HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-02-06 Meridian Planning and Zoning Meeting February 6, 2025.
Meeting of the Meridian Planning and Zoning Commission of February 6, 2025, was
called to order at 6:05 p.m. by Vice-Chairman Jared Smith.
Members Present: Commissioner Jared Smith, Commissioner Patrick Grace,
Commissioner Matthew Sandoval and Commissioner Sam Rust.
Commissioners Absent: Commissioner Maria Lorcher and Commissioner Brian Garrett.
Others Present: Chris Johnson, Tina Lomeli, Bill Parsons, Linda Ritter, Nick Napoli
and Dean Willis.
ROLL-CALL ATTENDANCE
Brian Garrett (Vacant)
X Matthew Sandoval X Patrick Grace
_X Sam Rust X Jared Smith
Maria Lorcher - Chairman
Smith: Thank you for your patience. Good evening. Welcome to the Planning and
Zoning Commission meeting for February 6th, 2025. At this time I would like to call the
meeting to order. The Commissioners who are present for this evening's meeting are
here in City Council -- or City Hall. We also have staff from the city attorney and city
clerk's office, as well as the city planning department. If you are joining us on Zoom this
evening we can see that you are here. You may observe the meeting. However, your
ability to be seen on screen and talk will be muted. During the public testimony portion
of the meeting you will be unmuted and, then, be able to comment. Please know that
we cannot take questions until the public testimony portion. If you have a process
question during the meeting, please, e-mail cityclerk@meridiancity.org and they will
reply as quickly as possible. If you would simply like to watch the meeting online we
encourage you to do this streaming on the city's YouTube channel. You can access it
at meridiancity@org/live. With that let begin with the roll call. Madam Clerk.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Smith: Thank you. The first item on the agenda is the adoption of the agenda. Please
note Item No. 3 tonight, Jackson's Food Store, will be open for the sole purpose of
continuance. So, if there is anyone here tonight to testify for this application we will not
be taking public testimony on it this evening. Can I get a motion to adopt tonight's
agenda?
Sandoval: So moved.
Rust: Second.
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February 6,2025
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Smith: It's been moved and seconded to adopt the agenda. All in favor say aye.
Opposed? Motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
CONSENT AGENDA [Action Item]
1. Approve Minutes of the January 16, 2025 Planning and Zoning
Commission Meeting
2. Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law for Street Name Change from
N. Cooper Lane to N. Cooper Avenue, by City of Meridian, located
north of Ustick Rd., between N. Linder Road and N. Meridian Road.
Smith: The next item on the agenda is the Consent Agenda, which includes two items,
one to approve the meeting minutes of the January 16th, 2025, commission meeting
and, two, Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law for street name change from North
Cooper Lane to North Cooper Avenue by City of Meridian. Can I get a motion to adopt
the Consent Agenda as presented?
Sandoval: So moved.
Rust: Second.
Smith: It's been moved and seconded to adopt the Consent Agenda. All in favor say
aye. Opposed? Motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
ITEMS MOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA [Action Item]
Smith: At this time I would like to briefly explain the public hearing process. We will
open each item individually and begin with the staff report. Staff will report their findings
on how the item adheres to our Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Code.
After staff has made their presentation the applicant will come forward to present their
case and respond to staff comments. They will have 15 minutes to do so. After the
applicant has finished we will open the floor to public testimony. Each person will be
called on only once during the public testimony period. The clerk will call the names
individually of those who signed up on our website in advance to testify. You may come
to the microphones in Chambers or you will be unmuted on Zoom. Please state your
name and address for the record and you will have three minutes to address the
Commission. If you have previously sent pictures or presentation to the meeting it will
be displayed on the screen and our clerk will run the presentation. If you have
established that you are speaking on behalf of a larger group, like an HOA, where
others from that group will allow you to speak on their behalf you will have up to ten
minutes. After all of those who have signed up in advance of spoken we will invite any
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February 6,2025
Page 3 of 18
others who may wish to testify. If you wish to speak on the topic you may come forward
in Chambers or if on Zoom press the raise hand button in the Zoom app or if you are
only listening on a phone please press star nine and wait for your name to be called. If
you are listening on multiple devices, such as a computer and a phone, please, be sure
to mute those extra devices so we do not experience feedback and we can hear you
clearly. When you are finished if the Commission does not have questions for you you
will return to your seat in chambers or be muted on Zoom and no longer have the ability
to speak and please remember we will not call on you a second time. After all
testimony has been heard the applicant will be given another ten minutes to come back
and respond. When the applicant has finished responding to questions and concerns
we will close the public hearing and the Commissioners will have the opportunity to
discuss and hopefully make a final decision or recommendation to City Council as
needed.
