HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-03-14 Regular Minutes Meridian City Council March 14, 2023.
A Meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 6:19 p.m. Tuesday,
March 14, 2023, by Mayor Robert Simison.
Members Present: Robert Simison, Brad Hoaglun, Luke Cavener, Jessica Perreault,
Liz Strader and John Overton.
Members Absent: Joe Borton.
Also present: Chris Johnson, Joy Hall, Bill Nary, Stacy Hersh, Berle Stokes and Dean
Willis.
ROLL-CALL ATTENDANCE
Liz Strader Joe Borton
_X_ Brad Hoaglun _X_ John Overton
_X_ Jessica Perreault _X—Luke Cavener (5:09 p.m.)
X Mayor Robert E. Simison
Simison: Council, we will call the meeting to order. For the record it is March 14th,
2023. It's 6:19 p.m. We will begin this evening's regular City Council meeting with roll
call attendance.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Simison: Next item up is the Pledge of Allegiance. If you will all, please, rise and join
us in the pledge.
(Pledge of Allegiance recited.)
COMMUNITY INVOCATION
Simison: It looks like we don't have anyone here for the community invocation.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Simison: So, we will go ahead and move on to adoption of the agenda.
Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: We didn't finish our items under the -- in the Executive Session. So, at the
end of the meeting I will add Executive Session, Idaho Code 74-206 (d) to our agenda.
So, with that change, Mr. Mayor, I move adoption of the agenda as amended.
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Cavener: Second.
Simison: I have a motion and a second to adopt agenda as amended. 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 did not.
ACTION ITEMS
1. Public Hearing for Alexanders Landing Subdivision (H-2022-0084) by
Kent Brown Planning Services, located at the southeast corner of W.
Pine St. and Black Cat Rd.
A. Request: Annexation and Zoning of 5.2 acres of land from RUT in
Ada County to the R-8 zoning district.
B. Request: Preliminary Plat consisting of 24 building lots and 4
common lots.
Simison: Okay. Then with that we will go on to Action Items. First item up is a public
hearing for Alexanders Landing Subdivision, H-2022-0084. We will open this public
hearing with staff comments from Stacy.
Hersh: Good evening, Mr. Mayor and City Council. The applicant has submitted an
application for annexation and zoning and preliminary plat for the Alexanders Landing
Subdivision. This site consists of 5.2 acres of land and is currently zoned RUT and is
located near the southeast corner of West Pine Avenue and Black Cat Road. History
on the property is none. The Comprehensive Plan FLUM designation is medium
density residential. The subject property is 5.23 acres. Currently contains an existing
home. The subject site is abutting an R-8 development to the north in Horse Meadows
Subdivision to the east and west is currently residential and not yet annexed into the
City of Meridian and to the south is the railroad and Purdam Gulch Drain. The subject
property is designated as medium density residential on the future land use map,
consistent with the approved development to the north. The applicant proposes a 24 lot
subdivision and four common lots for a single family residential detached home at a
gross density of 4.59 units an acre, which is within the desired density range -- range of
the medium density designation. An existing home is on the property is proposed to
remain on Lot 1, Block 2. The outbuilding located on Lot 3, Block 2, shall be removed
with the development of this property. The existing home does not meet the required
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number of off-street parking spaces per the UDC for a three bedroom home that
requires four parking spaces, at least two in an enclosed garage and other spaces may
be enclosed for a minimum of a ten foot by 20 foot parking pad. The existing home
does not comprise of an enclosed garage. Staff recommends that the nonconformity of
the home be remedied to meet the off-street parking regulations and prior to the city
engineer's signature on the final plat. Access is proposed -- proposed from Quarter
Horse Lane from the north. Direct access to North Black Cat Road and West Pine
Avenue is prohibited. The subject property is dependent upon the development of the
Horse -- Horse Meadows Subdivision directly to the north to reconstruct the portion of
Quarter Horse Lane, which is currently a private road now, as a public street -- street,
which would provide public street frontage and access to the site. Due to access
availability, development should not commence until a public road access is available to
the site upon development of the Horse Meadow Subdivision prior to submitting a final
plat for approval. A local stub street, which is West Newland Drive, is proposed for
interconnectivity between the two developments that are stubbed at the east-west
boundary on the site in accordance with the UDC. The street does extend 150 feet.
Therefore, a temporary turnaround is required. The applicant is proposing to construct
a temporary turnaround on a common Lot 10, Block 1, which decreases the usability of
the area. Staff recommends that the applicant construct the temporary turnaround on
Lots 5-7, Block 3, in the southwest corner of the development to increase the open
space for the development. The reason for this recommendation is to ensure that the
open space for the development remains intact without placing a burden on the HOA to
remediate the removal of the turnaround. The applicant included a concept plan for the
property to the west -- sorry. Which is shown that demonstrates how the R-1 property
could potentially develop in the future. Landscape buffers. There are no street buffers
are required per the UDC table for internal local streets. Common open space
landscaping is proposed as shown on the landscape plan. Common open space and
amenities -- a minimum of 15 percent or 1 .23 acres based on 5.23 acres of qualified
open space is required to be provided in this development per the standards listed in
the UDC. An open space exhibit was submitted that depicts 1 .29 acres of common
open space for the development with a 0.78 acres of this area as qualified open space.
The minimum -- the minimum amount of qualified open space required is 0.78 acres,
approximately 34,194 square feet, and a ten foot wide pathway is required per the
master pathways plan in lieu of the proposed six foot pathway running along the
southern border of the site. The project size of 5.23 acres requires minimum of one
amenity point for every five acres. According to the submitted plans the applicant is
proposing the following amenity use worth three amenity points. Picnic tables with a
shelter. Pathways. The proposed amenities and their point value is correct and exceed
the UDC requirements for a project of this size. Sidewalks are five feet wide. Attached
sidewalks are proposed within the development according to the UDC standards. The
Purdam Gulch Drain does run along the southern border of the site. Staff did not
receive a response from Nampa-Meridian Irrigation District on whether or not an
easement exists on the property for the lateral. If it does it should be depicted on the
plat and no encroachments allowed within the easement and per the UDC the applicant
is requesting a Council waiver to allow the drain to remain open in a natural state.
Building elevations were provided. Three conceptual revised building elevations with
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floor plans were submitted that demonstrate what future homes in this development look
like. Variations of two-story homes with a two-story garage -- two-car garage are
proposed. The submitted elevations do depict a number of architectural and design
standards and field -- field materials of lap siding, stone of differing colors, roof lines and
sand -- and varying -- and varying of home styles. And the last thing that staff does --
staff requests that Council strike a condition A-3-C pertaining to the landscape plan
submitted. We would like it struck that it depict an open vision fence at least six foot --
feet in height around the Purdam Drain per the UDC. This is not required. Commission
recommended approval of this application and the summary of the Commission public
hearing -- in favor were Kent Brown and opposition were none. Commenting were Kent
Brown. Written testimony was none. Key issues were none. Key issues of discussion
by Commission were timing of the proposed -- proposed development not commencing
until public road access is available to the site upon development of Horse Meadows
Subdivision to the north. Recommend or request that the historical advisory committee
works with the city in preserving the Roosevelt Elementary School that was used in
1910 located on the property to the west and I did look that up on GIS and, actually,
there is -- there are people that are living there and it's considered a residential home. It
doesn't say anything about a school. So, I'm not sure if that is the correct site or not
that they were referring to. Commission changes to staff recommendation. The
developer shall set aside funds for -- for remediation of a temporary turnaround on Lot
10 and I did add a condition that the developer would submit a surety for that and we
would hold it until such time that they -- that that road develops and, then, they would --
we would refund them and they would landscape that piece. And outstanding issues for
City Council are none. There was written testimony since the Commission hearing from
three different people. Courtney Munnell, Jane R. Byam and Kathy Gallentine and
mostly the concerns were about traffic concerns down Black Cat Road and the other
concerns were they would like to see a better transition with -- like to see R-2 zone lots
or something with less density proposed with this development next to the existing R-2
and RUT lots that are within the county. And with that said that concludes the
presentation and I stand for any questions you may have.
