HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-03-10 Jonathan Hoeger
Charlene Way
From:Jonathan Hoeger <jonhoeger@gmail.com>
Sent:Wednesday, March 10, 2021 10:00 AM
To:City Clerk
Subject:Fwd: Objection to the Oasis Nightclub CUP application
Attachments:new dc.png; original dc.png
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
To Honorable Mayor Simison, Meridian City Council, and City of Meridian Planning & Zoning Commision,
We owe you a great debt of gratitude for the time, energy and personal sacrifice you dedicate to making the City of
Meridian a wonderful place to reside. We have much to be proud of and more to be grateful for. Personally, I stand
behind your vision make Meridian “the West’s premier community in which to live, work and raise a family” and believe
deeply that local communities are core to the future of the city, state and country that we live in.
I am writing today to express concern that a proposed business less than a mile from my home is not consistent with the
long-term vision of the great City of Meridian and will not lead to the stated goal. The proposed business is the Oasis
Nightclub which I believe is deliberately obscuring their business model and intentionally trying to deceive the City
Council.
The nightclub's business model is based on the objectification of women and they are deliberately hiding this fact. The
company website’s original statement (see screenshots below, including a screenshot from December 2020) regarding
the dress code for men was, "A minimum of a button up shirt and slacks are required." For the women, it said, "show us
your best sun dress or beach attire!" The idea is for well-dressed men to be drinking and dancing with women in
swimming suits. They have now changed that wording on the website which now generically states, “A minimum of a
button up shirt and slacks are suggested, upscale but still casual. Or show us your best beach attire! Sorry, shirts are still
required… These requirements are subject to change based on the event type and use.” The intent is clear, to avoid
mislead members of the community and the City Council and then change the rules to dehumanize and objectify women
once approvals are received.
I would submit that having a nightclub and bar where the entire business model is based on the objectification of
women within walking distance of hundreds of residential homes is not consistent with building the most friendly
community in which to live, work and raise a family. As a father of 5 daughters, it's also not the message of
empowerment that I want the community I live in to be sending to our young women; that their worth, their value and
their utility is based on physical appearance to be objectified for patrons who are better dressed and paying more to be
in attendance.
Furthermore, there are other concerns regarding the actual development and the capacity of the property and
infrastructure to support the proposed maximum attendance of the venue as described in the application.
There are only 122 parking spaces available to the entire Wadsworth Complex.
The Oasis is not the only tenant of said complex.
The concert capacity is 900-1000 people, this would be an average 8.2 people per vehicle.
o Even if no other businesses in the complex had a single visiting patron and every single person who
attended The Oasis carpooled in a suburban, there still would not be enough parking.
Traffic flow would have to be routed through N Cajun Lane to access Eagle Rd using a traffic circle in a
residential neighborhood.
1
A steady flow of patrons leaving this area between midnight and 2am playing music will be a disturbance to
the peace for the homes adjacent to the proposed location.
As members of the City Council, we, as citizens call on you to hold to your core value of Accountability to understand the
role you play in acting as a steward of the community’s resources, environment and relationships. The Oasis Nightclub
stands in stark opposition to the good of the environment and relationships that we hold valuable in Meridian and we
ask that you do not approve the application for permits for the Oasis Nightclub.
I request the Planning & Zoning Commission deny The Oasis’ Conditional Use Permit application and subsequently urge
the City Council to deny it as well should a review be requested.
Thank you for your consideration and ongoing dedication to the community we call home.
Jonathan Hoeger
Meridian Resident
3664 N. Summerpark Pl.
Meridian, ID 83646
------------------------------
Screenshot of the original dress code language on the company's website from December 2020
2
3
Screenshot of the current posted dress code language on the company's website as of March 9, 2020.
--
Jon Hoeger
Phone: 208.407.9546 | Fax: 208.887.9136
4
Dress Code
To maintain the atmosphere of our facility,the following dress
co de will be strictly enforced at the door during nighMub
hours.
A minimum of a button op shirr and slacks are suggested,
upscale but still casual.Or show us your best beach attire!
Sorry,shirts are sdll required.
The fallowing are absolutely prohibited:
-Baggyjeans
-jerseys
-Beanies or Sports Hats
These requirements are subject to change based an the even[
type and use.
Dress Code
To maintain the atmosphere of our facility,
the following dress code will be stnctty
enforced at the door dunng nightclub
hours.
For Men:
A minimum of a button up shirt and slacks
are required.
The following are absolutey prohibited :
- Baggy jeans
T-Shirts or Jerseys
Tennis or 'Sports Like' Shoes
Shorts or Capris of Any Kind
- Beanies or Sports Hats
For Ladies:
We want you to have a great time but also
be safe, With the exception of the above
restrictions, show us your best sun dress
or beach attire !