ACTION ITEMS
3. Public Hearing continued from January 16, 2025, for Jackson's Food
Stores Ten Mile and Overland (H-2024-0054) by KM Engineering,
located at 2275 S. Ten Mile Rd.
A. Request: Annexation of 5.24 acres of land with a C-C zoning
district.
B. Request: Preliminary Plat consisting of two (2) building lots on 4.88
acres of land in the C-C zoning district.
C. Request: Conditional Use Permit to extend the business hours of
operation in the C-C zoning district (when abutting a residential use
and district) from 6:OOam to 11:00pm to 12:OOam seven (7) days a
week for the convenience store and 24 hours per day, seven (7)
days a week, for the fuel facility
Smith: That being said tonight I would like to open the public hearing for Item No. 3,
Jackson's Food Store request for annexation, preliminary plat, and conditional use
permit -- has asked for a continuance. May I get a motion to continue the application to
the hearing date of June 5, 2025, with a requirement to re-notice due to time.
Sandoval: So moved.
Rust: Second.
Smith: It has been moved and seconded. All those in favor say aye. Opposed?
Motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
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February 6,2025
Page 4 of 18
4. Public Hearing for 965 E. Ustick Rd. (H-2024-0063) by Mussell
Construction, Inc., located at 965 E. Ustick Rd.
A. Request: Annexation of 1.11 acres of land with an L-O zoning
district with a request for City Council approval of a reduced buffer
to residential uses from 20 ft. to 8 ft. 10 inches.
Smith: Next I would like to open the public hearing for Item No. 4, 965 East Ustick Road
request for annexation. We will begin with the staff report.
Parsons: Thank you, Mr. Chair, Members of the Commission. First item on your
agenda tonight is the annexation of the property located at 965 East Ustick Road. The
site consists of 0.90 acres, currently zoned R-1 in Ada county. Previous application was
in front of you in 2023, but was later withdrawn as it moved forward to City Council. If
you recall that application was for annexation with the -- with the L-O zoning district for
the ability to develop a public education facility on the site or a private education.
Excuse me. The Comprehensive Plan designation for this site is medium density
residential. In the Comprehensive Plan, though, there is a provision in the -- a
statement in the Comprehensive Plan I should say that gives the City Council the
discretion to allow an applicant to request an office designation on the property when
the property is located on arterial with no other access and is two acres or less in size.
In this particular case this parcel does meet that criteria to ask for that request. So, the
annexation request for you this evening is to again -- once again request the L-O zoning
on this property with Council's approval on the annexation request. As part of that, as
this Commission knows, we typically require a development agreement with
annexations of property. Because the Comprehensive Plan is very specific as to office
uses occurring on this property staff is recommending a provision in the DA that restricts
the use of this property to professional services and health services only. So,
essentially, a professional office or a medical office. No other uses in the L-O zone will
be allowed to develop on this site as presented by staff this evening. Also with the
annexation request the applicant is required to provide a concept plan for your
consideration this evening. So, there is an existing 2,279 square foot home on the site
that will be left intact and the applicant's also proposing to add on another -- an
additional 8,000 square foot -- square feet for approximately 10,000 square feet of office
on the site. Last time this was before you there was discussion of access from Ustick
Road. This is the case again. No other cross access or streets are provided to the site.
So, the primary access is from Ustick Road, which is a principal arterial and this site
plan -- concept plan does show the required landscaping and parking requirements per
UDC standards. As noted in the staff report staff is not recommending cross-access
with the adjacent properties, because it just would stub to the rear of somebody's lot.
Also as part of the requirement for the UDC and the zoning code for the L-O zoning
standards an applicant is required to provide a 20 foot landscape buffer when L-O
zoning abuts a residential district. In this particular case there is residential surrounding
this property on three sides of it. The applicant can meet the 20 foot separation on the
east boundary and, then, south boundary. However, on the west boundary they cannot
make that work because of the required parking that's needed and the access to Ustick
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February 6,2025
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and so the applicant is requesting City Council reduction of that buffer from 20 feet
down to approximately eight feet. So, again, that would be City Council's action when
they may -- have this application before them. The applicant also provided some
renderings for you to see how the existing home would integrate with the building
addition here. As you all know this will require design review after annexation is
completed. Staff did receive written testimony from the applicant on this application.
They are in agreement with the conditions -- or the DA provisions in the staff report and
I had a chance to look at the public record and there was no public testimony provided
on this item. With that again staff is recommending approval with a DA with those
restricted uses on the site and staff will stand for any questions you may have.
