HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-06-04 Regular Meridian City Council June 4, 2024.
A Meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 6:03 p.m., Tuesday, June
4, 2024, by Mayor Robert Simison.
Members Present: Robert Simison, Luke Cavener, Liz Strader, Doug Taylor, Anne Little
Roberts and Brian Whitlock.
Members Absent: John Overton.
ROLL-CALL ATTENDANCE
X Liz Strader X Brian Whitlock
_X_Anne Little Roberts John Overton
_X_ Doug Taylor _X_Luke Cavener
X Mayor Robert E. Simison
Simison: Council, we will call the meeting to order. For the record it is June 4th, 2024, at
6:03 p.m. We will begin tonight's regular City Council meeting with roll call attendance.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Simison: Next item is the Pledge of Allegiance. If you would all, please, rise and join us
in the pledge.
(Pledge of Allegiance recited.)
COMMUNITY INVOCATION
Simison: Next up is our community invocation, which tonight will be delivered by Daryle
Zachman. If you would all, please, join us in the community invocation or take this as a
moment of silence for reflection.
Zachman: Thank you, Mayor Simison, City Council Members, for the opportunity. Let's
pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for blessing our city, protecting us from harm. We
thank you for the leadership you have given us. We thank you for the freedom of our
nation. We thank you for Mayor Simison and the City Council Members and for the
privilege of coming to your throne of grace and asking for wisdom, mercy and help in our
times of need. We pray that you will oversee the business at hand tonight. Help our
Council Members to uphold justice, equality and integrity in all of their decisions. Keep
us from all forms of self-centeredness and self-importance and as our Lord taught us help
us to do to others as we would want them to do to us. We pray that your kingdom would
come and your will would be done on earth and in Meridian as it is in heaven, in the name
of your son Jesus Christ we pray, amen.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
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Simison: Thank you. Up next adoption of the agenda.
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: No need to make any changes to a fairly short agenda, so I move we adopt the
agenda as presented.
Strader: Second.
Simison: Have a motion and a second to adopt the 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.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
PUBLIC FORUM — Future Meeting Topics
Simison: Mr. Clerk, anyone signed up under public forum?
Johnson: Mr. Mayor, no.
PROCLAMATIONS [Action Item]
1. Support Local Idaho Gems Day Proclamation
Simison: Okay. Then we will move right on into our first item this evening, which will be
a proclamation in support of Local Idaho Gems Day. If I could have Sydney join me at
the podium. They want our best side for the camera. So -- so, Council, we are here
tonight to read a proclamation supporting Local Idaho Gems, which is an initiative that's
being led by Senator Jim Risch. So, I will go ahead and read the proclamation. I will turn
this over to Sydney for any remarks, so -- whereas small businesses are an integral part
of the fabric of our community contributing to the vibrancy, diversity and economic
prosperity of Meridian, Idaho, and whereas these businesses, each with their unique
offering, serve as the backbone of our local economy, provide employment opportunities,
showcasing creativity and offering invaluable goods and services that enrich the lives of
our residents and whereas our community, united in our responsibility, is called upon to
support small businesses that make a profound impact on our economy. And whereas
the Support Local Gems initiative aims to celebrate and bolster Idaho small businesses
with the collaboration and support of Idaho's Chambers of Commerce, business
associations, elected officials, small businesses across the Gem State and all Idahoans
and whereas on Friday, June 7th, 2024, the City of Meridian joins in this statewide
celebration encouraging all residents to show their love and support of our local small
businesses. Therefore, I'm, Mayor Robert E. Simison, hereby proclaim June 7th, 2024,
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as support Local Idaho Gems Day in Meridian. We urge all residents to participate in this
initiative by patronizing our small businesses, dining at local restaurants, shopping at
neighborhood retailers and expressing gratitude to the businesses that contribute to the
vitality of our economy, dated this 4th day of June 2024. So, on behalf of the City of
Meridian, please, accept this proclamation with our sincere appreciation and gratitude.
Sterling: I just want to say thank you to Mayor Simison and the City of Meridian. Senator
Risch started this initiative five years ago. Just wanted to show a way of supporting small
businesses after COVID and this truly has been a remarkable initiative that just continues
to grow and grow every year. We are really excited for the Idahoans to get on board and
go and support businesses this Friday and whatever these small businesses may be and
they really are, like you said in the proclamation, the backbone of our community and
make the great state of Idaho. So, thank you, Mayor, we appreciate the support.
ACTION ITEMS
2. Public Hearing for Pebblebrook Subdivision (H-2024-0005) by
Rodney Evans + Partners, LLC., located at 5725 N. Meridian Rd.
A. Request: Annexation of 13.94 acres of land with an R-8 zoning
district.
B. Request: Preliminary Plat consisting of 54 building lots and 6
common lots on 13.94 acres of land.
Simison: Moving on to our actions for this evening, Item 2 is a public hearing for
Pebblebrook Subdivision, H-2024-0005. We will open this public hearing with staff
comments.
Allen: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council. The first application before you
tonight is a request for annexation and zoning and a preliminary plat. This site consists
of 13.94 acres of land. It's zoned RUT in Ada county and is located at 5725 North Meridian
Road. The Comprehensive Plan future land use designation for this property is medium
density residential, which allows residential densities at three to eight dwelling units per
acre and it also has a future park designation on it. There has been some public
comments pertaining to the park designation, so I would like to provide some information
on that. All future symbols shown on the future land use map, including parks, represent
generalized locations. They are not parcel specific. The designation was shown on this
property because it's one of the last remaining undeveloped parcels in the square mile,
which has no existing public parks that's large enough for a city park. Because the
property owner hasn't offered to donate the land to the city for a park and because the
city isn't prepared to buy the land with the other parks and projects that's currently planned
for the impact fee fund -- fund, staff is not recommending a park is provided within this
development. There are a couple of schools, Paramount Elementary and Rocky
Mountain High School, and several HOA parks, Paramount, Crosby, Kingsley to name a
few in the vicinity, as well as Settlers Park, which is a mile and a half to the south that
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serve this area. The applicant is requesting annexation of 13.94 acres of land with an R-
8 zoning district and a preliminary plat to subdivide the property into 54 building lots and
six common lots. Proposed lots range in size from approximately an eighth of an acre to
a third of an acre, with an average lot size of little over an eighth of an acre, which will
accommodate a variety of dwelling sizes proposed ranging from 1 ,574 to 3,195 square
feet. The proposed density is 3.87 units per acre, which is at the low end of the density
desired in the medium density residential designated areas of three to eight units per
acre. For comparison the adjacent Paramount Subdivision is 2.8 units per acre overall
and contains a mix of lot sizes and housing types consisting of single family residential
detached homes, attached townhomes and apartments. The subdivision is proposed to
develop in one phase. The existing structures will be removed upon development of the
property. A revised plat was submitted as shown prior to the Commission hearing that
addresses staff's comments by providing a better lot transition to existing lots to the south
with no more than a two-to-one ratio. ACHD is requiring Meridian Road to be improved
with 17 feet of pavement from center line with a three foot gravel shoulder and ten foot
wide detached sidewalk. Only six feet of pavement and a three foot wide shoulder is
required at this time. Curb and gutter will be added later when Meridian Road is fully
improved. Access is proposed via the extension of existing public streets North Garbo
Avenue at the north and south boundaries of the property. Local public streets are
proposed for internal access. No access is proposed or allowed for Meridian -- proposed
or allowed from Meridian Road. A stub street is proposed to the county parcel to the
northeast corner of this property for future extension and interconnectivity. Bulb outs are
provided along Gleason Street for traffic calming in response to ACHD's comments
requiring Gleason to be redesigned to reduce the length or include passive design
elements. A 35 foot wide street buffer is required along North Brandon Road, an entryway
corridor, measured from the ultimate back of curb. All fencing is required to comply with
UDC standards. A minimum of 15 percent or 2.09 acres of qualified open space is
required to be provided within the development. An open space exhibit was submitted as
shown that depicts 16.16 percent or 2.25 acres of common open space that meets and
exceeds the required standards. A minimum of two points of site amenities are required
to be provided. The applicant is proposing two pickleball courts, which are eight points
each, and two dog waste stations -- excuse me -- eight points total and two dog waste
stations for one point, which total nine points, meeting and exceeding the required
standards. Five conceptual building elevations were submitted for the proposed one and
two-story homes with two and three car garages. The homes are Craftsman style with
building materials consisting of a mix of board and batten siding, lap siding and optional
masonry accents. The applicant clarified that optional masonry accents depicted on the
elevations is incorrect and that all homes will have masonry accents consistent with the
Paramount architectural guidelines. To ensure this for a higher quality of development
staff is recommending masonry accents are required on all structures in the development
as a provision of the development agreement. The Commission did recommend approval
of these applications to the City Council and I will just go through a summary of the
Commission hearing. Ben Semple, the applicant, testified in favor of the application.
There were quite a few folks that testified in opposition and commented on the application
and those are contained in the staff report in the hearing outline for tonight. Written
testimony was received from the applicant. He is in agreement with the staff report
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conditions. There was a petition with approximately 90 signatures submitted to reduce
the number of homes in the subdivision to the same ratio as Paramount. The key issues
were as follows: Not in favor of the plat as proposed. Opinion the density is too high and
not consistent with that in Paramount Subdivision. Concern pertaining to the impact of
traffic generated from this development on internal streets in Paramount Subdivision.
