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GROUP
August 7, 2024
Bill Parsons
City of Meridian, Development Services
33 E. Main Street
Meridian, ID 83642
RE: Life Church 1 3225 E Commercial CT
Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment and Rezone UPDATED NARRATIVE
Dear Bill,
The Land Group, Inc pleased to represent the property owners, Life Church, Inc.for a Comprehensive
Plan Map Amendment and Rezone applications for the 6.72 acres located at 3225 E Commercial Court in
Meridian. The properties are shown below, highlighted in blue.
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Vicinity map—properties in blue `
The property fronts to public rights of way, N. Eagle Road to the west, E. Commercial Court to the north,
and the railroad to the south. Office and light industrial uses exist to the north and east. Retail uses
exist to the south, south of the railroad, and southwest across Eagle Road.
Life Church was Founded in 2001. Life Church is a non-denominational church. Life Church has
operated on the subject property since 2012 concurrently with facilitating a bible school, Life Bible
College. Both the church and school exist to help people walk closely with God. Life Church and Life
462 East Shore Drive, Suite 100, Eagle, Idaho 83616 208.939.4041 thelandgroupinc.com
Page 2 of 4
Bible College both have a great impact on the Boise area and around the world. Life Church has 20 local
outreach ministries that have impacted thousands of lives in the local area. The outreach ministries are
involved with feeding the homeless, ministering in the jails and prisons, and visiting the nursing homes
and assisted living facilities. Also, both the church and school send mission teams to Africa, Mexico and
Spain, while also supporting other missions in other countries.
Life Bible College has been operating at this location since 2012.The college has 85 students and 14
instructors. The school operates Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for 10 hours and 20 minutes per
week. The school operates between the hours of 9:00—11:50 am, and 6:30—9:20 pm (only one day).
The school session consists of part of September, October through March, and part of April. The school
does not operate May—August.
Life Bible College will not be expanding.
Life Church is growing and wishes to expand its building, parking lot, and services to better support the
community.
Background
The project site is located at the southeast corner of Eagle Road and E Commercial Court in Meridian,
Idaho. The site consists of two parcels which total approximately 6.72-acres(11.25-acres to the
centerline of the adjacent public roads). The parcels are lots in the Commerce Park Subdivision
recorded in 1979.
Address Parcel ID Acres FLUM/Zoning Legal Desc
3225 E Commercial CT R1527260025 4.22 Industrial/I-L Lot 1, Blk 1, Commerce Park Sub
E Commercial CT R1527260042 2.5 Industrial/I-L W% Lot 2, Blk 1 Commerce Park
Total: 6.72 Acres
The properties currently have a future land use map (FLUM) designation of General Industrial and are
zoned Light Industrial, I-L.
The western property is developed with a building and associated parking lot and landscaping. A church
and bible school currently exist and operate on the property. The church use was approved with prior
approval CUP-11-003. The bible school was operating as part of the church use but with the expansion,
staff is recommending a comprehensive plan map amendment and rezone. The eastern parcel is
currently vacant.
A neighborhood meeting was held onsite on May 21, 2024, where there was an opportunity for
neighbors to connect with the project team to learn about the proposed expansion and associated City
applications. A sign-in sheet is included in our application. No neighbors attended, only members of the
church that were interested in the process.
Comprehensive Plan
The current Future Land Use Map (FLUM) designation for the properties, as illustrated below, is General
Industrial. During the pre-application meeting with City staff, staff recommended changing the FLUM to
accommodate a rezone to C-G to allow for the permitted uses of church and school within the C-G zone.
Mixed Use Regional, MU-RG is adjacent to the property to the west; and Commercial FLUM is adjacent
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4' LAND 462 East Shore Drive, Suite 100, Eagle, Idaho 83616 208.939.4041 thelandgroupinc.com
L EM GROUP
Page 3 of 4
to the south and southwest. In reviewing the comprehensive plan, due to the proximity of the railroad
and the surrounding industrial uses,the Commercial designation is more appropriate.
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LAND 462 East Shore Drive, Suite 100, Eagle, Idaho 83616 208.939.4041 thelandgroupinc.com
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Page 4 of 4
Both the church and bible school currently operate on the property. The continued operation of the
school and the expansion of church use better fits within the general retail and service commercial (C-G)
zone. The C-G zone is defined as the largest scale and broadest mix of retail, office, service, and light
industrial uses within close proximity to interstate or arterial intersections. The C-G is compatible with
other retail and industrial uses in the vicinity as the properties to the south and northwest are zoned C-
G. See the current zoning map above.
We respectfully request your support of the attached entitlement applications which consist of a
Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map Amendment from General Industrial to General Commercial, and a
rezone from Light Industrial to General Commercial. The proposed amendment and rezone are
compatible with the existing nearby uses and will support the expansion of the existing uses on the
property.
Sincerely,
Tamara Thompson,
Director of Client Services
The Land Group, Inc.
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4' LAND 462 East Shore Drive, Suite 100, Eagle, Idaho 83616 208.939.4041 thelandgroupinc.com
L EM GROUP