Simison: Thank you, Stacy. Council, questions?
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: Stacy, thank you for being so thorough. If I remember correctly with the
Horse Meadows Subdivision, there was some issue with getting existing property
owners in that area to sign off and be in full agreement on access on Quarter Horse
Lane and whether it would be a public road or not. Do we know what the status is of
that?
Hersh: Mr. Mayor, Council Woman Perreault, I do not know what the status of that is. I
know ACHD submitted their report and require this to be a public road and I know the
applicant has more details, because he -- they are working with that development to the
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north together on when the timing is going to come. They have not submitted the final
plat, but ACHD's comments were that they were -- in order for this development to have
public roads that they would approve that that road does need to come in and I -- at this
time there is no update on that part of it.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: Excuse me. The limitation to not access Black Cat or Pine from this
development, is that a limitation that's -- that was put on by ACHD specifically or is it just
a limitation of the designer of this parcel or an issue with accessing through the north?
Hersh: Mr. Mayor, Council Woman Perreault, so that is actually a -- a requirement from
us and ACHD. So, Pine is going to punch through I believe this spring or summer.
That's going to finish and so the development to the north is going to take access from
Pine and, then, that will also allow everything else to develop to the south and so that
will be the access everyone will use from Quarter Horse Lane.
Simison: Council, any additional questions for staff? Okay. And I see the applicant
coming forward.
Brown: For the record Kent Brown. 3161 East Springwood, Meridian, Idaho. Stacy,
could you put up my little slide? I'm really IT or electronic challenged, so I'm going to try
to describe -- I have tried to use the mouse and show an arrow and I'm terrible. I'm --
just to make you aware. When the map does come up, working with the developers
that are doing Pine Street that is to the east at Ten Mile, they are in the process of
building the bridge. Currently Pine -- so, if we take that top drawing and blow that one
up -- so, they are scheduled to have the bridge done before water goes into the ditch.
It's a precast structure. Okay. Perfect. So, currently there is over 5,000 vehicle trips of
people that go down Pine Street from Black Cat and they drive up to the end there
where the bridge is now being installed and, then, they have to turn around and go
back. So, that has increased the traffic in the Black Cat area and ACHD I -- I believe
the City of Meridian is -- and everybody is real anxious for this bridge to go in and that's
supposed to be completed -- let's see. We are in March already. So, next month before
the water goes in they are supposed to have the structure there and, then, they have
got paving on both sides already. So, that will function and will relieve a lot of that traffic
that's of concern in that area. I have kind of highlighted -- there is a solid green line that
is over in that area. High Mile Pines is a recorded plat and, then, Foxcroft. They are all
building a pathway that goes up to the park, as you can see my solid line. I think one of
the biggest challenges that I face as a planner is taking a piece of property like this and,
then, making it work and we are asked to do certain things -- like we are putting in a -- a
-- a pathway, basically, that goes nowhere. It dead ends to the west and it dead ends to
the east. You can see where we are building it in Ten Mile -- or High Mile Pines and,
then, it goes up the ditch. But all of those subdivisions -- the Chesterfield Subdivisions
that went in there, none of them had that pathway. So, there is close to 2,000 feet there
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that that pathway can't go through and yet we are going to be on the one end building
some and there is some on the other. I see the merit to it. I have -- it's kind of hard to
see -- unless you maybe blow that up just a little bit where we can see the -- thank you.
You see the site. I put a dotted green line that -- where that pathway sits on our site,
but also the five acres that's to the east of us, when that development comes in and the
city puts the same requirement, then, that pathway can go there and if they run a micro
path up to the street, then, they can cross the street and, then, cross Pine and in that
development -- and Pine, again, you see my dotted lines that go up through that
common area, there is actually a bridge crossing in there. Yep. That's it. That drops
off into the park. There is a pathway that's along there also that -- that -- that system
connects into. So, maybe the residents in my development aren't going to see that it's
going to work, but overall I can see the benefit in us at least doing our part if the
neighbor next door has the same requirement and so that's part of the challenge. There
has been some discussion about Quarter Horse Lane. It's private and our clients have
actually even worked with the Quarter Horse people in getting the right of way to them,
so that they can put that as a part of their plans and they have gotten their plan approval
for that development -- construction plan approval from ACHD as I understand. So, we
know that that development is going to take place. Can we go to the next slide, please?
You can see the Quarter Horse development that's there to the north and how you can
come out of our development -- when we had the neighborhood meeting we had it right
in front of the existing house, which one of the neighbors came up and said currently he
has got snowmobile trailers and horse trailers and he says he can't get out -- trying to
get out next to the railroad tracks and out on Black Cat and he looks forward to these
roads being built and being public, so that he can get out onto Pine and that would give
him a straight shot. He -- he wasn't in opposition. It was actually a very -- very
comfortable meeting. They just wanted to know when -- when things were going to
happen. We understand that it's good planning to stub to the property to the west. If we
go to the next slide, we have kind of shown how that property could redevelop. That's a
requirement that Planning asked us to look at. It's not necessarily that they have to do it
that way, but it at least shows that they might be able to do something. They could just
hook on to where we are at and turn it into a cul-de-sac and, then, come in a short
distance with a common driveway and probably accomplish the same thing and maybe
not build as much road. Either way it's about the only place that we can put the -- the
road stub, because we have that Purdam Drain that runs along the south and for us to
get as much of that pathway in our design to that -- to that location. Going through the
conditions of approval, on page 19, the -- the one that Stacy read about our not being
able to submit the final plat until we have a public access, I -- I would just like to -- I
guess the Council to understand that to me if I can get an easement from ACHD to
cross that property -- maybe the subdivision isn't recorded yet, I -- I wouldn't even have
thought of this a month ago, but recently I recorded -- or was in the process of recording
a subdivision. The developer next door was building at the same time and they are both
building at the same time and I'm faster. So, I get to the county before this other guy
does and yet you drive out there, you can drive on the road and you can get to it, but
they won't allow me to record it until I got a public access easement. So, if the
interpretation from staff of the condition that's written that I can submit when ACHD
gives us some public access, whether that's an easement or not, and that's Condition 1-
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D. I -- I can see the merit. Instead of me having to wait for that subdivision to get
recorded, they are not going to grant that easement and me submitting a final plat -- I
still, then, have to get my plans approved. I still have to go through a hearing. There is
a bunch of steps that are going to take place versus having it -- the subdivision be
recorded. Just having that understanding I think allows us to -- to move forward and
meet all of the requirements. I -- I don't have anything else. I -- I think that we have
tried to do the best with what we have got and I will stand for any questions.
Simison: Thank you, Kent. Council, any questions?
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: So, Kent, full disclosure. I lived on Newland in Chesterfield four houses
down from here for 11 years. So, I'm very very familiar with this entire area and traffic
flows and -- and everything. I'm curious where your -- if you did start construction --
start infrastructure construction, excavation and whatnot, prior to Horse Meadows, what
access would you use? Is that what you are --
Brown: No. I'm not asking to do it before they are -- they are doing it, because they are
bringing water and sewer --
Perreault: Okay.
Brown: -- and we are working with them already. So, we have been in close contact --
at least my clients have and discussing how to move both projects forward and
participating in and assisting each other and that's about the only way that you can do
in-fill is to -- to make that happen. The street that runs along the bottom is Newland,
which aligns up with the -- your street that is to the -- to the east of us.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: Was there a conversation with the Horse Meadows developers to take
primary access from Pine, rather than to use Quarter Horse Lane?
Brown: Yes.
Perreault: A lot of concerns about -- the neighbors are -- or excuse me -- the -- the folks
who wrote in testimony are not wrong that that is -- that is not a safe area to put an
access to Black Cat. It's just too close between the railroad tracks and, then, you have
Quarter Horse and, then, you have Pine and they are all within less than -- less than
quarter mile. So, what -- yeah. Can you share with us what -- how that conversation
went?