Smith: Thank you. Would the applicant like to come forward? And please state your
name and address for the record.
Mussell: Good evening. My name is Kent Mussell. My address 3516 South Bartlett
Way, Meridian, Idaho. I represent Mussell Construction. We are the developer for this
project that I will be discussing. Last year, as staff mentioned, we brought a similar
version of this project before the Commission in preparation for occupancy by Pathways
In Education, a local charter school. The Commission at that time unanimously
recommended approval to City Council. However, before the Council could vote the
project was canceled. The key difference in our current proposal is that Pathways is no
longer the intended tenant. Despite the change our overall plan remains very similar.
We intend to develop the existing home on the parcel. I want to clarify one thing on
that. Our total expected size of this building is 8,000 square feet. So, we won't be
adding 8,000 square feet. We are seeking annexation into the limited office zone and
we are in agreement with the conditions put on the development agreement -- or we are
in agreement to enter into a development agreement with all the conditions proposed by
-- by staff. When I read the staff report the allowed uses here with the development
agreement in place would be professional services and healthcare offices. Those are
the two most likely outcomes for this parcel, but I understood we also had like a social
services office has an option in there as well. We -- I don't know if you received a copy
of the response to the original staff report. That's null and void. We worked that out
with staff this morning and we are in total agreement about the conditions at this point.
Smith: Thank you. Are there any questions for the applicant or staff?
Sandoval: Mr. Chair?
Smith: Commissioner Sandoval.
Sandoval: So, just a quick question. Was this approved for annexation with the last
application or was it halfway through? What happened there?
Parsons: Commission Sandoval, essentially what happened was it got to City Council,
Council wanted additional information, applicant was happy to do that and, then,
eventually the school fell out and they just asked to withdraw that application.
Meridian Planning&Zoning Commission
February 6,2025
Page 6 of 18
Sandoval: Okay.
Parsons: They never made it all the way through the process to get a Council decision
on it.
Sandoval: Okay. Thank you.
Grace: Mr. Chair?
Smith: Commissioner Grace.
Grace: I'm not sure if this is for staff or the applicant, but what is -- what's intended to
be on the west side of the -- of this property? Is it residential or is that --
Mussell: Are we talking about the part -- so, there is -- are you talking about maybe the
east side of it? Because we have another property over there, but that's going to
remain residential.
Grace: Well, I'm wondering what's -- what's on the side of the request for the reduced
buffer. What's going to be on that side?
Mussell: Oh. Yeah. The -- the adjacent subdivision is over there. There are -- I don't
remember how many lots exactly. Our site plan might show. There is three or four lots.
Grace: Okay. So, it's already currently residential?
Mussell: Yeah. That's right now.
Grace: Oh, I know what it was. So, if there is a reduced buffer what -- what kind of
fencing or barrier or what's going to be there?
Mussell: Yeah. This slide actually shows -- so, this -- this was what we discussed in
our neighborhood being -- originally we actually only had one neighbor show up to our --
our second neighborhood meeting, but the -- we had a well-attended first neighborhood
meeting like almost a year and a half ago and we talked about fencing at that time and
this is what seemed to be acceptable to the neighbors in this photograph here and that's
what we had planned to do.
Grace: Okay. It looks like a fixed metal vinyl, was that --
Mussell: Yeah. With -- or slightly more attractive vinyl slats within the frame.
Grace: Okay. Thank you.
Smith: Any other questions? At this time -- at this time we would take public testimony.
Madam Clerk, is there anyone signed up to testify?
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February 6,2025
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Lomeli: Thank you. We have Gordon Bower. Did you want to justify? No? And then --
is it Todd Powell?
Smith: Yeah. If you could come -- and just state your name and address for the
record.
Powell: Yeah. My name is Todd Powell. I live at 3078 Timber Falls, which is the south
property behind them. The eight foot buffer, is that -- that -- it was ten behind us. Is it
now going to be reduced to eight or is it just going to be the eight along the west side of
the property?
Parsons: Mr. Chair, Members of the Commission, sir, the buffer on the south boundary
will be 20 feet.
Powell: Okay.
Parsons: So, you are -- the only -- the west side of the boundary will have the --
Powell: And, then, I have one more question. On the east side there they are working
on another facility there. He said it was going to be residential, but they have cleared
that whole field behind them. So my concern is that might be access to the back of that
building as well.
Smith: I think the west side was the residential that was discussed.
Powell: Just another building -- if we are looking at that map it would be to the right of it.
