HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-05-20 Regular Meridian City Council May 20, 2025.
A Meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 6:04 p.m. Tuesday, May
20, 2025, by Mayor Robert Simison.
Members Present: Robert Simison, Luke Cavener, Liz Strader, John Overton, Doug
Taylor,Anne Little Roberts and Brian Whitlock.
Other Present: Chris Johnson, Bill Nary, Sonya Allen, Brandon Frasier, Steve Taulbee
and Dean Willis
ROLL-CALL ATTENDANCE
_X_ Liz Strader _X_ Brian Whitlock
_X_Anne Little Roberts _X_ John Overton
_X_ Doug Taylor _X_Luke Cavener
X Mayor Robert E. Simison
Simison: Council, we will call this meeting to order. For the record it is May 20, 2025, at
6:04 p.m. We will begin this evening's regular City Council meeting with roll call
attendance.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Simison: Next up 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 Rick
DeMichele from Treasure Valley Baptist Church. It's pleasure to have you here and nice
to see you again so soon after our last conversation.
Demichele: Thank you. It's a pleasure for me to be here and I was thinking as I was
sitting there this evening about an article in the Wall Street Journal about 15 years ago.
It decided that Meridian, Idaho, was the best place in the country to live and since, then,
everybody in California and about half the rest of the country has decided that's true and
so it's made life more interesting for all of us and it's with a spirit of thankfulness that I
invite members of the Council, Honorable Mayor and everyone else in the room to join
me in a word of prayer to our Heavenly Father. Lord, we thank you for bringing us here
tonight. We thank you for this beautiful spring day in this wonderful place to live,
arguably the best place on this great blue planet to live and so for that we are thankful.
We are blessed. We ask that you bless each Council Member here with a spirit of
wisdom and understanding in all that they will deal with tonight and, Father, may each
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issue and order of business be considered diligently, even when there is a sense of
redundancy. Father, we pray, Lord, that you would help them to approach each
situation in a spirit of righteousness with a sense of equity and we do thank you, Lord,
for government, Lord, that it gives us protection, it helps us with prosperity and blessing
in society and to this end we pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that name
above all names, amen.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Simison: Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Okay. Next up is adoption of the
agenda,
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: I move we adopt the agenda as presented.
Strader: Second.
Simison: Have a motion and a second to adopt the agenda as presented. Is there any
discussion? If not all in favor signify by saying aye. Those opposed nay? The ayes
have it and the agenda is agreed to.
MOTION CARRIED: ALLAYES.
PROCLAMATIONS [Action Item]
1. ALS Awareness Month Proclamation
Simison: Next item up is a proclamation. Councilman Overton, I know that you are the
original person that they reached out to. I don't know if you would like to join us down
there or even do the proclamation yourself. It's got some big words in it, but -- just join
me down there. And, Tammy, if you and anybody else here would like to join us at the
podium that would be great. So, Council, just one of those little personal privileges as
we get ready to read this proclamation. You know, we don't often get to talk about our
time in college, but as a member of the Phi Delta -- still a member of the Phi Delta Theta
fraternity, where one of our proudest members was Lou Gehrig, the individual who we
will be referencing here as it relates to this proclamation this evening. So, I know the
Phi Delta Theta fraternity has always been big in supporting research for this very
specific topic. So, it's very time -- timely and appropriate from my standpoint, because I
know that this is about the time of year that a lot of this does occur. So, Mr. Overton, do
you want to do the honors of reading the proclamation?
