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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC - Request for Alternative Compliance Rodney Evans+Partners,PLLC 1450 W. Bannock Street Boise,Idaho 83702 p:208-514-3300 www.reandpartners.com RODNEY EVANS+PARTNERS Landscape Architecture+Urban Design+Land Use and Site Planning+Entitlements+Graphic Communications+Project Management August 7, 2024 Community Development Planning Division City of Meridian 33 E. Broadway Avenue, Ste. 102 Meridian, ID 83642 Re: Alternative Compliance Request To Whom It May Concern, On behalf of C&O Development Inc., please accept this letter as a letter of explanation for the request of an Alternative Compliance and Conditional Use Permit for the site and landscape design of the retail mixed-use development located at the southwest intersection of E. Fairview Avenue and N. Webb Way, Meridian, ID 83642. Along the western property line, it is required to provide a 25' wide landscape buffer between the proposed Pad A retail mixed-use building and the multi-family residential development west of the site. The landscape strip serves to buffer views of the building and to create an aesthetic view from neighboring units. Due to the parking and radius requirements, as well as pedestrian and vehicular circulation, we are only able to provide 10' of landscaped area as a buffer with a 5' wide concrete sidewalk abutting the building for access to tenant spaces. The current lot layout indicates that 231.5' of the 389.5' western property line is impacted by this design restriction. The Unified Development Code (11-313-6) requires a mix of plant material including, but not limited to, evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, lawn, or other vegetative ground cover, with trees being located at a rate of (1) tree per 35 linear feet. Using this calculation, the area would require eleven (11) trees and a variety of smaller plant material with mulch along the full length of the western property line. As an alternative, we are proposing planting twenty-three (23) trees (deciduous and evergreen) with the addition of smaller plant material with mulch that would exceed the required 70% coverage at full maturity. The additional trees are to be located along the 231.5' portion of the western property line adjacent to Pad A. We believe that despite the reduced buffer, the addition of 12 trees and smaller plant material will serve as a beautiful landscape buffer that will screen any visual or audio disruptions that might be a nuisance to the adjacent apartment complex. A 6'-0" tall closed vision vinyl fence has been proposed along the western boundary of the site per the Unified Development Code (11-4-3-11D) to provide a more substantial barrier for the residential units. For improved pedestrian circulation, an opening in the fence is proposed in alignment with the sidewalk abutting the northern face of Pad B. The roadway frontage along E. Wilson Street will continue west in alignment with the sidewalk adjacent to the southern apartment building to the west of the project site. We respectfully request approval of this alternative compliance and conditional use permit request. Please contact me directly with any questions regarding the project at 208-514-3300 or leslie@reandpartners.com Sincerely, Rodney Evans + Partners, PLLC Leslie Prendiville, PLA Partner