HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-09-06 Regular Minutes Meridian City Council September 6, 2022.
A Meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 6:02 p.m., Tuesday,
September 6, 2022, by Mayor Robert Simison.
Members Present: Robert Simison, Joe Borton, Luke Cavener, Treg Bernt, Jessica
Perreault, and Liz Strader.
Members Absent: Brad Hoaglun.
Also present: Chris Johnson, Bill Nary, Jaime Del Barrio, Brad Purser, Sonya Allen, Joe
Dodson, Shawn Harper, Joe Bongiorno and Dean Willis.
ROLL-CALL ATTENDANCE
X Liz Strader _X_ Joe Borton
Brad Hoaglun _X_Treg Bernt
X Jessica Perreault _X_ Luke Cavener
X_ Mayor Robert E. Simison
Simison: Council, we will call the meeting to order. For the record it is September 6,
2022, at 6:02 p.m. We will begin tonight's City Council regular meeting with roll call
attendance.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Simison: Next up is the Pledge of Allegiance. If you would all, please, rise and join us in
the pledge.
(Pledge of Allegiance recited.)
COMMUNITY INVOCATION
Simison: Our next item is the community invocation, which tonight will be given by
Christopher Ellis of Capital Church. If you would all, please, join us in the community
invocation or take this as a moment of silence and reflection. Mr. Ellis.
Ellis- Thank you, Mayor. Mayor Simison, Council Members, if you could join me in the
invocation. Lord, we just -- in common we just spend a little bit of time just looking at the
beauty of the -- the environment that you have created around us. Lord, we just marvel
in -- in not only the heat wave that we have, but in all the beauty of the mountain ranges
that -- the rivers and everything that you provided to the great state of Idaho and, Lord,
just take this time to -- to recognize your authority, Lord, as all authority is given by you,
so we just focus on you and we thank you for the authority given to this Council and to
the -- to the Mayor and be able to guide this community into a bright and prosperous
future and, Lord, we just lift you up and we thank you for this time and we pray that wisdom
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would just be given to everyone and, Lord, I pray that you would continue to guide and
direct all of us, in Jesus' name, amen.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Simison: Thank you. Appreciate it. Next item up is adoption of the agenda.
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: Item 10 on the agenda will be removed. That's the only change. There is going
to be a couple of continuances when we get into the public hearing. So, with the removal
of Item 10, 1 move that we adopt the amended agenda.
Cavener: Second.
Simison: I have a motion and a second to adopt the amended agenda. Is there any
discussion? If not, all in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay? The ayes have it
and the agenda is adopted as amended.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
PUBLIC FORUM — Future Meeting Topics
Simison: Mr. Clerk, do we have anyone signed up under public forum?
Johnson: Mr. Mayor, we do. First is -- well, the only person signed up for public forum is
Kevin Johnson.
Simison: Yeah.
Johnson: Come up to the podium, Mr. Johnson.
Simison: Mr. Johnson -- do we need -- do we need an address? I don't think we need
the address, do we, for any purpose?
Johnson: I don't believe so.
Simison: So you are recognized for three minutes.
K.Johnson: I would just like to talk about maybe where I'm coming from and I can give
you a reference right now. We just said the Pledge of Allegiance and there was a line in
there, one nation under God. My father was directly responsible for putting that in under
Dwight Eisenhower and my dad was head of the VA in Washington DC. He served on
the Civil Rights Commission with Martin Luther King and I would just like to honor him a
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little bit so you know where I'm coming from. I wanted to talk about the housing and just
how much there is a need and I think this is a responsibility of the community to try to
prevent housing -- or try to provide housing and I'm really having a hard time getting
housing right now with the service dog and I want to tell you how many veterans are trying
to get housing. I know three veterans that have committed suicide under this problem.
It's a real need. And I got put into some housing here in Meridian and I just don't know
how a home like that could ever be rented. It was so filthy dirty. Violations everywhere.
I just wanted to let you know there is a real problem with housing here and I -- I'm refusing
to take this house that was given to me in Meridian to live in, because it was so filthy and
dirty and violation after violation and I have talked to plumbing inspectors and other people
and it's just really is a problem in this community to find housing. Thank you.
ACTION ITEMS
1. Public Hearing for Ordinance No. 22-1992: Approval of Proposed
Fiscal Year 2022 Amended Budget
Simison: Thank you. Appreciate you providing that perspective. So, with that, Council,
we will move into our action items this evening. First item up is Item 1, a public hearing
for Ordinance No. 22-1992, approval of the proposed fiscal year 2022 amended budget.
We will open this public hearing with comments from Mr. Purser.
Purser: Mayor, Council, I have a riveting PowerPoint for you guys. I know you are
excited. So, I'm here today to talk about the FY-22 budget -- the final FY-22 budget. The
agenda is really simple. Not asking for anything really new. This is really our formal
process where we inform the state and our citizens where we ended up with the FY-22
budget. So, this is the finalized budget. We -- we ended up at 194,955,456 dollars. In
the coming slides I will break down by fund, you know, what that is and it's really the result
of the last ten months of different budget amendments as the departments came to you
requesting additional funding for like a fire station or fire truck or -- or whatnot. But -- so
we will go through that. Looking for your approval of the FY-22 amended budget and,
then, we will come to you with a finalized budget ordinance for your approval. So, looking
at the -- the final amount, as I mentioned it's about 194.9 million dollars. We a year ago
began with a budget of 185.2 rounding dollars. That's a 5.27 percent increase over what
was originally approved. You can see the majority of that was with our capital. I will break
down exactly what that is. So, beginning point last year was 185.1 . We ended with a
194.9 million dollar budget. When we look at that, that's made up of about 37 budget
amendments, totaling 9.7 million dollars. You can see that was really made-up in our
governmental funds and our capital improvement funds made-up the difference there. As
you can see governmental funds was increased by 6.3 million or about 6.16 percent.
Government -- or capital improvement fund, a little over five million dollars or 51 percent.
I will go into some more detail. Our Enterprise Fund overall was down versus what was
originally approved by 1.57 million. So, beginning with our -- our governmental funds, we
began the year at 102.3 million. We ended with a 108.6 million dollar finalized budget.
Up 6.16 percent. You can see the majority of that is in -- in capital. We were down on --
on carry forward. So, what makes up that -- that -- that amount? That makes up about
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29 budget amendments made up the 6.3 million dollars. The top four amendments that
we saw affecting the governmental funds were the Lakeview Golf Course capital
improvements. The -- the ladder truck that we originally had in '23, but moved into '22.
We received -- were awarded 1.8 million dollars in -- in various grants and we received
1.5 million dollars in funding from award for the golf course and pool funding. So, high
level, the governmental funds increased by 6.3 million dollars. Those are your -- the top
four and by far-- by far the largest increases there. Our capital improvement budget, you
know, that was up 51 percent. The reason for that was due to the North Precinct, Fire
Station 7 and 8. We -- there was budget amendments to increase funding for -- for those
projects. The total funding increase 5.3 million overall with everything involved. The
largest contributing factor were those three projects for the Capital Improvement Fund.
Now, our Enterprise Fund, we began last year at 73 million dollars and we ended at 71.4.
So, we reduced the budget. A lot of that was due to our -- our carry forward and the way
we handle carry forward. So, carry forward is just simply projects from prior years that
we carry forward in the next year. When we adjust that that's what reduced our budget
down -- as you can see 15 percent for the Enterprise Fund, so -- and this is very high
level, but that gives you an idea of over the last ten months what has been approved,
what is the impact of the -- the budget amendments, what were they and what were the
amounts associated with those things. As you can see, here is a breakdown of our
Enterprise Fund. Overall we were down 1.5 million. However, you can see between the
carry forward and we had several different budget amendments. You can see how -- kind
of how that played out, between having the well, water line extensions, and a biosolid
truck offsetting the overall adjustment for the carry forward. With that I guess next steps,
we need your approval for the FY-22 finalized budget. The total amount for that will -- will
need to be 194,955,456 dollars. With your approval we will come back with an ordinance
for you to review and approve to make that official. With that do I have any questions?
Any -- Council or Mayor?
Simison: Thank you, Brad. Council, any questions? Thank you very much.
Purser: Thank you.
Simison: This is a public hearing. Mr. Clerk, do we have anybody signed up to provide
testimony on this item?
Johnson: Mr. Mayor, nobody signed up in advance.
Simison: Okay. Well, if there is anybody here that would like to provide testimony on last
year's budget as we work to finalize this process, feel free to come forward or use the
raise your hand feature on Zoom and we are happy to give you the opportunity to speak
on the budget from last year or the year we are in. Seeing no one coming forward at this
time, do I have a motion to close the public hearing?
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
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Borton: Move we close the public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2022 amended
budget.
Cavener: Second.
Simison: I have a motion and a second to close the public hearing. Is there any
discussion? If not, all in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay? The ayes have it
and the public hearing is closed.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
2. Public Hearing for Overland & Wells II (H-2022-0030) by Morgan
Stonehill Partners, located at 2600 E. Overland Rd.
A. Request: Development Agreement Modification to change the
existing development plan (Inst. #2016-060157) on the northern
portion of the site from a retail grocery store to multi-family
residential.
B. Request: A Conditional Use Permit for a multi-family development
consisting of 351 apartment units on 11.65 acres of land in the C-G
zoning district at a gross density of 30.21 units per acre.
Simison: Okay. Thank you very much. Anything else that you would like to discuss on
that -- okay. We will look forward to seeing that back in the near future. Okay. All right.
Next item up is Item 2, public hearing for Overland Wells II, H-2022-0030. We will open
this public hearing with staff comments.
Allen: Sorry. Give me just a minute here, Mr. Mayor. All righty. The first development
application before you tonight is a request for a preliminary plat time extension. This site
consists of 6.12 acres of land, zoned R-15 and C-N, generally located on the south side
of East Amity Road, a quarter mile east of South Eagle Road. The preliminary plat was
approved back in 2016. The first phase final plat was signed by the city engineer and
recorded in 2018. A two year time extension was approved by the director in 2020 and
expired on August 29th, 2022. Oh, I'm so sorry, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Chris.
Simison: Thank you, Chris.
Allen: We just forwarded -- fast forwarded right away. Yeah. The -- the Item No. 2,
Overland and Wells, the applicant is requesting continuance to August 25th -- October
25th in order to have adequate time to consider the comments from the Commission
hearing and evaluate the project design as it relates to open space and traffic prior to the
Council hearing. It's been a Monday for me all the way around since I woke up this
morning, so apologies.
Simison: Technically this is Monday'ish.
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Allen: It is, man.
Simison: Okay. Thank you. Council, any questions for Sonya on Item 2, the Overland
Wells time extension -- or continuance? Okay. Mr. Clerk, do we have anyone signed up
to -- to provide testimony on this item?
Johnson: Mr. Mayor, we did not have a sign-up sheet for it, since we did not plan for the
applicant to be here.
Simison: Okay. And this is requested to continue until October 25th, 2022. Is there
anybody that was here for this item that cannot be here on that date that would like to
make any comments regarding this public hearing? Okay. Seeing no one, do I have a
motion to continue this item?
Bernt: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Bernt.
Bernt: I move that we continue Item No. 2, Item H-2022-0030 to October 25th, 2022.
Cavener: Second.
Simison: I have a motion and a second to continue this item. Is there any discussion? If
not, all in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay? The ayes have it and the item is
continued.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. TWO ABSENT.
3. Public Hearing for Hill's Century Farm Commercial Subdivision No. 2
(TECC-2022-0002) by Brighton Development, Inc., generally located on
the south side of E. Amity Rd., 114 mile east of S. Eagle Rd.
A. Request: A One-Year Time Extension on the preliminary plat (H-
2016-0092) for Hill's Century Farm Commercial Subdivision in order
to obtain the City Engineer's signature on the second phase final plat.
Simison: Next up is Item 3, a public hearing for Hill's Century Farm Commercial
Subdivision No. 2, TECC-2022-0002. We will open this public hearing with staff
comments.
Allen: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council. As I was saying, this is a
preliminary plat time extension. This site consists of 6.12 acres of land. It's zoned R-15
and C-N generally located on the south side of East Amity Road, quarter mile east of
South Eagle Road. The preliminary plat was approved in 2016. The first phase final plat
was signed by the city engineer and recorded in 2018. A two year time extension was
approved by the director in 2020 and expired on August 29th, 2022. The time extension
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was requested prior to the expiration date as required. The Comprehensive Plan future
land use map designation is mixed-use neighborhood. The applicant is requesting a one
year time extension on the preliminary plat in order to obtain the city engineer's signature
on the final plat for the second phase of development, which consists of four building lots
on 2.79 acres of land. The applicant won't be able to get the plat signed by the city engine
in the required time frame due to delays pertaining to market conditions. The applicant
plans to complete the subdivision improvements in the next phase in the fall of this year.
Approval of the subject time extension will allow the applicant to obtain the city engineer's
signature on a final plat for the second phase of development and proceed with
development of the property. If City Council does not approve the requested time
extension, the preliminary plat will expire and a new preliminary plat will be required for
the remaining area that has not yet been subdivided. With all extensions the director or
Council may require the final plat to comply with the current provisions of this title. Staff
is not recommending any additional conditions of approval with this extension. Written
testimony was received from David Palumbo, request for Amity Road between Cloverdale
and Eagle to be expanded prior to any further development occurring on Amity between
Cloverdale and Meridian Roads. His full letter is in the public comments section in the
public record. Staff is recommending approval of the requested time extension to expire
on August 29th, 2023. Staff will stand for any questions.