Smith: Okay. Cool. So, we -- obviously we are asking questions as well. What we can
do is we can -- when the applicant comes back up have him answer any of those
questions and make sure that we are settled.
Lomeli: Commissioners, no one else has signed up.
Smith: Great. Thank you. Is there anyone else in the room who would like to come
and speak? Great. Would the applicant like to come back up?
Mussell: I think it would be good for me to address Todd's questions. So, it's -- it's
correct. We -- we did purchase 1001 East Ustick, which is to the east of this property.
We are in the middle of basically flipping that house. We have no intention for it to be
part of this development.
Smith: Thank you. Are there any other questions for the applicant? All right. Thank
you very much. Can I get a motion to close the public hearing?
Sandoval: So moved.
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February 6,2025
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Rust: Second.
Smith: It's been moved and seconded to close the public hearing. All those in favor say
aye. Any opposed? Motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
Smith: All Right. Discussion?
Sandoval: Mr. Chairman?
Smith: Commissioner Sandoval.
Sandoval: Yeah. I don't like that eight foot, ten inch buffer in the residential, but it
already came through planning and zoning and so I feel like that's kind of almost the
territory of taking, which is probably not the right term, but -- excuse my terminology. I
think that as presented it looks fine for the intended purpose.
Smith: Thank you. Any other discussions?
Grace: Yeah. Mr. Chairman, I would just -- I don't like that buffer either, but I do like the
fact that the applicant talked to the -- the property owners to the west and looking at the
-- well, the slide was up there, but it's not. But looking at that slide I can see why, you
know, with the access to Ustick and the parking I can understand why given the kind of
occupancy. That the city is going to have and the DA, I'm hoping it's not going to be a
big deal for the residents on the -- on the west side, so I get it.
Smith: Yeah. I recall this kind of being on the list of discussions when it came around
last time. I remember we have some discussions, obviously, of kind of drop off the drive
aisle type stuff and, then, I remember kind of being -- kind of a bit of a thorny spot
before, but, yeah, I think we -- we generally came to a pretty decent spot with that
application and it seems like it's -- it's about the same here, so I'm -- I'm comfortable
with it. It's not ideal, but you got to take access from somewhere, so -- with that is there
a motion?
Grace: Mr. Chairman, I will make a motion.
Smith: All right.
Grace: After considering all staff, applicant and public testimony, I move to approve File
No. H-2024-0063 as presented in the staff report for the hearing date of February 6,
2025.
Rust: Second.
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Smith: It's been moved and seconded. All in favor? Any opposed? All right. Motion
carries.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
5. Public Hearing for Meridian Foodbank (H-2024-0065) by Meridian
Food Bank, located at 133 W. Broadway Ave.
A. Request: Rezone of 1.72 acres of land from the I-L zoning district to
the O-T zoning district to bring the existing food bank into
conformance for future expansions.
Smith: Next I would like to open up the hearing for Item No. 5, Meridian Food Bank
request for rezone. We will begin with the staff report.
Napoli: Good evening, Mr. Chair, Members of the Commission. Next item in the -- on
the agenda is the rezone for the Meridian Food Bank. The applicant is requesting a
rezone of 1.72 acres of land from the I-L zoning district to the OT zoning district to bring
the existing Food Bank into conformance for future expansion. The site is located at 16
-- or 616 Northwest 2nd Street. I show on the screen the current zoning is I-L or light
industrial, and the FLUM designation is Old Town. The subject site is among several
industrial zoned properties along the rail corridor near Meridian Road. The proposed
use of a social service or Food Bank is a permitted use in the Old Town zoning, which is
assuming the applicant is requesting. The current use is nonconforming, which requires
a conditional use permit for any proposed expansion. The rezone to Old Town will allow
the continued use of the existing Food Bank, remove the nonconforming status and
eliminate the need for future conditional approvals to expand the use. The Meridian
Food Bank is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00
p.m. The main reason for the -- the rezone request is to allow for future expansion to
provide additional space for the Meridian Food Bank to assemble food packs for
students. The food packs allow students to have food over the weekends. The number
of food packs has increased significantly since 2023 and the Meridian Food Bank no
longer has sufficient room to service all the children in need of resources. The
expansion will include approximately 940 square feet of space designated for the
purpose of assembly and storage of these food packs. UDC 11-313-2 allows for phased
landscape improvements as cumulative expansions occur. The city will monitor these
thresholds and enforce them as required. Staff is recommending approval without the
requirement for a development agreement. Staff has not received any written testimony
and I will stand for questions at this time.
Smith: Thank you. Would the applicant like to come forward? And please state your
name and address for the record.
