lot is a City of Meridian well lot. I'm not -- Bruce can maybe help me out if that has been developed yet or not. No. That's a future well lot. And across Eagle Road to the east is some rural residences and some vacant land. I think with that we have some members of the Meridian fire department and some -- a person from ZGA Architects who has been working with the fire department and I will turn it over to them and also take questions from the Commission. Melidian Planning & Zoning March 17, 2005 Page 25 of 60 Zaremba: Any questions? Rohm: I have none. Zaremba: Okay. This is the opportunity for the applicant. Chief, do you have anything to say? Okay. Zabala: Mr. Chairman, Members of the Commission, my name is Tom Zabala, I am with ZGA Architects. Our address is 565 West Myrtle Street in Boise. I am here tonight on behalf of the Meridian fire department. As you have noted, here this evening is Chief Bowers, as well as Danny Little, our project manager for this project, who could speak to specific details about the operation of the facility and from the Meridian fire department's perspective, as well as any technical issues that you may have about the building. We have had a chance to review the staff report on this. We take no issues with any of the conditions or statements of fact that are outlined in that. As they have indicated, this site has been identified for quite some time as a location for a future fire station. As everyone knows, that area of our community is growing rapidly and it's very critical in terms of timed response for emergency services to be within a certain distance and this facility is one that is planned to do that and to improve public safety services for the City of Meridian. This facility will be similar to stations previously built for the city, as at Locust Grove and Ten Mile. I have here some small versions of -- I have some small versions of the site plan and building plan, landscape plan, and building elevations that I will pass that out, because you don't have anything in your packets, I believe it shows what's going to be built. So, I'll stop talking for a second. I might add that we had our neighborhood meeting on the 11th and we had one of the adjoining neighbors show up that evening and we talk over the project with them and I notice that they are signed up here this evening to speak, so I will let them speak to any kind of concerns they may have about the project. We did also at that meeting provide those folks with these drawings, so that they would have the opportunity to review them in more detail than what the public neighborhood meeting allowed for them. What you will see in the packet there, obviously, is the site plan for the building. It is fronted onto South Eagle Road. The apparatus bay where the fire and emergency vehicles are located on the north end of the site. We have parking for both firefighters, as well as visitors, to the south of the site. The well lot that was referred to by the staff has been incorporated into this project. The city has determined that they no longer need it for a well site, so it has been incorporated into our project. And as you will see on the second sheet, which is a concept landscaping plan, we are working -- in the process of working with the City of Meridian and Meridian Parks Department to develop a small casual park there, along with a connecting link back to the neighborhood. That small connecting link does exist today. It's pretty much a barren, sort of a weed area, not now well developed, but the intent would be to come in here and working with the fire department to landscape that and provide some trees, some casual areas for sitting. Not a formal park by any means, but just a kinder, gentler way of getting from South Eagle Road to the neighborhood and back and forth and also improving the balance of that lot. Within the packet you will see the floor plan of the building. It is a two bay facility. There are four sleeping rooms along the west side of the site, with the rest of the internal activities for Meridian Planning & Zoning March 17, 2005 Page 26 of 60 the firemen and the other emergency members that will be housed there. There is also on the last page a colored elevation of the building, which, again, reflect the general materials, color, and texture, height and et cetera of the buildings that have been built out at Ten Mile and Locust Grove. I think the Meridian fire department -- all previous -- these previous stations have also been built in similar situations where we adjoin a neighborhood and the chief can speak more directly to the measures that they have taken to be good neighbors. They are -- they do have to roll every so often, but they are very conscientious about lights and sirens as best the circumstances will allow. With that I will be happy to answer any questions that the members may have. Rohm: Just a comment. Fire stations adjacent to residential development seems to be a good place to put fire stations. Zabala: Well, I'll tell you, if you are having a heart attack or a fire, you like to hear those sirens coming. Rohm: Absolutely. Zaremba: Well -- and I would suspect that the homeowners' fire insurance would go down -- or insurance would go down, probably, as well, having it close to -- this is a big step for Meridian, having the first fire station on the south side of the interstate. As you mentioned, it's been in the plan for a long time and this property has been identified for it for a long time. It's nice to see the idea moving forward. Zabala: Thank you. Zaremba: Thank you. We do have a couple other people signed up to talk. Tom Connelly. Connelly: Good evening, Mr. Chairman and Commissioners. Nice to be here tonight. I do have copies of the plan. I did check neutral and I think by the time I'm done with you you're going to realize I'm pro, because I have had nothing but a wonderful experience with the fire department, the people of the fire department, the architect, everybody has been very good with us. We are not opposing the fire station, we are -- have some major concerns that we'd like to share with people on the fact that it butts up right to my house. I get the propane tank right in my backyard and that's not a negative, it's far enough off, but the propane tank is one of the issues and the generator is another of the issues that we are interested in and the trash collecting and we are talking about small potatoes here, but what happened was when the Heritage Reflection moved in behind us, we had some situations with them with the garbage people coming out there at 6:00 in the morning, dumping the garbage and banging it and waking up everybody. That's been resolved by enough complains to the garbage department. The firemen, I'll tell you, I have been to the stations two or three times, they are marvelous, I know they are great neighbors and the people that surround them are very happy to have them around. My concern is the lights was one of the things. We have seen the lights and they have even taken that under consideration also. The lights that we see are focused Meridian Planning & Zoning March 17, 2005 Page 27 of 60 in such a direction that it's not going to be keeping us up all night. But the lighting is one of the things we wanted to go on record with and make sure that it's not going to be intrusive. When the fire engines come in, the way it's designed, they will be coming -- they will be heading south and they will turn west, there will be light flashing in the evening with their headlights coming in and we would like to have a little conversation about some sort of a fencing, something -- maybe some concession from them that would change the fencing. We have a six-foot fence right now, cedar, and we have maintained them very well and my neighbor will be speaking in a few moments, too. But we are looking at some sort of a block cedar -- not cedar, but a cement block or -- there is a special name for some stones that may be able to take the glare off and it would also be a noise barrier. So, this is really our only concern. We knew it was coming. We know they are great neighbors. We are looking forward to barbecues with them, but I have some really good comments, because the people that I have checked with in other neighborhoods, there have been serious illnesses and the firemen were there in 30 seconds and there are some people that attribute their existence to the firemen being that close. So, I think what I wanted to share with you is simply the sounds that are one of ours, but the dumpsters and the generators and things of that nature and the lighting and I will stop with that one. Zaremba: Great. Thank you. Any questions? All right. Thank you. Kent Heasley. Heasley: Good evening. My name is Kent Heasley at 2502 South Hood Ranch. I also am at the back of the fire station here and I must thank ZGA for having a meeting for me last week. I did go to the meeting and gather plans and they were very helpful. Met with the fire chief. We have been to some of the fire stations and talked to them and, again, I marked under neutral minor concerns and I would voice similar concerns as to my neighbor, lighting, noise, and some of the placement of the items on the site would be -- you know, would be the concerns. I have questions for staff as to if there are any codes or ordinances -- or any codes or ordinances on the lighting flow off of the property to the residential. Also sound codes, if there is any sound code requirements at residential property lines. Typically there are some codes, some decibels that are set for those areas and with that information I would like the developer to -- or the city, in this case, to consider those in developing their lighting to flow away from our property adjacent to -- to address some of the sound issues, to make sure that the -- and lighting issues of the trucks coming in off of the street, that they are not shining their lights into our back windows as they come around the corner, which could be seen through the cedar fencing. My neighbor mentioned that we have been talking about a masonry wall, a third face wall or something that would act as a sound barrier, as well as block the lighting of the trucks coming