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Brown: No one has approval to continue to use that existing private lane. The highway
district won't allow it. You guys aren't allowing it. Quarter Horse has to do it as the
previous slide that showed going out. That's a part of the construction plan that they
have been working with. As you see what they are building, we -- where we are
adjacent to that roadway, we have been helping them with giving them the right of way
so that they can improve that road section that's adjacent to our site, so that that gets
done. Yeah. Right in that area. So, both developments -- the access that goes directly
to the north at the cursor drawn, that's how both of them have to go out. We would
have to come back before the Council -- both developments for anything else and it
wouldn't be supported by the Highway District or Planning Department and shouldn't.
Quarter -- Quarter Horse Lane, as it exists, is exactly what you talked about, is not a
safe location for it to come out onto Black Cat.
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: I don't love it when the existing house stays and everything else develops
around it and, then, I feel like, okay, this one's hogging all the space. If we develop the
whole thing at once it probably wouldn't look like this. It's not the most egregious that I
have seen, but give me an idea about how -- how the existing home is going to blend in
with the rest of the subdivision in terms of aesthetically or --
Brown: It faces Quarter Horse Lane. We have done many of the ones like this. This is
the first one that I have done that's been close to the street.
Strader: Are there trees and stuff along the -- excuse me, Mr. Mayor, if you don't mind, I
have a couple --
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: All right. Is it -- is it going to stick out like a sore thumb compared to all the
other surrounding homes or is it -- are there -- you know, is there landscaping that sort
of buffers it or how is that -- how is that going to look?
Brown: Realistically it -- you are looking at the side view for the rest of the
development. The front of the house faces Quarter Horse Lane. Currently there is like
a circle driveway that is out there for -- for where they currently park and so forth on
that. I -- I guess the -- the challenge comes is -- and we have seen those property
values go up and usually that kind of causes someone to maybe even think about
moving the house. This -- this house does have a basement in it and a second story.
So, I would say that question comes with every developer that I ever work with as -- is it
worth keeping the house? How does it fit into the neighborhood? The space between
that house and any of the other neighbors takes place and, again, that's a challenge of
doing in-fill.
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Strader: Thank you.
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: Kent, can you -- either you or maybe I will ask staff -- give me some history
on the -- on the property to -- to the west.
Brown: Have no clue.
Cavener: Then talk to me a little bit -- you have got this kind of like strip of open space
that kind of bleeds over to it down here below -- yeah. It's in the -- in the striped --
Brown: Oh. We -- we own 30 feet of frontage on Black Cat, but that 30 foot of frontage
is all Purdam Drain, so -- I drove by today and we are required to put signs on our
frontages. Well, that sign sits down in a hole, because that is what we own and it's -- it
would be on someone else's property. The -- the house or the property that is directly to
the west of us has a vinyl fence that runs all the way in -- along its frontage, but that's --
that's that hatched area and that's not counted as a part of the open space, it's just --
Cavener: Got it.
Brown: We are not getting -- we don't get any benefit from it, but we can't make it go
away, so --
Cavener: And Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: And, Kent, I think you speak to exactly was -- I think at least the question that
came up in some of the written testimony that we had received where some people
were confused as to why you are putting a noticing sign over there and that's because
you are doing that to comply with the law and so I appreciate providing some of that
clarification.
Brown: I -- I get asked to do a lot of different things by the government. I used to use a
word -- my wife says that we don't let our kids say that word, so -- but I get asked to do
things and you just -- it's on Stacy's list is what the problem is, so -- anyway.
Cavener: Fair enough. So, Kent, I will -- I want to be up front with you. I'm really
struggling with this annexation and so -- and not that I think it's not -- I think you used
the word trying to be really creative and I think you have been really creative. Part of
me feels like it's a little premature, particularly with -- you know, I think Pine is
surprisingly rated level C I think from ACHD. I imagine that's going to change come this
summer, as we are going to see I think many of our residents use Pine, they are going
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to get off at Ten Mile to cut over, particularly at 5:00 o'clock and at 9:00 in the morning.
I have got lots of challenges with Black Cat, none of which are your fault, but will help to
contribute towards that and part of me feels I -- I think you -- you used the term -- and I
think even the Planning and Zoning Commission referenced it as in-fill and certainly
there is some elements of that. To me it just seems like too high of density in a small
piece of dirt that has lots of complications when it comes to access and even to your --
to your point, not a lot of opportunity for pedestrian circulation to move people through.
Anybody that's going to come in and out is going to use their car. I don't love that. So,
help me understand -- because you do this a lot and you are the expert -- the
opportunity that you see in this and -- and why we -- the Council should be considering
this annexation right now.
Brown: You -- you end up needing to put all the puzzles together and there isn't
anything, for example, that the current owner there puts the garage that you are asking
and puts that on the house and that changes that house's value and he sells to
somebody and someone tries to split that and you guys make him do a short plat, that is
kind of standard procedure as -- the amazing thing to me is that when I do -- you know,
and you do 300 acres or 200 acres and you are buying from a farmer and he's going I
can't live on anything less than five acres.
Cavener: Right.
Brown: And as soon as he has his five acres and neighbors start moving and he's
going, well, I don't like looking out what used to be my field and seeing houses, so it
changes and your codes kind of put enough restrictions -- this meets the matrix for what
the Comprehensive Plan is saying to go forth in this area and we are working with
pieces of property that in the past people would have walked away from, because you
are paying a high price -- this piece of property is paying a high price for Purdam Drain
property that they are not -- they are going to mow weeds. That's -- that's going to be
their -- their -- their charge as long as they own it and -- and moving forward. But if
someone didn't do those pieces, then, the road that everybody wants to be connected to
the east doesn't take place and if you don't -- I mean I don't know how many times I
have heard the former mayor say, you know, if you didn't put that sidewalk in on one of
your major roads that -- you know, if you didn't put it in, then, how long were you not
going to have it and so those things have to kind of take place and you have to do it on
those different pieces of property and, yes, could they go another ten years after this
and neither neighbor that has the five acres change? Realistically we are not impacting
them. If we are doing anything, we are helping them and with Quarter Horse get to Pine
Street, not stop using Quarter Horse Lane and helping the situation. You -- I have had
people ask me -- you know, tell me where development is going to take place. Well, it
follows the sewer. Well, we -- we don't have access to the sewer unless Quarter Horse
goes in next door. No one to the east of us has access to the sewer until we put it in
and so it's all those little tiny pieces that get put together that allow something to take
place. Would it be a lot easier if you bought all of those pieces and -- and you came in
all at once? Yes. But we all have property rights. We all -- I mean I -- I can point out
properties another time and you and I can talk about them when someone should have
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sold sooner and now they are kind of stuck with where they are at and at this point it
really doesn't affect either neighbor. So, I -- I would view what we are doing helps the
area, helps the city grow in this part -- portion of it, but at the same time has very little or
low impact and helps the situation in getting people to Pine, because that's where
people need to come out is on Pine. The master plan calls for it being extended and
going to the west into the industrial stuff and we know that people currently want to get
to the Ten Mile interchange. Right now they are having to drive to Black Cat, go up to
Pine, drive down, turn around and come back to make that -- that trip. Emergency
services and everything else is going to be changed by what my other clients are doing,
building that bridge and making that connection. Traffic -- traffic patterns are going to
change in that area and that's -- how many developments do we hear the major concern
is -- is -- is traffic. So, that part's changing and yet traffic here -- us and Quarter Horse
are affecting each other. We are not really affecting our neighbors is what I'm -- what
see when I look at this. That's a long answer and I apologize.
Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Hoaglun.
Borton: Mr. Mayor. Kent, there was questions about that -- setting aside funds for
remediation for the temporary turnaround area in that common Lot 10. Is that --
Brown: That's fine.
Hoaglun: You are good with that?