Simison: Thank you, Sonya. Council, any questions for staff? Okay. Is the applicant
here?
Beach: Good evening, Mayor, Members of the Council. Josh Beach with Brighton
Development, 2929 West Navigator Drive, Suite 400, in Meridian. I don't have a lot to
add, so if you have any specific questions for me I would be happy to answer those. We
are, as Sonya mentioned, at most a couple months away from having this plat recorded.
It's been under construction and we don't have much left to do, honestly, so -- I'm happy
to answer any questions and I will just sit down.
Simison: Thank you, Josh. And nice to see you. Council, any questions for the applicant?
Okay. Thank you. Mr. Clerk, did we have anyone signed up to provide testimony?
Johnson: Mr. Mayor, we did not.
Simison: Okay. Well, if there is any present -- anybody present that would like to provide
testimony on this item if you would like to come forward at this time or if you are online
use the raise your hand feature on Zoom. Seeing no one coming forward or no one
raising their hand, would the applicant like to make any final comments? And they are
waiving their right to final comments. Then do I have a motion?
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: I move that we close the public hearing.
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Cavener: Second.
Simison: I have a motion and a second to close the public hearing. Is there any
discussion? If not, all in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay? The ayes have it
and the public hearing is closed.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: It seems like a pretty straightforward request for a time extension. After
considering all staff, applicant, and public testimony, I move to approve file number TECC-
2022-0002 as presented in the staff report for today's hearing date.
Perreault: Second.
Simison: I have a motion and a second to approve this item. Is there any discussion? If
not, Clerk will call the roll.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Cavener, yea; Bernt, yea; Perreault, yea; Hoaglun, absent; Strader,
yea.
Simison: All ayes. Motion carries and the item is agreed to.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
4. Public Hearing for Brundage Estates Subdivision (TECC-2022-0001)
by Engineering Solutions, LLP, generally located 1/4 mile south of W.
Victory Rd. on the east side of S. Linder Rd. in the west half of Section
25, UN., RAW.
A. Request: A Two-Year Time Extension on the preliminary plat (H-
2021-0061) in order to obtain the City Engineer's signature on the
first phase final plat for Brundage Estates Subdivision
Simison: Next item up is Item 4, a public hearing for Brundage Estates Subdivision, TECC
-2022-0001. We will open this public hearing with staff comments.
Allen: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council. The next application is also a
request for a time extension on a preliminary plat. This site consists of 136.63 acres of
land. It's zoned R-4 and is generally located on the east side of South Linder Road, a
quarter mile south of West Victory Road. The preliminary plat was approved in 2016,
consisting of 366 buildable lots, 20 common lots and one other lot on 136.63 acres of land
in the R-4 zoning district. A two year time extension was approved by the director in 2018
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and a subsequent two year time extension was approved by Council in 2020, which
expired on July 26th of this year. The subject time extension was requested prior to the
expiration date as required. The reason for the previous time extensions was due to
incomplete sewer and water line extensions, as well as upcoming improvements to Harris
Street. The Comprehensive Plan future land use map designation for this property is low
density residential, which is approximately 64 acres of the site, and medium density
residential, which is approximately 73 acres of the site. The applicant is requesting a third
two year time extension on the preliminary plat in order to obtain the city engineer's
signature on a final plat. The reason for the subject request is that the developer has
been focusing on development of the adjacent Biltmore Estates and Graycliff Estates
Subdivisions and needs additional time to submit a final plat application for Brundage
Estates. Construction plans are in the process of being completed for phase one and the
applicant anticipates design completion of the first phase later this year. Sewer and water
lines have been extended to Linder Road to serve this property and improvements to
Harris Street with turn lanes on State Highway 69 are currently under construction. With
all extensions the City Council may require the preliminary plat to comply with current
UDC provisions. Since the preliminary plat and previous time extensions were pre-
approved, the qualified open space and site amenity standards have been updated in the
UDC to require a minimum of 12 percent qualified open space. That's up from ten
percent. And a minimum of 27 points of site amenities. Six site amenities were previously
required. We have since changed to the point system as you know. A total of 14.99
percent or 20.48 acres of qualified open space was provided with the preliminary plat
consisting of an 8.24 acre city neighborhood park, two pocket parks consisting of .8 and
1.3 acres, a linear open space area where the Williams Pipeline is located, containing a
multi-use pathway, half the street buffer along South Linder Road. All of the street buffers
along collector streets and parkways along internal local streets within the development,
which exceeds the current standards. Amenities approved with the preliminary plat
consist of the following. A tot lot with children's play structure and seating area, multi-use
pathways within the Williams Pipeline easement and along the Calkins Lateral. Open
space commons, including a city park, a gazebo shelter, a basketball court with benches,
which total 40 points, which exceeds the current standards. Approval of the subject time
extension will allow the applicant to obtain the city engineer's signature on a final plat and
proceed with development of the property. If City Council does not approve the requested
time extension the preliminary plat will expire and a new preliminary plat application will
be required. Written testimony has been received from David Palumbo. His letter is in
the public comments section of our public record on this application. Staff is
recommending approval for the subject time extension to expire on July 26th, 2024. Staff
will stand for any questions.
Simison: Thank you, Sonya. Council, any questions for staff? Okay. Is the applicant
here? Good evening, Becky.
McKay: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council. Becky McKay. Engineering
Solutions. 1029 North Rosario. I'm representing the applicant on this particular
application. To kind of give you a little bit of history of this particular project, Mr. Centers
owned a large area within the center of this section. He had us plan and get preliminary
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plat approval for Biltmore Estates, then Graycliff Estates and, then, Brundage Estates
was the third component that completes kind of that area there and gets us out to Linder
Road. We have -- we have been focusing on Biltmore and Graycliff and now his focus is
-- is on Brundage, so we have started our design of phase one civil plans and I know, you
know, this is an additional time extension, but I want to assure the Council that even
though this was approved back in 2016, what we have approved still meets the
Comprehensive Plan and exceeds the open space and amenity requirements under the
ordinance as it stands now. The project includes an extension of West Harris all the way
-- so, it will go from Highway 69 out to Linder. That's the mid mile collector. We also have
a southern collector in this property that will go to our south boundary. Is this working?
Is this working, Sonya?
Allen: Should be.
McKay: Oh, there I am. Okay. So, you can -- you can see -- so, if you -- if you look at
this, we have a collector roadway that goes -- that goes out to Linder Road and, then, one
that goes to the south. I think Sonya's running it now. That will eventually go out to Amity.
So, this particular piece of property provides for a portion of the southern mid mile
collector and the east-west collector. As you know, State Highway 69 and Harris is
intended to be signalized. The Stapleton Subdivision has been making the improvements
and widening there, which is necessary prior to signalization. One of the other things that
was part of this particular project was a new regional well was required to support this
service area and that well was put down a few years ago. We did donate the property.
Another thing within the Comprehensive Plan was a neighborhood park was designated
on this property, so we do have 8.24 acres of a neighborhood park. We still need to sit
down and meet with the Parks Department. Mr. Centers had previously -- we went before
the Parks Commission, he agreed to install sprinklers and the appropriate sod and get it
greened up and get it kind of going when once we get to that area, so that -- that that park
can get under way sooner than later. This particular development, as Sonya indicated,
we are low density and medium density. We are at 2.68 dwelling units per acre. So,
overall if we were just at three across the board on the entire property that would be 411
lots. We are at 366. The other thing this property incorporated was the multi-use pathway
along the Williams Pipeline and the Calkins Lateral, which is still starting -- a part of your
pathway plan. So, we still are in compliance with the master street map of ACHD and the
south Meridian master street plan. The R-4, the density that was approved on this
particular property, we felt was appropriate. We have an average lot size of over 10,000
square feet. It's all single family and we are starting over on Linder first and starting to
build that collector and when we get that collector built as it moves eastward and get the
signal in at Meridian Road, obviously, that will help provide another interconnection for
vehicles and take some heat off of the Victory and Linder intersection and the Amity and
Linder intersections. Do you have any questions?
Simison: Thank you, Becky. Council, any questions?
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
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Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: Becky, I'm glad that you guys -- even though it's been -- will be six years, you
are meeting the open space and the amenities that are updated. Are there any other
notable areas of the UDC that this project wouldn't meet? Like, you know, we have
changed our common driveways now, things like that.
McKay: Mr. Mayor, Council Woman Strader, no, we -- we did not delineate any common
drives, because they weren't allowed at the time. We don't -- we don't have any three
foot setbacks in here, because it's all R-4. We meet all of the collector buffers, arterial
buffers and plus we also check those if -- if an arterial gets upgraded when we go into
design we make sure that we meet whatever the current buffer requirement is, because
that will be caught when we submit plans and final plats. So -- so, this -- this -- what's
before you, obviously, complies, like I said, with the UDC as it is in its current state and
the Comprehensive Plan and I don't think I would do anything different than -- other than
probably add more density if I were to bring it through. Well, you know --
Strader: Everybody's got to try.
McKay: It was kind of low at the time and I like it, but the clients sometimes don't like it.
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: Thanks, Becky, for answering that. Appreciate it.
Simison: Council, any additional questions for the applicant?
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: Just to comment, I'm supportive of the request. I think the fact that you comply
with the current UDC provisions, obviously, I think that's a good policy that we always
require compliance with the updated most current UDC provisions as a condition of giving
an extension. You would have no objection to that here. I think it's a great practice. So,
I appreciate you doing that.
McKay: Thank you. Thank you. This one's held up to the test of time. I know some
don't.
Simison: Council, any additional questions for the applicant? Okay. Thank you, Becky.
Mr. Clerk, do we have anyone signed up under this item?
Johnson: Mr. Mayor, we did not.
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Simison: Okay. Is there anybody present that would like to provide testimony on this
item? If you would like to come forward at this time or use your raise your hand feature
on Zoom? Seeing no one coming forward or raising their hand, does the applicant waive
any final comments? Applicant waives final comments. So, Council?
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: I move that we close the public hearing on Item 4, TECC-2022-0001.
Cavener: Second.
Simison: I have a motion and a second to close the public hearing. Is there any
discussion? If not, all in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay? The ayes have it
and the public hearing is closed.
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: With the applicant ensuring that they will -- the preliminary plat will comply with
all current UDC provisions as a requirement for the time extension, I move that we
approve TECC-2022-0001 as presented.
Cavener: Second.
Simison: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 4. Is there any discussion? If
not, Clerk will call the roll.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Cavener, yea; Bernt, yea; Perreault, yea; Hoaglun, absent; Strader,
yea.
Simison: All ayes. Motion carries and the item is agreed to. Thank you.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
5. Public Hearing for Regency at River Valley Phase 3 (H-2022-0057) by
Bach Homes, located at 2480, 3270, 3280 E. River Valley St.
A. Request: Development Agreement Modification to change the
development plan (Bach Storage - Inst.#2020-062947 for 2480 and
3280 E. River Valley St.)for the site from self-service storage to multi-
family apartments and include an additional 0.65 acre of land at 3270
E. River Valley St. that is currently governed by the Development
Agreement (SGI-AZ-12-010, Inst. #11300560
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Simison: Next item up is Item 5, a public hearing for Regency at River Valley Phase 3,
H-2022-0057. We will open this public hearing with staff comments.
Allen: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council. The next application before you
is a request for a development agreement modification. This site is located at 3270 and
3280 East River Valley Street and 2480 North Eagle Road, midway between Ustick and
Fairview and north of East River Valley Street in the C-G zoning district. An application
for a modification to the existing development agreement for a box storage was submitted
in 2021 to change the development plan from a self-service storage facility to a multi-
family development. City Council denied the request due to the following reasons: They
felt access with some of the contiguous properties to the north had not been adequately
flushed out and issues with traffic circulation and parking. They felt it wasn't the right time
for the city to approve the modification. Since that time a new development agreement
was approved for the abutting property to the north, the Copper Canary, that removed the
requirement for a cross-access easement to be provided to the subject property and,
instead, required only an emergency access easement be provided if the subject property
developed with residential uses as planned. The Comprehensive Plan future land use
map designation for this property is mixed-use regional. A modification to the
development agreement for a box storage for 2480 and 3280 East River Valley Street to
change the development plan for the site from self-service storage to multi-family
apartments and include an additional .65 of an acre of land at 3270 East River Valley
Street that's currently governed by the SGI Development Agreement, which is entitled to
develop with a multi-tenant retail store or a restaurant with a drive-through to allow a multi-
family development. The proposed modification would allow the applicant to develop the
site with apartments as a third phase of the existing multi-family development to the east
at Regency at River Valley. The reason the applicant hasn't developed the property with
the storage facility is that after completing the development agreement and the design
process construction costs rose such that it wasn't feasible for them to move forward with
the project. A conceptual -- so, the -- the plans before you are what I just described.