around, block the sound of the trucks rolling down the back of the property lines. So, I would ask that, you know, some conditions be put on this -- this recommendation to City Council that would carry those conditions into the approval of the property. I think that overall we welcome the fire station, I think they are going to be great neighbors and they are going to be there long term and I think that everything will be great as long as we could just address some of these minor concerns. I thank you for your time. Meridian Planning & Zoning March 17, 2005 Page 28 of 60 Moe: Mr. Chairman. I just one want to make sure I'm clear. Are you south of the property, then? Heasley: I'm west of the property. Moe: West of the property. Okay. All right. Heasley: I'm, basically, smack dab in the middle as you -- as you come off of Eagle -- if you could go back to the site plan. As you come off of Eagle and come down the driveway and as they make that turn, they are going to be shining lights at the back of my house. Moe: Okay. I understand that. Borup: You're on Lot 25? Never mind. Heasley: There is no numbers. I don't know the lot number off the top of my head. Moe: And you have seen the landscaping plan as well? Heasley: Yeah. I have seen the preliminary plan. It's not very descriptive at this point. I see deciduous trees and some pine trees back there and, obviously, they will help some in the summertime when they are leafed out and full grown, maybe to block some ofthe lighting, but in the wintertime there would be very little block out of that sound or lighting. Moe: Thank you. Borup: One final question. You understood when you bought your home that this was designated as a fire station, didn't you? Heasley: I understood that there was the possibility of a fire station, yes. But, again, it is zoned R-4, which wouldn't have allowed for a fire station. But I knew the time would come -- Borup: You knew that was set aside from when this subdivision was originally platted for a fire station? Heasley: It was set aside, donated to the city, and suggested to be a fire station. Yes, I knew that. Borup: All right. Thank you. Heasley: But it's not zoned for a fire station today, so -- Borup: That's the purpose of this hearing. Meridian Pianning & Zoning March 17, 2005 Page 29 of 60 Heasley: And that's why I bring the concerns today, as you do revise the zoning that you put some conditions on the construction of that site. Zaremba: Thank you. Mr. Zabala. Zabala: Mr. Chairman, Members of the Commission, Tom Zabala again. I may have Chief Bowers speak to some of the comments that were brought up by the neighbors and I do have to compliment the neighbors, they have been very cooperative throughout this whole process. And, again, many of these where you gets slightly contentious, so I think their concerns, were I in their shoes, are legitimate and we are, obviously, going to try to address as many of them as we can. With regard to the points that were brought up, we do have on the site plan, if you will notice, on the north end of that site plan there are some small boxes indicated there, which indicate our -- really, our outdoor equipment that are involved with any building. We have condensing units for -- which are for the heating and air-conditioning units in the building. We have an emergency generator and the attendant propane tank that they have a policy with the Meridian fire department of having a backup fuel source for the emergency generators. It's a natural gas generator, but they use propane as a backup fuel source. And, then, also, at that location is the electrical transformer for the building. We have co-located all of those at the north end of the site and we have provided a screen wall around them. In talking with the neighbors right now, I think we will probably look at the design of that screen wall around those particular units. It was intended to be a masonry wall. It will still be a masonry wall, but as far as access to it and the opening of that, where it now opens primarily to the west or facing them, we will probably reverse some of those and try to get most of the access to that area out the north side of that unit. With regard to the propane tank, that is the only filled once a year and so the truck services, that will only be there once a year. The generator, as a matter of course, I believe the chief will tell you is exercised once a month. It has a critical silence muffler on it. That doesn't mean that you won't hear it, but it is exercised during daylight hours and not in the evening hours, from my understanding. With regard to the trash collection, again, we have located the -- the trash receptacle, as you can see, is in the southwest corner of the site there. That is somewhat predicated upon the ability for the refuse people to get to it easily and maneuver on the site. I don't know that we can do much about that in terms of where we locate it. Any other place on the site would bring it in deeper into the site. Up near the street functionally doesn't work too well for the people that pick up the trash. The fire department mayor may not have some influence over when they do pick up that trash, but I don't know that for a fact. With regard to lighting, we have site lighting on the site. If you look at the site plan, there at the trash receptacle in the southwest comer there is a light pole on a 20-foot standard. Up near the propane -- where the propane tank is shown, there is another light pole on a 20 foot standard. Both those have .