Request for construction methods and materials to match those in Paramount
Subdivision. Not in favor of this development being part of the Paramount Subdivision
HOA, as it's not the same quality of development and opinion that it will bring home values
down. And concern pertaining to overcrowding in area schools. The key issues of
discussion by the Commission were as follows: Clarification that if this development isn't
included in the Paramount Subdivision HOA it can still stand on its own so far as meeting
the city's development requirements. No concerns pertaining to capacity at area schools
as there are several private schools, in addition to public schools in this area, that will
assist in serving this development. And opinion that the proposed subdivision is
thoughtfully laid out with a maximum two-to-one ratio. A lot transition at the perimeter
boundary and has good walkability and nice open space that exceeds the minimum
standards. The Commission did not make any changes to the staff recommendation and
there are out -- no outstanding issues for Council tonight. The project complies with the
city's Comprehensive Plan and meets and exceeds UDC standards for common open
space and site amenities. There has been some written testimony submitted since the
Commission hearing and those are contained in the public record. The applicant is here
to testify on this project for tonight. Staff will stand for any questions.
Simison: Thank you, Sonya. Council, any questions for staff? Okay. Then would the
applicant like to come forward?
Cavener: Mr. Mayor? Just before the -- the applicant presents, I just want to -- give me
just 15 seconds of -- of privilege. I think it's important before we start to hear from the
applicant -- I know 1, like the rest of Council, had the opportunity to review the minutes
before tonight's meeting. I'm sure that you may have drawn some of the same
conclusions I drew. There is a lot of passion and enthusiasm about this project and so I
know passion comes from a place of care on both sides and so whether you have lived
in Meridian your whole life or have just moved here recently or somewhere in between,
we just ask tonight that you are respectful, you are kind, you are neighborly. We are all
our neighbors regardless of where we live and so I just would encourage that, both from
the applicant, as well as the public that are providing testimony tonight that we -- we are
all Meridian residents and -- and we all are neighbors. So, with that, Mr. Mayor, I will turn
it back over to you. Appreciate the privilege.
Simison: Okay. Thank you.
Semple: Good evening, Mr. Mayor --
Simison: Either one.
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June 4,2024
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Semple: Both of them. Ben Semple with Rodney Evans and Partners. 1450 West
Bannock Street, Boise, Idaho. 83702. 1 appreciate the time. Appreciate Sonya's
presentation. She did a great job. I just want to reinforce some of the -- the items that
are part of this application. I also want to restate we are in agreement with all the -- the
terms and conditions of the staff report, as well as all the agency letters that we have
received up to this point. So, we are requesting --as Sonya had stated, we are requesting
annexation and zoning of the 13.94 acre parcel located at 5725 North Meridian Road.
The application also includes a preliminary plat for the development of 60 total lots, 54
buildable and six common lots, to be created for the construction of 54 single family
detached residential homes, along with all the associated roadway, utility, landscape and
site improvements. Some of the conversations we had -- you know, a lot of it was
centered around density. A lot of it was centered around appropriateness or cohesivity
with the adjacent Paramount Subdivision and part of that had to do with some of the --
the landscape installation. We have a full arborist report that was done on the project -
- on the project site. It identified all of the caliper inches that need to be mitigated for upon
removal. We are fully mitigating for anything that's removed with the common area space
landscaping. So, anything additional that's planted on private lots, trees in front and
backyards, is just over and above that. We have determined and I have also been talking
with the city forester or arborist, he is part of this urban woods network that I have been
tied into that they do reclamation of urban timber and so I'm talking to that company about
going out and evaluating some of the larger caliper trees for reclamation of the wood, so
that it doesn't just get chopped up into firewood or chipped up into bark and sent to the
landfill. We will be planting 101 trees within the -- the common open space. That's 181
caliper inches, as well as 198 vertical feet of conifers. So six foot minimum height. We
also have 245 shrubs that will be added to the common area spaces and, like I stated,
that is independent of anything that's done around the individual homes when they get
built. The requested annexation, zoning and preliminary plat are compatible with the land
use, both adjacent and on this site. Even with that park designation that was removed
prior to my client purchasing this property, the underlying land use has -- still remains
medium density residential, whether or not there was a park identified for that site. Had
they been told that this was a park that needed to be developed here, they definitely
wouldn't have pursued this project on the site or pursued purchasing the land from the
previous owner that had gifted it to the church, who, then, turned around and sold it again
because they didn't want to develop it. The R-8 zoning designation is being requested,
which matches all of Paramount surrounding, as well as the subdivisions to the east of
Meridian Road. The only -- the out parcel to the north that's right along Meridian Road at
the northeast corner of this parcel is still an enclave within Ada county and is not part of
this development project. Care was taken with the site design lot sizes and open space
to ensure compatibility with the adjacent Paramount Subdivision. The architecture and
materials will conform with the Paramount architectural control and design standards,
which include specific provisions regarding exterior elevations, colors, accent materials,
lighting, fencing and landscaping. All existing perimeter fencing around this property will
be retained and protected or replaced by my client, the developer, and they will coordinate
with any affected neighbors there. Any fencing internal to this development will also meet
all of the Paramount Subdivision requirements for height, materials and color. So, it will
be very cohesive. Public roads, as were stated, are proposed to access for all the homes.
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A 33 foot back-to-back road section with a five foot attached sidewalk within a 47 foot
right of way that conforms with ACHD standards. We have proposed attached sidewalks
here to provide additional depth in the driveways. Street trees will be installed behind
the sidewalk meeting ACHD standards of a minimum five foot offset from the back of walk.
Those would be installed after homes are built. A lot of times when these subdivisions
are getting built and street trees are put in prior to home construction they end up getting
damaged during -- by contractor activity along the streets. The public street to the east
will be stubbed to that northern enclave parcel in Ada county for -- in the event that that
property does redevelop and that could be extended through there. No connection to
Meridian Road was proposed and that is part of ACHD and City Meridian policy restricting
access to arterial roadways and requiring access to come from the lesser classified
roadway when available. That would be Garbo Avenue. If you go through the Paramount
Subdivision all of the roads within Paramount, with the exception of a few private roads,
are public roads. Meridian Road will be improved with pavement and roadside drainage
swale. A ten foot wide multi-use pathway -- an additional right of way will be dedicated
and the improvements will be installed so that they comply with the future curb and gutter
that would be installed by ACHD when they widen Meridian Road fully. Open lawn areas
will be included within the interior common spaces, which provide for active and passive
recreation. The development agreement will contain a provision that a minimum of 2.25
acres of qualified open space will be contained within this development and the amenities
proposed within this subdivision, as Sonya had stated, two full size pickleball courts, the
open grassy areas, micro pathways, the Meridian Road buffer, two pet waste stations.
There are -- we have a total -- triple the required amount of amenity points in here. The
amenities were specifically selected to complement the adjacent Paramount Subdivision
amenities instead of duplicating them. During the -- the lead up to this and the planning
process we did meet with the Paramount Subdivision HOA board just to get some
feedback from them on what they thought about lot sizes, home sizes, architectural style,
which is when the developer decided to adopt -- basically fully adopt the Paramount
CC&Rs and architectural standards for their subdivision. That is in place regardless of
what the HOA board decides --or the full HOA membership decides, if that ends up getting
taken to a vote of the full HOA membership. This Pebblebrook Subdivision can be its own
and nothing would change. It would be the same as what is being proposed at this point
with all of the Paramount CC&Rs and everything incorporated. The one part that we
talked with the Paramount HOA board about was pressurized irrigation. This property
has a surface water right that exceeds the demand that we need for the future
landscaping, both the provisions for the individual lots, as well as for the common open
space. It's not a lot more, but there is a gallon per minute of surface water rights that
wouldn't be necessary. In talking with the HOA board we are exploring transferring that
water right to the Paramount HOA, connecting to their pressurized irrigation system and,
then, having that water be included with their delivery. I know that there has been some
issues in the past with their irrigation systems kind of going down or running out,
depending on the time of year and so we felt like this was a good addition to their system
and provides them even a little bit of additional water over what this space would require.
During the -- the neighborhood meeting there was approximately 30 attendees.
Discussion involved concerns about density, traffic during and after construction, parking,
privacy, property values, cohesiveness with existing homes and impacts to existing
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amenities within the Paramount Subdivision. Timing of construction and access to
Meridian Road were also points that we -- we talked about with the neighbors at the
meeting. And while the -- the subdivision will be built along a public road -- or Meridian
Road, the existing public roads that are stubbed were always planned to be extended
through the site. Let's see. The homes proposed here will have either two or three car
garages. All of the lots are set up to accommodate a three car garage, so -- they -- they
are not pick and choose which lot. Whoever buys a lot can have a three car garage if
they would like one, along with driveways that are 20 foot deep and there is additional on-
street parking specifically along the northern boundary of the -- of the project where there
aren't homes adjacent to some of the common open space there. Let's see. We talked
about adopting the Paramount Subdivision CC&Rs. The proposed lot sizes range from
5,250 square feet with a couple larger-- about five lots that are larger than 10,000 square
feet, with the largest being 15,482 square feet. If I take out the five larger kind of stand-
out -- stand-alone large lots the average lot size is 6,250 square feet for the remaining --
that would be 49. The existing Paramount Subdivision also has a wide range of lot sizes,
the smallest being approximately 4,315 square feet and home sizes that are both one
and two story, with sizes ranging from 1,500 square feet to over 5,000 square feet.