There are the existing conceptual development plans in the existing agreements. The
one on the left is the box storage facility and the one in the middle is the southern property
that was -- had two different concept plans for retail and a restaurant drive-through. The
concept plan that's shown here is what is proposed. This was submitted for a five story
multi-family structure with parking on the ground floor and four stories of apartments
above containing 128 units. Rooftop amenities consisting of fire pits, hot tubs, a pavilion,
multiple barbecue areas and lounge seating are proposed. Additionally, residents will
have access to the existing amenities in phases one and two, which include a large
swimming pool area with a hot tub, barbecue areas, activity room, outdoor pavilions,
game room, fitness center and common open space. Two driveway accesses are
proposed for interconnectivity with the first two phases of the multi-family development to
the east and here are some concept elevations of the proposed structure. High density
residential apartment uses are desired in the mixed-use regional future land use
designation, especially when located adjacent to State Highway 55 and Eagle Road. An
employment destination -- destination center, such as those along the Eagle Road
corridor. The proposed high density residential development at 43.69 units per acre will
contribute to the mix of commercial, retail restaurants, et cetera, office and civic, Kleiner
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September 6,2022
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Park Senior Center uses in the area. Further it will contribute to the variety of housing
options in this area in close proximity to employment uses and Kleiner Park. For this
reason staff is supportive of the proposed amendment and has included recommended
provisions for the new development agreement in the staff report. If the subject
amendment is approved, a subsequent conditional use permit application is required to
be submitted and approved for the proposed multi-family development in the C-C and C-
G zoning districts. Development is subject to the specific use standards listed in UDC 11-
4-327 for multi-family developments. A detailed review will take place with the conditional
use permit application to determine consistency with the specific use standards and other
UDC standards. Written testimony was received from Shawn Freeman. He is against
approval of the amendment to the development agreement to allow more multi-family
residential projects in this area that will impact the infrastructure of Meridian. Staff is
recommending approval. Staff will stand for any questions.
Simison: Thank you, Sonya. Council, any questions for staff? Okay. Thank you very
much. Is the applicant here? Good evening. If you would state your name and address
for the record.
Ames: A little taller than the previous applicant. Brandon Ames. 270 North 2250 East,
Layton, Utah. I would like to thank you for your time and thank you for your comments.
The previous time that we were here it did force us to reconsider some of the design, the
site layout, and also be more active in our communication with the development to the
north, as well as review the traffic study and just make -- essentially what we decided as
well was to make more connection points between this development and our previous
two phases and we feel like we have been able to come up with a better product based
upon your previous comments. So, thank you for that. I don't have -- I -- I really feel like
I would just like to be open to questions if you have any questions for me.
Simison: Council, any questions for the applicant?
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: One design that -- at least when I look at this, the proposed parking on the east
side of this phase and the parking garages to the east of it, there is just a gray strip. I
don't -- I'm not sure how to exactly ask the question I guess, but between the two rows of
parking garages that go north and south are parking -- covered parking?
Ames: Yeah. Those are currently garages.
Borton: Is that -- is the -- the garage -- are the garages on the east side abutting the
garages to the east? I was just curious when I looked at it. If you could put your cursor
where I'm talking. Yeah. That -- that vertical gray space, are those --
Simison- The one just to the right of it?
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Ames: Correct. Those are garages for the previous phases.
Borton: Right. But are we talking garages in this phase would abut and touch the garages
on the other or is there a spite strip in between or what?
Ames: No, there are no garages in this phase. It is -- it's the first-- it's the podium building
is --
Borton: Bad question. Garage is the wrong word. There is covered parking on this phase
as you propose on the east side; right? No? What am I missing?
Allen: I'm not sure what --
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Ames: I think those are existing --
Allen: Right here.
Ames: -- Councilman Borton.
Borton: And just to the east of it --
Allen: It is a driveway.
Borton: Okay.
Allen: On the adjacent side.
Ames: That's a drive aisle -- an existing drive aisle on the previous phases.
Borton: Okay. So --
Ames: So, there is a garage on each side of that drive aisle that pertain to the previous
phase.
Borton: Okay. And is that a drive aisle that -- how -- I'm just curious, because it looked
really funky that -- is it a two car wide drive aisle?
Allen: I would guess it's 26 feet wide, but I'm not sure.
Borton: Yeah.
Ames: I'm not certain, but I -- that would be my guess as well is 26.
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Allen: The -- the development to these has already been approved by Fire and Planning,
so it's -- it's -- it's done. But the boundaries of this side is where the -- the red line is here.
Borton: Okay. Got it.
Ames: One -- one thing I would like to point out is that I know that there were some
parking concerns in addition to traffic flow. We with this design are currently overparked
beyond city code and so it may alleviate some of the parking within our current phases
as well.
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: Do you have covered parking within the building itself? I'm assuming it's on the
ground floor. I mean how many -- so, how many parking spaces, could you remind me,
are within the building footprint?
Ames: I will see if I can -- if that's on my notes. I'm not certain that it is. Let me see. One
hundred and twenty-four.
Strader: Got it. Okay. And so -- and, then, you have got the additional I guess guest
parking as additional parking here. Could you walk through the connectivity from a
pedestrian perspective toward the other amenities in your previous phases? So, I see
that you have some -- I guess they are like little crosswalks.
Ames: Yes.
Strader: And will people be able to access a -- it looks like they are kind of-- one of them
runs into a carport it looks like. Maybe the other one hits a pathway. If you can kind of
walk us through that.
Ames: So, on the -- on the north side we have the crosswalk coming into our existing
phase. I'm not certain -- one thing that I want to be careful of is this is a really really
preliminary drawing. So, the connection points we would plan on doing the exact location
of crosswalks are roughly this, but as far as whether it goes into an existing garage I don't
think we would do that, but I -- I -- this really is illustrative right now. We would plan on
going through a much more thorough and detailed evaluation of the site with staff if we
are able to obtain approval on the DA modification, which is -- I -- I don't mean to deflect
your question, but that really is our main goal today. We have not gone really far down
the design of this site yet until we know we have a DA modification approval.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
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Perreault: Thank you. So, can you talk to us about how you have improved circulation?
So, the entrance on the south side was there before, that's -- that comes from River and
-- River Valley and that -- there is -- that's a right-in -- or, excuse me, that is a -- yeah,
that's a right-in, right-out only; right?
Ames: Correct.
Perreault: So, that really hasn't changed. There was a connection there on the very
south side with the -- the drive aisle from the west to the property to the east, that -- that
hasn't really changed. That was already connected in the last -- the last rendering. There
is the new pedestrian connection and, then, to the north there is a new cross-access
connection. But I don't see anything -- I mean I'm still kind of struggling with how,
obviously, a majority of the residents are still going to use the eastern main access to
Regency to get to this area; correct? I mean they are going to be directed to use the main
entrance to the site to the east.
Ames: Yes. And -- and that's typically common, because that's where the clubhouse is,
the main amenities. I -- I don't know what the percentage of people will be that go to that
entrance versus coming in off of a -- directly from the south or how many might go all the
way to the east if traffic is heavy on -- I'm not sure what the percentages will be, but --
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: Is there a way to access this? This whole project off of Records directly or is
it just coming in off of River Valley? Is there an access to the east--very eastern boundary
of the whole Regency project from Records that would flow around to the northern
entrance on this?
Ames: I can -- I can look.
Allen: Mr. Mayor, Council Woman Perreault, there is an access on Records. There is
also one on River Valley Street. There will be a right-in access as well.
Perreault: Thank you.
Ames: It looks like it aligns with Tahiti Drive.
Simison: Council, additional questions for the applicant? Okay. Thank you very much.
Ames: Thank you.
Simison: Mr. Clerk, do we have anybody signed up to provide testimony on this item?
Johnson: Mr. Mayor. Yes. Perry Coles.
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Simison: When you come forward if you can state your name and address for the record
and you will be recognized for three minutes.
Coles: Yeah. My name is Perry Coles.
Simison: Just make sure you get in front of that microphone.
Coles: My name is Perry Coles. Thank you, Mayor and Council Members, for allowing
me to speak. I am the owner of the property directly to the north, Copper Canary, and --
of this -- of this residential modification plan and -- and, of course, the apartments, the
phase three they want to put in. I wanted to mention that I really appreciate Bach Homes
working with us to develop the traffic flow going to the south to East River Valley Street.
As you know on April 12th we came forward to you and were approved to establish the
emergency road exit and gate to be established on the eastern part of our property. This
stops all traffic from the apartment complex and the development that's going into the
north of us right now going through the -- the -- the center of our parking lot. So, we really
appreciate the fact that we did get approval, so that we could basically not destroy our
property and our-- and our parking ability on our -- on our lot. So, really really appreciate
that. I -- we have looked at the plans with Bach Homes. We think it's just a wonderful
design. We like what they are doing. They have worked well with us and we are definitely
-- definitely in favor of allowing it to go residential. We think it's a -- a great asset to -- to
the area and, again, I like the amenities, the design. I did -- when I first came to Meridian
and I saw the -- the first couple phases when we were looking to purchase the property
and that's -- you know, one of the comments I made to my wife is I really liked, you know,
what -- how the apartments looked and the design effort that they made to make them,
you know, really nice. So, again, we are very very much in favor and we are very excited
to be in Meridian. My family-- my -- my kids are all here and we are really looking forward
to being part of the city here as Copper Canary. Thank you.
Simison: Thank you. Council, any questions? You are good. Mr. Clerk, do we have
anybody else signed up?
Johnson: Mr. Mayor, that was the only sign in.
Simison: Okay. If there is anybody else that would like to provide testimony on this item
if you would like to come forward at this time or use the raise your hand feature on Zoom.
Seeing no one else coming forward, would the applicant like to make any final comments?
Applicant is waiving any final comments. So, Council, turn this over to you for additional
questions, comments, discussion, motions.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: If the applicant would come forward again. I'm sorry to keep going over this.
I just -- I have been in this complex many times and every time I have been there it's
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absolutely packed. There is like no place to park. I have been there mostly in the evening.
There is hardly any spots to find. So, I really do want to understand more about the flow
of traffic, because I can very easily see, having been in there, that it would be difficult not
to get hit with somebody backing out of the covered stalls and so I'm wondering if maybe
Sonya could pull up just a Google Maps or an aerial of the entire Regency project. It's
just going to show this as an empty lot, but I want to take a look at how the traffic will flow
around the entire complex, because I'm -- I'm just not convinced that the -- the right-in,
right-out to the south should be the area where most of the vehicles would be coming in
and out.
Simison: So, Council Woman Perreault, it -- it took me a second to find it. Did you see
that there is an access -- cross-access right above that right-in, right-out?
Perreault: Where is that? It's right at the very southern portion of the application.
Allen: Yep.
Simison: Okay. I -- I didn't see that, because I thought that was referencing your question
earlier about where the cross-access points were. Okay.
Bernt: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Bert.
Bernt: Question for the applicant. I -- I remember in previous discussions regarding the
previous applications there was a conversation about whether or not these buildings
would all be able to be sold individually if you decide to do so in the future and how that
would impact the amenities and, you know, the usage of those amenities. What are your
-- what are your thoughts on that?
Ames: Are you asking if this new phase three would be on its own lot and be able to be
sold as an individual building? It is on its own lot because of the way that everything was
platted. We did combine two lots into one in order to be able to fit one building, so,
technically, it could be sold. I'm not typically involved in our sales. Bach, as long as I
have been there -- or as far as I have known very rarely sells apartment buildings. We
have our own property management company and we manage over 3,000 apartment
units right now and it's just something that's in our business plan is to keep them.
However, technically, it could be, because it's on its own phase. If I were to speak kind
of off the cuff a little I would say selling that with the ability to use amenities, that brings a
higher value than selling it and saying you cannot use amenities, you know, in the
adjacent property. I -- but I -- I'm typically not involved in that.
Bernt: Mr. Mayor, follow up.
Simison: Councilman Bernt.
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Bernt: Just to confirm, is -- is there enough -- and do you meet all of the code
requirements for this one project to be a standalone project without having to use other
amenities and have open space to be considered for approval?
Ames: We have not -- our intentions are to work with staff to meet all of the code and --
and to work through that, especially, you know, after we have obtained this -- until we
have obtained this I -- you know, we have put a lot of resources into it, but we didn't want
to go too far down that road yet. So, again, I'm not trying to not answer that question, but
that's where we are right now is we read through the code, we designed the building and
we felt like we are really close.
Bernt: Mr. Mayor, follow up. I -- you know -- and this one -- and I get this is just a DA
mod and we are asking you a bunch of questions that are detailed and I think that -- the
reason for those questions are just to create some clarity of -- or, you know, what this
approval will look like going forward and so -- and -- and I don't know -- this is more of a
comment and truly nothing to do with your development specifically, but it just seems like
a lot lately there is -- we have -- we have -- we have had a lot of applications come before
us that are zoned C-G or whatever, plan to be, you know, office or retail, whatever, et
cetera, but -- but because those projects don't pencil, you know, let's build some
apartments.