Brown: That sounds reasonable. What the -- what the concern of the Planning and
Zoning Commission is that -- is the HOA going to be stuck with paying for that
temporary turnaround. You know, realistically the -- the difficulty of the city holding the
funds is, you know, it could be ten years if the neighbor to the west doesn't do anything,
but if there is the funds that -- that -- it's the funds. So, what we are talking about is just
picking up the asphalt and planting grass, so --
Hoaglun- Okay. Thank you.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: So, as you know, Pine on that section from the drain to Black Cat is really
not set up to be a three street -- there is no striping, there is no sidewalks on the south
side for a good majority of it. Any idea if ACHD is going to actually, you know, make
some improvements on there, so that it -- it does act as a two way through street? It's
just -- it just is a -- essentially a subdivision street at this point. I mean it's public road,
but it is behaved as an entrance to these two subdivisions solely for the last 15 years
that they have been there and now with the request to have two subdivisions accessing
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that section of Pine, which it's my understanding if Horse Meadows goes in they will run
sidewalk. I don't know if they will go all the way across the front of the private property
to the east.
Brown: They go to the east and --
Perreault: So, there will be a gap where there is no sidewalk.
Brown: Exactly.
Perreault: On the south side. There is a sidewalk all the way on the north side. So,
two questions, essentially. If I understood you -- I'm very bothered by how the traffic will
flow in both of these -- both of these potential subdivisions. I know you don't have any
control over Horse Meadows. We had a lot of conversation with them about their -- their
road design as well. If I understand correctly, that emergency access there on the very
southwest side -- right there. That will stay emergency access. You are not -- the you aren't attempting to change that or request Horse Meadows to change that of any of any kind. So, why not line up Bareback with their street that heads straight up to
Pine, rather than when the neighbor to the east develops, creating a challenge for them
that -- that's going to kind of limit how they develop that southwest corner of their
property.
Brown: From a planning standpoint we want people to drive short distances. I mean
immediately -- if you think about that, if we were all lined up -- first of all, it makes a
bigger challenge for me on my side to try to -- I'm dodging that Purdam Drain, but we
are meeting offsets and so with people having that street be offset and you have to stop
and start, people are not traveling fast. If that was a straight shot and you came down
to the bottom and, then, you align with Newland that goes all the way to the east, you
would have kind of a thoroughfare of people driving that 2,000 feet on Newland and --
roughly. Somewhat. It does -- it's not a -- a through street. It -- it breaks that up and
from a planning standpoint, if I -- if I owned everything and we were bringing that
development, I would still probably have what I'm doing here to offset that, just -- just to
slow traffic down.
Simison: Council, any additional questions for the applicant? Okay.
Brown: I -- I would ask that maybe one of the things that the City Council asked
Planning and Zoning to do is to look at incentives for developers to develop these types
of properties. Boise City has a -- a kind of -- they used to -- they have always had a
one-time land division, even when I worked there where you could split a piece of
property into four pieces, kind of like your short plat process. But to curb urban sprawl
you need to take your downtown core and create more density and if there is incentives
for -- for people to make that process easier, generally all the rules that you are seeing
and the new things that are coming forward are in these bigger subdivisions and the
amenities and so forth that are involved, but yet your city services, police and fire, are
still driving down those existing streets and if there was one more unit in there or
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something like that in your neighborhoods of your existing area, I see that that would be
a benefit, because these are a challenge. You wouldn't think that we would maybe
have four or five designs on this, but we did. So, anyway --
Simison: Thank you. Mr. Clerk, do we have anyone signed up to provide testimony?
Johnson: Mr. Mayor, we do not.
Simison: Okay. Is there anybody in the audience who would like to come forward and
provide testimony on this item? And last time I checked I didn't -- I guess we do have
someone coming forward. And if there is anybody online you can use raise your hand.
Go ahead and state your name and -- no. You're good. State your name and address
for the record.
Alexander: Brent Alexander. 4575 West Quarter Horse Lane, Meridian, Idaho. So,
am the current occupant of the existing house.
Simison: If you can speak into one of the mics.
Alexander: I'm the current occupant of the existing house that we want to maintain and
there were some questions about landscape. I have many mature trees around my
house. Big ash trees. Big silver maples. My -- my circle driveway will be eliminated
when the easement comes through and they do that road up to the edge of my property
and at that point it will be curb and gutter and fence and --just like a regular house front.
The garage I plan to put on it -- I will actually access it off of the road to my east and will
attach to my garage to the left side of my house, kind of the way my house is kind of
angled. So, it will come in there. I will build the garage there and that will actually be
my driveway and that's -- that's kind of the plan to -- to do that and, you know, the fence
that's required, like every other neighbor that has -- except my neighbor to the east
pasture fence will remain the same, but I will do the same fence standard that all the
other houses will be required in the subdivision. So, I just wanted to speak to that to let
you know what -- the plans for that piece of property are going forward. It should blend
in with -- I mean it -- it's -- it's -- it's not full -- it's not a single story house on a basement.
It's a daylight basement house. So, it's kind of the -- the basement is kind of half up, so
it's a split entry with the daylight basement. So, I believe it will -- it will blend well with
the residents and -- and, really, at the end of the day nobody's going to see it except the
Caseys, who live at the end of the lane and the Morgans who come out of their
driveway. The -- the -- the neighborhood will see the new garage and the landscaping
around that. So, I just wanted to speak to that.
Simison: Council, any questions? Okay. Is there anybody else that would like to
provide testimony on this item? And would the applicant like to come forward to close?
Okay. The applicant is waiving.
Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor?
Meridian City Council Work Session
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Simison: Councilman Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: I suppose we can have the discussion, leave the public hearing open in case
there is a further question that comes up for the applicant to -- to -- to answer. Yeah.
And in-fill is always difficult and Mr. Brown has -- has done some in-fill projects before
that -- that fit the need and they are thoughtfully planned and -- and -- and make it work.
I think the big thing is we definitely need to have that access point that's going to be in --
in the other subdivision at that time. I -- I don't have any objection to having to submit
final plat upon ACHD's granting an easement if this were to go forward. I mean it
makes sense. As long as the road is there and is built to the standard that ACHD
requires, how the timing comes out -- it's going to be used by both parties at -- at some
point in time and there is also a request -- Council waiver to allow the Purdam Gulch
Drain to remain open in a natural state and I believe it's natural all the way down
headed east already. So, it would be unusual to have it covered in this -- in this
situation and I think there is some wild turkeys on the part you don't own, so -- I have
driven by there and did a double take, so -- 26. They can do some damage, you know,
to your -- to your garden. But I saw one on Chinden Saturday by -- by Spurwing
crossing the road. Why did the turkey cross the road? Well, it did barely. It made it.
Five lanes. But -- yeah. In the in-fill, it is -- I think Kent described it as a -- you know,
everything is a puzzle piece and how do you make that fit? And sometimes we like the
fit, sometimes we don't. I'm not sure where this one will end up in -- in -- in the Council's
final decision, but I'm -- I'm okay with this fit. It's -- it works with the property that's to the
north. It allows that access. It's the right density. It fits the development that's on that
eastern side of Black Cat. I know some of the folks on the west side with the higher
density -- or lower densities, bigger properties, don't like it, but to me that Black Cat
Road is a -- is a dividing line there. So, I think that kind of makes a difference, because
we had that discussion with -- with the other development and what -- what existed
there and going north and how things fit and where the roads fit and that sort of thing.
So, you know, I -- you know, I'm -- my mind's always open. If Council Members have
real concerns that might change my mind and I'm willing to listen. But I'm not -- not
necessarily opposed to moving forward with this project.
Overton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Overton.
Overton: I have got to agree that these five acre in-fills are tough. In fact, Mr. Brown
and I have a history on a five acre in-fill property that was tough. I look at the fact that
we are talking about 24 units and a density of 4.59 and I think I would rather be facing
that and what he's come up with right now than a potential down the road of seeing
something come in that's a much higher density that we don't want and in reviewing this
from every angle, because there is a lot of angles on this five acres, I think he's done
about as good a job as you can do given all the restrictions on this lot and I would be in
support of it.
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
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Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: Yeah. I think it's well thought out. I appreciate him working with the property
owner to the north to figure out the connections and work together on bringing services
and I think that kind of an approach makes in-fill feel a little more palatable. I would like
staff's feedback on whether they are okay with the final plat when ACHD grants an
easement. That feels like a departure from our normal process and that always makes
me nervous. So, I would like to get some feedback from staff on that. I don't have a lot
of energy around the drain. I think that's fine. I do agree we have a transportation
challenge in general in this area, but it feels like the connectivity is part of the answer
and it's not as bad as some areas we have seen, but if -- if you don't mind, if staff could
comment on -- on that final plat point I would like to hear their feedback.