Originally the Pebblebrook Subdivision had proposed one and two-story homes, with a
maximum size of 2,968 square feet. After the neighborhood meeting with concerns about
home sizes and cohesivity with Paramount Homes and property values, the Hayden
Homes team, which is the developer of this increased the maximum size of the home to
3,195 square feet. I do want to take a moment as well to talk about some of the
architectural design that Hayden has developed. They build homes throughout the Pacific
Northwest, not just in the Treasure Valley, and they have developed what they have
referred to as a luxury design package, which is what is included in all of the homes that
will be built within Pebblebrook. So, this isn't -- Hayden has been known for doing entry
level homes a lot. This is not that product. This is a much more elevated product. You
can see in the -- a lot of the architectural elevations they all have stone on there that is
required. That's not optional. So, I do want to reinforce that as well. And we also feel
like these home sizes, not only being compatible in the -- in the area -- immediate area,
but it also reinforces some of what we heard from Planning and Zoning, as well as City
Council on other projects regarding the desire to provide a variety of home sizes, so that
it appeals to a variety or a wider range of home buyers in the Meridian area and this would
also allow for generational living within this area where you could have a small home. As
your family grows buy a larger one and as your kids grow and leave you can find a smaller
home and not leave this very desirable area of Meridian. Like I said, we had -- there was
a lot of concern about traffic during construction, as well as after. We are working with
ACHD to get a construction access off of Meridian Road for the infrastructure installation.
We are also talking with them about maintaining some sort of access for home
construction that would come off Meridian Road, so that not all construction traffic would
come through the Paramount Subdivision streets and, then, once the -- the homes are all
built that would be closed off and the -- the development is intending to start late this year
for infrastructure site work, with homes starting in spring of 2025. We did get some
positive feedback during the neighborhood meeting and some phone calls and e-mails
afterwards, as well as some positive feedback after the P&Z hearing here at the city and,
ultimately, the developer and the design team feel very good about this project and feel
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that this will be a positive addition to this area through the thoughtful in-fill redevelopment
of the site and continue to enhance the under -- underutilized spaces within Meridian.
Stand for any questions if you have them.
Simison: Thank you. Council, any questions for the applicant?
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: So, I'm curious about the feedback that you have been getting. You said that
you had received some positive feedback. I know looking through the public testimony
-- I mean there are at least 80 signatures opposing the project and a lot of I think concern.
Help me understand how you have tried to adapt your application in response to those
concerns. Like I see, for example, the masonry accents, right, to complement the
surrounding neighborhood. That makes sense to me. I do see some things, though, like
you have attached sidewalks, you are surrounded on three sides by neighborhood that
has detached sidewalks. Walk me through in a little bit greater detail how you are trying
to, you know, at least have a good transition with the surrounding neighborhood.
Semple: Sure. Mr. Mayor, Council Member Strader, so, yeah, the first part was really
working with the Paramount HOA board to talk with them and review their CC&Rs and
architectural control, so that we could look at the style of the homes to make sure that
they are matching what Paramount expects to see out of homes that are built in their
subdivision. We have really worked at increasing the amount of open space on this site
over what is required. There was a couple initial concepts that, you know, looking at the
densities and the ranges that we -- that are allowable in R-8 that had 60 homes, one that
had, you know, 58 homes on it and, ultimately, we dropped to 54 to make sure that we
can get that two-to-one ratio maximum along the exterior, as well as increase that open
space to get that in there. In terms of the attached versus detached sidewalks,
our concern was that it reduces parking within, because these are all front-loaded lots,
there is not a lot of alley load. It could reduce the available parking and I know that parking
is always an issue for residents and guests. You know, when you have people come over
you would like to have somewhere not on the street for them to park, to leave that open
if possible, and so that's why that decision was made. Ultimately it was supported by
ACHD, as we met one of their road section standards and we are not saying that this is
Paramount. We are not exactly Paramount. But we are trying as hard as we can to match
everything they have, while also looking at how to provide a bigger home, larger driveway,
and we did adjust some home sizes in terms of trying to get them a little bit larger in
response to neighbors. Some of the positives that we got was we heard from a few
different people that there was either a condo or a townhome or a multi-family project
proposed for the site at one point in time. A lot of calls saying we are really glad that this
is single family detached homes that are more cohesive with immediately adjacent. So,
that's sort of the positive that we got.
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
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Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: I just have a few more questions. So, I was curious about -- you kind of went
through the -- the trees and the shrubs, but that's an interesting example. So, you know,
those -- those all pertain to the common areas; right? So, for example, in the Paramount
neighborhood you have to have a certain number of trees in your front yard. Do you --
you said that you are going to -- planning to mirror all the CC&Rs of that subdivision. So,
are you planning for similar landscaping -- is just one example?
Semple: Mr. Mayor, Council Member Strader, yes. So, the CC&Rs from Paramount will
just have a name change on them or if they adopt us into their HOA we would just be
Paramount.
Strader: Uh-huh.
Semple: And so there will be -- the number -- same number of trees in the front yard,
same number of trees in the backyard as the minimums. So, if someone that buys a
home wants to do more over and above that they could. But it would meet all of those
guidelines. Exactly.
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: So, besides the attached sidewalks, what are the differences between the
subdivision and the Paramount Subdivision?
Semple: Mr. Mayor, Council Member Strader, I don't see a lot. I mean are the lots all as
large as the ones immediately adjacent? No, but they are also not all as small as some
of the smallest lots within Paramount. It's got a good range. The homes are all basically
exactly like the homes that are built in Paramount right now. So, there is -- I mean the
difference is this doesn't have a pool, but it also -- Paramount doesn't have pickleball
courts. So, we are trying to get something that Paramount residents could use and -- you
know, as an additional amenity within their subdivision, if we get into their subdivision,
and even if we are not adopted into the HOA there is not like this is going to be a gated
community, so --
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: You made a comment I thought it was kind of interesting. You said at one point
this was planned to be a park. When you look at the Comprehensive Plan there -- there
is a symbol for a park. Was that -- where -- did you receive guidance that that changed?
Were you just referring to the city's plans? I know like if you check -- and just for those in
the audience if you -- if you check through the folder for the application there is quite a bit
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of back and forth between myself and the parks director just trying to understand why is
this not an ideal site for a park, et cetera. But from your perspective has something
officially changed from the city's perspective? Where did that comment come from?
Semple: Mr. Mayor, Council Member Strader, when we went in for a pre-app -- and,
actually, had some due diligence prior to the purchase -- prior to Hayden Homes buying
the property, the city had evaluated it, talked to the Parks Department and they said that
a park wasn't viable here, because of-- and I have that notice from the Parks Department
director regarding visibility for Meridian. I know that the previous owner before it changed
hands a couple times she had talked about it being a park, but ultimately when she passed
my understanding is that it was bequeathed to the Catholic diocese and, then, they
decided that they were going to sell it, because it was a remnant parcel that they owned
at that point and in our conversations with city staff they said, yeah, we have talked about
it and it's not a viable spot. We have got Settlers Park close, a lot of other parks within
the subdivisions around there. Private, not public, but they basically told us that that
wasn't -- it was a generalized location for a potential park, but it wasn't specifically
identified as only a park and the land use underneath it was medium density residential.
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: One more. Yeah. I think where I'm getting hung up -- I -- I heard -- Sonya, you
made a comment this is one of the last undeveloped parcels. I think this is the last. Are
there more than this one?
Allen: Don't believe so.
Simison: Ma'am, everything's got to be on the record. If you want to testify about that
when it's your turn you are more than welcome to.
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: Yeah. I -- I'm sure in the Orchard Park development we did have some space
put aside there for some public amenities from what I recall. But -- thank you. No, that's
helpful. But that's it for my questions for now. Thanks.
Semple: Thank you.
Simison: Council, any additional --
Taylor: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Taylor.
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Taylor: Ben, one question I have in the staff report, talking about the ratio of homes in
Paramount and, then, our proposed development -- and I'm going to read this off and if
you need the map to look at that's fine, but in the staff report it talks about Lots 7 through
9, Block 2, abutting block -- Lot 10, Block 49, in Paramount 21 and Lots 10 through 12,
Block 2, abutting two lots in Bordeaux Estates to the south where three lots abut one lot
and staff is recommending that we revise that to have a maximum of a two-to-one ratio,
instead of the three-to-one. Did you accommodate that request in the current application
in -- in terms of revising the number of lots abutting the existing development?
Semple: Mr. Mayor, Council Member Taylor, yes. The preliminary plat was adjusted so
that there is no case where there is more than two to one lot ratio.
Taylor: Thank you.
Simison: Council, any additional questions for the applicant? Okay. Thank you very
much. Mr. Clerk, who do we have signed up this evening
Johnson: Mr. Mayor, first we have on Zoom Sally Reynolds. Sally, you should be able to
unmute.
Simison: And just for everyone that when you come up and speak you will be recognized
for three minutes, unless you are representing an HOA. If you can, please, state your
name and address for the record when you do come up. Sally.
Reynolds: Certainly. Can you all hear me?
Simison: Yes, we can.