- are down lights, standard shoebox, with a back baffle to keep the light from going off into the west into the neighborhood. We have two pole lights out -- double headed pole lights out front on the street, one on the north side of the apparatus bay, one on the south side near the entrance to the parking area. There are two wall pack lights over the overhead doors at the -- on the west side there and those are Meridian Planning & Zoning March 17,2005 Page 30 of 60 directed downward onto the apron themselves. With regard to the fencing, as the neighbors have indicated, they have maintained their cedar fence very well and we have looked at that in terms of the trucks and maneuvering back there and that. We contacted the Idaho State Transportation Department, as well as the Ada County Highway District and we were referred to Charles Rountree as sort of the resident expert in automobile noise abatement on sites, specifically with the intent of what could we do along there to mitigate the sound. That particular length of fence is approximately 345 feet long. A six-foot or more - eight-foot concrete masonry wall in terms of the cost would be probably over 30,000 dollars for that length of wall. It's our understanding from Mr. Rountree that the effectiveness of that wall in terms of noise abatement is nothing different than what you would get from either the cedar fence or a vinyl fence. I can't speak to the techniques of that, but that's what we were told in terms of the functionality of that material, despite what it may look like. What you see out along the freeway, the tall sound walls out there, he indicated are set up for that kind of traffic, that kind of thing, but they are extremely high and a lot different than what we would have here. So, in our opinion, a fence -- a block wall fence, other than the expense of it, would yield very little of what the neighbors are hoping to achieve in terms sound abatement. As far as lighting and in conjunction with the sound, I think we would be willing to work with the city parks department and our landscaping architect to intensify the screening along there in terms of more evergreen trees, perhaps spaced a little bit closer, a little denser, so that they would have year around screening of -- eventually of the lights of trucks coming in and tuming and, hopefully, would gain some noise abatement in that process. I believe that was the notes that I made on that. As far as I know, the city does not have any -- for this particular use, this particular zone, any criteria within their current ordinance in terms of decibel levels for this type of use or any illumination of -- am I correct or incorrect? Chief, did you have anything you wanted to add? Any other questions? Borup: A question, Mr. Chairman. Do you know what type of fencing is on the other stations at Ten Mile and Locust Grove? Zabala: On those particular sites that were built, there was no existing fencing, so the fire department -- we have a combination there of white vinyl fencing, six foot, and a combination of -- in some locations of chain link with white slats at those particular locations. Borup: Okay. Zaremba: I guess one question. One of the issues that may possibly be able to be mitigated would be fire trucks returning at night and the sweep of their headlights as they come in the driveway and make the right turn north to go back into the barn, would it be possible to have a procedure that they dim their lights as they pull in that driveway? It seems to me there are a couple of light poles around, so it's not going to be absolutely dark back there. Meridian Planning & Zoning March 17, 2005 Page 31 of 60 Zabala: I would think that could be accomplished. I think that's a management issue that the fire department and in working with the neighbors could accomplish. It makes good sense. Zaremba: It doesn't solve the sound, but at least they wouldn't be suddenly awakened by a flash of light going through their bedroom window or something. Zabala: Yeah. And I think that would be a reasonable request and an operational thing that they could accomplish, Zaremba: Okay. Any other questions? Freckleton: Mr. Chait? With regard to the lighting, our codes do require downcast lighting, so I believe Mr. Zabala has addressed that perfectly. The only other issue that we have had ongoing discussions with the fire department on is this was the -- the well lot that was designated in the plat, with the development of the Thousand Springs Subdivision, we have stubbed 12 inch water main into this flag pole portion here and we have also stubbed 12 inch water main in off of Eagle Road. We did that for the future well that we were going to put in and now we have kind