Hersh: Mr. Mayor, Council Woman Strader, as far as that condition request, I have not
had experience on any other projects requesting that. So, whether that is a negative
thing I am not sure. We -- I don't see that happening a lot. We don't get too many of
these.
Simison: Mr. Nary, do you have a viewpoint on that topic, on whether or not to do the
final plat at the time that's been recommended.
Nary: Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council, yeah, I really -- I really don't. I mean I -- kind
of where Kent was at was the timing is really going to be tied to the adjoining property
anyway. So, I -- I guess I'm not really concerned what Mr. Brown was asking for versus
what the staff's asking. So, I -- I don't know that either one is going to be a wrong
decision. So, I'm -- I'm not concerned about it, so --
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: So, just to think out loud, I guess the kinds of things I would be concerned
about, maybe for feedback from Mr. Nary, would be is there any possibility that ACHD
grants the easement and, then, the development to the north brings services, but, then,
doesn't ultimately complete its project or -- and I don't know if this is for feedback from
him or from staff, but like what kinds of risks could happen in that scenario? I just don't
know enough about what our normal process is compared to waiving that condition. I'm
not saying that we -- I guess -- and the other -- the other thing I would say is I -- I didn't
hear a hugely compelling reason why you thought that was super important to deviate
from our normal process. So, maybe that's a good place to start, just because I feel like
we should always use a consistent process. At anytime that we are not using a
consistent process -- and I know the wheels of government are grinding you down, man,
but if you could just, please, give us some feedback.
Brown: I -- I got to admit that I was totally shocked that I had to do this, but it states on
the document -- and what they do is they go to the landowner that is in the process of
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getting his plat recorded and they say that -- they give a description, which would be
that connection to Pine, and they would call that out and say you are okay with this
being a public access until the plat's recorded. What -- what the -- the wheels of justice,
if you will, is that it's officially not a public right of way until the plat gets recorded. So,
since it's not public, it's owned by the landowner that is doing the development, he has
to consent to it and ACHD has to sign off on it. What I started envisioning, as Stacy
was reading it -- I -- I hadn't even thought of it before, but because I just had this
experience -- and it's in Star -- that you guys are stopping me from submitting a final
plat, which, then, you guys start looking at my plans for approval, I'm going to be in at
ACHD, we are not getting plan approval in 30, 40 days, it's more like 40, 50 days. So,
you guys -- me getting to a final plat hearing can take some time. I'm looking at all of
those things are going to be done by the time that the plat gets recorded, but it's going
to save me three or four months and we have a construction season. There is a time to
build and there is a time not to and if we can get in and get the plans approved, then,
we can start moving forward and -- versus me waiting until it's totally recorded -- I
technically -- without changing the condition, I could probably present this to Planning
staff and convince them that the way that it's written is taken care of, but I thought, well,
if I raise the issue and say really up front if it need be, if I get this public access
easement that ACHD, you know, would grant to this piece of property, everybody's
recognizing that there is -- there is some kind of surface that we can drive on, whether --
we are not going to be using it until -- most likely, because we are not getting plans
approved very quickly anymore.
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: Aren't you sort of taking a risk, because you are assuming that your neighbor
is going to record that final plat; right? At that point. What if something happens?
Brown: The highway district is -- if they don't record the plat and I have a public access,
It's -- it's not just for construction.
Strader: Right.
Brown: So, I guess when you have spent your money the only way that you get your
money back is by recording your plat where you can start to sell. I mean subdivision
process, according to our -- our Local Planning Act, is a legal means of subdividing the
ground and creating something that's sellable. Can't sell it in smaller pieces until you
record it. So, developers get really anxious when they put a million dollars out -- that
money is not doing them any good until they get their plat recorded. So, they get real
anxious about that. So, if they are in that process, they are going to record and I -- I
don't worry about that part. I just worry about me maybe missing a window for the
construction season, because I had to wait four months, because maybe they didn't
have bonding capabilities for the city's improvements, which is landscaping or whatever
that was required. So, they are going to build it all type of deal.
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Hoaglun: So, Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: So, for public safety -- so, Fire protection -- that access would still have to be
approved by Fire. So, it's -- it's not like, oh, this is kind of sketchy how to access the
point, so -- to get in for your final plat. I -- I'm thinking of a scenario, then, that -- where
the climate we are in -- the developer moves forward -- and this is more going back to
the '08, '09 era where they get in the sewer and water, they get in the streets, and, then,
their funding source dried up. You know, there is streetlights, the whole bit, and we saw
a little bit of that back then where things were there, but no one was building a thing.
And you, on the other hand, might have that funding -- if that would happen there. You
have your funding, you build your project, you are ready for final plat, that would allow
you then -- because they didn't get their final plat, that's not done, but --
Brown: I have access.
Hoaglun: -- but you have access and everything is done to code and ACHD can give
you that approval -- that easement access that would allow you -- and it would meet our
requirement for Fire --
Brown: And that's a very worst case scenario, but we have seen it. Hopefully we never
see it again, because that was --
Hoaglun: Bad times.
Brown: Yeah. My dad talked about the depression. That was as close as I want to get
to it, but it -- it would allow us that access. You guys basically do the same thing every
time that you ask me to give you a pedestrian pathway easement and you are saying,
developer and HOA, we are going to allow the public to walk on this, because you are
going to give us an easement and we -- we do that. This is doing the same thing is that
the public's going to be able -- because it's written, it's a public access easement. I can
provide staff with a copy of it, because -- I could probably even e-mail, because I have it
on my phone. But we just did one, so -- but the document allows that access for the
public, because what -- what the conditional of approval says -- I'm not allowed to
submit my final plat until I have public access. It's not saying that that subdivision to the
north has to be recorded. So, technically, what I'm asking isn't changing that condition
of approval, I'm just acknowledging before you that you understand that I might
approach that public access through an easement, because that plat is not recorded
and --
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
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Strader: So, I guess if -- it doesn't sound like Planning has an issue. I guess I'm
looking to legal. If you don't feel that that in some way infringes on the property rights of
the adjacent property in some way by the city, then, I'm fine.
Nary: So -- so, Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council. So, the -- the public access
easement -- I think Kent hit it on the head. I mean the -- the only difference is the
easement is a grant of use of the land by the property owner, but it has to be voluntary.
We are not requiring him to do it. We are requiring Kent to work that out and -- Mr.
Brown and his client to work that out with that property owner and with ACHD and with
the Fire Department. So, there is an improved road surface that is usable by fire trucks
and cars. So, from a legal standpoint I don't see that the property owner of that
adjacent property that's trying to subdivide has any redress against the city, because we
-- we can't make that person do anything and so he's either going to do this as a means
to facilitate the process of their development or he's not. If he doesn't grant it, then, Mr.
Brown can't build his subdivision, because he has no access to get to it. So, yeah, I
don't see a real risk to the city to allow what Mr. Brown's requesting.