Ames: Well, in -- I can address that and for ten years we did have this for sale and we
were under contract at least four times and I -- I believe more than that and I can -- I can
pull proof of that. I -- I just didn't work for Bach at the time. But the -- the owners were --
have expressed to me a number of times and they started listing them that we were under
contract to sell that. But once the due diligence phase was completed with the potential
buyers they all backed out. They -- they wanted access off of the -- off of Eagle and if
they didn't have that they weren't buying the property. So, we -- we were under contract
and trying to sell the property for almost ten years and, then, maybe more history than
you would like, but, you know, one of our employees who was our development manager
thought it would be a good idea for us to get into some storage units, not just here, but in
other locations that we have and he kind of really started to run with that, but once we got
down to actually talking to companies to construct those and build those and what that
looked like, it was not looking very good and we felt like -- we started looking at our -- our
occupancy rates and -- and what the area was needing. We talked to our property
managers, we talked to other property managers around the area and we felt like this is
the best use for this property. We -- we attempted to make it work commercially, but
residential is what we know, it's what we are the best at. We -- we do a good job of it.
We manage all of our own properties. We put a lot of money into rehabbing our own
properties, because we do keep them for a long time and everything started to point
towards let's do what we know how to do and let's do what the -- really the people are
telling us and that is that this is a -- this is a highly sought after area to live. It's a great
area to live in.
Simison: Council Woman Perreault, back to your -- you got the map up.
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Perreault: Thank you. Are we able to zoom in just a little bit? So, on the very east side
there is a street coming off of Records, Tahiti Drive. It looks like there is supposed to be
a connection. Is that on -- is that part of the Regency property and is that going to flow
around to the north side or is there a connection there -- yeah, that -- that -- where --
where Sonya -- it looks like that section dead ends. So, where is the connection off of
Records going to -- where is the -- the connection off of Records in relationship to this
loop and -- and how would -- would they take the down -- the area where it says Downey
sub lateral, so, essentially, that's what a majority of the residents are going to do, they are
going to come in through this main entrance there on the south side and come around
through all of these garages and carports to access that third phase; correct?
Ames: I don't know. I can't speak for what I think -- I -- I -- I can probably tell you what I
would do and I feel like I would drive down to the main road and, then, turn in as close as
I can to my apartment building. But I -- I don't know what -- I don't know how many people
would come off Records, drive around through the apartments and, then, enter in.
Probably some would. I -- I don't know that.
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: Well, they can't make a left from there -- this -- this map is old. It says
Stokesberry, but that's River Valley. They can't make a left from River Valley if they are
coming off of Eagle Road into the -- into the first entrance they cannot make a left. It's
blocked. So, they have to go further down east on River Valley to access the
development.
Simison: It's the main entrance right there -- that first main one is where you can turn left
into.
Ames: Correct.
Perreault: Right. My concern is that that main entrance was not designed for a whole
other phase.
Ames: I -- I don't have an answer to that.
Simison: Council, any additional questions, comments, action?
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Strader.
Strader: I have a question. You don't have to answer it. I want to give you an opportunity
to answer it just because we are researching housing affordability in our community. Do
you have any idea of what kind of rent ranges you were expecting or you are getting in
your other phases ballpark? Just -- is it more affordable than the mean? Is it average?
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Any insight you can -- you don't have to. It doesn't have to do with your approval, but it's
a big topic right now and --
Ames: Sure.
Strader: -- part of that is increasing supply. We are wondering if that's helping, but I'm --
I'm worried that we are just approving a lot of Class A highly amenitized beautiful
apartments, but it's not really moving the needle on affordability.
Ames: Sure. And I -- I -- I appreciate your question, because we -- you know, like I said,
we -- we manage apartments in a lot of different cities and we are still developing and
that's something that we have talked to a number of city councils about and -- and so I
understand where you are coming from. I don't -- and I -- I -- I hesitate to answer this to
a degree, because I don't know yet, like I said, but I -- in speaking with our, you know,
property managers at Regency and at Kensington and other areas that we have, we are
realizing that one of the things that we need to do more frequently and especially in this
building we have considered is having a lot more studio one bedroom units. It just -- it
cuts down on vehicles, it cuts down on traffic and it allows us to provide a more affordable
living unit and that is something we have discussed, but I don't -- I don't want to be held
to any unit counts or anything yet. We are -- we are doing that in a number of places
where we are filling in additional phases, because we are realizing our three and four
bedroom units are getting too cost prohibitive. They are creating too many vehicles and
so that's a direction that we are heading in general.
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: Thanks. No. I appreciate that and I understand, you know, you are running a
business and you can't get into specific rents, but just those kind of anecdotes I think are
helpful for us. Thank you.
Ames: Thanks.
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: One of the concerns that came up last time this concept was discussed was
queuing on River Valley trying to exit if a project like this, heading to Eagle Rd to go north
-- or south most likely. A hundred and twenty-eight units. Any new information you have
gathered about the previously expressed concern that you can have cars stacked?
Ames: We did -- we did a traffic study and I -- was that presented last time with Mr.
Carlyle? Sonya, have you seen a traffic study?
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Allen: I do not recall if he submitted one with the last one. I doubt it, as it was only a DA
modification as well, so it's not required.
Ames: I apologize for that. Mr. Carlyle, who was working on this and has very recently
moved on to another firm and so I'm -- there are some things I'm not fully capable of
answering. I -- that is something that we -- I know he was in talks with Ryan Hales, traffic
engineer. I believe Ryan attended one of the meetings here and I know that we have the
study and my -- I know that Ryan said that he didn't feel like this was anything that was
causing major changes to traffic queues, but I don't have the numbers or the data to
support that right now. I apologize.
Borton: Okay.
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: Candidly that's one of my two main concerns with this type of use. Storage,
obviously, much less intense from a -- from a total usage, but also a time of day usage.
Ames: Sure.
Borton: About the -- the other challenge being this is truly so disconnected from the other
two phases in all respects, it's -- it would never have been designed if it was built as three
phases in the way this would ultimately be laid out with two rows of parking separating
this third building. So, that was one of the challenges and -- and the queueing issue with
folks trying to get onto Eagle Road from this potential phase three is a real struggle with
this type of request.
Ames: Yeah.
Borton: So, just wanted to let you know some of the concerns.
Ames: Sure.
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: Yeah. So, I -- I mean I think you are improving -- like you are heading in the
right direction. So, I -- I appreciate that. I -- I feel like you are much closer to showing
you have adequate parking. I think the pedestrian connectivity is helpful in going part of
the way toward -- toward overcoming that kind of like design challenge that Councilman
Borton just mentioned. I think the -- I think when we are talking about the flow of traffic
and the site overall and the concern about queuing to get out and especially to get onto
Eagle Road to go south, I think that is still the main hurdle and understanding that there
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has been kind of a change in personnel, I mean would you -- do you feel like you have
new information to present from a traffic perspective and you would like to do that at a
later meeting? Did you want to ask for a decision today? I just wanted to try to understand
kind of how you are thinking about that aspect, because I think that concern about the
queuing is -- is still pretty important to me, although you have done I think well in
addressing some of the other concerns.
Ames: I think that that's a good question. I -- so, may I ask if we seek a decision today
what are our options regard -- with both outcomes? Is there a time frame that we have
to wait to come back? Is there a -- are we able to come back in the next meeting if we
can send the traffic report or what --what are our options depending on the results today?
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: I -- I don't know if I'm going to answer that question direct, but I will tell you my
-- from my -- my concern is I think -- I mean you can stack it looks like about six cars in
that -- in that turn lane, you know, and you got 128 units, so you got folks trying to head
south on Eagle Road from phase one and two and, then, add 128 units -- you know, traffic
study will talk about general traffic counts and trips and average daily trips and I don't
know if that answers the question that might -- it appears obvious in front of us, which
isn't necessarily your fault at all, but it -- it's just going to be stacks of cars piled up trying
to get out of this. It just is.
Ames: Yeah. I --
Borton- They can go north.
Ames: Of course -- of course units are going to have vehicles. I -- I want to fall back on,
though, I feel like this is -- I feel like this is the best use for the property. I know it -- I know
it brings challenges. I don't know very many that don't, especially when you are trying to
build within the city. I -- I think if it's commercial it brings challenges. It's own set of
commercials. If it's retail or -- or restaurants it brings its own set of challenges. It brings
its own set of vehicle queues and times and I -- this is something that we have done
elsewhere and it's -- it's proven really successful. We are able to provide a product that's
a little different on property that we already own. We can manage. We maintain. We
take care of. We know it really well. And we can offer -- we are doing this -- something
similar, actually, in our plans in American Fork where we are building one building and
across the street we are building another building that's similar and, then, we are planning
on building this exact building off to the corner. It just is -- allows us to provide more like
one bedroom and studio and a different -- it appeals to a different group of people who
want to live in the area. The amenities are there. Most of the amenities that most people
use will be there. Just the pool. We will have the mail room in there. You know, we are
trying to keep -- we are just allowing access to those who want to go swim can go swim.
I -- I don't anticipate a tremendous amount of foot traffic constantly, you know, through the
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site. So, I -- I know it has challenges, but, again, we are seeking the development
modification, because I don't think that storage units is the best use for this site. We don't
-- we don't believe that and all of your questions are very valid and we plan on vetting
those out following code, working with staff and working through -- this site plan may
change a little. It likely does once you get through the actual, you know, code
requirements that you have to hit in making sure that everything works. So, I -- I know
that you are trying to look forward a little bit, but I don't want to get too hung up on a -- on
a conceptual site plan. My main goal is to try to present that I -- I really believe strongly
that this is the best use for the property. We -- we have been unable to sell it as
commercial, retail or restaurant. We have had all three approach us. They fall out every
time. So, after that is it -- is storage units really the best use? I don't -- I don't think so.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Just my two cents on -- in my opinion there is --this has some of the best access
this area as we have in the city. We actually do have a backage road with Records. You
have three different access points where if there is a stacking queuing issue people can
continue to drive east in order to come out on Records and -- but my bigger point is I
know you have to look at this application. We probably have another thousand units that
are going to come in through this part of the community and if these 128 are, again, the
-- breaking the camel's back with access to this -- to River Valley, you know, I don't know
what that means for the future of this area, because not everyone's going to go out the
one that's closest to them. You know, it depends on where you are going to go. You
might take Records around and go left up onto -- to head to Boise or you might go out on
Records to go out to Ustick, depending upon where you go. This -- this area has unique
access, some challenges. It is close to the intersection right there. But there are a few
other locations. Whether or not this is the right use, I think that's a different -- different
question for Council to consider now or in the future, but as far as I'm concerned this area
has a lot of challenges, but a lot of opportunities for the area and it is -- you know, traffic
is like a -- water that gets run down and finds the cracks, people are going to go where
it's going to take them the least amount of time through the development, not through the
development, all the way around Records if they can't make exits out onto the right area
right there, but, you know, when those things -- when -- when does the -- the entrance
into the main entrance, when does that become not viable? I don't know the answer.
Neither does Council Woman Perreault. I mean could that handle ten thousand units
going through that or could it handle 500? 1 don't know when those type of questions are
answered in traffic impact studies for access points into these places. So, just my two
cents and my opinion, but thank you. Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: Thank you very much. So, you would need to go through the CUP process
after this. Our Planning and Zoning Commission is even tougher than we are. So, these
questions that we are asking -- we won't be the last ones asking them. So, just -- I know
you are taking notes to kind of prepare for that next step, because they will -- they will
really even look at this at a much -- in a much more detailed eye, especially with parking.
They love to talk about parking on our Commission. But to the Mayor's point, there --
there are -- there is a project that's been approved at the corner of Fairview and Records,
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that's all flowing traffic northward on Records as well. The way that was designed was to
-- to kind of try to keep it off of heading south onto Fairview because of how the exits are
within that complex. So, that's coming and that's a significant -- it's a four -- several four
story buildings and, then, there is additional units that are coming in on the -- the north
side of Records. So, this isn't just -- as -- this isn't just about these 128 units, although
we can't make a decision about this based on those, we do have to look at the bigger
picture. I -- you know, concern of it as well. So, that's also why I have concerns about
where vehicles are exiting and entering on that entire south side. I'm going to assume
that when this -- when Regency was designed that those entrances were designed to
include the phases that are existing, because there wasn't an intention for there to be
housing in this section originally. So, I'm going to assume that they weren't designed to
handle the additional capacity.
Simison: What makes an entrance not -- I'm -- I'm just curious. Can anybody can answer
that question? What makes -- we have some people here that do commercial
development. When does an entrance no longer operate past its ability to handle traffic?
Anybody have a standard that they can share from the audience? Or planning?
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: This -- in my opinion this entrance is unique, because when you enter in you
go around this center fountain I think is what it is and you -- you circle around and -- so
there is more conflict points on this, because of how it's designed. So, you -- instead of
just going straight and making a left, you kind of circle around this -- this center area and,
then, people that are coming out from the clubhouse have to cross over that. So, there
is just a lot more conflict points. If -- if you were -- if you were to drive it you would see
what I mean.
Simison: It sounds like a roundabout.
Ames: It is a roundabout.
Simison: Sorry.
Perreault: What's that?
Simison: I won't go down the roundabout -- I say it sounds like a roundabout. I thought
they were safer and can move more traffic.
Perreault: No, it's -- yeah. I found it challenging. There is not directional signs that say,
hey, go around the center area. It's very confusing.
