HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-03-09 Hoo Hash
Charlene Way
From:Sonya Allen
Sent:Tuesday, March 9, 2021 4:10 PM
To:Adrienne Weatherly; Charlene Way; Chris Johnson
Subject:FW: Objection to the application for The Oasis nightclub
From: Hoo Hash <ckinfo@sent.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 9, 2021 3:58 PM
Subject: Objection to the application for The Oasis nightclub
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
To all Meridian City Council Members, Planning and Zoning Commission, and those to whom it may concern,
We appreciate all the time, service and contributions made by city planners and leaders over the years who have made
Meridian Idaho one of the most desirable places to live. People are flocking here to enjoy the environment we have
created of a safe, family-oriented, value-oriented community. And yet with the influx of the masses we are deeply
concerned about the eroding of our values, particularly those that the proposed Oasis Nightclub poses to our community
and the ramifications of its proposed location at Eagle Road and Ustick Road. We have read the application submitted as
The Oasis CUP H-2021-0004 and the Narrative Revised document, and believe it to be in conflict with the values and
businesses established in our community, that the wrong location is being proposed for this type of business due to its
requirements and purpose, and respectfully request those involved in the decision making process to deny the application,
as well as any subsequent requested reviews for establishment of The Oasis at this location.
WHOSE AGENDA IS THIS? IT AFFECTS THOSE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE HERE
Having read through the “Narrative Revised”, I find it curious that for such an impassioned personal plea by someone
who claims to have been raised in Idaho and therefore understands the people and feeling this community has created, the
document remains unsigned. Who wrote this document? Brian Tsai? If so, he is simply the applicant, not the owner, and
his address puts him down by the Boise Costco, not in Meridian. If it is written by the actual owner, Brad Watson, his
emotional plea is rather disingenuous considering he doesn’t live in Meridian or even the state of Idaho, but in Utah. We
ask that in deliberations, the deciding body disregard the emotional context the application is attempting to add to the
discussion as moot, since neither of them, based on the addresses they have on file, can claim an emotional attachment to
the proposed location greater than those who are CURRENTLY raising their families here at this location. As two other
commenters noted: “We don’t like the idea of out-of-towners dictating what happens in our community” and “we
appreciate the tranquil space of the area” our children are currently growing up in and seek to keep the way of life we
have worked so hard to establish and maintain. Another citizen made the comment that “this could change Meridian” – it
absolutely could, with a very negative impact if allowed to be established at this proposed location.
REAL AND CURRENT COMMUNITY CONNECTION
My husband’s family and many of my own relatives are multi-generational natives of Eagle and Meridian, and we are
very concerned about the future of Meridian as we have lived in our current home within a half mile of the proposed
location of the Oasis Nightclub for the past 13 years, raising our 4 children here since our oldest child was 3 years old. To
propose this type of establishment at this location is a deeply personal attack on our way of life, making us feel unsafe in
many ways. This location is HIGHLY residential, and the interests of the invested community members who have
established their lives and families here should take top priority.
CALL IT WHAT IT IS…A ‘NIGHTCLUB’
I am a musician of 20+ years. I have performed in venues, on the radio, and in television broadcasts throughout my
performing career. Even I know that this proposed establishment is NOT for local performing artists. For Brian Tsai or
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Brad Watson, or whoever wrote the revised narrative, to assert that removing the word “Nightclub” from advertisements
can change anything about the reality of this establishment being a nightclub is to try to use semantics to redefine reality.
This IS a “Nightclub” and offering community outreach propositions is an attempt to turn our attention from the fact that
he has to deal with drunks leaving his establishment, needs security to tend the entire premises and parking lot, has to
have his patrons enter through a metal detector, warn patrons that his lasers can “cause permanent blindness and burns on
exposed skin and clothing even with momentary exposure”, and has to have a policy on unwanted sexual advancements.
Let’s be clear, it is a ‘Nightclub’ with every accurate negative connotation and stigma that goes with it. We can even use
his own words from his website: “Idaho’s only world class nightclub.” To try and sugar coat it with any other words is an
obvious attempt to get it approved under the guise of it being community friendly and therefore more palatable.
IT IS ABOUT LOCATION, NOT THE COMMUNITY:
We can understand their interest in this property located at Eagle Road and Ustick. Financially it is a very highly sought
after location, seeing as it is on the busiest street in the entire state of Idaho (https://tinyurl.com/zy63a6f6), and only 1
mile from the busiest intersection in the entire state (https://tinyurl.com/5cpds58s). There is considerable traffic constantly
driving past this intersection which has only increased with the massive amounts of people moving into the area. This
location was chosen not for love, compassion or concern for the residents who live here, but because, as we all know, it’s
all about ‘location, location, location’.
TRAFFIC:
It is extremely irresponsible and disingenuous to pretend that the traffic created by a nightclub which holds 1000 people
will not be felt by everyone living and working in an already highly congested area of town. By their own admission on
their website, their traffic begins to ramp up at 5pm, when people get off work – this is what they have designed it for and
are counting on. It is a ridiculous for him to make this statement: “there will be no issues with congestion”. All cars,
including ride sharing, add to the congestion on our roads. There will be considerably more traffic on the roads if ride
shares are utilized to bring and return patrons to their homes. In fact, the traffic doubles from this proposal as the car is not
parked at the establishment but comes to the establishment twice. It will be like going to the airport, lots of cars in/lots of
cars out. Lots of cars waiting in the parking lot, filling it up, and cars waiting on Ustick Road to get into the parking lot as
the Nightclub deals with gridlock in their parking lot. It is their PLAN to leave cars on Ustick Road while they deal with
parking lot gridlock! They are already aware that the parking lot is inadequate, as at max capacity over 90% of their
patrons will have no available parking space.
FACTS FROM REAL STUDIES NEEDED:
It is unbelievable that a traffic impact study is not required or requested for this application, particularly when one of our
cities greatest and growing problems is traffic congestion. Every effort should be made to mitigate the traffic on Eagle
Road and at this intersection which is only 1 mile from the busiest intersection in the state. We already deal with
considerable traffic congestion on Ustick at this intersection. He even admits that his “statistical analysis” jargon means
nothing and that his understanding of parking and traffic are outside his scope. As such, any analysis he provides on
traffic and parking should be disregarded. We are in agreement with the information submitted by John Hastings and
Mike and Malissa Bernard on the fallacy of the traffic impact proposal made by the applicant. Please see their notes as a
representation of our own thoughts on the subject.
https://weblink.meridiancity.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=223245&dbid=0&repo=MeridianCity and
https://weblink.meridiancity.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=223572&dbid=0&repo=MeridianCity
CURRENT AND REAL PROBLEMS WE ARE DEALING WITH:
We are already dealing with selfish individuals using Locust Grove Road between Ustick and McMillan as a drag-racing
street in the middle of the night, disturbing our peace and sleep. Both my husband and I had to get custom made earplugs
last year just so we could sleep through it. If the Oasis is allowed to build their venue on the proposed intersection, this
problem will intensify, being made worse by inebriated drivers putting our lives and property at greater and greater risk.
On Mother’s Day several years ago, a drunk driver sped down Leighfield Road, between the 3 schools located there, and
crashed into a large power box, cutting off power to our entire neighborhood and burning the tree located next to the box.
We are already experiencing these issues and urge you to help us keep the Oasis Nightclub out of our neighborhoods.