Strader: Okay. Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: Thank you. It sounds like there is not really a concern and you have a good
reason that you need it, which is saving time. Thank you.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Seal: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: So, sometimes everything can look good on paper and dot the I's and cross
the T's and the timing still isn't great. I don't -- I don't have significant opposition to the
development as it is, the way the -- the plat's designed, but I have a lot of concern about
just flow of traffic and access and timing in regard to the development of the property to
the north and Pine Avenue and what's going to happen with Pine Avenue. So, let's
anticipate that construction trucks are coming into both of these developments on the
one entrance and they are coming in off of Black Cat where we have a very short
distance to access the road or access the entrance on the north. There is a bus stop
across the street from the entrance on Pine where both of these will be accessing with
elementary school children. There is no striping on Pine at all to -- to delineate where
the cars are supposed to turn on either Black Cat -- there is no right turn lane on Black
Cat. There is no left turn lane on Black Cat into -- onto Pine and there is no striping
whatsoever on Pine to indicate where vehicles are supposed to go and as we talked
about with Horse Meadows, that's -- we -- we -- we can encourage them strongly to put
that access to the far east side of their development, which they did, still knowing that
we weren't a hundred percent comfortable with the distance to Black Cat and now we
are going to have construction trucks coming into both of these developments for two
years without Pine having any kind of -- I mean -- I mean it's -- it just -- it looks like a -- a
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-- a subdivision street, that there is nothing on there that indicates where vehicles are at any given time when you are -- when Pine vehicles are heading west and they are they are accessing Black Cat, there is three vehicles typically lined up one -- one to go
left, one to go straight and one to go right and there is no turn lanes whatsoever to
indicate. So, you have cars that are constantly trying to get around each other to take a
right, because they don't want to wait for the vehicle that's taking a left and you are
going to have construction trucks coming in for not just 24 units, but you are going to
have it coming in for Horse Meadows and, then, you are going to have a bus stop and,
then, you are going to have no sidewalks on one side. That is just a disaster -- a safety
disaster waiting to happen. So, I'm not saying that this is -- that -- I'm not opposed to
the in-fill. I think they did a really great job with what -- that small amount of space that
they have. They are within -- they are in line with the -- with the density and comp plan
and the zoning, but until there is some improvements to Pine and we have some
understanding of kind of how the traffic will flow once that bridge is done, I just have a
lot of hesitancy. And I realize these guys aren't going to start actually constructing
homes for another year probably. But there is just so much going on. Personally I don't
think you are going to see a lot of people trying to -- to take Pine and, then, El Gato to
get to McDermott. I don't anticipate that -- that El Gato is going to have a ton more
traffic from -- coming through. One hundred percent Pine is going to have traffic coming
through and there is -- there is no pedestrian safety set up in that area whatsoever. So,
I -- I just have concerns about the timing of having two developments so close together,
both developing, construction vehicles coming in, no signage, large vehicle, cement
trucks coming in, stopping as they are making a right-hand turn -- vehicles are literally
going to be backing up into Black Cat during rush hour on both sides of the street and
there is no turn lanes, there is no striping, there is no sidewalks. You get the -- I think
you get the big picture. So, is that our responsibility? I would have really have liked to
have seen the applicant bring -- bring the -- the engineer in from Horse Meadows. I
think her name is Peggy. Penny. I would really have liked to have seen something in
writing from them or to have brought her to this meeting to get a clear understanding of
what their timing looks like as well. I would like -- I would like more -- I'm not
comfortable approving this at this time. That doesn't mean I can't get there, but I just
need more information about what's going to happen with Pine, how it's going to be
handled with the new traffic that will be coming through and then -- and, then, the timing
of Horse Meadows.
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: Can we hear from the applicant on the timing of improvements on Pine? I
mean it's not your responsibility, but clearly it's a key factor and I'm sitting here like
getting this feedback like, yikes, sounds like a mess, so --
Brown: So, I'm going to start at a different place. So, when I get a preliminary plat
approved, I got two years to submit a final. I can ask for a time extension of that. So,
as recently stated, understanding that it's not going to happen immediately, it -- at -- at
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the same time we have to wait for Horse Meadows, because that's where the water and
sewer is. It's not like we can ignore that they are there and that that takes place. When
I was working on the developments that are currently building the bridge, both Foxcroft
and High Mile Pines, when we met with ACHD they said this is dramatically going to
change the traffic on Pine, because currently a lot of the traffic that is on Black Cat are
people that are having to drive around and that's where the 5,000 vehicle trip came up
is that deliveries and everything else -- people are having to come to -- to Black Cat to
access this and they said as soon as that is a through connection it is a highway district
collector, collectors are three lanes, they got one lane in each direction and they got a
turning lane in the center. Hopefully they will stripe it. I mean if -- if I have to ask for a
time extension on -- on my preliminary plat, hopefully, in two years with a meeting or
two from you -- the priorities are set by the Council that -- to help the highway district
understand where -- where that money goes. What I tell neighbors when I have the fun
neighborhood meetings that I'm required to do is if you have a traffic issue go talk to the
highway district. You guys are paying taxes and if you see this being a problem, then,
they -- they can have monies for that. Yes, there is going to be this section. There is --
those sections all over town of people that are in the county that don't have sidewalk.
Timing wise, if it was a year ago and we were talking about this and we didn't have high
-- high interest rates, I would say that the Quarter Horse people would be building it
immediately, as soon as the weather would allow them. I -- I don't know what that is. I
know that my clients, in speaking to them, they are -- they are thinking about that. But,
again, I can't -- I can't go anywhere until they start doing something. It would be very
highly optimistic that we are even doing them -- even close to each other, because even
with my request most likely we are going to be in two different construction seasons.
They are going to be building units at the same time that we are trying to do the dump
trucks and so forth to do the roads. So, that -- that timing generally don't bring
neighbors to the development. I mean we -- we have to kind of be patient and, again,
that's part of the challenge of -- of what we are doing. My clients immediately contacted
the Horse Meadows people prior to submitting the application, just to understand, you
know, what -- what they were thinking about doing and trying to get some grasp whether
they should submit now or submit a little bit later. They felt confident enough to at least
submit. We get approved and, then, we have -- we still have to wait for them to
construct.
Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: Kent, you talked about the bridge and having that construction portion
completed in -- sometime in April before water comes in. But the actual, then, opening
-- having that Pine Street open from Ten Mile to Black Cat, what's your estimate when
that's going to happen?
Brown: At least the 1st of May and -- and the reason being is that they -- it's a precast,
so they had to prep the bed, they have to have that in place for the water to be flowing
down and, then, the aprons and everything else that go with that bridge are part of the
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precast that go in, but it is paving those last sections to -- for that bridge to go in. That's
the part. And when are -- when are the plants going to open up and when are we going
to be pouring asphalt. But the intent from -- from my clients is they need to get that
thing built and the highway district wants it built.
Hoaglun: So, Mr. Mayor and Kent, I guess the reason why I wanted to have that in my
mind was the fact that -- and that road is going to be connected and open for at least a
year before anything major is starting to happen and ACHD -- that's one thing they do
recognize -- if there are issues in Pine and not turn lanes and there is confusion, they
don't want confusion on our roads, they will have to take some sort of action if that's -- if
that's happening. So, hopefully before this is even -- you know, we are several years
out before occupied parcels, that should be resolved I -- I would think.
Brown: I -- I would think so, too. The other parts that you -- you look at -- you -- you
look at the Ten Mile interchange and the connection that Pine has there and what we
have already constructed, there is turning lanes. There is all of the striping. They have
asked us to do that portion. Why aren't they doing that on Black Cat? Well, part of the
reason is is that Black Cat isn't at its full width, so they have got to wait for some of
those improvements to go in and, again, if it's a priority that they do that, but they want
to see what the numbers change when the bridge goes in also, because, then, they will
have a more accurate amount of the people coming and going. But you look at traffic
patterns, people are coming from the freeway generally -- I mean I don't drive out that
way, except maybe to go down Black Cat a little bit further, because -- I mean from
there you are going to Nampa and what's going on there. But Ten Mile is where most of
the people are -- are commuting, except those that can't -- can't get to Pine currently.
Hoaglun: And Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: Yeah. Just to follow up, Kent, you may not be aware, but at our last
prioritization meeting that when -- we looked at our roadways we moved Black Cat up to
number 20, 1 believe -- 19 or 20. Saying it's -- it's -- we want it on that kind of immediate
list of concerns, because of COMPASS, they got the big intersection at Franklin and --
and Black Cat and, then, you just narrow down to two lanes, no turn lanes to the
schools. Of course, the railroad tracks will need to be widened and you got the Purdam
Drain bridge. No turn lanes, as Council Woman Perreault has pointed out going into
Pine. Yeah. So, there is -- there is work that needs to be done. The traffic's already
there and so, hopefully, ACHD recognizes that and can -- if they get the funding move
that up. Money is always an issue.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
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Perreault: I don't recall when we did the prioritization, which section of Black Cat that
we had prioritized. I think it was just from Franklin to the tracks. This is north of the
tracks. Do you recall, Council President?
Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor and Council Woman Perreault, I think we ended up making it the
whole -- from Cherry to -- to Franklin.
Simison: Typically they are one mile segments. Yes.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: In the traffic report for this application right now that's not slated to be
widened to five lanes until 2031 to 2035. So, if ACHD doesn't prioritize that, that's how
far out we are on getting any kind of -- you know, I'm not even expecting a right turn
lane onto Pine. Just really my concern -- safety concern is more on Pine than it is on
Black Cat. But there is no striping on Pine whatsoever and I'm not comfortable with
giving entitlements -- to annexing and giving entitlements to this project until we do have
more information about what ACHD is going to do with Pine. So, I think if we were
hearing this application later in the year, after we have seen some traffic and we -- we
know -- it's possible they already -- obviously, they are aware that this is going to be
connected in a couple of months -- I would like to know from them what their plans are
to turn that into a true collector, because right now it doesn't -- while it may have the
width of an intended collector, it's not functioning as one in any capacity. So, I would
prefer to see that that's the timing of that. Not even necessarily that it's done, but the
timing of it prior to agreeing to annexing this.
Simison: So, Council Woman Strader, I'm a good counter. I can tell where two and two
are and it's getting close to your pumpkin time. So, I don't know where you think you
would like this to go tonight or not.
Strader: Yeah. I'm -- I'm -- I'm concerned. Council Woman Perreault I think brought up
some kind of important new points about the state of Pine. I would love it if the
applicant wanted a continuance to get more feedback from ACHD. Come back to us. I
have a lot of -- I -- I have concerns. I share Council Woman Perreault's concerns.
Brown: I think -- I think we can ask for a continuance, but instead of me getting
information, if a highway district person would come and -- I mean what I ask them
might not be what you want to ask. I view the traffic's going to be a lot better, but being
a planner I guess I'm a little more optimistic. Or maybe it's just doing this a long long
time. I -- I don't see anything happen quickly. I mean I sat down with -- we blocked for
Brad as a quarterback, me and this friend of mine. He was the center and I was a
guard and we were talking about the growth and he just says, well, why can't they build
all the roads the way that they are going to be and just go -- it's not our funding
mechanism. That's just not how that works and tried to explain how those priorities
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come into play. So, I know that it's confusing, but I think if you had an ACHD
representative and if that makes you feel better about the application -- because,
realistically, there is nothing I can do about it. It's going to be what it's going to be. I
just know that my gut tells me that I'm not -- I'm not building this in 2023 and it might be
late 2024 before it happens and a lot to Pine could -- and a lot to Black Cat could be
taking place before that time takes place. People are going to change how they drive. I
live next to the busiest road in the state, I'm one house away, and I know when there is
times when I go out there and there is times when I don't. The people currently on Pine
don't have an option. They have one place that they can go and the only way that they
can go. So, they have to battle that Black Cat intersection. They are going to have an
option that's going to be different. So, they are going to see a -- a change in traffic and
they are going to change how they go. It used to be that we could go down Locust
Grove and it was just a dead end road. But Meridian City Council and Jabil and so forth
putting that overpass in, that's changed our lives. So, it's a lot busier closer to my home
on the other end. But that -- those things happen and that's a part of what we are going
to see in the future here. So, if you want to continue this meeting and have staff ask
that are representative from ACHD come prepared to speak to Pine, I'm -- that's what I
was asking my client is -- I think that's going to make a lot more of you feel more
comfortable. It really isn't -- I mean I could speak more to my design and why I did --
you know, why didn't I line a whole bunch of houses on the west side? Well, we try not
to impact that property with as many houses just backing up to them. But anyway.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: I would like to -- yes, I would like to hear from ACHD. If they have a
representative on the phone that would be wonderful, as long as, of course, that
representative is aware of what we are asking and has that information available to us.
Second thing I would like to know is -- either also having a representative from Horse
Meadows or a letter from that representative giving us some information on timing. The
last -- you know, the -- their -- their property was entitled in December of 2020 and there
has been no movement on it. The last time that we spoke with them there was -- there
were issues with agreements from the neighboring properties for access to Quarter
Horse Lane. We -- I still don't know where that was left. I assume some of it's been
resolved, because you are here with this application now. So, I just -- I would like some
more detailed information. That's -- that's not going to -- that information will be helpful,
but it -- it won't be -- like I won't -- you know, I won't deny your -- your application
because of it, but it just would be helpful to have that and so those two things I would
really like -- when you come back after the continuance and -- so yeah. Oh, one more
question. Amenities. You had stated that pathways and picnic shelters were going to
be amenities. Staff report says those are the two amenities. But, then, in your
testimony this evening you said the pathways go nowhere. So, how should we consider
that an amenity?
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Brown: It -- it is your required ten foot regional pathway that I'm put -- installing and
that's according to your code is viewed as an -- an amenity. I -- you know, if it was just
a pathway in a subdivision most likely we would make it like six foot wide, but this is one
that I grant and give you an easement to and -- and built according to your standards.
So, it ends up being wider, bigger, more costly. The -- the hard sell of -- again, of in-fill
is convincing that the -- the owners that they are paying for the maintenance of
something that goes nowhere. Is it where we would put a pathway? Probably not. But
it is a long term, understanding the planning that will take place in the future, they will
get benefit then. It's -- it's like building a sidewalk to nowhere. A bridge to nowhere
type of deal, so --
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: Thank you for clarifying that that was not what you were presenting as an
amenity for -- we often have applicants that come in and present that as an amenity and
-- and request that we consider it to be such. But I understand. Personally I don't think
that a picnic shelter is going to do a lot of good for these folks, that I wouldn't -- that
wouldn't be the amenity that I would think that folks would actually use in this area. Are
there any other amenities that you considered?
Brown: Pickleball is really popular right now. That kind of stuff. But, again, what --
what do we see most people doing? A picnic shelter does become one of those places
-- if your lot -- you don't have a big huge lot, at least it's a place that you can have a
birthday party at with the picnic shelter and the tables and so forth that are there that
makes that a very reasonable and beneficial -- I would say probably the most beneficial
that you could do here in this location.
Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: Yeah. Kent, looking at dates and trying to figure out if it's kind of a -- you
know, a little dart throw, you know, April 11th, 18th, 25th, you know. And it's a matter of
getting someone from ACHD here. So, I don't know if we want to confer with what --
and, Mr. Clerk, was the 4th also an option? Yes. April 4th would be the soonest.
Brown: My client did say that he could speak to the Horse Meadows and their -- their
kind of time frame. He has spoke to them, if you want to hear that tonight. I -- I think
the first part of April I'm -- a little later in April. I guess I should be here. The clients will
probably want me here and my wife wants me to go on vacation, so --
Hoaglun: And Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Hoaglun.
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Hoaglun: And, yeah, the 4th -- I checked with the Clerk -- April 4th is the earliest we
could go.
Brown: How about later in the month?
Hoaglun: Or -- or later. 18th. 25th. Yes.
Brown: Let's do the 18th.
Hoaglun: Okay.
Simison: I think that they wanted to hear from your -- the applicant on the Horse --
Brown: You want to hear that?
Simison: Yeah. At least that way it will be on the record and maybe resolve that.
Maybe not.
Kneadler: Good evening.
Simison: State your name and address for the record.
Kneadler: Ben Kneadler. 5571 North Glenwood in Boise. So, I am a representative of
the development group that's working on this project and I have tasked to -- I have been
involved with talking with the Horse Meadows folks over the last year. The last update I
received from them is they do have a horizontal partner that's going to start doing a
development here yet this year. We coordinated with them, obviously, on the layout of
the subdivision. In fact, worked with ACHD on granting -- if you look at the -- well, if you
look where the -- where the park is and the lots that are north of the park, that -- our
property used to go straight across and we had to give them some right of way, so that
they could make Quarter Horse Lane an actual ACHD roadway. So, all ACHD is well
aware of what's going on in here and in our conversations. It's all laid out according to
that. So, maybe that answers some of the questions on ACHD's involvement and
knowing what's going on in the subdivision. As far as the connectivity of the pathways,
think what Kent was talking about is the -- the big path going along the south end, but
the -- the developer is -- I was sitting in the meetings listening to them, the fact that
those paths connect to the north and through the park and they are trying to get them --
people -- folks up to right of way and sidewalk to keep them connected to other
neighborhoods was the plan. So, I don't know if that helps answer your question or not,
but --
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Perreault.