Green: Gil Green. 2512 East Garber in Meridian. It was pretty well covered in the staff
report, but Meridian Food Bank is an all-volunteer organization that provides food for
people that need food. One side of it is a food pantry where people come and get
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February 6,2025
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approximately 50 to 60 pounds of food -- miscellaneous food twice -- twice a month.
The other thing is we provide weekend food for students in the West Ada School
District. Each food pack contains two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners and two
snacks. A couple years ago our director of the food program said that the room that
they were working in could handle about 800 food packs a week. In December -- or in
-- yeah -- December the weekly total was 885. In January lowest total was 878. The
highest was 960. We have looked around for how to expand and there is about a 15
and a half foot open space between what used to be a house is now storage for that
program and our main building. We wanted to fill that full of -- fill that in and so we
started the process and we were told we were noncompliant with the existing zoning
and the change to Old Town would help us smooth that process out. So, therefore, we
applied for the zoning change. It came back that -- when we understand part of it is that
our -- our parking lot needs to be restriped and the -- and parking blocks in. We tried to
get on the schedule for a sealing and -- and striping our parking lot last fall and we were
told we were too late, they didn't have time, so we are on the -- on the calendar for
spring anyway and I think all of our entry ramps are at least five feet wide. There is one
that -- that is in the back of the building where we unload the trucks and I had planned
to change that one to a concrete ramp, so we can make it five feet wide as part of this
project. We are just looking for an approval.
Smith: Thank you very much. Any questions for the applicant or staff? All right. Thank
you. Is there anyone signed up to speak, Madam Clerk?
Lomeli: Thank you, Vice-Chair. I have Kent Christiansen. Would you like to speak?
No one else has signed up.
Smith: Is there anyone in the room that would like to come up and speak? All right.
Great. If you would like to come back forward -- if the applicant would like to come back
forward and anything they would like to add.
Green: I really can't think of anything to add. So, I told my story.
Smith: Great. Can I get a motion to close the public hearing?
Sandoval: So moved.
Rust: Second.
Smith: It's been moved and seconded. All those in favor say aye. Any opposed?
Motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
Smith: I will start. It seems pretty straight forward. I don't have really any concerns
here. I think it's obviously good to get things into conformance and having people very
near and dear to me who have at one point or another relied on that assistance, I'm very
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grateful for the work you do and happy to see the expansion -- well, happy to see their
people doing this good work and I'm in support of the expansion. Any Commissioners?
Sandoval: Mr. Chair?
Smith: Yeah.
Sandoval: Yeah. This seems strictly procedural to me. This is common sense. Really
to come here to get a small expansion -- anyone, it's pretty much procedural and, yeah,
what an incredible resource for the community. Really appreciative of everything you
do and that's it.
Smith: Okay.
Rust: Mr. Chair?
Smith: Commissioner Rust.
Rust: After considering all staff, applicant and public testimony, I move to recommend
approval of File No. H-2024-0065 as presented in the staff report for the hearing date of
February 6th, 2025.
Sandoval: Second.
Smith: Moved and seconded. All those in favor say aye. Any opposed? Motion
carries. Thank you very much.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
6. Public Hearing continued from January 16, 2025 Newkirk East (H-
2024-0043) by Laren Bailey, Conger Group, located at in the SE 1/4 of
the SW 1/4 of Section 10, Township 3N, Range 1W, parcel:
S1210346850
A. Request: Preliminary Plat for 95 single family lots on 10.08 acres of
land zoned Traditional Neighborhood Residential (TN-R).
B. Request: Development Agreement Modification to revise the
concept plan to remove the 216 multi-family units and replace with
95 single-family attached homes.
Smith: And, then, last on the agenda I would like to open the public hearing for Item No.
6, Newkirk East, request for preliminary plat and development agreement modification.
We will begin with the staff report.
