HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-07-18 Sherry Garey
Charlene Way
From:Sherry Garey <sgarey2010@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, July 19, 2021 2:10 AM
To:City Clerk
Subject:Testimony for Oasis CUP CR Tuesday, 20 July 2021
Attachments:20 July 2021-Ltr to City of Meridian.docx
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
I have attached our written comments for inclusion to the Mayor and City Council for their consideration in the hearing
of the above referenced conditional use permit.
Thank you for your assistance,
Sherry Garey
208-866-1351
4563 N Camas Creek Way
Meridian
1
18 July 2021
RE: Oasis CUP CR H-2021-0004 and -0005 – Items #5 & #6
To the Honorable Mayor Simison, and City of Meridian City Council
Thank you for this opportunity to again comment on the proposed Oasis Night Club application. We wish
to go on record that we are strongly opposed to the Oasis Night Club’s proposed location at Ustick
and Eagle Roads. Our residence is located just west of Eagle Road and south of McMillan, and less than
one mile from the proposed location of the Oasis Night Club. The main entrance to our subdivision is
from Eagle Road.
As stated last March, we chose to move from another area in Ada County to Meridian in 2018 because of
its reputation for being a clean, family-oriented well-run city, and we hope that you, as our City Leaders,
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ensure that it remains that way. My husband and I are not new to the area. We are both 4 generation
Idahoans having lived in both east and south-central Idaho areas in addition to the past 33 years in Ada
County. I have lived a total of 49 years in Ada County and have witnessed the growth and changes during
that time. Wise thoughtful planning is more important than ever as we all must deal with this most recent
surge of population growth in our State, and particularly our county and its cities. The impacts from the
current resultant traffic, as well as to our limited water and power resources must be seriously taken into
consideration with an eye to the future growth and management of our resources, along with protecting
our livability. Those are daunting tasks, and we appreciate all diligent efforts.
The proposed night club is not of interest to us. However, we do not have objections to others who have a
desire to patronize the establishment but feel strongly that it needs to be located elsewhere in a more
compatible and appropriate location. This proposed establishment is not marketed as a small
neighborhood bar to fit in nicely in a small business area. In addition to easy and adequate regionwide
access to this proposed destination entertainment and event center, there should be ample parking for a
large number of patrons as well as for large tour buses, and musicians with vans and equipment utility
trailers. The Ustick and Eagle Road location is not conducive to the above.
The core issues appear to remain the same and be on-going as they were in March of this year.
Specifically, 1) Drastically increasing traffic on Eagle Road and Ustick Road; 2) Mention of aligning the
ingress/egress to N. Centrepoint Way. That roadway lies between townhomes and the shopping area and
currently ends at a large apartment complex adjacent to the shopping area directly across (north of) Ustick
and north of the proposed development for the foreseeable future; 3) conflict of overlap of operating hours
among the adjacent proposed businesses and potential additional ones as other business interests develop
creating even more parking space issues; and 4) hours of operation are 4:00pm to 1:00am weeknights and
2:00am on weekends, again overlapping adjacent businesses, plus the creation of noise pollution during
business hours. All of the above creating a negative impact on nearby residential areas.
If I am correctly recalling the March hearing, I believe as the Mayor and Council your ending concern
was regarding the parking. In reading through the City’s staff report of that time, staff stated the
landowner and the Oasis applicant agree that the Oasis will use all parking within that entire complex. It
was also stated there is not a Cross Parking Agreement among businesses in existence so that assumption
may not come to fruition unless all tenants have been identified and under contract. I view that as an area
of concern when it is currently recognized all spaces will be utilized for the Oasis business. City staff also
provided suggestions of how to maximize the space to increase total parking capacity from 125 total
spaces to 132. That count would also have to include parking for all owners and employees of each
establishment. The adjacent Jamba Juice business located in the same building as the Oasis is supposed
to be allocated a minimum total of 5 spaces dedicated to their business for patrons and employees. It
appears that honoring those dedicated parking places will be hard to enforce. Popular dancing and concert
venues need a lot of parking spaces in addition to ride-share, taxis and other modes of transportation. The
above parking projections were based upon staff recommendations of reducing the Oasis’ requested
capacity of 1,000 persons to 500 persons, which includes patrons and staff. However, it does not appear
that the Oasis is shrinking their occupancy capacity but is instead creating an additional level of floor
space to accommodate a larger number of persons. Other businesses will most likely need their allotted
parking spaces past the 4:00 pm opening time of the Oasis. Particularly the urgent care facility as most
such facilities are open until at least 8:00 pm. The location of a nightclub next door to the proposed
Villasport complex that caters to families and special programs for children that includes “parents’ night
out” services where children stay late and/or overnight hours is a concern. The Villasport reports closing
times vary between 8:00 pm to midnight, again creating competition for limited parking and safety
concerns.
We appreciate the thought and effort all of you put into making choices that help our community grow
responsibly while maintaining the safety and respect to all citizens.
Sincerely,
Sherry and Chuck Garey
4563 N Camas Creek Way
Meridian, Idaho 83646