PARKING:
Not only is traffic a massive problem with this proposal, so is their parking proposal. After being filled with employees
parking each of their cars (not carpooling) for all the businesses in the Wadsworth Group complex, the remaining
available parking space is grossly inadequate to accommodate 1,000 people for this single business, and certainly not for
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the patrons of the other business in the complex. The math does not add up, and to assume a 40% ride share rate is worse
than wishful thinking – it is a direct attack on the people who live in this community. If allowed to proceed into reality the
brunt of the burden would be borne by of all the adjacent residential neighborhoods and businesses. It is ridiculous to
pretend there will be an average carpool rate of 5 people per car. This is asinine mathematical gymnastics where clearly
the concern by the applicant and owner for our community is non-existent. Particularly when their proposed traffic flow
includes routing traffic THROUGH our neighborhoods! The overflow parking is guaranteed to spill into our
neighborhoods and it is the residents who will have to deal with the loitering patrons who have been removed from the
nightclub/bar that has closed and the noise they make as they talk boisterously loud at their vehicles, shut car doors and
drive away. This is in addition to the trash, the nightly threat of vandalism, and the nightly threat of damage to our
vehicles and property by inebriated individuals, even as late as 2am. Who wants to live under those conditions? The
application narrative uses the Knitting Factory as an example that a parking lot isn’t even required as their patrons “park
several blocks away and walk on foot”. Where does he think they are going to park? There is no existing parking garage
within walking distance of his establishment, and the “blocks” they will go park in are OUR neighborhood streets! He
claims the parking situation for the Knitting Factory is “mitigated by their location”. That is absolutely correct. They are
located in downtown Boise, where the city of Boise has accounted for parking space in parking garages and dedicated
parking lots as is appropriate for a large city’s industrial center, and nowhere near residential homes – therefore, there is
no reason to compare these two locations as they are nothing alike.
Meridian has a history of not having adequate parking spaces for businesses that have a set time for their patrons to
converge upon the establishment. We feel this every time we take our children to Danik Gymnastics or to Heroes Park for
soccer practice and games – there is nowhere to park, waiting traffic sits out on the roads, and other businesses parking
lots are being trespassed upon. This poor city planning needs to be improved in all future development proposals,
including The Oasis, to not create more of these problems all over our city. There are considerably more people living,
working and playing in the Meridian area now, and the ratio of 1 parking space per 250 square feet is outdated and needs
an urgent fix. The applicant’s comparing the needs of a nightclub parking lot to the needs of a shopping center is not a
comparison of apples to apples. A nightclub and any event, day or night, brings the majority of their traffic at the exact
same time. Very rarely, if ever, would a shopping center have the majority of its patrons desiring to come at an exact
arrival or departure time, which is why it works for them to have fewer parking stalls. The city needs an updated set of
requirements for businesses that have patrons coming and going at the exact same time, particularly because there are so
many more people living here, frequenting these establishments. With the spike in our population size, please consider
correlating parking lot requirements with population size, in addition to square footage of the establishment to make our
city function smoothly, and deny The Oasis their application to add to the problem at this intersection. We are in
agreement with the information submitted by John Hastings and Brian and Malissa Bernard on the fallacy of the parking
proposal made by the applicant. Again, please see their notes as a representation of our own thoughts on the subject.
REAL ESTATE PROPERTY VALUE:
Again, the applicant shows how out of touch he is with the reality of our community when he makes the assertion that the
influx of revenue generated by his Nightclub will have a direct correlation with rise in real estate property value on
neighboring properties. This is absurd. There will be a real drop in property value to the properties located in the vicinity
of this nightclub – including our own – doing exactly the opposite of what he is saying. It only takes a simple look into
Las Vegas to see that establishments like this bring the slums to the adjoining properties and push out the middle class.
We have never felt that there was, or ever would be, a reason coming from our community to consider moving away from
the home and city we have built our lives around. Yet since hearing of this proposed nightclub being placed in such close
proximity to our home, we feel threatened and have had our first “should we move” discussions. That is how threatening
it is to us to have this nightclub in such close proximity to our home.
PROPER LOCATION:
It is not the right fit to have the Oasis Nightclub on Eagle Road at Ustick Road as it is mostly a residential section of town.
It is not like downtown Boise where entire mile blocks are made up entirely of businesses. A night club belongs in that
environment, not in such a highly residential area, where families are raising young children. It should be placed near the
freeway, in an industrial complex, and near hotels if it is really intended for out of state performing companies and
musicians. Out of state musicians travel in caravans of semi-trucks and large mobile living quarters. All of this should be
accommodated for when considering a location for an entertainment venue. Eagle Road and Ustick is not the adequate
locale. The city can bring in just as much revenue, arguably more, by placing it in an appropriate location that can best
meet the needs of everyone involved – the Meridian City residents, nightclub owner, patrons, musicians, traveling
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entertainment, hotels, etc. Some have argued that “Meridian is lacking a venue like this”. Technically we don’t need it –
we are ideally situated between performing arts venues that surround us in Boise and in Caldwell already. If Meridian
residents really feel that one is needed in Meridian, putting it in an industrial complex near to the freeway would allow
Meridian residents the luxury of not having to travel into downtown Boise or to Caldwell, again being a win-win for all
involved.
FAULTY LOGIC ON ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY INTEREST:
Faulty logic is being used to assume that a venue which holds 1,000 patrons and has aprox 100 parking spaces will merit
the interest of the “big players in the music and arts industry”, if the Morrison Center and its 10 story stage house and
appropriate parking and seating for 2,000+ patrons, does not. If the presence of the Morrison Center or the Nampa Civic
Center cannot “capture the attention of major artists and acts”, then they will certainly continue to bypass the valley
entirely “due to the lack of venue selection” regardless of an additional nightclub in Meridian. It is fanciful rhetoric to
state that such a venue will “serve as a pillar for arts and entertainment in Meridian and the entire Treasure Valley.”
NOT THE RIGHT FIT/LOCATION:
The proposed Oasis Nightclub is also not the right fit in its attempts to position itself next to VillaSports, which is a
business for minors, families, and after-school programs. By his own admission, this project is “the only one of its kind”
and “the Treasure Valley has never seen anything like this before”. These two business models are nothing alike - they are
actually in direct opposition of purpose to each other. Trying to compare The Oasis nightclub with VillaSports as a “social
club at night” is a ridiculous attempt to use semantics to rewrite reality, showing the cognitive dissonance he has with the
community we have built in Meridian. We need to protect the integrity of our community, and we must protect our
children from this kind of business. Not only is VillaSports, a family-oriented business, located in the same development,
but there are 7 different schools all located within 1 mile of this intersection. What kind of message is being sent to those
of you who serve us if you purposefully allow our children to be placed in harm’s way, physically, emotionally and
mentally, by allowing this establishment to set its roots here and bring with it its un-family friendly clientele, traffic, and
particularly drunk traffic to this area. A nightclub will not improve safety for our children, the quality of our schools, nor
our community at large. The Oasis Nightclub does not fit the surrounding business models, and this location is not a smart
addition to our community. If they removed all aspects of it being a nightclub (no laser lights, no late hours, no dress
standards that put women as objects and men as their consumers, not a venue for 1,000 people) and really was for
“performances and rehearsals with local dance companies, educational programs, and even adoption programs through
companies like Meridian Canine Rescue, corporate events, trade shows, art exhibits, and many other purposes” then it
would be positioning it business model with the other businesses in the area – yet it would still have all the same traffic
and parking issues discussed above and still be the wrong location for this business.