Reynolds: All right. Wonderful. Good evening, Mr. Mayor and Members of Meridian City
Council. My name is Sally Reynolds. I reside at 1166 West Bacall Street in Meridian,
Idaho. I would like to speak tonight in support of the Pebblebrook Subdivision. So, I am
a Paramount resident and it is a wonderful change to see something other than high
density planned for the outskirts of our neighborhood. We already have Prelude
apartments to the southeast, Linder Spring four plexes to the southwest, the 55 plus
community of attached single family homes to the northeast and a future PUD
development of 138 dwellings that will be a mix of single family duplexes, townhomes,
and condos to the northwest. This square mile already has every type of housing
available and I'm relieved that this builder did not choose to apply for a higher density
designation, especially given our current middle school and high school enrollment
numbers and the fact that those 138 units to the north are not constructed yet. It's also
refreshing to see an applicant who is cognizant of existing neighbors and willing to work
with them, so the new development can integrate as seamlessly as possible with the
current neighborhood. The developers reached out to us as Paramount residents through
a meeting and planned pickleball courts after receiving feedback from us. Pickleball
courts are not the quietest amenity, so I thought it was neighborly of them to construct
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June 4,2024
Page 13 of 35
those in their area, plus it would complement existing amenities here in Paramount should
our HOA choose to annex the subdivision. As you know I'm very big on transitions and
would like to thank the city staff for the recommendations on the revised lot transitions
and I'm glad to see the developer was willing to adopt those changes and make them
official before submitting tonight. I believe this builder has done a wonderful job of
matching a small in-fill area with the surrounding neighborhood. They are almost
matching the density of Paramount with similar style homes and proposing to build
elevations that mirror those in Paramount. The request to join the HOA tells me that they
value our subdivision's rules and truly want to be good neighbors. Should Paramount
residents choose to admit them to the HOA Pebblebrook future residents would have to
adhere to our CC&Rs and, hopefully, maintain the quality of homes there unlike existing
CBH homes to the south that have not followed similar guidelines. As a former member
of the Meridian Open Space Committee I am pleased to see that this development
exceeds the minimum 15 percent. It is regrettable they could not have access to Meridian
Road to alleviate traffic through the neighborhood, even a right-in, right-out that I
understand that's an ACHD issue. If possible it would be great to add a condition to the
approval that the construction trucks do need to access the area from Meridian Road.
But other than that I voice my support for this application and look forward to welcoming
our new neighbors in this area.
Simison: Thank you, Sally. Council, any questions? Okay. Appreciate it.
Allen: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Yes, Sonya.
Allen: May I clarify a statement I made a moment ago in response to Council Woman
Strader's comment about is this the only parcel I believe left in this area. I did misspeak.
There -- there is approximately four or four and a half acres directly to the north of this
property that are rural residential properties that have yet to annex into the city and they
all have frontage on Meridian Road. But I don't think they are quite large enough for a
neighborhood park. But I did just want to clarify that. Thank you.
Simison: Thank you, Sonya.
Johnson: And, Mr. Mayor, there are five lines filled in, but nobody marked they wanted to
speak, so turn it over to you.
Simison: Go ahead and go down the list and see if they would like to come up.
Johnson: Absolutely. Joe and Mary Meeks. Mark Mulaney. Patrick Murphy. Loren and
Lori Billaud.
Simison: Good evening, Lori.
Billaud: Good evening, Mr. Mayor, fellow Council Members. My name is Lori Billaud.
192 West Lockhart Lane. Back in April 1 st of this year there was a West Ada School
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June 4,2024
Page 14 of 35
District and City Council Meridian interview meeting here. At that meeting I have pictures
of what was up on the diagram. Up here it says the student growth and capacity -- it's
important for us to get feedback. It says the goal is positive relationships between the
city and developers for the good of the students. Is impacting an overcrowded school --
on page two I have a list of the impacted schools, such being Heritage. You mentioned
here that Heritage is over -- already at this time overflowing. Rocky Mountain was stated
to be at capacity and Paramount was just a few students below. So, in the best interest
of the students you need to decide are you representing the developers? Are you
representing what's good for the families and students of this area? Over impacting the
schools is not in the best interest of the area and the voters. Also there were over a
hundred signatures. Not that it matters, but I was so excited to get over a hundred. So,
that's minutia. At the Planning and Zoning meeting there was also the woman that stood
-- or sat to the right of the Councilman that actually had the audacity to say, well, you can
just send your students to private school. Well, just to think, oh, I have got ten thousand
dollars spare -- to spare per child. I'm sure all of you had that when you were young, not
like myself now, but younger with young kids. Oh, yes, let's just send them that. I could
not believe the audacity. And the city commissioner also had the audacity at the meeting
to have to say I need to step down for my soapbox, because he on several occasions
said you are lucky to be having this, it could be worse. He said that not once, not twice,
but at least three times and even said I need to get off my soapbox. Three people left
this meeting, two of them said things -- that lived in Paramount that this was rude and
disrespectful, that the people are not listening. Now you are elected officials. The people
that were here and in the meeting were not elected officials. They are just people that
are helping out. But people vote you and they will remember what you do here, because
we are not asking for it to be eliminated, we just want a one-to-one -- maybe one-to-five
ratio. There is nothing but greed from the developers by not making it. There is not one
thing that stands in the way of them reducing it down to one to one, other than greed.
Thomas Jefferson states -- sorry. Let's see. It was a gamble from them buying it. I got
off track. But Thomas Jefferson, the third president, says the selfish spirit of the
commerce knows no country, no feeling, no passion, no principle but that of gain. So, are
you here for the residents and the families? Are you here for the developers? As in Ten
Mile you made them push in --
Simison: Thank you. Your time is --
Billaud: And at -- one is 84, you had them reduce it. It's in your hands. You have the
power. Thank you.
Simison: Your time is up. Council, any questions?
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: Lori, I had a question if that is okay. In your testimony you said that you wanted
to see a -- a one-to-five ratio.
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Billaud: One to one. Sorry. I'm --
Cavener: You are enthusiastic. It's okay. Let's --
Billaud: There is no reason they could not make it a one-to-one ratio to match it. It's
within everybody's power -- your power and their power. If you don't you are following in
and going with the developers and I can speak -- he asked me a question.
Cavener: Lori, I asked the question. I asked for clarification on the one piece.
Billaud: Uh-huh.
Cavener: And, again, we are all -- we are all neighbors here. Okay?
Billaud: I'm actually moving, but I felt justice to do this for the people, even though I'm
moving out of Meridian.
Cavener: Well, best of luck with where you are -- you are headed. I'm sorry that you are
leaving our community. But --
Billaud: It's like that. I found a place where I could actually have a -- a side house for my
dad.
Cavener: Well, that's -- that's good. That's -- I mean family is the biggest reason why we
call a house a home. So, best of luck and thank you for sharing your testimony with us
tonight.
Billaud: And please consider it. It's very important to the voters and the families of
Paramount.
Simison: Thank you. Mr. Clerk, do we have anybody else who signed up?
Johnson: Mr. Mayor, that was it.
Simison: Okay. Is there anybody present that would like to come provide testimony? If
you would like to come on up and if you are online and want to provide testimony, please,
use your raise your hand feature, so we can bring you in when it's your time.
McDermott: So, I don't know how to do the formal whatever.
Simison: Please just state your name and address.
McDermott: All right. So, my name is Laura McDermott and I'm at 357 West Broderick.
So, basically, right where North Garbo comes in there. So, a couple things. I was
wondering when you guys gave the density of Paramount and you are including the
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June 4,2024
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apartments, which is just -- right -- that's -- that's like an outlier. So, what is the density of
the Paramount Subdivision minus the apartments? Because that falsely lowers it. So, to
say -- because I think it -- I don't remember the numbers -- like 3.3 or whatever. So, we
beat it. But if you didn't have a three story multiple building apartment what is the density
of Paramount?
Simison: We can ask the staff to see if they can reply to that.
McDermott: Okay. Because I don't know. So, I'm -- I'm also a mom. I have got two boys.
And I'm just going to kind of-- I -- I do think it's -- I -- I heard you guys say it tonight about
doing the private school and I think that that is -- should --that should not be -- somebody
mentioned it today or else -- no, it was before her. Somebody -- somebody mentioned
that, you know, we are worried about crowded schools, but don't worry about the public
schools, because there is plenty of -- plenty of private schools around. That was for sure
said tonight, because I heard that word and I wrote it down prior to the woman who just
spoke and so you have to consider this plot, you have to consider the land in Winco and
it's -- the schools are already very crowded and, then, you guys also considered the open
space. Well, right now they are open, but what if -- I mean there is a lot of schools that -
- that lock down their area, so what would that park area look like in the future if you don't
have access to Rocky, if you don't have access to the elementary school, because they
have -- because they have fenced it off. You are squinching your eyes at me, but it could
-- it -- it could happen. You -- you know, you don't know. So, why are -- you are like --
like you didn't understand what I said. Oh. In the -- your -- you guys said, oh, there is
plenty of park area available between Rocky Mountain and between Heritage, but you --
they are open campuses now. You cannot look into the future and say that they are and
if you look at the parks in Paramount they are not -- minus the schools they are not large
areas and then -- so, I guess that's one thing is that the -- the schools are already
incredibly impacted and so you can't look at the other private schools that are available,
because to assume people have the funds to pay for that is not appropriate. And, then, I
would like to know what the density is. Additionally, the backyards-- I mean we are across
the street, so it doesn't affect us personally, but the -- the houses that abut to the -- you
know, existing neighborhoods, how close are those homes to the backyard? Like how
much --you know, is it something that all of a sudden these people are going to be looking
right at somebody else's houses and if they plant trees, right, and it's like already a tiny
lot then -- I don't know. So, anyways, those are my things. So, I -- I think that there is --
it's quite a few homes in there and I agree with what Sally said as far as we already have
--we already have like every type of housing that you could think of. So, we already have
the apartments. We already have duplex. We already have the --
Simison: Thank you, ma'am. Your time is up.
McDermott: Okay.
Simison: Council, any questions?
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
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June 4,2024
Page 17 of 35
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: I think just because I want to -- I appreciate -- I can't remember if it was Laura
who --that was her name. I think I might have a question for you if you would like. I know
-- I just -- I want to make -- I just -- because I -- I think this was something that came up
and I just wanted to give you some clarification. What -- what -- I think you were referring
to about the private schools is when the applicant was presenting, they touched on the
proximity to a private school. So, there is the St. Ignatius School that is just down the
street.