Overton: From the office of the Mayor of Meridian. Whereas ALS is commonly known
as Lou Gehrig's Disease -- is a progressive fatal neuro degenerative disease in which a
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person's brain loses connection with their muscles, slowly reducing a person's ability to
walk, talk, eat and eventually breathe. Thousands of new ALS cases are reported every
year and estimates show that every 90 minutes someone is diagnosed with ALS and
someone passes away from ALS and whereas the ALS Association is the largest
philanthropic funder of the ALS research globally and is committed to accelerating the
pace of discovery, fueled by the hope that one day ALS will be a livable disease for
everyone everywhere until a cure can be found and whereas clinical trials play a pivotal
role in evaluating new treatments, enhancing quality of life and fostering assistive
technologies for those living with ALS and whereas ALS Awareness Month provides an
opportunity to increase public awareness of the dire circumstances of people living with
ALS, acknowledge the terrible impact this disease has on those individuals and their
families and support research to eradicate this disease. Therefore, Mayor Robert
Simison and myself hereby proclaim May 2025 as ALS Awareness Month in the City of
Meridian and call upon all of our citizens to join in supporting ALS research, advocating
for increased funding and standing in solidarity with those affected by this relentless
disease. Dated today the 20th of May 2025.
Tammy: Sure. So, thank you so much for making May ALS Awareness Month. As you
had said every 90 minutes someone is impacted by ALS and it's a devastating and
terminal disease with no cure. But there is hope. So, by making this proclamation you
are helping to raise critical awareness and awareness leads to action, whether that's
increased research funding or helping out families or ultimately to find that cure for ALS.
So, thank you again for supporting the ALS community. It truly means so much. Thank
you. And I have Heidi Franz with the ALS Association. Could she come up and join the
picture?
PUBLIC FORUM — Future Meeting Topics
Simison: Mr. Clerk, anyone sign up under public forum?
Johnson: Mr. Mayor, nobody signed up.
ACTION ITEMS
2. Public Hearing for Chick-Fil-A(CR-2025-0001) by Barghausen
Consulting Engineers, Inc., located at 2012 N Eagle. Rd.
A. Request: Council Review of the Director's decision of denial on the
Certificate of Zoning Compliance and Design Review Application
(A-2024-0082) for expansion of the existing drive-through and
extension of the canopy for Chick-Fil-A.
Simison: Okay. Then with that we will move on to our Action Items this evening. First
item up is Item 2, which is public hearing for CR-2025-0001 . We will open this public
hearing with staff comments.
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Allen: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council. The first application -- and,
actually, only application before you tonight is a request for City Council review of the
director's decision on the application for Chick-Fil-A. This site consists of 1. 22 acres of
land. It's zoned C-G and is located at the northeast corner of North Eagle Road and
East Village Drive. This property received certificate of zoning compliance approval for
a drive-through establishment in 2012 with the site plan shown on the left. The UDC
requires an escape lane to be provided in the drive-through if the stacking lane is
greater than one hundred feet in length. The approved site plan complies with this
standard by utilizing two stacking lanes, which converge into one after ordering to allow
a clear travel lane on the outside to escape or leave the site if necessary before
reaching the service window. The applicant applied for a new certificate of zoning
compliance earlier this year to change the configuration of the existing drive-through by
replacing the escape lane with an additional queuing and stacking lane and adding a
new escape lane after the service window and that is -- if you can see right here on the
drawing on the right, right here in this location right -- right near the intersection here.
The request was denied by the director, because it doesn't comply with the intended
purpose of the requirement, which is to provide a clear travel lane for vehicles to bypass
the stacking lane and exit the drive-through before reaching the service window. A
situation when this might be necessary is when a -- a driver forgets their wallet or no
longer has time to wait. An escape lane after the service window does not meet the
intent of this requirement, thus the reason for the denial. The applicant has submitted a
request for City Council review of the director's decision in this matter. No written
testimony has been submitted. Staff will stand for any questions.
Simisom Thank you. Council, any questions? Okay. Would the applicant like to come
forward?
Koeckeritz: All right. Excuse me. Good evening, Mayor and City Council Members.