DISINGENUOUS AGENDA
It is really strange to read in the submitted narrative about his involvement as part of the law enforcement at the border in
Arizona, where he admits that “one of the most impactful and highest enforcement priorities DUE TO VOLUME, was
impaired driver DUI enforcement”. That “one of the hardest things to do is remembering your face is seared into the
memory of the loved ones lost as you told them their father, mother, brother or sister was never coming home again
because they were killed by a drunk driver. BUT WITH ALL OF THIS I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT ALCOHOL IS
NOT AN EVIL THING. ALCOHOL IS MERELY A PRODUCT, AND HUMANS ARE THE FACTORS THAT
CREATED THE OUTCOME.” This backward logic, of making alcohol the victim (poor alcohol, you’re so
misunderstood) as though it is unconnected to the humans impaired by the very substance, is astounding and clearly
shows he has no care or concern for our community members. He has twice attempted in his narrative to cancel the actual
meaning, accurate stigmas, and connotations associated with the words “alcohol” and “nightclub”. I hope we all care
enough about truth to see through this cheaply woven narrative.
It is obvious, even by his own admission, that he is getting his arguments, information and advice from other night club
owners in different states who are assisting him to overcome logistic and factual objections, painting it in a rosy light and
sneaking it in, as Melissa Bernard voiced in her contribution to the conversation. This must have worked in other states,
but I hope we can use greater wisdom than this. In contrast to his submission that there is “minimal concerns by the
neighborhood”, there IS considerable opposition to this proposed nightclub plan. We are in a chat group with every house
in our neighborhood, and not one of them is happy about this idea. Indeed, almost all who responded have expressed
outrage at the idea that this would be brought so close to our homes and neighborhood. This is a place where our children
ride their bikes to the stores nearby in the summertime, and where we have to continually drive by it in our daily life’s
events. We want nothing more than to maintain the atmosphere we have carefully crafted over the years. There is a reason
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we like it here, just as there is a reason that families are fleeing their states to coming here and enjoy this same
environment. Don’t let our city become like the cities they have fled.
By making the comment that after analyzing the situation the commission may see there is “minimal, if any” negative
impact goes to show how out of touch he is with our community. And again, we add our voice to the complaints offered
by other concerned citizens and business owners, particularly the facts and opinions submitted by Mike and Malissa
Bernard and Jon Hastings.
Cherilyn Kynaston
COMMUNITY OBJECTION:
Here are the actual comments made by those in our neighborhood:
“Hi guys, we just passed the bare land property across from Kohls and noticed a sign saying what is going to be built there
with this website: https://theoasismeridian.com. This is a nightclub, and it is going in right next to us. How do we fight
this?”
“Saw this a few days ago, it seems like 100% the wrong location and definitely the opposite of the values Meridian was
built on.”
“Oasis opens this summer ?Dress code-men have to wear button up shirts and slack. No tennis shoes or shorts. Women
can be in beach attire. ? This is an extremely weird location and will most likely increase DUI’s on Eagle Road among
other things. Cover to get in is 5$ for females and 15$ for males. Open till 2am. Not excited about this club at
Allllllllll!!!”
“How did this slip by us?”
“I think somebody knew all the right hoops to jump through, including keeping it out of the media. Seems wrong and very
sneaky.”
“Who's ready to picket? Seriously considering putting up a big NO OASIS sign”
“I wonder what avenues we have to oppose at this point.”
“Crazy that Costco had to revise their plans due to public voice... and this never had to even be aired. We did send a letter
to the Mayor and City Council, just to voice our opposition and disappointment. I figure if nothing else, at least we can do
that.”
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“I just think it's a completely sexist business plan and I can't stand things like that (among other things about this place).
It's so weird. ‘Hey, I'll meet you at that new nightclub!’ ‘Where is it?’ ‘You know, across from Kohls, down the street
from the residential area, and on the busiest street in Idaho.’ ???”
“We emailed the city council and got messages back from many of them with the same message. They are NOT approved
yet. Seems like there is still time, and already has much opposition so hopefully won't happen.”
“Ugh. 10,000 sq ft!”
“Worst idea ever. I still can't believe it. Moving to the mountains sounds nice.”
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Charlene Way
From:Chris Johnson
Sent:Wednesday, March 10, 2021 9:57 AM
To:Charlene Way
Subject:FW: Objection to the application for The Oasis nightclub
From: Robert Simison
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2021 9:55 AM
To: Hoo Hash <ckinfo@sent.com>
Cc: Chris Johnson <cjohnson@meridiancity.org>
Subject: RE: Objection to the application for The Oasis nightclub
Thank you for your email regarding the proposed Oasis project. I appreciate your views and copied our City Clerk to have
included your comments and my response for the public record.
To operate a nightclub, also known as a Drinking Establishment per Meridian City Code, a Conditional Use Permit (CUP)
must first be obtained. An application from the Oasis Nightclub was submitted to our Planning Department in January
2021. A public hearing before the City of Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission will be held on Thursday, March 18,
2021 at 6:00pm. Notice of the public hearing will be sent by postcard by the City to all property owners within 500 feet.
The Planning and Zoning Commission will make the decision on this project unless their ruling is appealed. If that occurs
it would then be heard by the City Council. While I do not have a vote unless there is a tie, any comments regarding the
project should be reserved for that public process.
The City Clerk has the project file available online for review: The Oasis CUP H-2021-0004. Prior to the public hearing
anyone is able to review the application materials at any time as well as submit testimony. If you have any additional
comments you are able to submit testimony in advance in a number of ways. Please note, all forms of testimony hold
the same weight. Written testimony may be submitted by email to cityclerk@meridiancity.org or by text message by
texting “Comment” to 31996. Video testimony can be recorded in advance and sent by email to
cityclerk@meridiancity.org. Comments can also be left by voicemail. Please call (208) 288-5607 to record your voice
testimony. For additional information associated with this application please contact the City of Meridian Planner Joseph
Dodson at 208-884-5533.
Thank you again for sharing your comments.
Respectfully,
Mayor Robert Simison
City of Meridian
All e-mail messages sent to or received by City of Meridian e-mail accounts are subject to the Idaho law,
in regards to both release and retention, and may be released upon request, unless exempt from disclosure by law.
From: Hoo Hash <ckinfo@sent.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2021 3:52 PM
Subject: Objection to the application for The Oasis nightclub
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External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
To all Meridian City Council Members, Planning and Zoning Commission, and those to whom it may concern,
We appreciate all the time, service and contributions made by city planners and leaders over the years who have made
Meridian Idaho one of the most desirable places to live. People are flocking here to enjoy the environment we have
created of a safe, family-oriented, value-oriented community. And yet with the influx of the masses we are deeply
concerned about the eroding of our values, particularly those that the proposed Oasis Nightclub poses to our community
and the ramifications of its proposed location at Eagle Road and Ustick Road. We have read the application submitted as
The Oasis CUP H-2021-0004 and the Narrative Revised document, and believe it to be in conflict with the values and
businesses established in our community, that the wrong location is being proposed for this type of business due to its
requirements and purpose, and respectfully request those involved in the decision making process to deny the application,
as well as any subsequent requested reviews for establishment of The Oasis at this location.