McDermott: I'm well aware of where they are.
Cavener: Okay. All right.
McDermott: I'm saying that it shouldn't -- when you are looking at the ability of a
community to handle the students that are there, that's like a cherry on top of the sundae.
You should never say, well, you know, they can always go there. The public schools that
are there need to accommodate everybody that's there. If they choose to go to a private
school that's fine, but you can't assume that they will and there -- it's already -- I mean my
son is at Rocky and, you know, he is in -- he is in the portables; right? So, just saying like
it's already -- it's already impacted now and that's before all the stuff gets done at Winco
and that's before, you know, whatever is going to go in here. So, I -- I mean I -- I agree
that -- I mean it sounds like, oh, well, we did you guys such a favor, we could have put in
60 houses and we took down six. How many of the people on the -- I'm just wondering
how many of you guys actually live in Paramount that like would actually be affected? But
we have one person; right. So, it's so easy to make decisions for a neighborhood that
you don't actually live in, because to say you live in Meridian -- great. But, if -- if -- if you
don't actually send your kids to those schools, if you don't actually live in that
neighborhood, then, you won't really feel the impact of what's being proposed here. I'm
not saying to scrap the whole entire thing, but I -- I do think that not just rubber stamping
it and look to see if -- you know, I don't -- I certainly don't want townhomes or condos or
anything like that there, but I think looking at it to see if there is a way to reduce the
number of homes, to really look at the density of Paramount minus the apartments,
because I think you will find that it's actually higher than you think.
Cavener: Mr. Mayor, if I -- if I may.
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: Just a couple I think points that I -- I would just share from a perspective, which
is you got half the Council right now that have kids that are in West Ada schools.
McDermott: In this one I'm talking about.
Cavener: So, those, but --
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June 4,2024
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McDermott: There is -- in Rocky.
Cavener: So, Meridian elects our City Council members by district.
McDermott: I understand that.
Cavener: So, that means that's five of us. If one of us lives in Paramount, five of us can't
live in Paramount.
McDermott: Oh, I know that. That was my point.
Cavener: So -- right. We -- we have to live throughout the entire city and -- and the
challenges around schools are something I think that this City Council has taken really to
heart. So, I can -- I can hear the frustration in your voice and I'm just more trying to share
with you -- I don't think -- I can't think of a single time that this Council has considered a
housing application on the merits of students that would go to a private school. We -- we
are -- we are champions of West Ada, because we are families of West Ada. So --
McDermott: At capacity where they going to go?
Cavener: Mr. Mayor, if I may?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: I believe, according to what we have heard from West Ada, they can actually -
- the district can accommodate I think right around 1 ,200 additional students right now.
That's what the school is telling us and that challenge is -- right. And this is where I think
the frustration is valid. We have got more students in Rocky Mountain than what the
school says that that school can handle, where it's just down the road Centennial can
accommodate way more students, but the district hasn't made the decision to move
students from one school to another. That's a frustration that we deal with is that the city
of Boise, which feeds largely to Centennial, can continue to send students there, where
Meridian families are continuing to feel the pain. So, I just -- I want you to know that I -- I
sympathize with where you are coming from and -- but I didn't want you to feel that we --
because five of us don't live in Paramount that we are not sympathetic to the challenges
that are going on in our schools and I know -- I would never expect you to come spend a
Tuesday night -- every Tuesday to come watch these City Council meetings, but we
argued and wrestled on a -- on a project that had like 13 homes, because of the impact
on West Ada. So, we take these -- we take these issues seriously. I can -- I can tell from
some of the conversations we had some challenging conversations at the Planning and
Zoning Commission and so I'm being a little bit more up front with those that are willing
to come up and testify, because I feel bad that that was your experience, but I wanted just
to let you know that we are -- we are Meridian residents and -- and the same -- we send
our kids to the same schools that you send your kids and we want the best education for
our children. That's the reason why a lot of people chose to choose Meridian as home.
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McDermott: Yeah. Because I just think it's crazy when you look at the Winco development
and, then, you look at this and just the increase in traffic where kids play and I just -- it's -
- I think it's going to -- I don't want to like scrap the project. That's not at all what I'm
saying. But I think to look at is there any way to like maybe reduce -- reduce further like
the number of homes, because 54 in that area -- and, then, I think he said he was going
to put like 101 trees in the open area of like two acres. Is it -- where is the open acre
going to be after those hundred trees are full grown and maybe I misunderstood you, sir.
Simison: Just -- go ahead and direct it up here.
McDermott: Yeah. Sorry. But, anyways, I was thinking like, well, gosh, when there is a
hundred trees that get bigger, what's that 2.3 acres of open space going to look like?
That's --
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
McDermott: And it's possible I misunderstood.
Strader: Sorry. Laure. Laure, before you go. Quick one.
McDermott: Sorry.
Strader: Okay. So, you have a lot of concerns, which I share. Like I share the same
concerns about school overcrowding. I think it's a huge issue. I want to understand,
though, when you say -- we don't want to scrub the project --
McDermott: Like it's a done deal.
Strader: Well, I don't know. I mean, you know, from your perspective what -- what would
a good outcome be tonight? I'm just curious. Like taking -- and I -- it's -- I definitely heard
everyone had a bad experience at Planning and Zoning and it sounds like it -- they came
off as not caring about people's feedback, which is totally the opposite of what we are
trying to achieve. I know everybody cares about people's feedback. I just want to
understand from your perspective do you feel like a great outcome tonight is, you know,
approving this project with matching lot lines on the, you know, outer streets facing
Woodward? I mean what's your -- I'm just curious, what do you think a good outcome
would be in terms of changes? Like if you feel changes are made -- because you are --
what I'm not hearing from you is turn it down. We don't want to see anything here.
McDermott: I mean ultimately I would prefer there was the park, but I realize that that
was -- that's not possible, so I am not a planning, you know, zoning expert and -- at all,
but I -- I think that you can fudge the numbers to make yourself feel good. So, by saying
that the -- the -- the density is like, oh, it's 2.8, but that's incorporating the apartment and
I think that if you -- and, then, we don't have -- you know, we do have -- I think the -- the
smallest lot in Paramount is 4,000. Well -- but it's not 13 acres of 4,000 square foot lots.
So, it's -- it's a very tiny part of Paramount and so I think if you -- if you really take those
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June 4,2024
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outliers of what's -- that really tiny part of Paramount and take out the apartments, what -
- what is the density and, then, I think you would come to like maybe a more agreeable
number with homes and I'm -- like I said, I'm not -- I -- I don't want townhomes there.
don't want condos there. But I think that -- I think if you really looked at the outliers then
-- then -- and took those out, then, you would -- and I don't know the numbers, you guys
-- or somebody that you can get in contact would look at that and be able to come up with
like a better number.
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: Just to sort of play devil's advocate, if I'm looking at it here, right, I mean I
definitely see that they adjusted the plat. So, you know, there has been a pretty significant
improvement, at least from what I'm seeing, in terms of, you know, if you look at like a --
one of the Paramount homes I -- I can't find one, I'm still looking here that faces -- well,
guess I do see one that's kind of an odd shape that might face like two and a half, but it
does look like the -- you know, kind of one-to-two ratio was something that they took
feedback on. So, I was just curious, like did that help in your mind, you know, in terms of
support or nonsupport of the project, do you feel like the changes just haven't gone far
enough? Like help -- help me kind of understand.
McDermott: I don't think I'm the expert in this. I'm just saying -- I'm just looking at this
from like a -- a school perspective. I'm also looking at it from like -- you know, it's like right
where our neighbor -- so, I'm looking at like the traffic that's going to go literally right by
my house, because I'm -- I could throw a ball to where North Garbo is and so I'm looking
at the impact of schools and, then, like I said, the -- the more houses that you have in
there -- I'm not saying that they didn't make any accommodations, but did they make the
accommodations off of false numbers; right? So, is -- is the house density or whatever -
- is that really 2.8 or is it -- is it -- because I think there is like 3.3, so we beat it. But if you
take out the apartments and the super tiny row of 4,000 square foot lots in Paramount,
what's that actual number, so --
Strader- Thank you.
McDermott; Okay.
Simison: Sonya, did you by chance happen to have --
Allen: Yep.
Simison: I don't know if you were over there trying to crunch the numbers, just out of
curiosity.
Allen: Yeah. Mr. Mayor. But I -- I have some variables that I can't -- I don't have the
information for right now. Their-- the apartments do, you know, make that density higher,
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June 4,2024
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but there was also a comment in the staff report about the density would change upon
residential development of another lot and I -- I can't find a copy of the plat in laserfiche
to see what that was and I'm not sure if that was the multi-family lot or a different lot. So,
I'm sorry, I can't answer that question accurately for you tonight.
Simison: If you can give a ballpark'ish.
Allen: If-- if I calculate the acreage that was part of the multi-family development, which
skews the numbers, because you would typically subtract that acreage if you are not
going to count the multi-family, it's 2.2 units per acre.
Simison: I'm sorry, two point --
Allen: 2.2.
Simison: Roughly.
Allen: Then I can't calculate what the acreage is of the multi-family. I don't see it listed
out separately in the staff report to be able to do that.
Simison: All right. Thank you. Okay. And come on up.
