HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter from David Turnbull
.Ö'S/05/05 09: 48 FAX 208 377 8962
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BRIGHTON
CORPORATION
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FAX COVER SHEET
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FAX:
To: Mayor Tammy DeWeerd
Meridian City Council
888-4433
888-4218
From:
David Turnbull
TEL:
FAX:
378-4000
377 -8962
DATE:
Aug. 5. 2005
NU:MBER OF PAGES
(Including this sheet):~
RE: Unified Development Code
Mayor DeWeerd,
Attached please find my conunents and reconunendation for the Unified
Development Code.
David Tumbull
12601 W. Explorer Drive, Suite 200, Boise, Idaho 83713 TiL 208-378-4000 FAX ¡O8-377-8962
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BRIG HTON
CORPORATION
August 5, 2005
Mayor Tammy DeWeerd
Meridian City Council
City of Meridian
33 E. Idaho Ave.
Meridian, ID 83642
Re: Unified Development Code
Dear Mayor aIld CouncH Members:
I am submitting this letter in the event that I am unable to attend the next hearing on the
proposed Unífied Development Code. Since the public hearing was opened and then contjnued
to August 9, 1 have had the opportunity to address my questions on the staff modifications with
Anna Canning. Based on that discussion, 1 have the following suggestions:
Section 11-3G-3.B.5.c: In a compromise with ACHD, City staff has agreed to an 8' wide
parkway planter area to acconunodate street trees. While I personally feel that 6' is sufficient, I
am willing to accommodate the 8' standard in future preliminary plats. In this section of the
code, however, I propose that the curb cut exclusion be reduced from 30' to 26' to help offset the
additional parkway planter width. This will continue to encourage some developers to utilize
detached sidewalks on local streets, which I believe is a very desirable standard for the City.
Section 11-4-3.11 Separation Standards for Drive-through Establishments: As I W1derstand this
issue, the Council would still like to review abutting drive-through facilities through the
conditional use permit process. I suggest that this section be clarified to state that the distaIlce
standard Duly applies to the actual drive-through portion of the facility. For instance, you could
have two abutting buildings that have drive-through facilities on opposite ends of the buildings
that are more than 300' apart. These should not be required to go through the conditional use
process.
Section 11-6C-3B5: This section should be no more restrictive than the ACHD policy, which
states that public alleys shall be 20' right-of-way with 16' of pavement. We have actually done
alleys in both Harris Ranch and Heritage Commons with 12' of pavement in a 20' right-of-way
under conditional USe pennits. These have proved to be very fw1ctional. aesthetically superior
and have the added benefit of conserving resources and reducing storm water runoff.
Exhibit D 11-3H-4.B.3: A typo here. "state high" should be "state highway".
Brighlbn Corporallon . 12601 w.. Explorer Drive. Suite 200 . Boise, 14(11.0837/3
www.br;lll,tollcuro.c:om 8 Telephone (208) 3784000 . Fax (208) 377-8962
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Fee Schedule: A comparison of the proposed fee schedule vs. the fees charged by other cities
suggests tllat Meridian would be the most expensive under the new fee proposal if the overhead
factor were included. As former Boise City Planning Director Wayne Gibbs once told me,
planning departments don't exist at the reqnest of the development conununity. They exist to
serve the general public. Hence, most cities have taken the approach that part of the costs are
funded by application fees and part by general tax revenue. I suggest that Anna's fee schedule
that excludes overhead be adopted. I have a feeling that the Public WorkslBuilding Department
is holding its own and rnore.
Finally, I want to take the opportunity to compliment Anna and Diane KlJshlaIl for their work in
putting together this document. It is refreshing to witness a collaborative effort involving many
perspectives that results in a comprehensive, well-structured. user-friendly document. It's not
perfect and I'm sure as we begin to use this code that issues will arise and amendments will be
proposed. Bnt this is a solid document and I recommend its approval with the comments above.
Cc: Alma Canning
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