WHOSE AGENDA IS THIS? IT AFFECTS THOSE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE HERE
Having read through the “Narrative Revised”, I find it curious that for such an impassioned personal plea by someone
who claims to have been raised in Idaho and therefore understands the people and feeling this community has created, the
document remains unsigned. Who wrote this document? Brian Tsai? If so, he is simply the applicant, not the owner, and
his address puts him down by the Boise Costco, not in Meridian. If it is written by the actual owner, Brad Watson, his
emotional plea is rather disingenuous considering he doesn’t live in Meridian or even the state of Idaho, but in Utah. We
ask that in deliberations, the deciding body disregard the emotional context the application is attempting to add to the
discussion as moot, since neither of them, based on the addresses they have on file, can claim an emotional attachment to
the proposed location greater than those who are CURRENTLY raising their families here at this location. As two other
commenters noted: “We don’t like the idea of out-of-towners dictating what happens in our community” and “we
appreciate the tranquil space of the area” our children are currently growing up in and seek to keep the way of life we
have worked so hard to establish and maintain. Another citizen made the comment that “this could change Meridian” – it
absolutely could, with a very negative impact if allowed to be established at this proposed location.
REAL AND CURRENT COMMUNITY CONNECTION
My husband’s family and many of my own relatives are multi-generational natives of Eagle and Meridian, and we are
very concerned about the future of Meridian as we have lived in our current home within a half mile of the proposed
location of the Oasis Nightclub for the past 13 years, raising our 4 children here since our oldest child was 3 years old. To
propose this type of establishment at this location is a deeply personal attack on our way of life, making us feel unsafe in
many ways. This location is HIGHLY residential, and the interests of the invested community members who have
established their lives and families here should take top priority.
CALL IT WHAT IT IS…A ‘NIGHTCLUB’
I am a musician of 20+ years. I have performed in venues, on the radio, and in television broadcasts throughout my
performing career. Even I know that this proposed establishment is NOT for local performing artists. For Brian Tsai or
Brad Watson, or whoever wrote the revised narrative, to assert that removing the word “Nightclub” from advertisements
can change anything about the reality of this establishment being a nightclub is to try to use semantics to redefine reality.
This IS a “Nightclub” and offering community outreach propositions is an attempt to turn our attention from the fact that
he has to deal with drunks leaving his establishment, needs security to tend the entire premises and parking lot, has to
have his patrons enter through a metal detector, warn patrons that his lasers can “cause permanent blindness and burns on
exposed skin and clothing even with momentary exposure”, and has to have a policy on unwanted sexual advancements.
Let’s be clear, it is a ‘Nightclub’ with every accurate negative connotation and stigma that goes with it. We can even use
his own words from his website: “Idaho’s only world class nightclub.” To try and sugar coat it with any other words is an
obvious attempt to get it approved under the guise of it being community friendly and therefore more palatable.
IT IS ABOUT LOCATION, NOT THE COMMUNITY:
We can understand their interest in this property located at Eagle Road and Ustick. Financially it is a very highly sought
after location, seeing as it is on the busiest street in the entire state of Idaho (https://tinyurl.com/zy63a6f6), and only 1
mile from the busiest intersection in the entire state (https://tinyurl.com/5cpds58s). There is considerable traffic constantly
driving past this intersection which has only increased with the massive amounts of people moving into the area. This
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location was chosen not for love, compassion or concern for the residents who live here, but because, as we all know, it’s
all about ‘location, location, location’.
TRAFFIC:
It is extremely irresponsible and disingenuous to pretend that the traffic created by a nightclub which holds 1000 people
will not be felt by everyone living and working in an already highly congested area of town. By their own admission on
their website, their traffic begins to ramp up at 5pm, when people get off work – this is what they have designed it for and
are counting on. It is a ridiculous for him to make this statement: “there will be no issues with congestion”. All cars,
including ride sharing, add to the congestion on our roads. There will be considerably more traffic on the roads if ride
shares are utilized to bring and return patrons to their homes. In fact, the traffic doubles from this proposal as the car is not
parked at the establishment but comes to the establishment twice. It will be like going to the airport, lots of cars in/lots of
cars out. Lots of cars waiting in the parking lot, filling it up, and cars waiting on Ustick Road to get into the parking lot as
the Nightclub deals with gridlock in their parking lot. It is their PLAN to leave cars on Ustick Road while they deal with
parking lot gridlock! They are already aware that the parking lot is inadequate, as at max capacity over 90% of their
patrons will have no available parking space.
FACTS FROM REAL STUDIES NEEDED:
It is unbelievable that a traffic impact study is not required or requested for this application, particularly when one of our
cities greatest and growing problems is traffic congestion. Every effort should be made to mitigate the traffic on Eagle
Road and at this intersection which is only 1 mile from the busiest intersection in the state. We already deal with
considerable traffic congestion on Ustick at this intersection. He even admits that his “statistical analysis” jargon means
nothing and that his understanding of parking and traffic are outside his scope. As such, any analysis he provides on
traffic and parking should be disregarded. We are in agreement with the information submitted by John Hastings and
Mike and Malissa Bernard on the fallacy of the traffic impact proposal made by the applicant. Please see their notes as a
representation of our own thoughts on the subject.
https://weblink.meridiancity.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=223245&dbid=0&repo=MeridianCity and
https://weblink.meridiancity.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=223572&dbid=0&repo=MeridianCity
CURRENT AND REAL PROBLEMS WE ARE DEALING WITH:
We are already dealing with selfish individuals using Locust Grove Road between Ustick and McMillan as a drag-racing
street in the middle of the night, disturbing our peace and sleep. Both my husband and I had to get custom made earplugs
last year just so we could sleep through it. If the Oasis is allowed to build their venue on the proposed intersection, this
problem will intensify, being made worse by inebriated drivers putting our lives and property at greater and greater risk.
On Mother’s Day several years ago, a drunk driver sped down Leighfield Road, between the 3 schools located there, and
crashed into a large power box, cutting off power to our entire neighborhood and burning the tree located next to the box.
We are already experiencing these issues and urge you to help us keep the Oasis Nightclub out of our neighborhoods.
PARKING:
Not only is traffic a massive problem with this proposal, so is their parking proposal. After being filled with employees
parking each of their cars (not carpooling) for all the businesses in the Wadsworth Group complex, the remaining
available parking space is grossly inadequate to accommodate 1,000 people for this single business, and certainly not for
the patrons of the other business in the complex. The math does not add up, and to assume a 40% ride share rate is worse
than wishful thinking – it is a direct attack on the people who live in this community. If allowed to proceed into reality the
brunt of the burden would be borne by of all the adjacent residential neighborhoods and businesses. It is ridiculous to
pretend there will be an average carpool rate of 5 people per car. This is asinine mathematical gymnastics where clearly
the concern by the applicant and owner for our community is non-existent. Particularly when their proposed traffic flow
includes routing traffic THROUGH our neighborhoods! The overflow parking is guaranteed to spill into our
neighborhoods and it is the residents who will have to deal with the loitering patrons who have been removed from the
nightclub/bar that has closed and the noise they make as they talk boisterously loud at their vehicles, shut car doors and
drive away. This is in addition to the trash, the nightly threat of vandalism, and the nightly threat of damage to our
vehicles and property by inebriated individuals, even as late as 2am. Who wants to live under those conditions? The
application narrative uses the Knitting Factory as an example that a parking lot isn’t even required as their patrons “park
several blocks away and walk on foot”. Where does he think they are going to park? There is no existing parking garage
within walking distance of his establishment, and the “blocks” they will go park in are OUR neighborhood streets! He
claims the parking situation for the Knitting Factory is “mitigated by their location”. That is absolutely correct. They are
located in downtown Boise, where the city of Boise has accounted for parking space in parking garages and dedicated
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parking lots as is appropriate for a large city’s industrial center, and nowhere near residential homes – therefore, there is
no reason to compare these two locations as they are nothing alike.