Meeks: Hello. Joe Meeks. 928 West Barrymore in Paramount. Been there for quite a
while. Since 2004. So, I have seen a lot of changes in the neighborhood. This is going
to get built on. I mean maybe not this time, maybe not next year, maybe in five years, but
we should take the opportunity to take this version, rather than getting something way
worse put in there, something that -- perhaps the situation in the future doesn't allow us
as much control. So, we have a great opportunity to take the best I think opportunity we
have for this development of this area. It's not -- it's not been anything for a long time.
They are going to make some amenities. So, I'm for it completely a hundred percent and
there is no guarantee that every person in here is going to have two or three kids. I mean,
you know, you have that many houses, but maybe that's not the case. We don't know. I
can't speak to, you know, the school situation. That's -- you know, that's a broader topic
I think, but as far as the builder goes I think they have been very cooperative and been
very amenable to, you know, looking at the options and considering them. So, I just
wanted to state my case, you know, I'm for the development. Thank you.
Simison: Thank you. Council, any questions? Is there anybody else who would like to -
- come on up, please, sir. Good evening.
Turnbull: Good evening. Thank you. My name is Ramont Turnbull and I live at 447 West
Broderick Drive and I think what's being missed on these numbers is -- as far as the
density goes, this particular northeast section of Paramount is made up of the nicest and
largest homes. They are not made up of apartments. They are not made up of the
carriage homes or any of that and because of that I think before -- and I -- I signed a
petition to lower the density. I think the density should match the homes that are
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immediately on the perimeter of the property and in just looking at it from a distance -- I
have looked at it much closer at home on a -- on a smaller map, they don't match. There
is not a match there. There is -- there is crammed in there -- and I understand that. I
understand that money needs to be made, but at the same time not this way. They have
-- they need to match what they have there in the immediate perimeter. I think that's a
reasonable request. Now, whether that's 40 houses, whether that's 45, I'm not sure, but
I think that's a reasonable request. Thank you.
Simison: Thank you. Council, any questions? Okay. Thank you. Is there anybody else
that would like to come forward and provide testimony at this time? Is there anybody
online that would like to provide testimony? Okay. Then would the applicant like to come
forward and close.
Semple: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Members of Council. Again Ben Semple with Rodney
Evans and Partners. 1450 West Bannock, Boise, Idaho. 83702. 1 just want to reinforce
a couple things. So, we are in -- currently in conversations with ACHD about a
construction entrance off of Meridian Road. It is going very positively. So, we anticipate
that that will happen. We will keep that open as long as we possibly can to avoid having
construction traffic go through a subdivision. Regarding the school capacity, we did
receive a letter from West Ada School District. They evaluated this development and they
said their anticipated impact was 17 school aged children from this development. That's
their numbers, not ours. That's what they told us. So -- and while there are private
schools we are not relying on those to be, you know, used by the residents here. I know,
you know, there is -- depending on your situation you can send your kid to a private school
or not. It's just -- but, you know, that's kind of where we are at with -- when we are getting
feedback from West Ada that says that that's the impact and they said that we have made
all reasonable accommodations for pedestrian connectivity and walkability, we feel pretty
good about that. This -- the density of this project is less than four units an acre. It is way
lower than what's allowed in R-8, which is eight units an acre, and my client, the
developer, doesn't want to try to cram a bunch of homes in here. They are actually looking
at this as a fully compliant, on the low end of the R-8, that all of Paramount is. It got
developed the way it got developed because of the choices that were made by that
developer at the time. They could have done densities that were higher there. They
chose not to. When you are doing in-fill redevelopment of projects it's inherently more
challenging. You are typically dealing with weird shapes of lots. You are dealing with
stubbed roads. You are dealing with a lot of existing things around you that we are trying
to balance. That's what was all taken into consideration when we finalized this plan and
made our submittal. We do meet all of the standards of the R-8 zone or exceed them.
All of our setbacks will match the setbacks that Paramount has. All of the -- I mean we
are not requesting any variances for any aspect of this development. It's all within the --
the allowances of the UDC orACHD's policies for public roads and I just want to reinforce
these are detached single family homes upwards of 3,200 square feet --just under 3,200
square feet if that's the model that the person decides to purchase for construction there.
These aren't patio homes. They are not attached. Yeah, someone could do something
different. Again, we feel very good about this project and what we will bring to this area.
I would stand for any additional questions you may have.
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June 4,2024
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Taylor: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Thank you. Councilman Taylor.
Taylor: Just one question. If you could maybe speak to the last-- Mr. Turnbull's comments
about this particular part of northeast Paramount has some of the larger kind of higher
end homes, he is concerned with how that might match with your development. Can you
just speak to that a little bit, address that concern directly?
Semple: Mr. Mayor, Council Member Taylor, we looked at this in a couple -- couple
different ways. We did get some direction from staff where they mentioned that two-to-
one maximum ratio creates that transition. We have some other lots in here that have
one and a half lots of the Paramount larger lots that are adjacent to them specifically on
the west end of this project, because of how this narrows down. So, we end up with two
of those lots against one of the lots in here. So, there was kind of a give and take to try
to find out what -- how it laid out best. You know, reducing it down to -- or having the
largest homes that matched exactly what was in Paramount would severely reduce the
housing product here. Paramount has a very wide range of homes. This fits in well with
a range. I know that there is some patio homes that are over by Paramount Elementary.
I know that because my mother-in-law lives there and it's a fairly high density area that
right across the street as large homes, too, and everybody seems to be pretty neighborly
there. So, I guess we tried to get as best we could, while also understanding that this is
an investment that my client is making in Meridian to bring more housing to the market.
Simison: So, while I'm not good at math and shapes sometimes can be confusing, if I do
a simple number and I start down here, if I'm looking up at the map, kind of down where
the last house in Paramount is and wrap around up to where the street intersects, there
is 24 parcels on the outside and 21 parcels on the inside, unless my -- unless -- I mean
I'm not saying it's the same size, I'm not saying a lot of things, but from a numbers
perspective there is fewer on the inside that match up to the existing Paramount homes
than there are homes as I count them, but someone else can correct my math or my site,
you know, and if you keep going with the rest of them down there, yeah, there is -- there
is a road that separates, but the numbers are probably -- it's going to be almost pretty
identical in the numbers. But I know it's not this --just -- am I wrong? Okay. I just want
to make sure my math -- my -- my counting -- because it doesn't look that way. When I
look at the map it doesn't look that way, because there are more two to ones. But,
anyways, I don't have a question or an answer, I just have a statement.
Cavener: Because at least it -- kind of extend to where my question is coming from,
because, again, I think you are a political science major, I'm a political science major, we
are not very great at math.
Simison: History.
Cavener: Sorry. History. So, I -- I did something similar. I counted 32 1 think on the
exterior, 26 on the interior. So, again, you are the subject matter expert when it comes to
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June 4,2024
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design and layout. Help us understand why we couldn't get to -- if you have got less units
on your interior perimeter than there are houses in Paramount on the exterior perimeter,
what's preventing kind of that one-to-one'ish matchup, even if it was, you know, I get every
now and then the architecture design, you got to have to fudge a little bit here and a little
bit there, but help -- help me understand that, what -- what makes you doing -- I think
what the neighbors are asking for prohibitive?
Semple: Mr. Mayor, Council Member Cavener, I -- I'm not the one that purchased the
property. You know, a lot of it is an investment. The money that they spent they are trying
to get a return on that. To reduce the number of lots -- you are right there is 21 along the
boundary where they are immediately adjacent to the Paramount homes. You know,
that's going to drop the number down. It -- it feels -- because of how we have it laid out
along the southern boundary, there is ten homes along the side where there is seven
homes, one of which is a fairly narrow -- at the -- kind of down at the southeast corner
there. So, that would take ten -- put it to seven, the geometry of the western end of this
property to get our required street frontage for our lot for the UDC, our depths and our
widths, you know, and not having -- and not doing common driveways, which I know is
not a very popular thing to do in Meridian right now, it led to this layout. It -- it's -- to put
a one-to-one ratio on the outside is more than likely leading to some challenges with the
road network and, then, being able to get other lot sizes to match within the development.
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: Yeah. I have a very similar thought process. So -- and so just stepping back;
right? In-fill it's always hard and this is a -- this is a very difficult in-fill, because you are
completely surrounded by Paramount. So, I feel like in this case it is really important to
be sensitive to the transition and just looking at it, I mean you have a pretty good
alignment I think on the northern end. You have a buffer of Mitchum Avenue; right? That
-- I think that buffer helps with that transition to the north. Over to the west I think that the
lots you have are actually larger than the lots in Paramount. It's really this south -- it
seems to me like the biggest issue are -- are the lot lines along Gleason Street and I
mean just looking at it and I -- I understand every home is important for your client's
investment, but it looked to me like if you lost one home on West Gleason Street on the
west side and maybe one or two on the east side of Gleason, it looked to me like you
could easily achieve a one-to-one lot line with the surrounding neighborhood and I'm just
curious, you know, is that something that your client will consider if it helps the
application? I think what you are hearing from neighbors is some frustration around
school overcrowding, which I share, and -- and just really a desire to see something that
looks like it is Paramount, like that it -- it -- it's very similar or close to the same lot lines.
I think you could keep that density that you do have here kind of in the middle of all the
pickleball courts, because no one's directly next to that; right? I think your biggest
transition issue, just from what I see, is all kind of along Gleason Street, sort of the south
part of your -- of your client's property and I just -- I'm just curious, you know, is that
something that you all would consider if that's what it took to get it across the finish line.
Meridian City Council
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It's a relatively modest reduction in density that I think would, you know, really alleviate a
lot of concern.