Elizabeth Koeckeritz with Givens Parsley. 601 Bannock, Boise, Idaho. With me today
is Blake Burner, Carrie Teresa, Parker Bodily, who are all associated -- not necessarily
directly working for Chick-Fil-A, but with Chick-Fil-A, as well as our local owner-operator
Brad Miles, who is a local resident and does actually live right here in Meridian, the
owner of this particular Chick-Fil-A. They are here today. They will be able to answer
any questions that I'm unable to do. As Sonya mentioned, we are located -- I believe
everyone probably knows where this is -- right at the northeast corner of Eagle and
Village Drive. It was first originally approved in 2012. It was the first Chick-Fil-A in the
Treasure Valley region. I remember this. It was a really big deal when it opened and
my kids were super excited. Since then it's been very popular. In 2019 they added on
some canopies where the red arrows are directed and, then, in February 2024 they
submitted for a building permit to add additional canopies and some -- do some
pavement widening. There was a bit of back and forth after that when there was
realized finally that they did need to receive a certificate of zoning compliance and apply
for administrative design review. That happened this past year and the director did
deny the CZC and the design review applications. Here is a comparison -- I will show
you a better one here in a minute -- of the existing and of their proposed and what they
really are looking at doing is they want to change that second lane to an approved drive-
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through lane. They really are considered a multi-flex lane, as I will discuss in a minute.
It's not used all the time. It's just used during peak hours to help assist with stacking
and queuing to get it off of the parking area and to get it away from the other businesses
in the same vicinity. So, the actual improvements that they were proposing -- that they
are proposing is all Chick-Fil-A's -- they try to have this employee safety striping
between their aisles and along the building and that's really important, because it really
increases the safety for the team members. It increases the safety for the cars. They
know better where they are supposed to be and, then, it also increases efficiency,
because the team members can walk up and down those strips. Everyone knows
where they are and they can be taking orders from both sides of the center strip there.
There is also a similar two foot wide center strip along the building. There is a slight
pavement widening and, then, with this, if people are going to be able to receive food
now in two places, instead of just along the building, they also want to extend that
canopy over the second lane and, then, there is that escape lane that's been added at
the end. The benefits really are the enhanced safety for team members. There is the
enhanced safety for patrons and one of the really big things is this sort of second flex
lane will increase the -- will increase the efficiency of the drive-through by at least ten
percent and often more. By having this second drive-through lane be an official drive-
through lane they can get an additional nine cars in there, which is a significant increase
in cars that you are keeping out of the rest of the parking lot at The Village. And so,
then, that does reduce the stacking. They did apply for the additional drive-through and
canopy extension and they were denied by the city, which said they require an escape
lane to be provided for any stacking lane greater than one hundred feet in length. Okay.
The full extent of what city code provides about stacking lanes is written in red on the
screen, which is any stacking lane greater than one hundred feet in length shall provide
for an escape lane. There is no other reference to or definition of escape lanes in city
code and this does, in fact, the location of this escape lane, also does meet the
technical requirements of city code and while we can understand why staff would want it
earlier, it does, nonetheless, continue to meet the requirements. The way this actually
operates in reality, though, is this is not a constant two lanes running all the time. It
really is only used during the busiest times of the day. There is about two hours at
lunch, maybe an hour and a half in the evening when these lanes are open. The rest of
the time it continues to act as the bypass -- the second lane continues to operate as the
bypass escape lane through all the rest of the time and they can be used in cases of
emergency. One of the things that's different about Chick-Fil-A from other restaurants --
similar drive-through restaurants is they do always have people out there. So, in the
event that when both lanes are running simultaneously there will be at minimum six to
ten team members working those drive-through lanes and being in and out and so there
are people there, if there was a true emergency or even someone who wanted to get
out through the lane, there are people there who would be able to assist in that. This is
not like some other fast food restaurants where you sit there and there is no one there
and you just make your order into the little box. While they have those little boxes,
those are very rarely used, usually only at breakfast when they are much much slower
than the rest of the day. Additionally, just to touch on -- in the owner's experience and,
then, in Chick-Fil-A's experience overall there are very few people actually get into the
line and, then, realize that they don't want the food and today, at least in this owner's
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experience, there is also, very fortunately, there -- there have not been any
emergencies. There is the occasional stalled car that they have to push out of the way.