Meridian has a history of not having adequate parking spaces for businesses that have a set time for their patrons to
converge upon the establishment. We feel this every time we take our children to Danik Gymnastics or to Heroes Park for
soccer practice and games – there is nowhere to park, waiting traffic sits out on the roads, and other businesses parking
lots are being trespassed upon. This poor city planning needs to be improved in all future development proposals,
including The Oasis, to not create more of these problems all over our city. There are considerably more people living,
working and playing in the Meridian area now, and the ratio of 1 parking space per 250 square feet is outdated and needs
an urgent fix. The applicant’s comparing the needs of a nightclub parking lot to the needs of a shopping center is not a
comparison of apples to apples. A nightclub and any event, day or night, brings the majority of their traffic at the exact
same time. Very rarely, if ever, would a shopping center have the majority of its patrons desiring to come at an exact
arrival or departure time, which is why it works for them to have fewer parking stalls. The city needs an updated set of
requirements for businesses that have patrons coming and going at the exact same time, particularly because there are so
many more people living here, frequenting these establishments. With the spike in our population size, please consider
correlating parking lot requirements with population size, in addition to square footage of the establishment to make our
city function smoothly, and deny The Oasis their application to add to the problem at this intersection. We are in
agreement with the information submitted by John Hastings and Brian and Malissa Bernard on the fallacy of the parking
proposal made by the applicant. Again, please see their notes as a representation of our own thoughts on the subject.
REAL ESTATE PROPERTY VALUE:
Again, the applicant shows how out of touch he is with the reality of our community when he makes the assertion that the
influx of revenue generated by his Nightclub will have a direct correlation with rise in real estate property value on
neighboring properties. This is absurd. There will be a real drop in property value to the properties located in the vicinity
of this nightclub – including our own – doing exactly the opposite of what he is saying. It only takes a simple look into
Las Vegas to see that establishments like this bring the slums to the adjoining properties and push out the middle class.
We have never felt that there was, or ever would be, a reason coming from our community to consider moving away from
the home and city we have built our lives around. Yet since hearing of this proposed nightclub being placed in such close
proximity to our home, we feel threatened and have had our first “should we move” discussions. That is how threatening
it is to us to have this nightclub in such close proximity to our home.
PROPER LOCATION:
It is not the right fit to have the Oasis Nightclub on Eagle Road at Ustick Road as it is mostly a residential section of town.
It is not like downtown Boise where entire mile blocks are made up entirely of businesses. A night club belongs in that
environment, not in such a highly residential area, where families are raising young children. It should be placed near the
freeway, in an industrial complex, and near hotels if it is really intended for out of state performing companies and
musicians. Out of state musicians travel in caravans of semi-trucks and large mobile living quarters. All of this should be
accommodated for when considering a location for an entertainment venue. Eagle Road and Ustick is not the adequate
locale. The city can bring in just as much revenue, arguably more, by placing it in an appropriate location that can best
meet the needs of everyone involved – the Meridian City residents, nightclub owner, patrons, musicians, traveling
entertainment, hotels, etc. Some have argued that “Meridian is lacking a venue like this”. Technically we don’t need it –
we are ideally situated between performing arts venues that surround us in Boise and in Caldwell already. If Meridian
residents really feel that one is needed in Meridian, putting it in an industrial complex near to the freeway would allow
Meridian residents the luxury of not having to travel into downtown Boise or to Caldwell, again being a win-win for all
involved.
FAULTY LOGIC ON ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY INTEREST:
Faulty logic is being used to assume that a venue which holds 1,000 patrons and has aprox 100 parking spaces will merit
the interest of the “big players in the music and arts industry”, if the Morrison Center and its 10 story stage house and
appropriate parking and seating for 2,000+ patrons, does not. If the presence of the Morrison Center or the Nampa Civic
Center cannot “capture the attention of major artists and acts”, then they will certainly continue to bypass the valley
entirely “due to the lack of venue selection” regardless of an additional nightclub in Meridian. It is fanciful rhetoric to
state that such a venue will “serve as a pillar for arts and entertainment in Meridian and the entire Treasure Valley.”
NOT THE RIGHT FIT/LOCATION:
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The proposed Oasis Nightclub is also not the right fit in its attempts to position itself next to VillaSports, which is a
business for minors, families, and after-school programs. By his own admission, this project is “the only one of its kind”
and “the Treasure Valley has never seen anything like this before”. These two business models are nothing alike - they are
actually in direct opposition of purpose to each other. Trying to compare The Oasis nightclub with VillaSports as a “social
club at night” is a ridiculous attempt to use semantics to rewrite reality, showing the cognitive dissonance he has with the
community we have built in Meridian. We need to protect the integrity of our community, and we must protect our
children from this kind of business. Not only is VillaSports, a family-oriented business, located in the same development,
but there are 7 different schools all located within 1 mile of this intersection. What kind of message is being sent to those
of you who serve us if you purposefully allow our children to be placed in harm’s way, physically, emotionally and
mentally, by allowing this establishment to set its roots here and bring with it its un-family friendly clientele, traffic, and
particularly drunk traffic to this area. A nightclub will not improve safety for our children, the quality of our schools, nor
our community at large. The Oasis Nightclub does not fit the surrounding business models, and this location is not a smart
addition to our community. If they removed all aspects of it being a nightclub (no laser lights, no late hours, no dress
standards that put women as objects and men as their consumers, not a venue for 1,000 people) and really was for
“performances and rehearsals with local dance companies, educational programs, and even adoption programs through
companies like Meridian Canine Rescue, corporate events, trade shows, art exhibits, and many other purposes” then it
would be positioning it business model with the other businesses in the area – yet it would still have all the same traffic
and parking issues discussed above and still be the wrong location for this business.
DISINGENUOUS AGENDA
It is really strange to read in the submitted narrative about his involvement as part of the law enforcement at the border in
Arizona, where he admits that “one of the most impactful and highest enforcement priorities DUE TO VOLUME, was
impaired driver DUI enforcement”. That “one of the hardest things to do is remembering your face is seared into the
memory of the loved ones lost as you told them their father, mother, brother or sister was never coming home again
because they were killed by a drunk driver. BUT WITH ALL OF THIS I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT ALCOHOL IS
NOT AN EVIL THING. ALCOHOL IS MERELY A PRODUCT, AND HUMANS ARE THE FACTORS THAT
CREATED THE OUTCOME.” This backward logic, of making alcohol the victim (poor alcohol, you’re so
misunderstood) as though it is unconnected to the humans impaired by the very substance, is astounding and clearly
shows he has no care or concern for our community members. He has twice attempted in his narrative to cancel the actual
meaning, accurate stigmas, and connotations associated with the words “alcohol” and “nightclub”. I hope we all care
enough about truth to see through this cheaply woven narrative.