Semple: Mr. Mayor and Council Member Strader, I'm going to have to defer to my client
for that question. I don't feel comfortable answering that for them. I will I guess reiterate
that the two-to-one ratio was what was given to us by the city as an appropriate transition
along the perimeter here and so that was what was pursued. To start eliminating lots is
challenging. We can't add them back anywhere and still meet our open space, so we still
get the amount of open space that we want on this property and on this project. So, yeah,
I mean I can turn it over to my client if that is allowable.
Strader: Maybe -- Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Yeah.
Strader: Maybe we take five.
Allen: Mr. Mayor? I'm sorry.
Simison: Do we need -- you -- you want to take a break? Because it -- what we are
saying?
Strader: Give them a chance to chat.
Simison: Okay. Yeah. If -- we will go ahead and take five -- a five minute break. I will
just say this. I was not recommending -- I was actually saying you guys are better than
one -- than the outside edge, just so we are clear, but I will -- we will take a five minute
recess.
Allen: Mr. Mayor, I'm sorry, could I clarify something real quick, please? It appears that
the slide in the applicant's presentation is outdated. I don't believe it's correct and I just
wanted to say that, because it appears everybody's looking at the previous plan. So,
just put up the most recent plan and if you will notice, especially right here, the previous
plan showed like three lots here.
Simison: Okay.
Allen: And this is the improved plan here. So, I'm -- I'm afraid we got a little off track there
and I just -- I just wanted to clarify that and -- thank you.
Semple: Mr. Mayor, I want to -- Sonya, I did send it to you and, then, I had already sent
in my PowerPoint and I didn't --
Simison: Well, why don't we take a five minute break so we can look at this revised,
because, yeah, I was not counting on this.
Meridian City Council
June 4,2024
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Allen: I -- I put it in my presentation, the updated one, but I did not realize you didn't put
it in yours.
Simison: All right. Five minute recess. We will reconvene at 7:30.
(Recess.)
Simison: All right. We will go ahead and come on back. Like the applicant to be back
up. And, Council Woman Strader, do you have a specific question based on
conversations?
Strader: Mr. Mayor, thank you. Give everybody a chance to -- I was just wondering if you
were waving at me, sir. I was like yes. Sorry. My line of questioning -- first of all, thank
you for putting up the correct plat. That's very helpful. Just looking at it, though, again, I
still -- it looks to me like if you lost two homes you could match all the lot lines on the
southern part of the property and so I was just going to ask your client like are they willing
to do that.
Semple: Mr. Mayor and I -- Council Member Strader, I had a chance to talk with my client.
You know, feels really great about the layout right now. If it's a difference between an
approval or a denial or the disposition of the Council is swayed, you know, he has offered
that he can drop one lot that's west of Garbo and one lot that's east of Garbo and, then,
that -- they are all 63 foot wide right there. That's 63 feet gets pushed into the other lots
that are a lot between 14 one -- I think there is -- the plat has the lot numbering. Yeah.
So, I don't know -- I don't know if -- Sonya, if you can point to 14 one right by the cul-de-
sac bulb. Just below it. Just to the right of that. Yep. So, there is 14 one. So, from that
to the right to Garbo drop one of those lots and push that width into those lots from 14
one to the corner there. Same thing from one on the other side of Garbo there along the
south down, drop one out of there. The challenge with matching those lot lines is there
is a really large lot as you get down there to the right. I just don't think that we can match
that width and achieve dropping just two lots, but he has offered that if that is the direction
that the Council would like to see and that makes a difference, that's what he can offer.
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: That's a very generous offer and I think that that reduction in density of those
two homes can make all the difference in the world. I understand what you are saying. I
mean you do have -- oops. Sorry. You do have that one lot that's kind of a trapezoid
shape that has kind of a large northern border and that -- that -- you are not going to be
able to match that one exactly, but it -- I think that's fantastic. I mean, then, I think if you
lost those two you could really come very close to matching all the lot lines and I -- like
for me that would make a big difference, because, then, I think there is really no argument
left at that point. You really are very compatible in terms of transition with the surrounding
neighborhood. Now, granted, with -- and, again, you know, single family detached
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June 4,2024
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housing, which I do think -- I feel very strongly is preferable in this area in terms of fitting
the surrounding neighborhoods. So, I really appreciate your client's willingness to -- to
consider that. Thank you.
Semple: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Yes.
Semple: Can I ask a follow-up question? Is that--would that be contained in an additional
condition of approval that gets added?
Allen: We certainly could do that, yes, Mr. Mayor. Thank you.
Simison: That's a yes from staff.
Strader: Thank you.
Simison: Council, any additional questions for the applicant?
Semple: Thank you.
Simison: Thank you.
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: I just had a couple questions for staff if that's okay.
Simison: Go ahead.
Strader: Thank you. Sonya, if -- understanding the applicant has offered to reduce their
development by two homes, would you recommend that we just add that as a condition
of approval? Would you think that we need to see a revised plat? Like what -- in terms
of the process what do you think that process should look like if we did go down that path
tonight?
Allen: Yeah. Mr. Mayor, Council Woman Strader, Council, that's under your purview, of
course, but I -- I think it would be sufficient to include a condition of approval that they
honor what they stated.
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Meridian City Council
June 4,2024
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Strader: Okay. That's helpful. And, then, I did have just a couple of questions for our
parks director if that is possible, Mr. Mayor.
Simison: Mr. Siddoway.
Strader: Mr. Mayor, thank you. I just -- you know, from the perspective of a resident, if
I'm -- you know. And I -- I don't expect residents in the City of Meridian to closely follow
the ins and outs of all the changes that -- that happen, but if I looked -- if I looked at the
Comprehensive Plan and I saw that there was going to be a park in my neighborhood, I
would be so excited and I was I thought, oh, gosh, we are going to get a park over here.
Turns out we are not getting a park. You did send an e-mail. But could you, please,
explain,just for everyone's benefit, what are the reasons that this doesn't work as a pocket
park. Explain how -- I think everyone knows we are served by Settlers Park, but if you
could just kind of get into some of the thought process, because I can understand how
people are disappointed looking at the map, hoping they are going to get a park in their
neighborhood and -- and, then, they are not.
Siddoway: Well, I will give -- I will start with the general answer, kind of -- with the future
land use map and, then, I will zero in, because it sounds like you wanted a specific answer
to this parcel as well. But the -- the park stars exist on the future land use map in order
to give us as a city an opportunity to talk about whether or not there should be the park
there and I have been grateful for the opportunity that that's given us to have a
conversation about a park at that location. It is noted on the map that they are not parcel
specific, that they do float. There is not much place in this particular square mile for it to
float to, so -- but, nonetheless, was there -- I mean if you look at the map overall in -- in -
- basically in the square miles that do not have a City of Meridian park, there is a star
there for us to be able to have a conversation with development as it comes through and
I love parks, I want more parks and I don't want anything to say tonight to come across
with the idea that I don't, but not every park star becomes a park. What every park star
is is an opportunity to talk about if it is, one, appropriate as development comes through.
Often when a -- especially with larger developments they can become a catalyst for a
conversation for a partnership. It's not very realistic on a 13 acre site to talk about a
donation of a seven acre piece. But the direction -- and this goes back several years, so
if this Council feels differently I'm all ears, but the direction from previous Council was that
given our limited resources of funding and et cetera, that we should focus primarily, if we
are purchasing land, to focus on those larger community and regional parks. It doesn't
mean that the -- the smaller neighborhood parks are off the table, but the expectation has
been that those would come in with a -- a partnership. Land donation and often some
kind of a partnership that would involve like green up. The opportunity for this without us
purchasing the property just isn't very realistic. So, we -- we -- while we never pursued a
purchase of this parcel, we have been aware of it. We have looked at it. I kind of laid
that out in the e-mail, but just to give some of the -- the highlights, the -- there is two
parcels here. I don't know if they would have ever been sold separately, but just to take
them separately, the interior one is large enough to meet the -- our minimum seven acre
size for what we consider a neighborhood park. I think it's 8.7 acres. But that parcel has
no frontage. There is zero. And we like our neighborhood parks to have as much frontage
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June 4,2024
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as it can for visibility into the park. Having not been planned as a park up front it's
surrounded by six foot solid fences. It's not the lower or open vision fences that would be
required if it had been planned as a park from the beginning. There is also the two stub
streets that have been seen and so we know that if we were to build a park there it would
be bisected by a road somehow. That front parcel, it has a house and outbuildings on it,
and to think that I would spend our limited resources to buy a house that we would just,
then, tear down is all -- didn't also seem like not the right use of the resources that we
have. It's -- there are a number of --
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Siddoway: You have a question? Sorry. I can pause.
Strader: If that's okay. Could you just touch on -- so, what -- in the future state of the city
what will be the parks -- the public parks in close proximity to this area besides Settlers
Park?
Siddoway: So, Settlers Park. We also have an agreement with the school district. We
manage their Heritage Middle School open space with the ball fields. We -- we paid for
the lights there and -- and we -- it's not a -- there is not a playground per se, so I don't
want to overstate that, but we do manage that as a park and -- and schedule those. The
-- going off without a map, but -- so, Heroes Park would be I think the closest to the west.
Settlers Park to the south. To the northwest we are working on land that I don't own yet,
but we want to see a future Fields District Park. We also -- it's well on the record that we
have been working with the Ewings for Margaret Aldape Park to the north as our first park
along the Boise River. I think those would be the most significant parks in the vicinity.
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: Yeah. Thank you. That's really helpful. I mean -- so, the area is served by a
decently close proximity of about four different public parks. It does make me kind of sad
that we, you know, are moving away from neighborhood parks in some -- in some aspect.