But generally speaking it has -- it operates very smoothly and this sort of setup has
been used in other jurisdictions and it operates really well. I think it's also important to
talk about the site constraints of this. This is not a new building. If it were we would be
able to set it back further from the road and incorporate it. No one expected this
particular business to be quite as successful as it was. Between 2012 and 20 -- and to
date it's gone from about three million dollars in business to about 15. So, it is really
working hard. Obviously, an exit onto Eagle Road doesn't meet standards. An exit on
to Village Road doesn't meet ACHD standards. Where there is the existing canopy you
can't -- that restricts the ability to get out earlier. There are setbacks, of course, along
all the edges and this really is the least intrusive option with the biggest effect of really
helping out the local businesses that are surrounding it, getting these cars from backing
up into the other areas. They did look at, of course, other options that they could do
and the other options also just didn't really make sense. They could have installed an
escape lane right as you very first begin to enter the site and, then, immediately pull out.
That also doesn't really make sense in that far left-hand corner. Another option they
looked at was extending the queue lanes across the entire northern portion of the site
with the same striping, but they don't need that all the time and it just doesn't make
sense to add in a longer queue lane just so, then, you can later add an escape lane in a
location that staff seems to think is a better location, even though the code doesn't
require it and does not specify where this lane needs to be. So -- oh. Here. And, then,
here you can also see sort of those site constraints. Here you are along Eagle Road. I
mean on Village Road. You can see there is just simply not room there without going
right into the setback -- without encroaching into the setback and from the top you can
really just see those large setbacks off of Eagle. There is just -- there is just not a lot of
places to really put this escape lane. And so with that we are requesting approval of the
escape lane and of the CZC and design review application. It doesn't look in city code
like there is really any standards associated with this or I would normally be talking
about this is what you need to find. I think it's just that you need to find that this makes
sense. This is the common sense result. This is really going to assist the neighboring
businesses in getting cars through faster. It assists the patrons. It makes everything
safer for the employees and, as I mentioned, they do -- they always have someone out
there and so if there is an emergency someone is there -- will be able to assist in getting
the cars moved and getting the people out and so with that I would stand for any
questions.
Simison: Thank you, Elizabeth. Council, any questions for the applicant?
Taylor: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Taylor.
Taylor: Elizabeth, thanks for your walking us through that. One question. You -- you
mentioned that the design you are proposing has been used in other locations. I have
frequented this Chick-Fit-A. I have four kids. It's a little -- it is a little awkward getting in
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when it's busy and it's kind of awkward getting out just when you are kind of making that
turn and there is the -- the trash receptacle just -- I got a truck, so it's hard to make that
turn sometimes. My question is if you are going to kind of make that escape lane there
on the corner, in other locations was that, then, the primary exit point for cars? Because
I'm wondering is everyone going to try to go through that new access? Are they going
to follow the current route to get out? Because it just seems like it's a very tight -- and I
understand the site constraints, but that's a tight little spot. So, I'm just curious what you
can speak to from previous sites that have the similar layout.
Koeckeritz: Well, as far as -- Mayor Simison, Council Member Taylor, as far as that
specific answer I can have someone from Chick-Fil-A actually answer the question.
They would be able to do a better job than myself. However, we did talk about that and
talk about having signage, having -- even if has a bollard -- some sort of way that it can
be used in the event of a real emergency when someone needs to get out. But
generally speaking you don't want all the cars just dumping out right there.
Simison: Maybe if I could just piggyback on that. I mean -- I mean it's really a
secondary exit, not an escape lane and a secondary exit that you would put a bollard up
at or try to limit people exiting through that you have got -- I mean unless you had a
crash in the other exit lane, why would you go that way when you have already -- there
is no traffic at that point in time? So, would someone sit there and wait for the bollard?
And I'm not asking you, ask the team to come up, but some -- if you put a bollard up is
someone going to come out there and open the bollard versus someone go left down
the exit that doesn't have any cars in front of them?