It is obvious, even by his own admission, that he is getting his arguments, information and advice from other night club
owners in different states who are assisting him to overcome logistic and factual objections, painting it in a rosy light and
sneaking it in, as Melissa Bernard voiced in her contribution to the conversation. This must have worked in other states,
but I hope we can use greater wisdom than this. In contrast to his submission that there is “minimal concerns by the
neighborhood”, there IS considerable opposition to this proposed nightclub plan. We are in a chat group with every house
in our neighborhood, and not one of them is happy about this idea. Indeed, almost all who responded have expressed
outrage at the idea that this would be brought so close to our homes and neighborhood. This is a place where our children
ride their bikes to the stores nearby in the summertime, and where we have to continually drive by it in our daily life’s
events. We want nothing more than to maintain the atmosphere we have carefully crafted over the years. There is a reason
we like it here, just as there is a reason that families are fleeing their states to coming here and enjoy this same
environment. Don’t let our city become like the cities they have fled.
By making the comment that after analyzing the situation the commission may see there is “minimal, if any” negative
impact goes to show how out of touch he is with our community. And again, we add our voice to the complaints offered
by other concerned citizens and business owners, particularly the facts and opinions submitted by Mike and Malissa
Bernard and Jon Hastings.
Cherilyn Kynaston
COMMUNITY OBJECTION:
Here are the actual comments made by those in our neighborhood:
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“Hi guys, we just passed the bare land property across from Kohls and noticed a sign saying what is going to be built there
with this website: https://theoasismeridian.com. This is a nightclub, and it is going in right next to us. How do we fight
this?”
“Saw this a few days ago, it seems like 100% the wrong location and definitely the opposite of the values Meridian was
built on.”
“Oasis opens this summer ?Dress code-men have to wear button up shirts and slack. No tennis shoes or shorts. Women
can be in beach attire. ? This is an extremely weird location and will most likely increase DUI’s on Eagle Road among
other things. Cover to get in is 5$ for females and 15$ for males. Open till 2am. Not excited about this club at
Allllllllll!!!”
“How did this slip by us?”
“I think somebody knew all the right hoops to jump through, including keeping it out of the media. Seems wrong and very
sneaky.”
“Who's ready to picket? Seriously considering putting up a big NO OASIS sign”
“I wonder what avenues we have to oppose at this point.”
“Crazy that Costco had to revise their plans due to public voice... and this never had to even be aired. We did send a letter
to the Mayor and City Council, just to voice our opposition and disappointment. I figure if nothing else, at least we can do
that.”
“I just think it's a completely sexist business plan and I can't stand things like that (among other things about this place).
It's so weird. ‘Hey, I'll meet you at that new nightclub!’ ‘Where is it?’ ‘You know, across from Kohls, down the street
from the residential area, and on the busiest street in Idaho.’ ???”
“We emailed the city council and got messages back from many of them with the same message. They are NOT approved
yet. Seems like there is still time, and already has much opposition so hopefully won't happen.”
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“Ugh. 10,000 sq ft!”
“Worst idea ever. I still can't believe it. Moving to the mountains sounds nice.”
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Charlene Way
From:Chris Johnson
Sent:Wednesday, March 10, 2021 9:59 AM
To:Charlene Way
Subject:FW: Objection to the application for The Oasis nightclub
From: Liz Strader
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2021 9:57 AM
To: Hoo Hash <ckinfo@sent.com>; Chris Johnson <cjohnson@meridiancity.org>
Subject: Re: Objection to the application for The Oasis nightclub
Hello - Thank you so much for reaching out to me as many in our community are doing, I truly appreciate
receiving your opinion on this matter!
I believe legally, I cannot comment further to ensure I can vote on this in case it is appealed out of Planning
and Zoning to the City Council... our land use matters are handled totally on the record, so I am adding this to
the Clerk's records.
Have a great day,
Liz
Liz Strader | City Councilwoman
City of Meridian | City Council Office
33 E. Broadway Ave., Meridian, Idaho 83642
Phone: | 208-546-9501
Online Meeting Scheduler: Click Here
Built for Business, Designed for Living
From: Hoo Hash <ckinfo@sent.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 9, 2021 3:52:16 PM
Subject: Objection to the application for The Oasis nightclub
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
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To all Meridian City Council Members, Planning and Zoning Commission, and those to whom it may concern,
We appreciate all the time, service and contributions made by city planners and leaders over the years who have made
Meridian Idaho one of the most desirable places to live. People are flocking here to enjoy the environment we have
created of a safe, family-oriented, value-oriented community. And yet with the influx of the masses we are deeply
concerned about the eroding of our values, particularly those that the proposed Oasis Nightclub poses to our community
and the ramifications of its proposed location at Eagle Road and Ustick Road. We have read the application submitted as
The Oasis CUP H-2021-0004 and the Narrative Revised document, and believe it to be in conflict with the values and
businesses established in our community, that the wrong location is being proposed for this type of business due to its
requirements and purpose, and respectfully request those involved in the decision making process to deny the application,
as well as any subsequent requested reviews for establishment of The Oasis at this location.
WHOSE AGENDA IS THIS? IT AFFECTS THOSE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE HERE
Having read through the “Narrative Revised”, I find it curious that for such an impassioned personal plea by someone
who claims to have been raised in Idaho and therefore understands the people and feeling this community has created, the
document remains unsigned. Who wrote this document? Brian Tsai? If so, he is simply the applicant, not the owner, and
his address puts him down by the Boise Costco, not in Meridian. If it is written by the actual owner, Brad Watson, his
emotional plea is rather disingenuous considering he doesn’t live in Meridian or even the state of Idaho, but in Utah. We
ask that in deliberations, the deciding body disregard the emotional context the application is attempting to add to the
discussion as moot, since neither of them, based on the addresses they have on file, can claim an emotional attachment to
the proposed location greater than those who are CURRENTLY raising their families here at this location. As two other
commenters noted: “We don’t like the idea of out-of-towners dictating what happens in our community” and “we
appreciate the tranquil space of the area” our children are currently growing up in and seek to keep the way of life we
have worked so hard to establish and maintain. Another citizen made the comment that “this could change Meridian” – it
absolutely could, with a very negative impact if allowed to be established at this proposed location.
REAL AND CURRENT COMMUNITY CONNECTION
My husband’s family and many of my own relatives are multi-generational natives of Eagle and Meridian, and we are
very concerned about the future of Meridian as we have lived in our current home within a half mile of the proposed
location of the Oasis Nightclub for the past 13 years, raising our 4 children here since our oldest child was 3 years old. To
propose this type of establishment at this location is a deeply personal attack on our way of life, making us feel unsafe in
many ways. This location is HIGHLY residential, and the interests of the invested community members who have
established their lives and families here should take top priority.
CALL IT WHAT IT IS…A ‘NIGHTCLUB’
I am a musician of 20+ years. I have performed in venues, on the radio, and in television broadcasts throughout my
performing career. Even I know that this proposed establishment is NOT for local performing artists. For Brian Tsai or
Brad Watson, or whoever wrote the revised narrative, to assert that removing the word “Nightclub” from advertisements
can change anything about the reality of this establishment being a nightclub is to try to use semantics to redefine reality.
This IS a “Nightclub” and offering community outreach propositions is an attempt to turn our attention from the fact that
he has to deal with drunks leaving his establishment, needs security to tend the entire premises and parking lot, has to
have his patrons enter through a metal detector, warn patrons that his lasers can “cause permanent blindness and burns on
exposed skin and clothing even with momentary exposure”, and has to have a policy on unwanted sexual advancements.
Let’s be clear, it is a ‘Nightclub’ with every accurate negative connotation and stigma that goes with it. We can even use
his own words from his website: “Idaho’s only world class nightclub.” To try and sugar coat it with any other words is an
obvious attempt to get it approved under the guise of it being community friendly and therefore more palatable.