Charlene Way
From:Chris Johnson
Sent:Wednesday, March 10, 2021 12:52 PM
To:Charlene Way
Subject:FW: Objection to the Oasis Nightclub CUP application
From: Robert Simison
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2021 12:52 PM
To: Jonathan Hoeger <jonhoeger@gmail.com>; Liz Strader <lstrader@meridiancity.org>; Joe Borton
<jborton@meridiancity.org>; Brad Hoaglun <bhoaglun@meridiancity.org>; Treg Bernt <tbernt@meridiancity.org>;
Jessica Perreault <jperreault@meridiancity.org>; Luke Cavener <lcavener@meridiancity.org>
Cc: Chris Johnson <cjohnson@meridiancity.org>
Subject: RE: Objection to the Oasis Nightclub CUP application
Mr. Hoeger,
Thank you for your email, it has been received by the Mayor’s Office and City Council. We appreciate you taking time to
share your thoughts and comments with us.
Because this project is part of an open application, myself and City Council members are prohibited from commenting
outside the public hearing. We take public feedback seriously and want you to know that we have received your email
and have read your comments.
Your email has been provided to our City Clerk and will be included in the public record. 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: Jonathan Hoeger <jonhoeger@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2021 9:12 PM
To: Robert Simison <rsimison@meridiancity.org>; Liz Strader <lstrader@meridiancity.org>; Joe Borton
<jborton@meridiancity.org>; Brad Hoaglun <bhoaglun@meridiancity.org>; Treg Bernt <tbernt@meridiancity.org>;
1
Jessica Perreault <jperreault@meridiancity.org>; Luke Cavener <lcavener@meridiancity.org>
Subject: Objection to the Oasis Nightclub CUP application
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
To Honorable Mayor Simison, Meridian City Council, and City of Meridian Planning & Zoning Commision,
We owe you a great debt of gratitude for the time, energy and personal sacrifice you dedicate to making the City of
Meridian a wonderful place to reside. We have much to be proud of and more to be grateful for. Personally, I stand
behind your vision make Meridian “the West’s premier community in which to live, work and raise a family” and believe
deeply that local communities are core to the future of the city, state and country that we live in.
I am writing today to express concern that a proposed business less than a mile from my home is not consistent with the
long-term vision of the great City of Meridian and will not lead to the stated goal. The proposed business is the Oasis
Nightclub which I believe is deliberately obscuring their business model and intentionally trying to deceive the City
Council.
The nightclub's business model is based on the objectification of women and they are deliberately hiding this fact. The
company website’s original statement (see screenshots below, including a screenshot from December 2020) regarding
the dress code for men was, "A minimum of a button up shirt and slacks are required." For the women, it said, "show us
your best sun dress or beach attire!" The idea is for well-dressed men to be drinking and dancing with women in
swimming suits. They have now changed that wording on the website which now generically states, “A minimum of a
button up shirt and slacks are suggested, upscale but still casual. Or show us your best beach attire! Sorry, shirts are still
required… These requirements are subject to change based on the event type and use.” The intent is clear, to avoid
mislead members of the community and the City Council and then change the rules to dehumanize and objectify women
once approvals are received.
I would submit that having a nightclub and bar where the entire business model is based on the objectification of
women within walking distance of hundreds of residential homes is not consistent with building the most friendly
community in which to live, work and raise a family. As a father of 5 daughters, it's also not the message of
empowerment that I want the community I live in to be sending to our young women; that their worth, their value and
their utility is based on physical appearance to be objectified for patrons who are better dressed and paying more to be
in attendance.
Furthermore, there are other concerns regarding the actual development and the capacity of the property and
infrastructure to support the proposed maximum attendance of the venue as described in the application.
There are only 122 parking spaces available to the entire Wadsworth Complex.
The Oasis is not the only tenant of said complex.
The concert capacity is 900-1000 people, this would be an average 8.2 people per vehicle.
o Even if no other businesses in the complex had a single visiting patron and every single person who
attended The Oasis carpooled in a suburban, there still would not be enough parking.
Traffic flow would have to be routed through N Cajun Lane to access Eagle Rd using a traffic circle in a
residential neighborhood.
A steady flow of patrons leaving this area between midnight and 2am playing music will be a disturbance to
the peace for the homes adjacent to the proposed location.
As members of the City Council, we, as citizens call on you to hold to your core value of Accountability to understand the
role you play in acting as a steward of the community’s resources, environment and relationships. The Oasis Nightclub
stands in stark opposition to the good of the environment and relationships that we hold valuable in Meridian and we
ask that you do not approve the application for permits for the Oasis Nightclub.
2
I request the Planning & Zoning Commission deny The Oasis’ Conditional Use Permit application and subsequently urge
the City Council to deny it as well should a review be requested.
Thank you for your consideration and ongoing dedication to the community we call home.
Jonathan Hoeger
Meridian Resident
3664 N. Summerpark Pl.
Meridian, ID 83646
------------------------------
Screenshot of the original dress code language on the company's website from December 2020
3
Screenshot of the current posted dress code language on the company's website as of March 9, 2020.
--
Jon Hoeger
Phone: 208.407.9546 | Fax: 208.887.9136
4