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
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Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: Can we just zoom out of the Google images slightly, just so I can sort of see
what's going on. Okay. So, that's where the co-op is. Got it. And, then, if we zoom back
in -- sorry. Where is the actual connection exactly to Records? Okay. Right there. So,
that goes through and -- and I'm assuming it connects with this loop -- not all the way to
the south, but there is an independent connection; right?
Ames: There are -- there are three connections.
Strader: Can you point to them?
Ames: I can show you roughly where they are without the site plan.
Strader: Yeah. That's fine.
Allen: Mr. Mayor, would you like me to put the concept plan back up?
Simison: Sure. Whatever works. Or you can -- he can direct--you can move your cursor
around to show where the exits --
Allen: It's right here on Records.
Strader: Okay.
Allen: You can go up here. This is stubbing to the Village apartments that's in the
development process to the north and will eventually have an access through to the
commercial development here. You can go down to the south and west and this will stub
in -- have a driveway access to the third phase that they are proposing and, then, there
is also an access up here in the third phase that will also tie into this development.
Strader: Right.
Allen: Have an access on East River Valley Street right here.
Strader: Uh-huh.
Allen: And, then, Council recently approved the Copper Canary development agreement
modification that allowed an emergency only access easement to this property, whereas
previously these -- all of these properties had a cross-access easement requirement for
a backage road in this location.
Strader: Okay. Yeah. I remember. I wasn't totally sold on that. So -- but from the whole
complex -- I mean from the entire thing really to get out of here, you really just have the
main entrance that goes onto Stokesberry Place or you have this connection onto
Records.
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Ames: There is a -- is there another connection onto Stokesberry. And, then, also if you
-- once there is connection over to the third phase there is another access there as well,
too.
Strader: Stokesberry?
Ames: Yes.
Strader: Right. Through the south.
Ames: Correct.
Strader: Okay. Okay.
Simison: Council, further questions? Motions?
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: Last question, Sonya. So, we have heard the -- the concern expressed on
circulation and -- and queuing and stacking. Is there some validity or are we missing
something from your perspective that you think this adequately disperses traffic
throughout?
Allen: Mr. Mayor, Councilman Borton, Council, there -- there is definitely a traffic concern.
I mean that's a lot of units, but there are -- there are three ways in and out of this
development. I'm not a traffic engineer. I don't know how that will all play out. Hopefully
they analyze that as part of their conditional use permit application.
Ames: I would like to reiterate that our -- we plan on going through that process and we
know it will be -- it will have its own challenges. We feel like the first hurdle is tonight,
though, and that's to even have the ability to consider going to CUP or consider working
with the Planning Commission and that's by modifying the DAfrom storage units to multi-
family.
Borton: But the -- the challenge I guess is --
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: Mr. Mayor. That we face is if the DA approval changes, there is nothing with any
CUP condition that can address that particular issue, that change in use as you have
conceptually provided.
Simison: Warren -- you are unmuted, Warren. Mr. Stewart.
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Borton: So, that -- that's just some of the concern that -- that makes me ask it.
Simison: So, Council, is there a preferred process that you would see done -- done
differently for this -- to have a comfort level?
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilmen Borton.
Borton: Just candidly I'm not supportive of the application. I'm just -- I'm not. I think those
-- this is a problem that we have described that I don't think a CUP condition can -- can
address and resolve. So, for the reasons stated I have not heard enough to make me
support the change in use. Just my perspective on it.
Ames: Sure. And, like I said, there -- will there be a traffic problem? Possibly. But one
thing I feel like there is a need of is housing and I feel like there is a need of housing that
does not use a lot of water. There is a need of housing that is affordable to people and
there has been a general shift in the market that we are dealing with where people are
far more likely to rent, even throughout -- throughout their lives than they are to buy and
there is -- there is just a mentality shift and so I -- is there a greater need for storage units
than living space? I don't think so. But we will deal with those problems the best that we
can, but the -- I -- I feel like the -- the two wouldn't even compare to each other. There is
a tremendous need for living space and there is a tremendous need for living space that
is not four bedrooms and three bedrooms and -- and -- more so than there is storage units
and I feel like that's not even close. That's not even in question.
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: Argue a little bit with you. I don't think that's necessarily the question -- the same
way of the questions were addressed. All of that be true, but we also have to take into
account the location of it. So, housing over storage in a vacuum, I don't think anyone
would disagree, but -- but that doesn't mean at every location without exception that is
true and that's kind of what we wrestled with, because there has been some instances
where mistakes have been made at prior-- at other locations where, you know, short term
solution, but long term we created and cemented challenges in. That's what gives us
some pause at a particular location. So, I'm not disagreeing with the underlying principle,
but just trying to give some context to the --
Ames: Right. And I -- I see what you are saying, but I'm -- I am talking about this particular
area, because of our occupancy rates. They are -- they are crazy. There is a need here
for housing at this location.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
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Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: I thought the last time that -- that there was a -- that there was this request that
we were really clear on our concerns and this doesn't for me duly address what we
discussed last time. So, I don't know how we are seeing something that -- there are
definite improvements to this, don't get me wrong, as Council Woman Strader said, this
is a better version than the last version. We are still asking the same questions we were
asking last time. So, this doesn't -- there is not enough changes to make me -- for me to
be comfortable in approving this tonight. I -- I don't know how many more times we can
express the concerns that we have. I know you have -- don't have control over how many
-- you know, how much stacking there is. That's -- that's not anything that you guys have
control over, but I think this is our third meeting about this and I don't know that we have
really truly addressed the main concerns that have been presented. So, thank you.
Ames: So, we had two concerns and one was to flush out connection to the north, which
we -- we did that. So, the other concern was traffic flow. What other traffic flow options
would you like to see when we have one off Records, one that will be going north when
that development goes through and three off of Stokesberry? That's five entrances into
one apartment complex. I'm not sure -- I feel like you are asking for something that is
unattainable.
Bongiorno: Mr. -- Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Deputy Chief.
Bongiorno: Thank you. Mr. Mayor and Council, I know we -- we kind of-- I -- I made it to
one of the other meetings. Chief covered the -- the last meeting for me. So, this is one
of those -- can we service it? Yes. Is it going to be difficult to service? Yes. The Mayor
brought up concerns two meetings ago about access. Access is going to be a challenge
for the Fire Department. I was just looking back in the last -- since January 1st of 2000
we have been to that apartment complex 50 times and I know one of them was for a fire.
The rest of them were for medical calls. So, yes, there is five different entrances into this
complex, but we have to wind through to get to this particular place. Engine 33, which is
the closest station, doesn't have a direct access. They are going to have to come all the
way down to Records, come up Records to come into the apartment complex, other than
going through -- like Councilman Perreault stated, trying to get through that traffic circle
and that traffic circle -- I have been there when I have been doing my inspections, it's -- it
gets clogged because of people going to get their mail. That's where the mail is collected.
So, if you go there at 5:30 at night that traffic circle is full of cars. And so for the Fire
Department that this is going to be a challenging project. Yes, there is accesses, but just
the way the flow is it's going to be a challenge for us to get to it. So, just some thoughts
from the Fire Department.
Simison: Yeah. And, Council, I'm trying to help the applicant, too, because I'm -- we did
take an action to the property to the north, which now has altered options for this property,
at least in -- in a lot of ways. Without having a north-south connection for what may want
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to exist there, which is fine, but, you know I -- I don't know what you put in here ever. And
maybe it does become a City Park, you know, it's -- it's right-in, right-out. You know, that
we--we have effectively created a right-in, right-out location that's only accessible coming
from Records. You know, you -- there is really no other way to get into the -- if this is a
standalone property, you know, you -- I don't know what you will expect long term for this
property, but I'm sure any -- any property I would love to hear what your expectations
might be if you don't want to change it based upon the access challenges and restrictions
that have been placed upon it at this time.
Ames: If we sell the property we are not going to grant additional accesses into our
apartments. So, is that a better traffic situation than what we are currently offering?
Because, then, there really is one and the emergency. So, I know it isn't perfect, but it's
five. If we sell it where there is -- why would we ever grant access?
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: Is it safe to assume that the commercial contracts that you negotiated fell out
because of access issues?
Ames: They wanted access onto North Eagle.
Perreault: And I would have preferred -- I would have preferred to not have just
emergency access to the north, but I understand the property owners concerns to the
north not wanting traffic to consistently be flowing through there. That would have really,
however, resolved a lot of my concerns if there was a way to exit to Eagle to the north.
But there -- there was not a desire to put in -- to -- to have vehicles exit out of the existing
exit where the restaurant was and so that's -- that's what -- it is what it is. I mean I would
have rather seen it happen that way. I -- but that's how it went and -- and had that been
the case I would have been more inclined to consider the application. So, I can tell you
that much. I know that probably doesn't help, but I -- I can't tell you what to do with your
property, but I can say that there are some very unique concerns in this particular area.
Now, if you are -- if your traffic consultant had looked at the entrance -- the main entrance
to this and can somehow show that it can handle that capacity, I would be happy to take
a look at it, but I -- I'm -- I don't believe that's the case based on my experience and
apparently the Fire Department's experience.
Ames: So, again, do you think it's going to improve if we don't develop access to that site
with one right-in, right-out?
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
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Borton: I think we have vetted the discussion. I think your point is well taken. Who
knows? You don't know. We don't know.
Ames: Well, I -- I -- I feel like five accesses are better than one. I'm pretty confident in
that.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor, just one more point if I may.
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: Something that makes this particular project unique, Regency, the existing
buildings, is that they have covered parking on both sides of the drive aisles. That's not
something that we see that frequently and that creates, in my opinion, additional concern.
You have got narrow drive aisles and you have vehicles backing out potentially from
covered parking on both sides or vehicles accessing garages on both sides of that drive
aisle. If it was one side I might be a little less concerned about conflicting traffic, but it's
on both sides. So, if you are driving through there and you already have a narrow lane
to begin with and you have one vehicle backing out from covered parking on one side,
another vehicle backing out on the other side at the same time and, then, you would have
a fire truck go through there, I don't know if that's going to work, unfortunately. It's already
a challenge as it is without adding additional units.
Ames: Yeah. I can't go back in time when that was approved. I --
Perreault: Sir, I understand. I'm just trying to further explain and share with you the
justification for the decision that I'm choosing to make this evening, so that there isn't any
doubt.
Simison: Well, based on what the deputy chief told me, if they are coming off of Records
that are going to come in at that far last right-in, right-out, they are going to avoid the
traffic circle, they are going to go right straight in, they are going to avoid all the covered
parking lots and, then, they are going to exit out to the north through the emergency
access into the building to the north and take the emergency access onto Eagle Road to
avoid servicing this phase, compared to the entire rest of the development. I'm not a fire
captain, engineer, or firefighter, but that's -- based on what I have seen with the flow
design creation, that it actually avoids the issue of the entrance as that. That being said
now I'm -- I will -- I will -- I have been trying to follow -- think back over the last three
meetings and the other applications and I thought this is where Council was trying to get
us to go there. Maybe I misread the tea leaves, as did the applicant, that I felt like they
were trying to get them to put this all into one -- one concept. It is -- you know, is it just
the number? If it was 50 would that be better? Worse? When do -- when would that
feather out into this conversation or is it the fact that it's residential altogether and that's
now the issue that is -- you know, again, I'm just trying to piece together my memory of
many different topics, because I felt like the point of half the issue with the property to the
north was to prevent -- to allow connectivity, so you didn't have people driving through,
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so, it could be more connected to the other property to the east. That's what my memory
to the dialogue was. I could be wrong, but --
Ames: Those are the two things we tried to change on the site plan. We felt like we did
the best that we could with what we had to work with to address your two previous
comments. So, if you are feeling like we are not moving forward, I would really -- I feel
like we would be owed some avenue to move forward. And -- and I feel like it would be
something achievable physically.
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: I'm being quiet, because I'm thinking about -- you brought up -- brought up some
good points, as has the Mayor, concerning the history of this -- this parcel and what it's
struggled with.
Ames: And I believe when we bought it, which was some time ago, it -- we thought that
the access off of North Eagle was there through the other -- through the neighboring
property of the north. That is -- we are, basically, trying to do the best we can with what
we have and we did not create the right-in, right-out, we are using what was there. We
are trying to add as many access points as we can into our property, which we can do
that. We own that property and we can make more if that's what would make this easier
-- make everyone feel better, but I can only do -- I can only work with what I have and I
feel like we are trying to do that. We are trying to work with you on it.
Simison: So -- so, Council, will -- I don't know the applicant would want to do this. Would
having someone come back with a more defined traffic impact be helpful? I know that's
normally reserved for a different point in time in the process, but -- or -- or not.
Continuation for that -- for that -- for them the opportunity to go try to bring back data or
up or down and move on?
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Where did that come from?
Strader: Liz.
Simison: Oh. Council Woman Strader.