IT IS ABOUT LOCATION, NOT THE COMMUNITY:
We can understand their interest in this property located at Eagle Road and Ustick. Financially it is a very highly sought
after location, seeing as it is on the busiest street in the entire state of Idaho (https://tinyurl.com/zy63a6f6), and only 1
mile from the busiest intersection in the entire state (https://tinyurl.com/5cpds58s). There is considerable traffic constantly
driving past this intersection which has only increased with the massive amounts of people moving into the area. This
location was chosen not for love, compassion or concern for the residents who live here, but because, as we all know, it’s
all about ‘location, location, location’.
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TRAFFIC:
It is extremely irresponsible and disingenuous to pretend that the traffic created by a nightclub which holds 1000 people
will not be felt by everyone living and working in an already highly congested area of town. By their own admission on
their website, their traffic begins to ramp up at 5pm, when people get off work – this is what they have designed it for and
are counting on. It is a ridiculous for him to make this statement: “there will be no issues with congestion”. All cars,
including ride sharing, add to the congestion on our roads. There will be considerably more traffic on the roads if ride
shares are utilized to bring and return patrons to their homes. In fact, the traffic doubles from this proposal as the car is not
parked at the establishment but comes to the establishment twice. It will be like going to the airport, lots of cars in/lots of
cars out. Lots of cars waiting in the parking lot, filling it up, and cars waiting on Ustick Road to get into the parking lot as
the Nightclub deals with gridlock in their parking lot. It is their PLAN to leave cars on Ustick Road while they deal with
parking lot gridlock! They are already aware that the parking lot is inadequate, as at max capacity over 90% of their
patrons will have no available parking space.
FACTS FROM REAL STUDIES NEEDED:
It is unbelievable that a traffic impact study is not required or requested for this application, particularly when one of our
cities greatest and growing problems is traffic congestion. Every effort should be made to mitigate the traffic on Eagle
Road and at this intersection which is only 1 mile from the busiest intersection in the state. We already deal with
considerable traffic congestion on Ustick at this intersection. He even admits that his “statistical analysis” jargon means
nothing and that his understanding of parking and traffic are outside his scope. As such, any analysis he provides on
traffic and parking should be disregarded. We are in agreement with the information submitted by John Hastings and
Mike and Malissa Bernard on the fallacy of the traffic impact proposal made by the applicant. Please see their notes as a
representation of our own thoughts on the subject.
https://weblink.meridiancity.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=223245&dbid=0&repo=MeridianCity and
https://weblink.meridiancity.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=223572&dbid=0&repo=MeridianCity
CURRENT AND REAL PROBLEMS WE ARE DEALING WITH:
We are already dealing with selfish individuals using Locust Grove Road between Ustick and McMillan as a drag-racing
street in the middle of the night, disturbing our peace and sleep. Both my husband and I had to get custom made earplugs
last year just so we could sleep through it. If the Oasis is allowed to build their venue on the proposed intersection, this
problem will intensify, being made worse by inebriated drivers putting our lives and property at greater and greater risk.
On Mother’s Day several years ago, a drunk driver sped down Leighfield Road, between the 3 schools located there, and
crashed into a large power box, cutting off power to our entire neighborhood and burning the tree located next to the box.
We are already experiencing these issues and urge you to help us keep the Oasis Nightclub out of our neighborhoods.
PARKING:
Not only is traffic a massive problem with this proposal, so is their parking proposal. After being filled with employees
parking each of their cars (not carpooling) for all the businesses in the Wadsworth Group complex, the remaining
available parking space is grossly inadequate to accommodate 1,000 people for this single business, and certainly not for
the patrons of the other business in the complex. The math does not add up, and to assume a 40% ride share rate is worse
than wishful thinking – it is a direct attack on the people who live in this community. If allowed to proceed into reality the
brunt of the burden would be borne by of all the adjacent residential neighborhoods and businesses. It is ridiculous to
pretend there will be an average carpool rate of 5 people per car. This is asinine mathematical gymnastics where clearly
the concern by the applicant and owner for our community is non-existent. Particularly when their proposed traffic flow
includes routing traffic THROUGH our neighborhoods! The overflow parking is guaranteed to spill into our
neighborhoods and it is the residents who will have to deal with the loitering patrons who have been removed from the
nightclub/bar that has closed and the noise they make as they talk boisterously loud at their vehicles, shut car doors and
drive away. This is in addition to the trash, the nightly threat of vandalism, and the nightly threat of damage to our
vehicles and property by inebriated individuals, even as late as 2am. Who wants to live under those conditions? The
application narrative uses the Knitting Factory as an example that a parking lot isn’t even required as their patrons “park
several blocks away and walk on foot”. Where does he think they are going to park? There is no existing parking garage
within walking distance of his establishment, and the “blocks” they will go park in are OUR neighborhood streets! He
claims the parking situation for the Knitting Factory is “mitigated by their location”. That is absolutely correct. They are
located in downtown Boise, where the city of Boise has accounted for parking space in parking garages and dedicated
parking lots as is appropriate for a large city’s industrial center, and nowhere near residential homes – therefore, there is
no reason to compare these two locations as they are nothing alike.
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Meridian has a history of not having adequate parking spaces for businesses that have a set time for their patrons to
converge upon the establishment. We feel this every time we take our children to Danik Gymnastics or to Heroes Park for
soccer practice and games – there is nowhere to park, waiting traffic sits out on the roads, and other businesses parking
lots are being trespassed upon. This poor city planning needs to be improved in all future development proposals,
including The Oasis, to not create more of these problems all over our city. There are considerably more people living,
working and playing in the Meridian area now, and the ratio of 1 parking space per 250 square feet is outdated and needs
an urgent fix. The applicant’s comparing the needs of a nightclub parking lot to the needs of a shopping center is not a
comparison of apples to apples. A nightclub and any event, day or night, brings the majority of their traffic at the exact
same time. Very rarely, if ever, would a shopping center have the majority of its patrons desiring to come at an exact
arrival or departure time, which is why it works for them to have fewer parking stalls. The city needs an updated set of
requirements for businesses that have patrons coming and going at the exact same time, particularly because there are so
many more people living here, frequenting these establishments. With the spike in our population size, please consider
correlating parking lot requirements with population size, in addition to square footage of the establishment to make our
city function smoothly, and deny The Oasis their application to add to the problem at this intersection. We are in
agreement with the information submitted by John Hastings and Brian and Malissa Bernard on the fallacy of the parking
proposal made by the applicant. Again, please see their notes as a representation of our own thoughts on the subject.
REAL ESTATE PROPERTY VALUE:
Again, the applicant shows how out of touch he is with the reality of our community when he makes the assertion that the
influx of revenue generated by his Nightclub will have a direct correlation with rise in real estate property value on
neighboring properties. This is absurd. There will be a real drop in property value to the properties located in the vicinity
of this nightclub – including our own – doing exactly the opposite of what he is saying. It only takes a simple look into
Las Vegas to see that establishments like this bring the slums to the adjoining properties and push out the middle class.
We have never felt that there was, or ever would be, a reason coming from our community to consider moving away from
the home and city we have built our lives around. Yet since hearing of this proposed nightclub being placed in such close
proximity to our home, we feel threatened and have had our first “should we move” discussions. That is how threatening
it is to us to have this nightclub in such close proximity to our home.
PROPER LOCATION:
It is not the right fit to have the Oasis Nightclub on Eagle Road at Ustick Road as it is mostly a residential section of town.