Koeckeritz: Well, Mayor Simison, I do believe that people -- in the event of like the
emergency people will be trying to get out there, because the traffic gets backed up
even going in and out of this entrance into it and so I do think that if there was the
emergency situation they would and -- and this is more of my personal experience --
people pull around and, then, they just sit there in that lane and they make sure they
have got all their food before they pull out and there continues -- and there is, then, also
a backing issue right there of people like did I get it all.
Simison: And I get that. I guess my question is if you have a bollard there are you
going to wait longer for someone to come and lower a bollard? Who is going to -- the
team line members out there are going to be able to lower it. I'm just trying to get it --
let's get the terminology about what this would really be. Is this a secondary exit out of
the property or an emergency exit that someone would have to come and let people out
of in order to utilize. You can put up signage, you can do a lot of things, but all these
things you point out are very true. People are backed up, are people just going to turn
right or are you going to prohibit them to turn right with something up that you are going
to have to have a team member come and let them out.
Koeckeritz: The preferred option is not to include any sort of bollard, but to have the
signage directing them past that. Say, you know, not an exit. But it's only the exit in an
emergency situation.
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Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Strader.
Strader: I will be brief, because I have already made up my mind and I do not -- I agree
with the director. I do not believe this meets the intent of our policy at all. I think that
the definition of escape lane is based on its functionality and functionally what you are
proposing is not an escape lane. For me it's simple, because it's a public safety issue. I
do not believe that the addition of this exit at all works. I don't think it meets the intent of
the code. So, that's where I'm at. I'm not open to this. That's just me. Thanks.
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: Elizabeth, what might be helpful for me is to kind of understand -- walk me
through either on -- one of your diagrams or on a Google map -- Luke's in the drive-
through. I order. My wife says, hey, I need you home right now. Okay. I'm not going to
take my food. What is my lane of travel from once I have ordered until I actually make
the escape? That would help me, because I am struggling to see kind of how this does
function like an escape lane, but I really trust your subject matter expertise that you can
walk me through how you see it and give me a sense of what -- what our citizens or the
patrons would experience.
Koeckeritz: Okay. Mayor Simison, Council Member Cavener, is you drive in -- I don't
really have a pointer.
Cavener: I think you -- yep. If even where that little --
Koeckeritz: Oh, I do.
Cavener: Yeah.
Koeckeritz: It can make this --
Cavener: It runs a little slow, because it's synced up with our broadcast system. So,
just give it -- there we go.
Koeckeritz: So, you drive in --
Cavener: Yep.
Koeckeritz: -- I'm assuming at this point that this is a peak hour --
Cavener: Sure.
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Koeckeritz: -- and that both lanes are operating. You come through, you order your
food, you decide -- your wife says you need to be home right now. You just can
continue on through and out if you don't want the food -- if you don't want to wait to pick
it up, you let one of these six to ten team members know that you need to get out of
there and they help move cars so you can get out and, then, you can either leave here
-- but ideally you would still -- because it's not a true emergency -- it might be. Don't
know. You would still come out here and exit.
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: But I'm relying, then, on all the other vehicles that are in front of me that have
already ordered to either, one, get their order first or, two, to be convinced by the
incredible team members of Chick-Fil-A to move them out of their lane and they would
get food somehow, some way different. Is that really what we are reliant on?
Koeckeritz: Well, the lanes -- Mayor, Cavener, in part. I mean the lanes are wide
enough with these additional striping that you can start pushing the lanes -- the people
together -- the vehicles together, so you could get someone out of there. But in that
event once you ordered your food you would be most likely to pick up the food.
Cavener: Mr. Mayor, one more then. This -- this maybe helped me. Where do the two
lanes converge that would give me the opportunity to leave?
Koeckeritz: Where do the two lanes converge?
Cavener: Yeah. You mentioned that -- that the -- there is enough space that the lanes
would come together --
Koeckeritz: Oh.
Cavener: -- and so that I would be able to leave. So, where does -- where does that
exist at?
Koeckeritz: Where -- is -- the striping? It's just striping on the pavement and so cars
can -- the same way if there is an emergency vehicle, how you can scooch over to the
side and there is room to make it through. You can start moving over to the side.