Strader: I -- I may be the only one -- I feel like I'm on the fence leaning toward a no and
the traffic analysis might help me get over it. I think the main thing I want to figure out is
is this creating a problem for the entire area and all the neighboring properties as well or
is this going to be like your self-imposed traffic nightmare where people can decide and
vote with their feet if they want to live in your apartment complex or not? If that's -- if it's
-- if it -- if it feels like the impact is confined to your property specifically, then, that might
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-- that might help me, but if I feel like it's going to affect this whole corridor, you know, that
-- that's more of an issue for me. I was not a fan, from what I recall, of the connection to
the north being created as emergency access only and -- and believe that it should have
been connected and so I -- I -- I understand we took collective action on that, but I really
felt like you -- you guys were backing yourselves into a corner, committing to one specific
use by doing that and here we are. You know, it -- and maybe if you have further
information about future connect -- other connections to the north, if there are future
connections to the north somehow through here where -- where -- you know, not -- not
through that property that's emergency access only, but if there are other connections
coming in the future, if you have information about that and the timing of that, that might
help as well to give another avenue out. But, yeah, I mean that -- that might help me.
But I'm kind of on the fence to a no. I -- I think having apartments is -- is -- is additive
over all, but have major still concerns about circulation and the queuing. So, that's just
one person, but --
Ames: I -- I would generally appreciate everyone's feedback, even if it's individually, so
we know -- I don't feel like I have a lot of options right now in order to address your
concerns.
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: We have discussed this at length. We have. I mean in fairness to you I think we
have described it, so it's probably-- it's time for us to act. We have shared the perspective
on this, so --
Ames: So, can I -- can I ask again. If we seek a continuation to bring back a traffic study
is that a viable option? Is that a -- a legal option for us tonight, as opposed to a definitive
vote, or if we do vote and it's an -- and it's a nay, what are our options after that?
Simison: Yeah. I will let Mr. Nary answer the second question.
Nary: So, Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council, so since this is a DA modification I don't
believe there is a time restriction, like an application for annexation. So, you could either
-- again, if the Council wants to grant a continuance to get more information, that's fine.
If the Council wants to move forward and if the vote were to deny the project, you can go
get the traffic study and come back in two months.
Ames: Okay. So, it's just -- we have some options.
Nary: Yeah. So, yes. You are not barred like you would be in an initial application, like
for annexation, where you are barred for a year from bringing back the same project, but
it does cost noticing fees, refiling fees, all of the fees have to get repaid. So, there is that
expense that it's added to it and, again, the noticing takes around a month or six weeks.
So, that would be the one -- the biggest difference.
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Ames: But under a continuation we could continue under the previous notice that we
have done, the fees that we have paid --
Nary: Yes.
Ames: -- et cetera.
Nary: Yes.
Ames: So, reading the room, I'm not a doctor, but I'm not that dumb either. I feel like we
should seek a continuation if that's appropriate or acceptable by the Council and bring
back traffic information.
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: I have been quiet all night. I haven't been supportive of this request and I am
a terrible poker player. You can see it on my face. I feel like that this has been an ongoing
conversation. I think the Council has been really clear. I will just be very clear with you.
Probably for the first time in my career I wouldn't support a continuance request. Just
being clear.
Ames: Yeah.
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: I move that we close the public hearing on H-22 -- 2022-0057.
Cavener: Second.
Simison: I have a motion and a second to close the public hearing. Is there discussion?
If not, all in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay? The ayes have it and the public
hearing is closed.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: We have had lengthy discussion on this, the existing entitlements for the property
and the -- the pluses and minuses of how it's designed and laid out. I think the Council,
staff, and the applicant have provided us ample information to support a -- to support
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some action right now without a continuance. For the reasons stated on the record today,
I move that we deny H-2022-0057.
Cavener: Second.
Simison: I have a motion and a second to deny Item H-2022-0057. Is there discussion?
If not, Clerk will call the roll.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Cavener, yea; Bernt, yea; Perreault, yea; Hoaglun, absent; Strader,
nay.
Simison: Four ayes. One no. Did I get that right? Just want to make sure. Okay. And
the item is denied.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. ONE NAY. ONE ABSENT.
6. Public Hearing for Torino Locust Grove Subdivision (H-2022-0038) by
Jeremy Rausch, located at 870 S. Locust Grove Rd.
A. Request: Annexation and Zoning of 1 .03 acres of land from R-1 in
Ada County to the R-8 zoning district
Simison: Next item up is Item 6, public hearing for Torino Locust Grove Subdivision, H-
2022-0038. We will open this public hearing with staff comments.
Dodson: Mr. Mayor, that application is the one that's supposed to be continued?
Simison: It is. We still have to open it and are those the staff comments that we are
making, that the applicant is requesting for continuance?
Dodson: It surely is. They are due to a clerical error of noticing on our half -- on our
behalf. We need to continue it to next week.
Simison: Okay. Thank you. Council, any questions for staff?
Nary: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Mr. Nary.
Nary: I was just going to add for the record -- so, the notice that was mailed to the
neighbors is correct and the signs on the property are also correct. The notice on the
agenda neglected to add additional -- the preliminary plat, I believe, was what didn't get
noticed on the agenda. So, it was noticed to the public. So, most of the noticing was
done that wasn't this, so we are asking for a continuance, but that's why we can open the
hearing.
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Simison: Thank you for that clarification, Mr. Nary. Is there -- is the applicant here? I
assume not. Was there everybody here that came here for the purpose of providing
testimony on this item this evening? Okay. Seeing no one, Council, do I have a motion
to continue this item?
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: Move we continue Item No. 6, H-2022-0038, to September 13th.
Bernt: Second.
Simison: I have a motion and a second to approve this item to September 13th. Is there
any discussion? If not, all in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay? The ayes have
it and the item is continued to the 13th.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Simison: Council, do you want to take a quick break before this last item or you want to
move forward? Okay. Let's go ahead and take a ten minute break and we will reconvene
at 8:00 p.m.
(Recess: 7:50 p.m. to 8:04 p.m.)
7. Public Hearing for Lavender Place Subdivision (H-2022-0036) by
Breckon Land Design, located at 2160 E. Lake Hazel Rd.
A. Request: Preliminary Plat consisting of four (4) single-family
attached building lots and 26 single-family townhome lots on
approximately 3.79 acres of land in the R-40 zoning district.
B. Request: Conditional Use Permit to construct the requested 26
townhome lots within the R-40 zoning district
Simison: All right. We will -- we will go ahead and come back from recess. Next item on
the agenda is a public hearing for Lavender Place Subdivision, H-2022-0036. We will
open this public hearing with staff comments.
Dodson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Council. Good evening. As noted this next application
is for Lavender Place. It was part of Lavender Heights Subdivision, which was approved
in 2020. It was probably my first big plat with the city. This is just an extension of that.
You also heard a development agreement modification for this portion of Lavender
Heights Subdivision earlier this year. The site consists of approximately 3.8 acres,
currently zoned R-40, located directly north of Discovery Park on the north side of East
Lake Hazel, approximately a quarter mile east of Locust Grove. It is designated as
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medium density residential on the future land use map, which they are complying with the
overall density through both projects -- or I should say through the whole project. The
preliminary plat proposed -- or requested consists of four single family attached building
lots and 26 single family townhome lots on 3.8 acres in the existing R-40, for a total of 30
units. Conditional use permit is being requested to construct the townhome lots within
the R-40 zoning district. The applicant has also requested private street for the proposed
single family development, as well as three alternative compliance requests, one to the
common drive standards, private street standards, and off-street parking standards.
Lavender Place Subdivision was annexed in the city in 2020 as noted. The subject site
was approved with the R-40 zoning district at that time. The applicant's proposing this
project to be largely alley loaded with all but two of the proposed units fronting on green
space to comply with the private street standards. Subsequently, multiple detached
sidewalks are included for added pedestrian access throughout the site. So, the private
street is, essentially, acting as the, quote, unquote, alley. With the proposed plat of 30
residential units and the requested land use of alley loaded single family attached and
townhome units, the applicant is introducing a new housing type to this Lavender Heights
development, as well as the immediate area. In addition, the proposed placement and
site design offered great pedestrian connectivity to the nearby Discovery Park, which is,
again, directly to the south across Lake Hazel and it also has good access to the
remaining open space and amenities within Lavender Heights to the north. Going to the
submitted concept elevations, the applicant is proposing to construct homes within this
project of similar style to those within the parent development, Lavender Heights. This
further staff's belief that the proposed subdivision complies with the comp plan, as well
as previous approvals. Per the submitted parking exhibit, the applicant originally
proposed to alternatively comply with the off-street parking standards by providing 18
parking spaces that will be designated for each unit. Each of the proposed residential
units as shown is a two car tuck-under garage providing -- required for the two bedroom
units, but -- and meets the requirement of a two car garage for a three bedroom unit.
However, due to the odd shape of the parcel there is no room for the required driveway
basically. The parking pad. Instead, the applicant placed the parking spaces directly
across the private street from each unit to minimize the distance homeowners would have
to traverse to access their additional parking spaces. In addition to the 18 parking spaces
designated for the residents, the applicant showed seven additional guest parking
spaces. Note that parking is prohibited on the private street due to its width, as well as
along Lake Hazel, because it's arterial and along Bloomerang to the west, the collector
street. So, there is no local street available parking in and around this development. Staff
found that the proposal alternative for the parking was one option to meet the intent of
the off-street parking requirements when accounting for the required density of the
development agreement site constraints and limited access for the site. However, staff
did recommend a modification to that ALT request. Staff recommends that one parking
space, instead of two, is allocated for each three bedroom unit. It is difficult to predict the
number of cars each unit will produce, so staff finds it more prudent to offer the additional
spaces as guest spaces for more flexibility. Again it would increase the guest spaces
from what was originally seven up to 16, which would allow for more appropriate flexibility
and their use for residents or future guests. One of the outcomes of the Commission
hearing was the recommendation by the Commission to limit the number of bedrooms
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per unit for the whole plat to two bedrooms and keep all of the off-street parking spaces
as guest spaces. The applicant has not agreed with this recommendation and is
requesting to comply with staff's recommended ALT alternative as well as say instead of
three or four bedroom as the plat previously noted, that all of the -- I guess the units noted
with a color would be three bedroom at max. Staff's other recommended site design was
in regard to adding a micro path lot into the development to further the north-south
connection through the project. Per this recommendation the applicant did modify the
plat to show this. You can see it really well here. They added this micro path lot here,
as well as modified some of the sidewalk connections here to create a more direct path
to the arterial sidewalk and, then, the multi-use pathway connection that is going to be
over by the future collector road to the east. Staff also had concerns with the placement
of the driveways for Lots 32 and 33 here at the entrance of the site. Staff was concerned
that these substandard driveways would encourage residents to park in these areas,
which would prohibit safe vehicular movement on the private street. The applicant revised
the private street to add this little street knuckle here and reduce those driveways to five
-- five feet and, then, I believe this one is a six and a half, which, again, should help
prohibit and not incentivize people to park in those areas. Staff does support this revision,
as well as the micro path addition. Commission heard these items on August 4th. There
was no written testimony then. There has only been one piece of written testimony since
from Mr. Palumbo, who is actually a Boise resident and noted concerns with Meridian
development around Amity Road in south Meridian and just noted a lack of planning
foresight for a number of different projects that was not -- his comments did not seem
very specific to this project. At the hearing the key issues discussed by the Commission
were this parking alternative and whether the unit should be limited to two bedroom, as
well as safe access to Discovery Park and the concept of trash service within the private
street. Again, the Commission recommended removing the parking in the hammerhead,
which was not done, as well as limit all units to no more than two bedrooms to help with
the parking and increased guest parking, which the applicant, again, would -- is
requesting to comply with staff's amended alternative compliance recommendation,
instead of the Commission's. Those are the only two outstanding issues for Council. With
that, again, Commission did recommend approval with those changes and staff had
previously recommended approval as well. I will stand for any questions should you have
them.
Simison: Thank you, Joe. Council, any questions for staff?
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: I'm just curious in the staff report you had the parking plan and it was like kind
of color-coded. Was that meant to just keep track of how many parking there were per
-- per three bedroom or what -- what was the -- is there any rhyme or reason to that?
Dodson: Council Woman Strader, yes, ma'am. The -- it's color-coded, so the -- the teal
dot -- this would be the parking space for that unit. Orange that unit. Yellow that unit.
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Per-- the one in the staff report is the original, which was two per and so they were color-
coded to that specific unit, which they are still showing here, but they are proposing it per
my recommendation, which was one per -- basically one per bedroom.
Strader: Right. And, then, just so I understand the -- the 48 by 25 unit, ones that are
further to the left, are -- that don't correspond to the dots, do those have adequate
driveways to support parking or what -- what's going on there?
Dodson: Council Woman Strader, you are talking about all of these?
Strader: Yeah.
Dodson: Those are all two bedrooms, so they have a tuck under garage. So they comply
with the off-street parking standards for single family with two bedrooms.
Strader: Mr. Mayor, if it's okay, if I just sort of ramble?
Simison: Keep going, Council Woman Strader. Great job.
Strader: All right. So, those -- so, those ones are like self-contained. So, you feel good
that those ones have enough parking within the garage and they are I guess two bedroom.
Okay. And so the three bedroom have the extra. I'm -- I'm -- I'm tracking it, I'm just trying
to make sure I'm really accounting for each one. And, then, I see it's the three extra
parking on the access drive and so do those two-bedroom units there have enough room
in a garage as well?
Dodson: Council Woman Strader, I don't have the floor plans, but that's something that
we would review at building permit submittal if this were to be approved, would verify that
there are no more than two bedrooms and that the garage measures 20 by 20 per our
code.