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Ritter: Good evening, Commissioners. So, tonight we are here before you for a
development agreement modification and a preliminary plat. This is for a site that
consists of ten acres of land. It's zone TN-R. It was -- there was a preliminary plat for
this that was approved by City Council on April 25th, 2023, and it was 22.667 acres of
land that was annexed in and zoned. The original plan included 63 building lots, 44 of
those were single family attached homes, 18 townhomes and one multi-family
development with 216 units. It had eight common lots. It was supposed to be
developed in two phases. So, phase one has already been -- the final plat has been
approved and it should be recorded here shortly. Already had the city's engineer
signature and is at the county waiting to be recorded. So, what the applicant is
proposing is for phase two, Newkirk East, is to remove the multi-family and provide 95
single family attached homes and I think seven of those will be townhomes with alley
loaded and there were some things that occurred with this project that there was some
issues or some waivers, but -- and working with the applicant we kind of got all these
things worked out, but the Kennedy Lateral is on the northeast side of the property,
which is not annexed into the city at this time and there is an out layer parcel that is not
contiguous to this plat. It was part of the original preliminary plat, but it is not part of it
this time around. The Kennedy Lateral portion is owned by the Nampa-Meridian
Irrigation District and so this parcel that is bisected is owned by the developer, but it
cannot be part of this plat because of the parcel -- the Kennedy Lateral parcel that has
not been annexed, so it's not contiguous. And that is compliment -- we received
confirmation from the county on that. And, then, although with the reduction of the
number of units the Ten Mile Area Plan requires a target group of 12 units per acre, but
the TN-R requires six units per acre. The applicant meets the TN-R requirements, but
as you can see from this table not too many of the developments around this meet that
requirement. So, we are okay with them having the density that they have for this
development. So, staff is -- staff has no issues with that. Another thing that we had
with this project is that a couple of the block lengths were exceeded and we have been
working with the applicant. They have found a way to reduce this to meet the maximum
500 feet length in the TN-R district. It is a maximum of 500. They would have to get an
acceptance from the City Council. So, they will be able to meet this -- the requirement
on here. But this one they will be asking for an acceptance from the City Council for this
one, because of the terrain here and staff did put in -- in our staff report Condition No. 3.
We asked for some open space, pedestrian connection through here, but based on the
terrain there are like four feet retaining walls along here and, then, the grade difference
for some of the homes that will be there that's impossible, so staff has no issue with
removing that condition, because they will be asking for an acceptance from the City
Council. And another thing that we had were through streets, double block frontage,
Lots 2 through 8. We have worked with the applicant on this and they will be revising
their plan to show common open space over here. So, you won't have street frontage.
This will become an open space and access to these lots will be taken from this side.
So, that will meet our requirement for that. So, the design elements for the properties
within the TN-R area, they -- the applicant submitted the same designs that they did
with phase one. Council made some acceptance to some of the standards for the
design. So, these plans -- since the designs were previously approved with phase one,
staff has no issues with the design and they will meet the standards that they were
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approved with with phase one. Because they are attached family homes they have to
go through design review and meet the standards of our architectural manual. They
provided open space with the phase one. The amount of open space was like 34
percent. They did add open space with this phase also and added two amenities with
this. They were -- it was a dog park with a seating area and a waste station to this, but
this phase will have access to the amenities within phase one, so the applicant has
indeed exceeded their amount of open space required. And as you see there is plenty
of pedestrian circulation throughout this application. They are looking for a modification
of the development agreement to remove all the language that talked about the multi-
family. Staff has no issue with that. They will be changing the language on one of the
conditions, so it will be maximum 95 single family units, instead of 216 multi-family units
and staff is asking the Commission to recommend another condition to the development
agreement regarding that outparcel that's not contiguous. We are asking that that
particular parcel be deed restricted as unbuildable and either be owned and maintained
by the property owner, the homeowner's association, or transferred to the Nampa-
Meridian District. We would like to have written documentation provided to -- prior to
the city engineer's signature on the final plat. We did provide some revisions that will be
needed on the plat before going to the City Council and we have been working with the
applicant to get those revisions done. They did provide a letter responding to our staff
report that was uploaded in the public portal. So, they are working on those. They have
that ready prior to City Council public hearing. And with that I will stand for any
questions that you may have.
Smith: Would the applicant like to come forward.
