HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC - Meridian-Zoning Denial- BARGUAUSEN CORE
A DIVISION OF CORE STATES GROUP STATES
March 15, 2025
City of Meridian
33 East Broadway Avenue
Meridian, ID 83642
RE: Chick-fil-A No. 3084
2012 North Eagle Road, Meridian, Idaho 83646
Our Job No. 22935
Dear Mayor Simison and Members of the City Council:
Pursuant to Meridian City Code §11-5A-7, we are writing to appeal the administrative denial of our
Certificate of Zoning Compliance and Design Review applications (A-2024-0082) for proposed
improvements to the Chick-fil-A located at 2012 North Eagle Road. The proposed design complies with the
applicable Code and should be approved by Council upon review.
Background and Current Appeal
The original approval for this Chick-fil-A dates to 2012.' In 2019, we added drive-through canopies, which
were reviewed and approved administratively.2 In February 2024, we submitted a Building Permit request
to expand the drive-through lane and further extend the canopies. Other improvements included striped
walkways throughout the drive-through for employees to use during service, lane widening,and the addition
of an escape lane for emergency use. On April 10, 2024, Planning and Zoning indicated that we needed to
submit Certificate of Zoning Compliance and Design Review applications, which we subsequently
submitted.
On February 28, 2025, City staff denied the applications, noting that the existing drive-through
improvements and proposed plans did not satisfy the current escape lane requirements in City Code §11-
4-3-11(C)(4). The denial letter states as follows:
"The Applicant's proposal to add a queuing lane to the existing drive-through does not
comply with UDC 11-4-3-11C, which requires an escape lane to be provided for any
stacking lane greater than 100 feet in length. The existing stacking lane is greater than 100
feet in length; therefore, an escape lane is required. The Applicant's proposal provides an
additional lane for queuing in the same location as the existing escape lane and in lieu of
the required escape lane, which does not comply with the aforementioned-standard."
The cited section of Code only requires that the site include an escape lane; it does not specify a location.
The proposed design includes an escape lane as required. Regardless, the application was denied. This
exceeds staffs authority and therefore, the application should be approved by Council on review.
1 Permits C-NEW-2012-0010,CK-12-045,and DES-12-026.
z A-2019-0117 and C-MISC-2019-0019.
BARGHAUSEN CONSULTING ENGINEERS, LLC
A DIVISION OF CORE STATES GROUP
18215 72ND AVENUE SOUTH,KENT,WA 98032 P)425.251.6222 F)425.251.8782
barghausen.com
City of Meridian 2 March 15, 2025
Site Design
Some site context is required to understand the proposed design. The current site utilizes two queuing
lanes to the point after meal delivery, after which the two lanes merge into one lane to exit the property.
The current queueing lanes and subsequent merged lane totals more than 100 feet but does not include
an escape lane. The proposed site improvements include a required escape lane that satisfies the City
requirement while taking into consideration the considerable space constraints of the site.
The proposed design is intended to both meet the City Code requirements, as well as maintain safe
operation of the restaurant and the surrounding businesses. This combined with the space constraints
necessitate the escape lane's location where it is placed in the proposed design at the southeast corner of
the lot, allowing for escape from the drive-through into the adjacent drive-aisle.
The proposed location is the only one possible because of the location of the existing restaurant and
property lines. There is no space for an additional lane between the restaurant and the southern property
line. If an additional 9-foot lane is provided, it will encroach approximately 4 feet into the existing 10-foot
easement and the existing sidewalk along East Village Drive.
Further, alternative locations for a drive-through escape are not viable. The proposed escape lane exits
into the adjacent parking drive aisle. An escape lane onto East Village Drive would create conflict with the
existing traffic and disrupt the existing sidewalk. It would also violate ACHD driveway separation standards.
An escape lane onto Eagle Road (SH 55) violates Idaho Department of Transportation (ITD) access and
spacing requirements and will not be approved. Finally, the existing face-to-face canopy and the location
of the building does not make it possible to add an escape option earlier into the drive-through.
A similar escape lane option was approved most recently through a Certificate of Zoning Compliance and
Design Review process for the nearby In-N-Out restaurant located at 3520 East Fairview Avenue. This
shows that the proposed escape lane option was previously accepted by the City.
The proposed escape lane meets City Code and will better serve the community and adjacent businesses.
For these reasons, we respectfully request that this Council approve the escape lane and associated
improvements as designed. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Parker Bodily, AICP
Project Planner
PB/ps
22935c.003