Strader: Uh-huh.
Dodson: That would be it.
Strader: Okay. All right. Thanks for walking me through that. I appreciate it.
Dodson: Yes, ma'am.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: So, along those same lines with the common drive, if a vehicle were to go
down there accidentally how would they turn around and get -- I mean is it wide enough
for say a 22 foot long dually to get stuck down there and turn around? If there is three
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vehicles parked in that -- in those spots, do they have to back up? Can they -- what's the
width of that common drive?
Dodson: Council Woman Perreault, it's 20 feet per code. So, that this would be like any
other common drive in the city that is 20 feet wide and there is no turnaround at the end
if it's less than 150 feet in length, which this is not. So anywhere in the city with a common
drive that's -- that's what they are going to do, they are going to have to back up.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor, one more question.
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: Thank you. So, what happens if there is a delivery truck from RC Willey
parked? How -- how wide is that private drive and -- I mean, you know, moving trucks,
delivery trucks, where would they go if they are trying to access the garage to not be in
the way?
Dodson: Council Woman Perreault, probably more of a question for the applicant, but it
is 30 feet to -- sorry. What is it? The private drive is 24 feet wide and, then, there is five
feet of apron. That's what our private street standards are. So, that's why they are
complying with that. So, whatever that is --34 feet from building garage face to the garage
face, so if a delivery truck drove in and parked somewhere around there, then, yeah, you
-- you are going to have half the private street to go around, which, frankly, on some of
our local streets that are 30 plus feet wide you have the same issue.
Bongiorno: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Deputy Chief.
Bongiorno: Council Woman -- Mr. Mayor and Council Woman Perreault, that -- that is a
turnaround down there. I required it. So, down where the three dots are parallel with the
-- with the Lake Hazel, yeah, that is a Fire Department approved turnaround.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: I was talking about on the common drive.
Bongiorno: Oh.
Perreault: If a large vehicle went down -- yeah. Where would they turn around?
Bongiorno: Sorry.
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Perreault: You know, if you had a -- if you have a big dually that's 23 feet long, you know,
and the road is 20 foot wide, how are they going to turn around?
Simison: Council, any additional questions for staff? Okay. Then would the applicant
like to come forward? If you could state your name and address for the record, please.
Breckon: Jon Breckon. Breckon Land Design. 6661 North Glenwood Street, Garden
City. I have a short presentation. Should help answer some questions about access and
widths and so forth. So, this is the last phase of Lavender Heights. Phase four. Phase
three is just wrapping up construction and final plat approval and -- are you clicking the
slides, Joe or am I? Thank you. So, just for reference here, you can see the future fire
station there and the -- off to the southeast corner of the property and Discovery Park to
the south and how this odd shaped triangle piece lays in between that and the previous
phases of Lavender Heights. This is an overall plan for reference and I greatly appreciate
staff's efforts to work with us on this project. I have put in a lot of hours with Joe -- well,
Joe and Joe, actually, to help us -- particularly on this phase, but also with the previous
phases. You may recall when we first started this project it was only about 90 lots and
much larger lots and it is now changed to what is before you and we are about 191 lots
overall. So, I worked with the city on achieving its density requirements and that really
plays into this final phase. Next slide, please. And here is just a -- an overall -- one thing
-- one way we are -- we are meeting those density requirements and some of the
challenges to the site is that triangle shape and a good portion of the site is part of the
Farr Lateral. Overall property size is 3.79 acres and the Farr Lateral piece there on the
north is 1.36 acres and so, you know, depending on how you include that or not, we are
either -- you know, gross density is 7.92 or if you don't count the -- the Farr Lateral piece
we are at a density of 12.34. In any -- any case, got the 30 units and that's -- it's really
kind of a unique layout with the regional pathway along the north, along the -- the Farr
Lateral there that extends over to the park on the south on the other side of Lake Hazel.
We have got good connectivity throughout. Lots of open space and pedestrian routes.
The unique design of these units is that the front door actually faces outward towards the
open space. Provides a much more appealing street view and so the -- the private street
is -- really functions as a -- as an alley as far as access and so it's -- it's really -- it's -- it's
very compact and efficient, but functional. So, this shows how we have complied with
some of the previous requests and you can see that -- that private street coming in is 25
feet wide. We do meet all of the dimensional standards coming in and through -- at one
point on the previous concept we had a big round turnaround at the end there where we
are showing the hammerhead and, actually, it was Mr. Bongiorno that came up with the
suggestion to do the hammerhead turnaround, so that we could maximize our density. At
-- well, Joe helped us out quite a bit, too, for sure with the parking. But, anyway, we
appreciate these guys. They are -- they are good team players. Anyway, one thing I
would like to clarify here, too, that this image clearly shows is how many units -- or how
many bedrooms are in each unit and that was -- that was an item that came up during
P&Z and it wasn't very clear and -- and some of the previous conversations there was
discussion of three or four bedroom units and I think that was -- that wasn't very clear.
So, anyway, this is a graphic to help explain that, because those number of bedrooms is
directly tied to the parking and the parking, obviously, is -- is a concern and I think it's a
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concern for all of us, but the two-bedroom units are all designed -- actually, all these -- all
these units are designed to have a two-car garage. So, the two-bedroom units meet the
parking requirement by having that -- that two-car garage and, then, the three-bedroom
units, which we only have two and three bedroom units, there are no four bedroom units.
The three bedroom units have a two-car garage and, then, in addition, we are proposing
one extra designated stall -- and I have got another graphic that kind of -- it's -- it's much
more clear than that one that we had previously. So, each three bedroom has a two-car
garage and, then, a designated parking stall across the street and what that -- and just
by having just the one designated stall across the street, you end up with one parking
stall per bedroom throughout. Now, the two that are off on their own on the east side
there at the end of the hammerhead turnaround, those have a two-car garage and also
your standard driveway in front. So, they actually have an extra parking stall right in front.
Here is a little graphic that shows how the hammerhead fits in there to meet those
dimensional requirements. After looking at that I think we could fine tune that for
construction documents to make it a little bit better and, then, this is -- this is I think very
helpful, too, to understand the dimensions, answers some of the -- you know, what does
that look like, that alleyway, you know, how constrained is that, because looking at a plan
view it's kind of hard to tell, but you can see in the middle there we have got the
townhomes laid out, the buildings, and, then, there is actually 35 feet door to door in front
of the -- from garage to garage. So, we have got the 25 foot roadway, with a five foot
concrete apron out in front of -- of all those and that's consistent pretty much throughout,
except for the two units at the end of the hammerhead turnaround. Next slide, please.
Okay. So, here is -- this is an updated graphic here to hopefully clear up any questions
regarding parking and so forth, but this is where we -- we -- we agreed with Joe and --
and, you know, what he had proposed was instead of having two designated parking stalls
for each of the three-bedroom units, just have one and you can see that the red dots
signify the three bedroom units and the associated designated parking stall across the
drive and, then, all the yellow dots would be guest parking or just open -- open parking,
essentially, right, for whomever and that gives us more guest parking stalls. It also in my
mind gives you plenty of parking, because you have a parking stall for each bedroom and
that leaves us -- so, that leaves us with 16 parking stalls as guests -- or flexible guest
parking. Also, you know, just for clarification, we did want to keep the three parallel
parking stalls there on the -- on the hammerhead turnaround, because they don't conflict
with that turnaround in any way, shape, or form and why wouldn't you want three more
parking stalls? So, we are proposing just to keep those in there. Here is an elevation of
the units for reference. That shows -- that shows what they would look like from the alley
with the garage facing the alley and that is -- that's all I have. I will stand for questions.
Simison: Thank you. Council, questions for the applicant?
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
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Strader: A few questions. Thank you. Okay. Two-car garage. Two parking spaces. Are
we talking about like truly enough space for two cars? Are you talking tandem -- like I
hope not. Two regular sized cars can fit in these garages? I just want to make sure --
Breckon: Mr. Mayor, Council Woman Strader, no, these are two side by side parking --
or garages and -- you know. And that was another thing that came up during P&Z, you
know, where do the --where do the rollaway trash cans go? Well, those go in the garage,
too.
Strader: Yeah.
Breckon: It's supposed to be clean.
Strader: Just a couple more quick questions. Thank you.
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: Okay. Just want to double check. I'm assuming there is no parking on this little
main road to the main entry, because I could see that being a big issue.
Breckon: Correct. Mr. Mayor, Council Woman Strader, the -- the -- where it says main
entry to the private drive, that would additionally be signed as no parking.
Strader: Got it. Okay. And then -- I actually think that -- that answers my questions for
now. Thank you. I can tell you have put a lot of -- there is -- it's a tough shaped spot;
right? I can tell you put a lot into this.
Simison: Council, additional questions for the applicant?
Dodson: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Yes, Joe.
Dodson: I did just want to clarify on the parking a couple things. Originally when we had
come through and thought about this site, it was going to be multi-family from my
understanding. That's hence why we did the DA mod and even then at the time of the DA
mod that we saw earlier this year, the applicant wasn't a hundred percent sold on doing
single family or not. If they weren't planning this they would exceed the multi-family
parking standard by quite a bit of spaces and it would -- they could do exactly the same
building footprints. So, that's where the parking alternative compliance is pretty much
only because the -- they are choosing to sell off the units and add a truly townhome
product in this area of the city. So, that's where our staff is supporting the alternative
compliance request, because it is going to be essentially live like a multi-family project,
but be a single family product. So, that's why the parking wasn't that big of an issue for
staff, because of those similarities between the multi-family and the detached single -- or
I should say single family.
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Bernt: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Bernt.
Bernt: Hey, Jon, walk me through -- or at least provide some clarity with regard to these
extra parking stalls across from these three bedroom units and where I need you to focus
is how you are going to guarantee that these three bedroom or these extra parking stalls
will be available to these homeowners -- or to the folks who will be living in these individual
units.
Breckon: Mr. Mayor, Councilman Bernt, the parking stalls that are designated for the unit
would have signage. So, it's, you know, a sign that says this is a designated parking stall
for one of the homeowners and if --
Bernt: So -- sorry, Jon. Associated with the individual unit that, you know, pertains to the
parking stall? Like this is for this house.
Breckon: Correct. Yes. And I don't know that we have talked through the details of what
would be that -- on that sign specifically, but the intent certainly -- and what I plan on is
that it would be a very specific sign. It would -- you know, would probably say if you --
you know, if you are not -- similar to what we see in other parking locations -- if you are
not supposed to be parking there you are going to get towed --
Bernt: Right.
Breckon: -- and that this unit is specifically for -- and give -- list the address, so that
everybody knows --
Bernt: Okay.
Breckon: -- who exactly that's for.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: Follow up on that question. So, these units will be sold and privately owned;
is that right?
Breckon: Mr. Mayor, Council Woman Perreault, yes, they -- they would be -- so, they are
-- they are all individual lots and so a single -- similar to a single family home sold and --
but they are a townhome product, so they -- they are -- they are kind of like this -- shown
on there on the plan, we have got four units touching each other wall to wall, so very
compact.
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Perreault: So, unlike an apartment complex where you have a property management
company that's kind of regulating some of these parking challenges, the individual owner
now doesn't have any other entity to call or any recourse if somebody keeps parking in
their spot. So, how will the towing work, since there is not going to be any sort of
management company that's kind of overseeing that? I mean that doesn't leave the
homeowner with much recourse if it's a repeat offender. I mean who is going to pay for
the towing? Hopefully, the person who is poorly parked, but I mean, you know, I'm not --
I'm not trying to borrow trouble here, but that these are the kind of concerns we regularly
hear. So, just curious.
Breckon: Mr. Mayor, Council Woman Perreault, I -- I can only speak to my experiences,
you know, parking in big cities and where there is parking that's heavily regulated I -- and,
you know, this phase will be part of the rest of the subdivision, you know, so I think this
would be something that would be detailed out in the CC&Rs. I expect that we could
make that happen, so that if there is a parking issue there is a -- there is someone under
contract to do the towing and if someone has a problem they call the towing company
and say, hey, somebody's in my parking spot, can you tow them. I don't -- I don't expect
that to be -- I can't imagine that's a big issue,just something that needs to be clarified and
included in the CC&Rs.
Simison: Council, additional questions for the applicant?
Bongiorno: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Yes, Joe.
Bongiorno: This Joe.
Simison: Oh.
Bongiorno: Sorry. One more quick comment. I wanted to -- Mr. Mayor, I wanted to
comment on Council Woman Strader's question. By city code private lanes are to be
marked no parking fire lane. So, this whole section where there is not parking stalls will
be signed no parking fire lane. So, we --we as a city can ticket against that sign, so that's
another recourse also. So, if you have people that park in front of their garage and, then,
just go into the house, we can --we can ticket against that. So, there -- there will be signs
from the main entry all the way through to that hammerhead no parking fire lane. So, we
-- we have that option as well.
Simison: All right. Thank you very much.
Breckon: Thank you.
Simison: Mr. Clerk, do we have anyone signed up to provide testimony on this item?
Johnson: Mr. Mayor, nobody that indicated they wished to speak.