of gotten away from that idea. Our only request would be that -- that that be connected up, so that we don't have two dead end lines there. And with doing that, the only other thing that we would want to do is work with them with respect to the landscaping that they are showing. They have got some fairly large trees and that sort of thing in the flag pole portion and, you know, big trees and water mains don't work too good together, so we will just have to work with them on the type of materials that they put in there. I just wanted to get that on the record. Zabala: We are perfectly willing to do that. The plan that you have here is not etched in granite. This was a first pass and we have really not had a chance to come back to the city staff or the parks department with this to discuss the details of that in conjunction with what we have heard here this evening. Zaremba: Thank you. Canning: Chairman Zaremba? Zaremba: Director Canning, Canning: If I might, the applicant has spoke of the parks department. I just thought I would let you know why he keeps on referencing the parks department. It's because they do take care of the landscape maintenance issues of the fire stations. That's all. Zaremba: Thank you. Commissioners? Newton-Huckabay: I have a question. Melidian Pianning & Zoning March 17, 2005 Page 32 of 60 Zaremba: Commissioner Newton-Huckabay. Newton-Huckabay: If a masonry fence is not an option -- and I haven't been behind any of the new fire stations that have been built. Is maybe an increase in landscaping or density reasonable? Zaremba: I think he offered to do more trees and to make some of them evergreens, so that that would at least help mitigate some of the impact. I believe I heard that. Newton-Huckabay: I didn't hear that. Moe: I did. Newton-Huckabay: Okay. I mean I would think that that would be -- I guess less expensive than the block and landscaping -- more landscaping would help cut down on that. That would be my -- Zaremba: I agree with you, but I think that was offered. Newton-Huckabay: Okay. Zaremba: Any other questions? Commissioner Rohm? Rohm: No comment. Zaremba: I would entertain a motion to close the Public Hearing. Moe: Mr. Chairman, I move that we close the Public Hearing on RZ 05-002. Rohm: Second. Zaremba: We have a motion and a second. All in favor say aye. Anyopposed? That motion carries. MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES. Moe: Mr. Chairman, I move that we forward onto City Council recommending approval of RZ 05-002, to include all staff comments of the hearing date March 17th, 2005, received by the city clerk's office March 14th, 2005, with the additional item under site specific comments I'd like to add a number four, that the applicant would work with staff to provide additional landscaping for the screening on the west side of the property, along with the south property, with the Public Works Department. Rohm: Second. Meridian Planning & Zoning March 17,2005 Page 33 of 60 Zaremba: We have a motion and a second. All in favor say aye. Any opposed? That motion carries. MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES. Zaremba: We are approaching the moment where we traditionally take a break. I believe we will. We will take ten minutes and reconvene. (Recess.) Item 11: Public Hearing: AZ 05-005 Annexation and Zoning of 32.75 acres from RUT to R-8, R-15 and CoG zones for Northwoods Subdivision by Dyver Development, LLC -1200 West Franklin Road: Item 12: Public Hearing: PP 05-007 Request for Preliminary Plat approval of 147 building lots and 7 other lots in proposed R-8, R-15 and CoG zones for Northwoods Subdivision by Dyver Development, LLC - 1200 West Franklin Road: Item 13: Public Hearing: CUP 05-006 Request for a Conditional Use Permit for a Planned Development for single-family residential, multi-family residential and conceptual commercial uses in proposed R-8, R-15 and CoG zones for Northwoods Subdivision by Dyver Development, LLC - 1200 West Franklin Road: Zaremba: Okay. We will reconvene our meeting. Let the record show all Commissioners are again present. The next items on our agenda, I will open the Public Hearing for Items 11, 12 and 13, that is AZ 05-005, PP 05-007, CUP 05-006, all pertaining to Northwood Subdivision and for this we have a request from the applicant to continue until April 21 st and is there discussion about that date? Newton-Huckabay: That day is full. We already decided that earlier in the evening, Zaremba: I believe we did have that discussion. How do we care to proceed? Borup: Did you have a chance to look at that agenda as far as how intensive the projects were? Zaremba: Yeah. It didn't show everything that's going to happen that night. As I recall, Director Canning said that there were six separate issues, some of which may include more than one project. That's quite a few for one evening to deal with six major projects, so -- I don't have anything as far forward as March 5th, but that's something we did with the other item that we moved. Newton-Huckabay: I would say the 5th and if they wanted the 21st, they wouldn't be ready for the 7th.