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Perreault: Actually, I -- I was curious about the timing of -- so, they have a partner. You
mean they have a building partner or they have -- they are just getting financing? What
do you mean by they have a partner?
Kneadler: No, a party that -- that they believe to the best of their knowledge -- and,
again, I'm getting this -- I'm secondhand at this point. But their -- their plans are to start
this year. I don't know if that's tomorrow or in six months, but --
Perreault: Okay.
Kneadler: And if you would like I can try and get an update on that. That would be
probably the best and we can try and bring that back at the next meeting.
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: Yes, please do. I would like to know when they start moving dirt, when they
anticipate the road, sidewalks, curb, gutter, streetlights, infrastructure done and, then,
when they anticipate their first house to be built and -- and, then, that information in
relationship to your timing is what I would like to know.
Kneadler: Okay. I can ask those questions.
Perreault: Thank you.
Kneadler: You bet.
Simison: Thank you. Any other questions?
Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: I would move that we continue the public hearing for Alexanders Subdivision
-- Alexanders Landing Subdivision, H-2022-0084, until April 18th.
Strader: Second.
Perreault: Second.
Simison: I have a motion and a second to continue the public hearing. Is there any
discussion? If not, all in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay? The ayes have it
and the hearing is continued. Thank you very much.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
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ORDINANCES [Action Item]
2. Ordinance No. 23-2010: An Ordinance (Turin Plaza H-2022-0063) for
Rezone of a parcel of land being all of Lot 2, Block 6, Bridgetower
Crossing Subdivision No. 2, in the Ada County Recorder's Office in
Book 86 at Pages 9641-9643, situated in the Southwest Quarter of the
Northwest Quarter of Section 35, Township 4 North, Range 1 West,
Boise Meridian, Meridian, Ada County, Idaho, more particularly
described in Exhibit "A," rezoning 1.8 acres of land from R-4
(Medium Low-Density Residential) zoning district to L-O (Limited
Office) zoning district in the Meridian City Code; directing city staff
to alter all use and area maps as well as the official zoning maps and
all official maps depicting the boundaries and the zoning districts of
the City of Meridian in accordance with this ordinance; providing that
copies of this ordinance shall be filed with the Ada County Assessor,
the Ada County Treasurer, the Ada County Recorder, and the Idaho
State Tax Commission, as required by law; and providing an
effective date
Simison: With that we will move on to Item 2, which is Ordinance No. 23-2010, and ask
the Clerk to read this ordinance by title.
Johnson: Thank you, Mayor. It's an ordinance related to Turin Plaza, H-2022-0063, for
a rezone of a parcel of land being all of Lot 2, Block 6, Bridgetower Crossing
Subdivision No. 2, in the Ada County Recorder's Office in Book 86 at Pages 9641-9643,
situated in the Southwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter of Section 35, Township 4
North, Range 1 West, Boise Meridian, Meridian, Ada County, Idaho, more particularly
described in Exhibit 'A," rezoning 1.8 acres of land from R-4 (Medium Low-Density
Residential) zoning district to L-O (Limited Office) zoning district in the Meridian City
Code; directing city staff to alter all use and area maps as well as the official zoning
maps and all official maps depicting the boundaries and the zoning districts of the City
of Meridian in accordance with this ordinance; providing that copies of this ordinance
shall be filed with the Ada County Assessor, the Ada County Treasurer, the Ada County
Recorder, and the Idaho State Tax Commission, as required by law; and providing an
effective date.
Simison: Thank you. Council, you have heard this -- this read in -- by its title. Is there
anybody that would like it read in its entirety? If not, do I have a motion?
Perreault: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Perreault.
Perreault: I move that we approve Ordinance No. 23-2010.
Hoaglun: Second.
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Simison: I have a motion to approve Item 2, Ordinance No. 23-2010. Is there any
discussion? If not, Clerk will call the roll.
Roll Call: Hoaglun, yea; Borton, absent; Cavener, yea; Perreault, yea; Strader, yea;
Overton, yea.
Simison: All ayes. Motion carries and the item is agreed to.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
3. Ordinance No. 23-2011: An ordinance (Matador Estates Subdivision
H-2022-0043) annexing a portion of Lot 5 of Crestwood Subdivision
No. 1 and located in the Northeast One Quarter of the Northeast One
Quarter of Section 31, Township 4 North, Range 1 East, Boise
Meridian, Ada County, Idaho, more particularly described in Exhibit
"A"; rezoning 5.09 acres of such real property from RUT (Rural
Urban Transition) to R-4 (Medium Low-Density Residential) Zoning
District; directing city staff to alter all use and area maps as well as
the official zoning maps and all official maps depicting the
boundaries and the zoning districts of the City of Meridian in
accordance with this ordinance; providing that copies of this
ordinance shall be filed with the Ada County Assessor, the Ada
County Treasurer, the Ada County Recorder, and the Idaho State Tax
Commission, as required by law; repealing conflicting ordinances;
and providing an effective date
Simison: Next up is Item 3, which is Ordinance No. 23-2011. Ask the Clerk to read this
ordinance by title.
Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. It's an ordinance related to Matador Estates
Subdivision, H-2022-0043, annexing a portion of Lot 5 of Crestwood Subdivision No. 1
and located in the Northeast One Quarter of the Northeast One Quarter of Section 31 ,
Township 4 North, Range 1 East, Boise Meridian, Ada County, Idaho, more particularly
described in Exhibit "A", rezoning 5.09 acres of such real property from RUT (Rural
Urban Transition) to R-4 (Medium Low-Density Residential) Zoning District; directing
city staff to alter all use and area maps as well as the official zoning maps and all official
maps depicting the boundaries and the zoning districts of the City of Meridian in
accordance with this ordinance; providing that copies of this ordinance shall be filed with
the Ada County Assessor, the Ada County Treasurer, the Ada County Recorder, and
the Idaho State Tax Commission, as required by law; repealing conflicting ordinances;
and providing an effective date
Simison: Thank you. Council, you have heard this ordinance read by title. Is there
anybody that would like it read in its entirety? If not, do I have a motion?
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Overton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Overton.
Overton: Mr. Mayor, I make the motion that we approve Ordinance No. 23-2011.
Perreault: Second.
Simison: I have a motion and a second approve Ordinance No. 23-2011. Is there any
discussion? If not, Clerk will call the roll.
Roll Call: Hoaglun, yea; Borton, absent; Cavener, yea; Perreault, yea; Strader, yea;
Overton, yea.
Simison: All ayes. Motion carries and the item is agreed to.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
FUTURE MEETING TOPICS
Simison: Council, anything under future meeting topics?
EXECUTIVE SESSION Per Idaho Code 74-206(d) To consider records that are
exempt from disclosure as provided in Chapter 1, Title 74, Idaho Code
Simison: Then Councilman Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Hoaglun.
Hoaglun: I move that we go into Executive Session per Idaho Code 74-206(d).
Cavener: Second.
Simison: I have a motion and a second to go in Executive Session. Is there any
discussion? If not, Clerk will call the roll.
Roll Call: Hoaglun, yea; Borton, absent; Cavener, yea; Perreault, yea; Strader, yea;
Overton, yea.
Simison: All ayes. Motion carries and we will go into Executive Session.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: (7:54 p.m. to 8:55 p.m.)
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Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor, I move we come out of Executive Session.
Overton: Second.
Simison: Motion to come out of Executive Session. All in favor say aye. Any opposed?
Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Hoaglun: Mr. Mayor, I move we adjourn.
Simison: Motion to adjourn. All in favor? All ayes. We are adjourned.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:55 P.M.
(AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
MAYOR ROBERT E. SIMISON 3-28-2023
ATTEST:
CHRIS JOHNSON - CITY CLERK 3-28-2023