HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-01-16 Mike and Malissa Bernard
Charlene Way
From:Brian McClure
Sent:Sunday, January 21, 2024 2:00 PM
To:Clerks Comment
Subject:FW: City of Meridian Comp Plan Amendment // Mixed Use
Please include for H-2023-0057. Thanks!
Brian McClure
bmcclure@meridiancity.org
From: Mike and Malissa Bernard <MMBERNARD1@msn.com>
Sent: Friday, January 19, 2024 11:32 AM
To: Brian McClure <bmcclure@meridiancity.org>
Subject: RE: City of Meridian Comp Plan Amendment // Mixed Use
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
Hi,
Haha…lots of shoveling for sure. All of us. I hope you were able to be safe and sane out in all the snow.
Thank you. My Monday is up in the air currently, but I will give it a try. if you can send me an invite just in case I can pop
in at 2 online (or in person) that would be great.
Quickly, I am a little concerned about an open-ended height and size of footage for some aspects of the amendment, as
that does open the door to wide interpretation. There are modes within Code to get that variation from the vision to
prove it needed, congruent, and beneficial to get in under the Comprehensive Plan questions and other needs for
recommendation for approval to the next step. I fear a height free-for-all here for offices, hospitals, or multi-family, or a
dominating chunk of single box commercial seen from all the adjacent neighborhoods of single family with backyards.
I am liking the addition of what is called the missing middle, as that gives options over the typical three types of housing,
being single family, alley loaded, and lots of apartments. Variety adds interest.
The materials provided in the appendix materials showing the examples of existing mixed uses through photos and map
pics were great---very helpful.
Parking creep or bleed is a concern to existing neighborhoods, as these mixed uses come to pass, and parking is at a
premium due to popularity or being somewhat under parked to inspire more foot traffic, shared rides, or bikes and
scooters, or whatever the latest mode might be.
I am always concerned with the traffic interface, especially trying to feather these newer concepts in with established
neighborhoods built under older Comp Plans and differently defined zones, as these roads that may have been stubbed
20 to 30 years ago were stubbed with different expectations, under different vision, and traffic volumes, and the designs
of the roads now are not conducive to newer expected use and coming trip thresholds.
Just a few thoughts. Thanks for reaching out.
Enjoy your weekend!
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Malissa
From: Brian McClure <bmcclure@meridiancity.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2024 1:30 PM
To: Mike and Malissa Bernard <MMBERNARD1@msn.com>
Subject: RE: City of Meridian Comp Plan Amendment // Mixed Use
Good Afternoon Malissa,
I hope you were able to enjoy all the snow, shoveling aside. I talked with Sally Reynolds and she and I are going to meet
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on Monday the 22, at 2 PM, in Community Development (or Microsoft Teams) to discuss the amendment. I wanted to
extend an invite to attend as well if you’d like (Sally is fine with that). I may also invite Julie if she is interested.
Let me know if interested and I’ll forward along an invite. Alternatively we can see if another time works.
Thanks!
Brian McClure
bmcclure@meridiancity.org
From: Mike and Malissa Bernard <MMBERNARD1@msn.com>
Sent: Friday, January 12, 2024 10:17 AM
To: Brian McClure <bmcclure@meridiancity.org>
Cc: Liz Strader <lstrader@meridiancity.org>
Subject: RE: City of Meridian Comp Plan Amendment // Mixed Use
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
Good morning, Brian,
Thank you for reaching out to say hello. I understand you are very busy.
Julie Langlois speaks highly of you and your take on many issues that impact our community. Sally Reynolds has always
been a strong and admirable advocate for her community, and she is very well-read, self-taught, and informed.
I did look at the proposal the next day following the hearing. Your preparation and presentation of all the related
materials was very remarkable, indeed. Thank you for being so thorough in providing a broad overview of the changes
and vision for the CPAT and providing links to all information. I appreciate the visual materials and photos of existing
projects to emulate in applying the projects in our area, as they have been somewhat tested and proven to be very
beneficial in those communities. Nothing beats a 3-D tour to see what works and what doesn’t.
I am currently in the process of typing out some thoughts from a citizen’s point of view and I will send something forth
to the packet after I get my thoughts and impressions in order. I will get that sent out soon.
Please stay safe and cozy with the recent and coming snow. I am off to shovel some more in a few.
Enjoy your weekend!
~Malissa
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From: Brian McClure <bmcclure@meridiancity.org>
Sent: Friday, January 12, 2024 9:24 AM
To: MMBERNARD1@msn.com
Subject: City of Meridian Comp Plan Amendment // Mixed Use
Hi Melissa,
I’m a long-range planner with the City of Meridian, and Councilwoman Liz Strader suggested reaching out to you
regarding a project we’ve been working on.
The City had a public hearing the other night for a Comprehensive Plan amendment, specific to Mixed Use areas on our
Future Land Use Map (not to be confused with Zoning). The text amendment is generally a reordering of things in the
section, new background and history for better context, and then some additional language/guidance that better
supports existing policies. The City Council seemed to be generally happy with the proposal, but both Councilwoman
Strader and Councilman Cavener wanted us to do a little more direct outreach and the hearing was continued out to
th
February 15, to allow for that. After the meeting Liz mentioned your name specifically (and also Sally Reynolds, if you
know her) to see if you might be willing to provide some feedback.
Would you have some time to chat about the amendment in the near future? I’m flexible on the time, including before
or after hours.
The P&Z Recommendations to Council are here:
https://weblink.meridiancity.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=324689&dbid=0&repo=MeridianCity
The project folder is here:
https://weblink.meridiancity.org/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=310727&dbid=0&repo=MeridianCity
Engagement website here (though I’d just reference the above): https://meridiancity.org/community-
development/planning/comprehensive-plan/draft-mixed-use-changes/
Please let me know if you’d be interested in discussing. Thanks!
Brian McClure, ASLA, AICP, LEED BD+C | Comprehensive Associate Planner
City of Meridian | Community Development Department
Phone: 208.884.5533
Direct: 208-489-0579
bmcclure@meridiancity.org
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