Clark: Hethe Clark. 251 East Front Street representing the applicant. So, I had a -- call
it a six or seven minute presentation and I'm going to try and make it like a two minute
presentation, because I think we are in pretty good shape here in terms of being on the
same page as staff. I just kind of want to give you a little bit more background on a
couple of items. So -- so, this is the project. As Linda mentioned this has a prior
entitlement, but the area in general is under development. City services are all
available. It's -- it's an area that's well underway. Our phase one is under construction
and what we are talking about is modifying phase two, which is the east half of the
property. This goes to one of the block face items. So, I think it's worth talking about for
a little bit. So, as sites go it's a little bit of a complicated site. We have development on
three sides, including apartments on the left -- on the west and on the east. Those
apartments feed our collector in and that collector starts on the east at the bottom and
works its way all the way up to the -- the other collector on the west side. So, that kind
of eats up a big chunk of the project down there and then -- but that collector is already
constructed and was done with the first phase. But also because it's tucked back there
it means that it doesn't have good visibility for an apartment -- an apartment project and
it's also got competing apartment projects on each side. So, I will talk about that in a
little bit in terms of what -- why we are asking for these changes. So, as I mentioned the
collector is in and this is the general location of it. This is the original plan. Linda
already walked through all of that. I think the main thing is just that there was 216
apartment units on the east side and the challenges that we ran into is that there is not
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February 6,2025
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enough visibility for an apartment project and, then, it's also competing with the
apartment projects that are there that are highly amenitized and you need a critical
mass of apartment units to compete with that and 216 just wasn't going to do it. So, as
a result of that we asked to revise this to do single family. We are going to keep it at
TN-R. We have a mix of types with the 88 attached homes and, then, the seven single
family townhomes that are rear loaded that -- that Linda mentioned. Those are here in
the -- in the top left side. One of the nice things about this is that before when we had
the apartments and the single family they basically were going to act like two
independent subdivisions. Now they will be combined. So, the original project had the
large one acre park. Our residents will have access to that and, then, the phase one
residents would have access to the large dog park that we are doing. Total amenity
points are 14 and a half when four are required. Total open space is 24 percent.
Fifteen percent is required in the TN-R as you know. We -- I know parking always
seems to come up, so I wanted to give you the count of the additional on-street parking.
That's the 48 spaces that would be beyond what code requires. Linda already showed
you our housing examples and those were reviewed with the first phase by the City
Council. So, in terms of our homework, the rear loaded access, we have updated that
drawing to show the common strip that Linda mentioned, so that's already done ready to
go to Council. We did provide the exhibit showing the location of the housing types.
And, then, with regard to this block length on Wolfsburg, this is the one that we can --
we can get rid of five -- of eight feet that we are over on that one and that will be done
before Council. This one I did want to talk to you a little bit more, add a little bit to what
Linda said about why we are going to ask for the -- the exception on the block face
here. So, part of our challenge with the site is that it slopes pretty hard as you go north
to south and west to east and so as you look at this collector, the collector's already
been constructed and it's been constructed with a four foot retaining wall and as you go
down there you are going to have between eight and ten feet difference in grade
between the collector level and the pad level, by the -- as you -- as you move along that
roadway. So, as a result of pedestrian connection really doesn't work in that location.
So, that's why we are asking for the exception on the block phase. So, with that I think
the only thing that we would modify would be that condition A-3 and, again, this is
something the Council's got to approve, but we would ask as part of your
recommendation to give us some grace on that, adding that ped connection on Milford
Way -- or Midford Way. With that we are otherwise in agreement with all the conditions
of approval that staff has identified, including the new one dealing with the development
agreement and the requirement for the triangle out piece to be deeded and so I think -- I
think that covers it, so I'm happy to answer any questions.
Smith: Any questions for the applicant or staff?
Grace: Thanks, Mr. Chair. Can you just -- I'm just a little confused. Maybe you can
provide some clarity.
Clark: Uh-huh.
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Grace: So, in the -- in our kind of staff report notes with regard to the noncontiguous
parcel it sort of indicates that we need to annex that first or --
Clark: Sorry, Commissioner Grace.
Grace: No. No. Go ahead. So, the straight -- yeah. So, this is -- is -- I think some of
the confusion comes from the fact that we had an original application and now we are
back doing this one. So, the original application included it as property that was going
to be annexed. I think the issue was staff was trying to resolve what do we do with that
property now in terms of the preliminary plat and in our investigations with the county --
and I think staffs investigations are revealed the same thing -- is that the county
surveyor's preference is not to include it, because of its -- that triangle out piece is
separated by the Nampa-Meridian Irrigation District property that they own in fee there.
So, oftentimes Nampa-Meridian has an easement, so it's not as big of a deal, but when
they have fee ownership, then, that does create a little bit of an issue for planning and
the other point that I would make is that the purpose of planning is to create parcels for
conveyance and that parcel is already created. It's on the outside of the Nampa-
Meridian Irrigation District parcel. There is really no reason to include it in a plat. It's
not going to be developed. So, the -- the approach that we took was to leave it out of
this new preliminary plat. It will just be out there on its own, but it's not being divided up
anyway and so -- but, again, it will be -- we will have a development agreement
provision that applies to that triangle parcel even though it's outside of the plat that
requires us to make sure that it gets deeded appropriately and taken care of.
Grace: Okay. Yeah. And that was my -- Mr. Chair. That was my follow up is that you
are -- you are agreeable to that?
Clark: Yep.
Grace: Okay. Yeah. That was my question. Thank you.
Clark: Yep.