Cavener: Mr. Mayor then --
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: -- in summary I am really reliant on all the other people that are in front of me
to move out of the way to accommodate my needs. So, being frank, I don't see this as
an escape lane and -- and I do worry -- to the Mayor's point and I did a quick Google
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measurement -- it's 42 feet from your emergency exit to the entrance off of Eagle Road
and you are very correct, that spot is very very busy and I -- while I would like to think
that I'm a good Chick-Fil-A customer, I could also see myself wanting to take that right
out and what I worry is that I wouldn't be the only one and the other patrons would do
that and so now you have effectively built a bottleneck, because you have -- you have
shrunk actually the real exit and you almost make your problem even worse. So, I'm -- I
love Chick-Fit-A. My wife either is or will soon be ordering a budget catering for our
oldest graduation party. Like this location is successful. Provide a ton of jobs and
opportunities. I got to say, though, I think the director is probably correct on this, unless
there is something that I'm missing.
Miles: Yeah. I think the --
Simison: Can you state your name and address?
Miles: My name is Brad Miles. I'm the local franchisee. I think the biggest thing that we
are trying to accomplish by this is just to be able to expand -- to be able to -- and to her
point -- and the question that you asked about how would I get out; right? How would
you get out? The ability for us to be out there with -- with six to ten people on a -- like
right now we are &35 at night, I probably have nine people out there and the fact that I
have people out and we can ask people in that inside lane to move up, to move over in
case of emergency -- we have never had an emergency outside of a stalled car to date,
which is great, but we would always have the ability because of that to be able to alter
cars, move them up, move them out of the way, to be able to get cars out. Now, the
question that's become before is like what happens when people have no money; right?
And they just need to get out. A lot of times we just give them their food for free; right?
Yeah. I mean -- and so, you know, this isn't -- this isn't a play on trying to make life
more difficult. I think we are just trying to make life a little bit easier and simpler. That
escape lane -- that new addition one, I would -- it wouldn't be a bollard like that we
would want to put there. I think we would want to use more like a magnetic delineator,
that if cars in a true emergency just want to run it over, it's fine. You see those
delineators that I have out there at the mouth of my drive-through as you come in to
funnel to create two lanes, that's the same exact thing. Like those things can easily get
run over. They get run over all the time and they are magnetic, so we can put them in
and take them out quick, easy -- if you need to run over them that's fine. It's not going
to do damage to that vehicle at all. So, that's the whole point. I think we still want to be
able to use the existing exit as is and this right here is more for emergency type
situations.
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: And, Brad, I -- I track with everything that you are saying and what you are
trying to intend to do, but it's -- it's not an escape lane though. It's really not. And I think
that's -- the hard part is that our directors, they follow our development code and
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development code requires an escape lane and you are proposing -- I think, again,
being very innovative, like a multi-fact -- almost like a Swiss army knife of lanes, but it
just -- it doesn't function like an escape lane and I think that's the part that I'm having a
hard time overcoming, even though I really really want to overcome that concern. We
really -- we trust our -- our city staff to be subject matter experts and they certainly --
they have to follow the code. They are the science and we are the art and so I'm trying
to kind of understand the -- the real world impact and I'm just not seeing how we
overcome what is I think the concern of our director.
Miles: You know, I think to the success of Chick-Fil-A; right? Kind of the exception to
the rule.
Cavener: Yeah.
Miles: We are just kind of this outlier and so I think for us like we have to do unique
things to be able to, you know, handle the volume that we handle on a daily basis, you
know, and so I think part of this -- like you are right, trying to get creative. We are a
hundred percent. We always try to get creative, because we are not conventional. We
are unique. We are different. The volume -- everything about -- everything about us is
not conventional and so we always have to do these types of scenarios of like, well,
how can we make this work? How can we make it work? Because we are unique and
so I think this is part of this scenario of like saying, hey, like this is a unique scenario
that we have here and so what can we do to alleviate -- still meet code, but at the same
time, you know, try to be able to provide safety for the team members, safety for
customers that are in line and so all those things are always top of mind. But we have
to come up with unique strategies to do that.