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Simison: Okay. Is there anybody present, if you would like to come forward at this time,
you will be recognized for three minutes. Just state your name and address and if you
are online and want to provide testimony, please, use the raise your hand feature.
McDermott: They both work?
Simison: Yep. Either one.
McDermott: 2015 East -- oh, sorry. Thank you. Todd McDermott. And my wife Mindy.
2015 East Phenomenal Street in Meridian and our property backs up to this development,
so we will see the front doors of this development. So, anyway, I appreciate you giving
me some time to speak and I will just say this is the fourth -- the fourth meeting we have
been to for this development and I appreciate the -- the -- the rigor and the questions and
the discovery that you guys put into, yeah, all this to make sure this is a great city to live
in. I think -- we -- so, we have watched the developer make changes -- those changes
were required what's best for the city and what the -- the Council here has recommended.
So, we are very supportive of the project. I know parking was an issue. I have watched
them change and adapt and add parking spaces. So, I guess my major concern as a
homeowner is I don't want to see something else go back here. I know this is in-fill, it's
tough -- it's a tough shape and it's -- it's tough to do these, but from what I have heard in
-- in past meetings that these --these types of housing products are needed and so where
it may not be perfect, it's -- in my view it's better than a -- a storage unit or something like
that. So, we are in support of the -- of the project. Thank you.
Simison: Thank you. Council, any questions? Okay. You are good. Thank you. Anybody
else like to provide testimony? Okay. Seeing nobody online or in the audience, would
the applicant like to make any finals comments?
Nary: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Mr. Nary.
Nary: Mr. Mayor, could I ask the applicant one question, mostly for the CUP, just to make
sure we can get it right and help planning. On these -- on these spaces that are going to
be dedicated to the individual townhomes, are they going to be owned by the HOA or are
they owned by the townhome?
Breckon: Well, I -- I don't know, Mr. Nary. I think we are open to city's preference.
Nary: And here is why I raised that. If-- if it's owned by the HOA and it's part of the CUP
and that is -- basically it's like a common area maintenance that's going to be maintained
by the HOA, enforced by the HOA and those kind of things, that's something the CUP can
use an enforcement tool to say you need to be doing this, it's in your CUP. If it's private
property we are not going to do anything with it, because now it belongs to that property
owner, so they can -- they can pile up their storage out there or whatever. So, I mean I
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guess that's the -- I -- I don't know how to make it clear. Yes, CC&Rs can say no storage
there, I get that.
Breckon: Well, based on -- based on the plat, the way it's laid out, the -- the parking stalls
would be part of the common area.
Nary: Okay. Yeah. I think that would be easier from the Planning side if they were to get
complaints. Like it's my neighbor that keeps parking in the parking space, not -- not a
stranger, not a visitor, it's my neighbor that keeps encroaching, there is a method to
enforce that and that's why I asked, so thank you. I think that would be better.
Breckon: Yes. We have talked about having that as part of the HOA and CC&Rs and --
Nary: Okay.
Simison: Thank you.
Dodson: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Yes, Joe.
Dodson: Just quickly confirm that. Looking at the plat right here, yeah, the -- the parking
spaces are part of the private street, so it's not private property.
Simison: Council, discussion?
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: Joe, was there any unresolved language in the alternate compliance provisions
of your staff report? Has that been worked out?
Dodson: Councilman Borton, I did not modify -- hold on. I'm trying to think now.
apologize. I believe I included the Commission recommendation, which was the added
condition for the two-bedroom limit. So, if Council wants to strike that you can just say
strike that condition. I don't remember the number off the top of my head, but I -- I can
strike that and, then, that would be the only one. Regarding the alternative compliance,
staff already approved that -- our version of it, which is one per bedroom, basically, and
that's already in there. So, there is nothing outstanding.
Borton: There is not a provision where there is disagreement between the applicant and
staff?
Dodson: Correct. There is not.
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September 6,2022
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Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: I don't know if this is something the applicant will want to respond to, but we
heard applications in the past where there is conversation about, you know -- usually in
multi-family developments about using garages for storage, instead of using them for
parking and there are not many storage unit facilities close to this. Maybe a couple near
the freeway. Probably a few on Eagle Road. Overland. But that's -- if -- if there were
storage units closer to this I maybe would be less concerned, but that's another added
element to the -- how tight all of this is, is that there is not even -- you know, if -- if the
HOA had folks that were using the guest parking, because they had personal items in
their garage, there is not even anyplace really close for them to take them as an
enforcement measure.
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: Yeah. I think what I -- at least what -- one thing that makes me comfortable with
this one -- like this parking is super defined, so if you are a homeowner, you put yourself
in that situation, you don't really have alternatives. I mean, you know, you are going to
put yourself in a situation where you don't have parking. So, I -- I don't know, I'm -- I'm
kind of sympathetic to it. I feel like it's in people's best interest to make sure their garage
is clear, because they are going to know, like this is the exact parking you have. I --
think considering the dimensions of the site, I mean to staff's point we could have had a
multi-family project here. Like this to me is so much better than anything else we could
get here. I'm -- I'm pretty supportive of it. I think this is -- they beat this parking to death
and we just have to have faith that the homeowners are going to use their garages. If
they don't they are creating a huge problem for themselves.
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: We have received all public, applicant comment?
Simison: Yes.
Borton: I move we close the public hearing on H-2022-0036.
Bernt: Second.
Simison: I have a motion and a second to close the public hearing. Is there any
discussion? If not, all in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay? The ayes have it
and the public hearing is closed.
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September 6,2022
Page 50 of 55
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: Move that we approve Item 7, H-2022-0036, to include all staff comments and
conditions, including the alternative compliance conditions as set forth in the staff report,
September 6th, 2022.
Bernt: Second.
Simison: I have a motion and a second. Is there discussion on the motion?
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: Does that include striking the Commission's condition for the limitation on
bedrooms per unit?
Borton: Mr. Mayor, it does. I believe staff was comfortable with that as well.
Dodson: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Yes, Joe.
Dodson: Sorry. I just wanted to clarify to Council Woman Perreault's point, are we going
to add a plat condition or the CUP condition to add the towing piece into the CC&Rs or
no?
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: So, I hadn't contemplated that, but I see a head nod, so we -- some quick
discussion on that particular point. What exactly would be added in?
Simison: Are we allowed to dictate CC&Rs?
Perreault: Mr. Mayor, are you asking me?
Simison: I'm looking at Mr. Nary, asking that question.
Nary: So, no, but we -- it is a conditional use permit, so if-- if one of the conditions to use
this is that there be enforcement of those designated parking spaces for those designated
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September 6,2022
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residents, then, they can work out with Planning what does that look like, because the
HOA may decide some other form of enforcement or something else. I don't know. So,
think we just want some level of enforcement as part of the conditional use permit.
Simison: I just want to clarify that -- because that's a whole other world that I don't think
we have gone in --
Nary: Right. Yeah. We were not -- we cannot -- yeah, we cannot create conditions for
CC&Rs, but we can create a condition for the conditional use.
Simison: Okay.
Borton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Borton.
Borton: The motion would include that principle.
Simison: Second agree?
Bernt: Yeah.
Simison: Second agrees. Is there further discussion on the motion with the two second
agreeings? If not, Clerk will call the roll.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Cavener, absent; Bernt, yea; Perreault, yea; Hoaglun, absent;
Strader, yea.
Simison: All ayes. Motion carries and the item is agreed to. Thank you.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
ORDINANCES [Action Item]
8. Ordinance 22-1990: An Ordinance Adding Meridian City Code Section
9-2-2-10(E), Regarding Requiring Installation and Maintenance of
Water Recycling Systems for Commercial Car Washes; Adopting a
Savings Clause; and Providing an Effective Date
Simison: That moves us on to Item 8, our Ordinances. First item up is Ordinance No.
22-1990. 1 would ask the Clerk to read this ordinance by title.
Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. It's an ordinance adding Meridian City Code Section 9-
2-2-10(E), regarding requiring installation and maintenance of water recycling systems
for commercial car washes; adopting a savings clause; and providing an effective
Date.
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September 6,2022
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Simison: Council, you have heard this ordinance read by title. Is there anybody that
would like it read in its entirety? Seeing none, do I have a motion?
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: I move that we approve Ordinance No. 22-1990.
Simison: With suspension or no on this one?
Nary: I would just note on the record that, yeah, with -- with the -- with the suspension of
rules. We don't have to put it in the title, but it would be good for the record to be clear
that that was the intent.
Simison: Okay.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor, I will repeat that.
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: I move that we approve Ordinance 22-1990 with the suspension -- suspension
of rules.
Strader: Second.
Simison: I have a motion and a second to approve Item 8, Ordinance No. 22-1990, with
suspension of rules. Is there any discussion? If not, Clerk will call the roll.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Cavener, absent; Bernt, yea; Perreault, yea; Hoaglun, yea; Strader,
yea.
Simison: All ayes. Motion carries and the ordinance is agreed to.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
9. Ordinance 22-1991: An Ordinance Amending Meridian City Code
Section 9-4-34, Regarding Point of Liability for Maintenance of Sewer
Service Line; Repealing Conflicting Ordinances; and Providing an
Effective Date
Simison: Next item up is Item 9, Ordinance 22-1991. Ask the Clerk to read this ordinance
by title.
Johnson: Thank you, Mayor. It's an ordinance amending Meridian City Code Section 9-
4-34, regarding point of liability for maintenance of sewer service line; repealing
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September 6,2022
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conflicting ordinances; and providing an effective date.
Simison: Council, you have heard this ordinance ready by title. Is there anybody that
would like it read in its entirety? Seeing none, do I have a motion?
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: I move to approve Ordinance 22-1991 with the suspension of rules.
Strader: Second.
Simison: I have a motion and a second to approve Ordinance 22-1991 under suspension
of rules. Is there any discussion? If not, Clerk will call the roll.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Cavener, absent; Bernt, yea; Perreault, yea; Hoaglun, absent;
Strader, yea.
Simison: All ayes. Motion carries and the ordinance is agreed to.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
10. Ordinance No. 22-1992: An Ordinance of the City of Meridian, Idaho
Amending Ordinance No. 21-1945, the Appropriation Ordinance for the
Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2021 and Ending September 30, 2022
(FY2022), Appropriating Monies That are to be Allocated by the City of
Meridian, Idaho in the Sum of$(72,671,298); and Providing an Effective
Date
Simison: Item 10 was vacated.
11. Ordinance No. 22-1993: An Ordinance, Pursuant to Idaho Code §50-
1002 and §50-1003, Providing for a Title and Findings, Providing for
the Adoption of a Budget and the Appropriation of $219,724,039 to
Defray the Necessary Expenses and Liabilities of the City of Meridian,
in Accordance with the Object and Purposes and in the Certain
Amounts Herein Specified for the Fiscal Year Beginning October 1,
2022 and Ending on September 30, 2023; to Levy All Such Appropriate
Taxes and Levies as Authorized by Law Upon Taxable Property; and
to Collect All Authorized Revenue; to Provide for a Waiver of the 2nd
and 3rd Readings Pursuant to Idaho Code §50-902; and Providing for
an Effective Date and the Filing of a Certified Copy of This Ordinance
with the Secretary of State
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September 6,2022
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Simison: So we will move on to Item 11, which is Ordinance No. 22-1993. Ask the Clerk
to read this ordinance by title.
Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Ordinance pursuant Idaho -- Idaho Code Section 50
1002 and 50-1003 providing for a title and findings, providing for the adoption of a budget
and the appropriation of$219,724,039 to defray the necessary expenses and liabilities of
the City of Meridian, in accordance with the object and purposes and in the certain
amounts herein specified for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2022, and ending on
September 30, 2023; to levy all such appropriate taxes and levies as authorized by law
upon taxable property; and to collect all authorized revenue; to provide for a waiver of the
2nd and 3rd readings pursuant to Idaho Code Section 50-902; and providing for an
effective date and the filing of a certified copy of this ordinance with the Secretary of State.
Simison: Thank you. Council, you have heard this ordinance read by title. Is there
anybody that would like it read in its entirety?
Nary: Mr. Mayor, I don't want it read in its entirety, but I just want to make note for the
record that the reason that the waivers in this particular ordinance is because it is the
budget ordinance and it's required by statute, so --
Simison: Okay. With that do I have a motion?
Perreault: Mr. Mayor, continuing with the 1990s it was a great decade. Ordinance No. 2
-- I move that we approve Ordinance No. 22-1993.
Simison: Okay. I have a motion to approve Ordinance No. 22-1993. Is there a second?
Strader: Second.
Simison: I have a motion and a second. Is there discussion? If not, Clerk will call the
roll.
Roll call: Borton, yea; Cavener, absent; Bernt, yea; Perreault, yea; Hoaglun, absent;
Strader, yea.
Simison: All ayes. Motion carries and the ordinance is agreed to.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
FUTURE MEETING TOPICS
Simison: Council, anything under Future Meeting Topics? Do I have a motion to adjourn?
Borton: Move we adjourn.
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September 6,2022
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Simison: Motion to adjourn. All in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay? The ayes
have it. We are adjourned.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:50 P.M.
(AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
9 / 27 2022
MAYOR ROBERT E. SIMISON DATE APPROVED
ATTEST:
CHRIS JOHNSON - CITY CLERK