It is not like downtown Boise where entire mile blocks are made up entirely of businesses. A night club belongs in that
environment, not in such a highly residential area, where families are raising young children. It should be placed near the
freeway, in an industrial complex, and near hotels if it is really intended for out of state performing companies and
musicians. Out of state musicians travel in caravans of semi-trucks and large mobile living quarters. All of this should be
accommodated for when considering a location for an entertainment venue. Eagle Road and Ustick is not the adequate
locale. The city can bring in just as much revenue, arguably more, by placing it in an appropriate location that can best
meet the needs of everyone involved – the Meridian City residents, nightclub owner, patrons, musicians, traveling
entertainment, hotels, etc. Some have argued that “Meridian is lacking a venue like this”. Technically we don’t need it –
we are ideally situated between performing arts venues that surround us in Boise and in Caldwell already. If Meridian
residents really feel that one is needed in Meridian, putting it in an industrial complex near to the freeway would allow
Meridian residents the luxury of not having to travel into downtown Boise or to Caldwell, again being a win-win for all
involved.
FAULTY LOGIC ON ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY INTEREST:
Faulty logic is being used to assume that a venue which holds 1,000 patrons and has aprox 100 parking spaces will merit
the interest of the “big players in the music and arts industry”, if the Morrison Center and its 10 story stage house and
appropriate parking and seating for 2,000+ patrons, does not. If the presence of the Morrison Center or the Nampa Civic
Center cannot “capture the attention of major artists and acts”, then they will certainly continue to bypass the valley
entirely “due to the lack of venue selection” regardless of an additional nightclub in Meridian. It is fanciful rhetoric to
state that such a venue will “serve as a pillar for arts and entertainment in Meridian and the entire Treasure Valley.”
NOT THE RIGHT FIT/LOCATION:
The proposed Oasis Nightclub is also not the right fit in its attempts to position itself next to VillaSports, which is a
business for minors, families, and after-school programs. By his own admission, this project is “the only one of its kind”
and “the Treasure Valley has never seen anything like this before”. These two business models are nothing alike - they are
actually in direct opposition of purpose to each other. Trying to compare The Oasis nightclub with VillaSports as a “social
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club at night” is a ridiculous attempt to use semantics to rewrite reality, showing the cognitive dissonance he has with the
community we have built in Meridian. We need to protect the integrity of our community, and we must protect our
children from this kind of business. Not only is VillaSports, a family-oriented business, located in the same development,
but there are 7 different schools all located within 1 mile of this intersection. What kind of message is being sent to those
of you who serve us if you purposefully allow our children to be placed in harm’s way, physically, emotionally and
mentally, by allowing this establishment to set its roots here and bring with it its un-family friendly clientele, traffic, and
particularly drunk traffic to this area. A nightclub will not improve safety for our children, the quality of our schools, nor
our community at large. The Oasis Nightclub does not fit the surrounding business models, and this location is not a smart
addition to our community. If they removed all aspects of it being a nightclub (no laser lights, no late hours, no dress
standards that put women as objects and men as their consumers, not a venue for 1,000 people) and really was for
“performances and rehearsals with local dance companies, educational programs, and even adoption programs through
companies like Meridian Canine Rescue, corporate events, trade shows, art exhibits, and many other purposes” then it
would be positioning it business model with the other businesses in the area – yet it would still have all the same traffic
and parking issues discussed above and still be the wrong location for this business.
DISINGENUOUS AGENDA
It is really strange to read in the submitted narrative about his involvement as part of the law enforcement at the border in
Arizona, where he admits that “one of the most impactful and highest enforcement priorities DUE TO VOLUME, was
impaired driver DUI enforcement”. That “one of the hardest things to do is remembering your face is seared into the
memory of the loved ones lost as you told them their father, mother, brother or sister was never coming home again
because they were killed by a drunk driver. BUT WITH ALL OF THIS I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT ALCOHOL IS
NOT AN EVIL THING. ALCOHOL IS MERELY A PRODUCT, AND HUMANS ARE THE FACTORS THAT
CREATED THE OUTCOME.” This backward logic, of making alcohol the victim (poor alcohol, you’re so
misunderstood) as though it is unconnected to the humans impaired by the very substance, is astounding and clearly
shows he has no care or concern for our community members. He has twice attempted in his narrative to cancel the actual
meaning, accurate stigmas, and connotations associated with the words “alcohol” and “nightclub”. I hope we all care
enough about truth to see through this cheaply woven narrative.
It is obvious, even by his own admission, that he is getting his arguments, information and advice from other night club
owners in different states who are assisting him to overcome logistic and factual objections, painting it in a rosy light and
sneaking it in, as Melissa Bernard voiced in her contribution to the conversation. This must have worked in other states,
but I hope we can use greater wisdom than this. In contrast to his submission that there is “minimal concerns by the
neighborhood”, there IS considerable opposition to this proposed nightclub plan. We are in a chat group with every house
in our neighborhood, and not one of them is happy about this idea. Indeed, almost all who responded have expressed
outrage at the idea that this would be brought so close to our homes and neighborhood. This is a place where our children
ride their bikes to the stores nearby in the summertime, and where we have to continually drive by it in our daily life’s
events. We want nothing more than to maintain the atmosphere we have carefully crafted over the years. There is a reason
we like it here, just as there is a reason that families are fleeing their states to coming here and enjoy this same
environment. Don’t let our city become like the cities they have fled.
By making the comment that after analyzing the situation the commission may see there is “minimal, if any” negative
impact goes to show how out of touch he is with our community. And again, we add our voice to the complaints offered
by other concerned citizens and business owners, particularly the facts and opinions submitted by Mike and Malissa
Bernard and Jon Hastings.
Cherilyn Kynaston
COMMUNITY OBJECTION:
Here are the actual comments made by those in our neighborhood:
“Hi guys, we just passed the bare land property across from Kohls and noticed a sign saying what is going to be built there
with this website: https://theoasismeridian.com. This is a nightclub, and it is going in right next to us. How do we fight
this?”
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“Saw this a few days ago, it seems like 100% the wrong location and definitely the opposite of the values Meridian was
built on.”
“Oasis opens this summer ?Dress code-men have to wear button up shirts and slack. No tennis shoes or shorts. Women
can be in beach attire. ? This is an extremely weird location and will most likely increase DUI’s on Eagle Road among
other things. Cover to get in is 5$ for females and 15$ for males. Open till 2am. Not excited about this club at
Allllllllll!!!”
“How did this slip by us?”
“I think somebody knew all the right hoops to jump through, including keeping it out of the media. Seems wrong and very
sneaky.”
“Who's ready to picket? Seriously considering putting up a big NO OASIS sign”
“I wonder what avenues we have to oppose at this point.”
“Crazy that Costco had to revise their plans due to public voice... and this never had to even be aired. We did send a letter
to the Mayor and City Council, just to voice our opposition and disappointment. I figure if nothing else, at least we can do
that.”
“I just think it's a completely sexist business plan and I can't stand things like that (among other things about this place).
It's so weird. ‘Hey, I'll meet you at that new nightclub!’ ‘Where is it?’ ‘You know, across from Kohls, down the street
from the residential area, and on the busiest street in Idaho.’ ???”
“We emailed the city council and got messages back from many of them with the same message. They are NOT approved
yet. Seems like there is still time, and already has much opposition so hopefully won't happen.”
“Ugh. 10,000 sq ft!”
“Worst idea ever. I still can't believe it. Moving to the mountains sounds nice.”
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