I mean I do think there -- there is a purpose for them. But I understand what you are
saying. You feel like this isn't really an ideal location. I just thought it was important to
get that perspective on the record, so that people could kind of understand the thought
process that the city has gone through.
Siddoway: Thank you. And let me just say that these HOA parks are key to the open
space plan for our city. You know, as a city we are trying to hold the line on around three
acres per thousand, but with the speed of growth we continue to lose ground on that. I
think the last count we were about 2.6 1 think. But when you count all of the HOA parks
in the city we are closer to ten acres per thousand and that is what I would call the effective
level of service of the open space for our residents. That's an important number to me.
As a city we don't have to own all of those or, you know, require the tax dollars that would
Meridian City Council
June 4,2024
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maintain all of those. But those large parks are high amenity, high value parks and that's
what we have been focused on and we do welcome partnerships for the smaller
neighborhood parks. We have done three just relatively recently with Reta Huskey Park
and Keith Bird Park and Hillsdale, which is classified as a community park, but it is just
over 11 acres. It's kind of a similar size. So, those are all significant partnership parks
that involve donation and green up and things and we do pursue those actively. So --
yeah. Welcome to parks. We -- we love them. We want more. It just didn't make sense
here for us to pursue it for a purchase and there wasn't a realistic opportunity for a
donation.
Strader: Thank you.
Little Roberts: Mr. Mayor? Steve.
Simison: Council Woman Little Roberts.
Little Roberts: Thank you. Had someone earlier -- well, thank you, Steve, for clarifying
that. But we had someone testify earlier that they were concerned that the school green
space could get fenced in, but it sounds like at least with our partnership with Heritage
that would not be an option. That will always be open to the public as long as we are
maintaining it.
Siddoway: Not there -- you know, Paramount Elementary -- I don't know that we have
the ability to say that it could never change, but I know that their policy is that those open
spaces are purchased. They are the public's and so when school is not in session the
playgrounds are available for the public to use. That is how it is today.
Little Roberts: Awesome. Thank you.
Siddoway: Okay. Thank you.
Simison: Thank you. Mr. Mayor?
Strader: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: Happy to kick off some discussion.
Simison: Okay.
Strader: I don't know if you have --
Simison: We haven't closed yet. So, the applicant has concluded. The public hearing is
still open. So, you can either close and discuss or discuss and close, however you would
like to move forward.
Strader: Mr. Mayor, 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: I'm happy to kick off some discussion. I -- this is a tough one. I commend the
applicant for making the changes that got us to this point and also for offering up this
reduction in density by an additional two homes. I think that to me it goes above and
beyond being a good neighbor and it will really help I think in terms of the transition -- it
really should be seamless at that point with the surrounding neighborhood with almost --
very close. There is one property that wouldn't match, but almost an exact match up of
lot lines along Gleason Street. So, I -- I think, Mr. Mayor, that in light of -- and I know
people don't like to hear this, but what could go here and, then, we have an applicant
before us that has made a lot of changes and has now agreed in this hearing to make an
additional change of a reduction in density by two homes along the south, I'm in support
of this project at this time. I think with those changes it really helps and in our
Comprehensive Plan we talk about how transition with neighborhoods is one of our most
important principles. I think this gets us there. So, I'm happy to make a motion, unless
there is further discussion. Mr. Mayor, after considering all staff, applicant and public
testimony, I move to approve File No. H-2024-0005 as presented in the staff report for
today's hearing date with the additional condition that the applicant has agreed to remove
two homes along West Gleason Street, one on the western side and one on the eastern
side.
Little Roberts: Second.
Simison: I have a motion and a second. Is there discussion on the motion? If not --
Whitlock: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Member Whitlock.
Whitlock: As I think about the proposed density and what's allowed there, anywhere from
three units per acre to eight units per acre, we started tonight at 3.87 and I think we are
at 3.73 if my math is correct. So, it's moving in the right direction closer to that minimum
or bottom level that -- that the applicant could have submitted, farther away from the eight
units per acre. So, I will be in support of the motion tonight.
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Taylor: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Taylor.
Taylor: Just want to make a couple of comments. I'm going to support the -- the
application. I think it's worth noting, though, that we had a good thorough discussion
about what could have been here. The park discussions. Steve, thank you for -- for that.
Appreciate all the testimony that was provided. A really good point was made about the
challenges of developing in-fill and I think as we are going to see more and more of that,
but I think it's worth commending the applicant for your flexibility. Clearly you made some
efforts throughout the process to listen to the neighbors. I do think we need to be careful
about impugning motives, however. We talk about property rights. We talk about the
founders. And I just make the statement that I have always enjoyed and I want to read it.
America's founders understood clearly that private property is the foundation not only of
prosperity, but of freedom itself. Thus through the common law, state law and the
Constitution, they protected property rights, the rights of people to freely acquire, use and
dispose of property. We also know that our founders envisioned a capitalistic society
where self-interest was the supreme form of improving the outcomes of products and
services that we have and so I don't think it's greed, I think the desire for motive is the is the best motivation for the applicant to produce the best possible product. We -- we we like to pat ourselves on the back for this beautiful city that we have created and I didn't
build it. No one up here built it. Developers, builders and tradesmen throughout the valley
built it and they did so with their own capital and their own vision for what they wanted to
bring. So, to see an application come to this Council that tries -- and I think largely
succeeds to fit in well into an awkward space, I think they did a very good job and so,
again, I have no problem -- they bought the property, they can develop it. They followed
all the Comprehensive Plan, all the zoning requirements that we have -- we have asked
of them and yet we also acknowledge them as being the subject matter experts. I would
have been fine -- I think it's great that you are willing to drop a couple lots. I would have
been fine not requiring that at all. I don't think that's a requirement, but I think it just shows
that you are being a good neighbor and I really appreciate that. I think that's great. So,
think this is a good project and I stand in support of it tonight.
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: I wasn't going to say anything, just take the vote, but couple comments. I --
want to thank the -- the residents for coming out tonight. For the Council -- for an
applicant, right, this is the -- the day job, but it's -- for many of the residents you take time
out of your way to go to a neighborhood meeting and, then, Planning and Zoning
Commission and, then, City Council and you send e-mails -- I love that we got voice
testimony, you know, in the record. I appreciate when people call and just tell us what
they think and I just think that's great. What sometimes happens along that long process
is cynicism starts to develop and you get this voice in the back of your head that tells you
a lie and you hear it long enough you start to believe it and you believe it so much you
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start to say it a lot and we heard it tonight. We heard it. There was this accusation the
City Council is somehow in cahoots with the developer. Hogwash. Hogwash. What you
said was hogwash. The people of this Council --when I see my colleagues put significant
time and homework and read the testimony and re-read the testimony and we ask probing
questions, because we care about our community, so if you hear somebody and they say
something that it sounds like hogwash you should call them out on it. That's not what our
community is about. Our neighbors. And so I -- I appreciate -- I -- I feel the same way as
Council Member Taylor. I appreciate your accommodations. I would have approved this
project as presented. It's low density, low impact on our schools. Your efforts to
complement the neighborhood is well found. We don't see a lot of applicants that come
through that are wanting to be good neighbors and I appreciate you guys for doing it. I
will be in support of the application tonight.
Little Roberts: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Little Roberts.
Little Roberts: I, too, just wanted to add my thanks to the developer for just doing your
due diligence to start with. You gave us a project that was really pretty great to even
begin with, because as we have mentioned before the other opportunities that have been
passed by that weren't as conducive to having happy neighbors and so I think this is a
great project. In-fill is so difficult and with the roads and tight spaces and things, it's -- it's
not always easy and it's not always easy to manipulate and so, again, thank you and
thanks for everyone that has put forth the information from Planning and Zoning, e-mailed
us, testified -- testified again and it does all matter to us, even though we are all in
separate districts, thanks to having zones, but we do all care all about Meridian. So thank
you.
Simison: Thank you. Just two cents. I won't -- you know, obviously, I don't vote in the
situation, but not sure if the HOA is listening, but, hopefully, you will see something that
you all have value to be part of your community, because I think your community is going
to want some of these amenities and the last thing we want to have is people have to say,
neighbors, don't come in to use these courts if you can, but that's for all you to decide as
time moves forward. So, best of luck at that point in time. With that the clerk will call the
roll.
Roll Call: Cavener, yea; Strader, yea; Overton, absent; Little Roberts, yea; Taylor, yea;
Whitlock, yea.
Simison: All ayes. Motion carried. Thank you very much and good luck on your project.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
FUTURE MEETING TOPICS
Simison: Council, anything under future meeting topics?
Meridian City Council
June 4,2024
Page 34 of 35
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: Tonight I think a -- a good opportunity was raised for maybe a future meeting
topic about planned parks, vision parks, how they sit on the map. So, maybe as either
part of a department update down the road, but I think it may be worthy of a good
conversation just for us to understand kind of the historical nature of it, where the Parks
Department is growing and how we can make sure that maybe the -- in situations like this
where -- where dirt starts to go away, what the department does to respond in kind.
Simison: Okay. Steve, you have got that on your future -- come to a workshop. Council,
with that do I have a motion?
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: Move we adjourn the meeting.
Simison: Motion to adjourn. All in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed nay? The ayes
have it. We are adjourned.
MOTION CARRIED: ALLAYES.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7.56 P.M.
(AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
MAYOR ROBERT E. SIMISON 6-18-2024
ATTEST:
CHRIS JOHNSON - CITY CLERK
6-18-2024