Smith: Other questions for the applicant or staff? I do have one question. It sounds
like it's a yes, but I know there was some discussion near the beginning of the -- or just
prior to the beginning of the hearing. You have discussed the updated, like deed -- the
deed restriction and, then, the ownership maintaining potential transfer to NMID if they
-- yeah.
Clark: Yeah. Mr. Chair, we are -- we are in agreement with -- yeah, I think it was the
red language on staff's slide and they would have a new DA provision that requires that
transfer of the triangle parcel and we are in agreement.
Smith: Wanted to note that. Thank you.
Clark: Yep.
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Smith: We will move on to public testimony.
Clark: Thanks, everyone.
Smith: Madam Clerk, is there anyone signed up?
Lomeli: Thank you, Vice-Chair. No one has signed up.
Smith: Do we have anyone on Zoom or anyone in the room who would like to testify?
Great. Would the applicant like to come back up at all? Okay. So, with that I will take a
motion to close the public hearing.
Rust: So moved.
Grace: Seconded.
Smith: All those in favor say aye. Any opposed? Motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
Smith: Discussion?
Grace: Mr. Chairman? Sorry.
Rust: No. Go for it.
Smith: Commissioner Grace, go for it.
Grace: Yeah. No. I'm always -- I mean not always I should say, but I -- I'm -- I certainly
favor the reduction from apartments to the single family that we are -- we are looking at
now. Maybe for the record or for the benefit of the -- of the Council on a couple of these
points that if they were interested to know my opinion or our opinion I guess, I'm okay
with the explanation on the reduction of the block -- the block -- the block face length.
Seemed reasonable to me. I have no issues with that. I was comfortable with the --
with the applicant indicating how they are going to, you know, handle that
noncontiguous parcel. The modifications to the DA I -- some of them made a lot of
sense given that the change from the multi-family to the -- the family units, the bike --
the bicycle rack and the off-street parking. I think that was -- that was sort of all the -- all
the nuances to this. But, no, I -- I -- it looks like a -- kind of a strange little piece of land
there that -- that I think will be -- this project will fit in there nicely and it's a continuation
of the -- of the original on the east side. So, I support it.
Rust: Mr. Chair?
Smith: Commissioner Rust.
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Rust: Yeah. It's very rare that you see stuff going this way. Normally we are talking
about up zoning, but coming down -- it does make a lot of sense. Visibility is so
important for apartment communities and the way that this is sandwiched between -- as
I was doing my homework ahead of time it's -- like I think that's probably why -- why
that's happening as confirmed during testimony. I agree with the conditions. I also
agree with the applicant's request to delete A-3. I think that degree of grade difference
is going to make it pretty challenging. A lot of the folks that are going to end up in these
homes are going to be older. There is going to be some ADA issues potentially in
navigating that grade and so I would agree with the applicant's request to delete
condition A-3.
Sandoval: Mr. Chair, after considering all staff, applicant and public testimony, I move
to recommend approval of File No. H-2024-0043 as presented in the staff report for the
hearing date of February 6th, 2025, with the following addition to the development
agreement. The parcel S1210346890 in the northeast corner of the development north
of Kennedy Lateral shall be deed restricted as unbuildable and shall be neither owned --
or either owned and maintained by the property owner, homeowners association or
transferred to the Nampa-Meridian Irrigation District. Written documentation shall be
provided prior to the city engineer's signature on the final plat.
Grace: Second.
Smith: I have a motion and a second for discussion. I know there was a request for the
deletion of Condition A-3. I wanted to see if that was an intention of the motion that we
missed or if you didn't want to. We can include it or, Rust, you can modify it if the
second stands. I think that's all we need is just for the second to agree.
Starman: I think if the maker of the motion is -- if you are receptive to the idea I would
just -- I would probably suggest that you amend your motion and have the second
concur.
Sandoval: Mr. Chair, motion and add the second comment --
Smith: Deletion of--
Sandoval: Deletion of A-3.
Smith: Cool.
Grace: Yeah. I will second as amended.
Smith: It's been moved and -- or moved and seconded. All those in favor say aye. Any
opposed? Great. Motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. TWO ABSENT.
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Smith: With that I will take one more motion.
Rust: Mr. Chair?
Smith: Yes.
Rust: I move that we adjourn.
Sandoval: Second.
Smith: Moved and seconded to adjourn. All those in favor say aye. Any opposed?
Motion carries. Thank you all.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 6:55 P.M.
(AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS.)
APPROVED
J
JARED SMITH - VICE-CHAIRMAN 2-20-2025
ATTEST:
CHRIS JOHNSON - CITY CLERK 2-20-2025
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