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: Brad, I hear you and I think, you know, what you are kind of asking the
Council to do is to say, well, we are going to be consistent for everybody but Chick-Fil-A
and that's hard; right? Because we have got to be consistent with all business. We
don't -- we don't look at Chick-Fil-A different than any other place that comes before us
and I think that's the -- the hard part, because I want to recognize and reward your
ingenuity and the great opportunity you provide for so many people. Some of my son's
friends work at your location and just -- it's been a game changer for them and so I -- I
appreciate that. But it's -- we have to look at things kind of black and white and what
the law says we can and can't do and I wish I could find a nexus to say, well, that makes
sense for Chick-Fit-A. I just -- I'm sad about it, but I just don't think that I'm going to be
able to find that nexus.
Taylor: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Taylor.
Meridian City Council
May 20,2025
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Taylor: A question that maybe staff can help answer and maybe those who just have
dealt with this issue in terms of defining in our code. Are these escape lanes -- do we --
are these considered something as a public safety or is this convenience? How do we
actually view these escape lanes? Because that seems like an important question.
Allen: Mr. Mayor, Council, I think it could be both. You know, it just depends on the
situation that you need to escape the lane -- to escape the site.
Taylor: Is it true what Elizabeth said in terms of the extent of what our UDC says about
the requirements? It seems very vague and according to the strict reading that was
presented it seemed like they could argue that they are in compliance. We have a
different interpretation. Is there anywhere else in our code that speaks to some of those
requirements?
AIIem No. I believe that she's quoted it correctly. We do have -- it seemed the intent
was pretty clear, but since it apparently is not or has room for interpretation we do have
that on our list for code amendments.
Taylor: Mr. Mayor, if I may.
Simisom Councilman Taylor.
Taylor: It seems like an important question that if we are not explicitly clear in what the
intent of these lanes is, then, it's open to interpretation by the applicant, the director or
Council as to the purpose of these lanes, whether it's for a true public safety or is it for a
convenience to get cars out of the way, because from -- you know, they don't want the
food, they don't want to wait, they forgot their wallet -- whatever it is. You know, a
stalled car, whatever it is. Because when I hear some consideration of public safety
need, I'm thinking a heart attack or I'm thinking something where police and fire need
access and I -- I have been through a lot of drive-throughs where there is -- you don't
have those access lanes. They are not there. I can think of several just down the road
that I have visited this week. Not to go into too much of my food habits, but I have
frequented drive-throughs, so I am very well aware of what they look like. So, the
application of -- well, I'm going to disagree with both my previous Council Members on --
on what they have said. I think it's an unfair application of the standard that we have to
-- because there is several drive-throughs that don't have an escape lane. So, that's --
that's my -- that's kind of what my question is is this for public safety? Is it required? Or
is it for convenience? Because I do think -- I'm not sure exactly where I'm going to
come down on this tonight, but it seems like an unfair application of our own words and
our own rules if we don't apply that to all drive-throughs and so I understand, you know,
when it -- you know, different circumstances and time. Is this 1995? Is this 2005? Is
this 2015? 1 get it. It's all different. So, I understand that's -- that's part of it. But it
seems like an unfair application of the rules to say it doesn't meet the standard of an
escape lane when we are struggling to define what an escape lane is or what -- why we
have it and so I'm just kind of struggling to understand the intention of why we need
these lanes versus how businesses and owners and operators are intended to
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May 20,2025
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understand that as they interact with this. So, I'm still just kind of thinking that through a
little bit. That's not really a question, Sonya, for you to answer now, I'm just kind of
putting that out there to consider.
Simison: Well -- and Councilman Taylor, you are kind of where my head was. I mean
as a general philosophy I agree with the -- with the director -- director's determination in
even as little as this explains, we all understand the intent and I don't feel like the --
what is proposed got to the intent, but I do have a question about whether or not it's
even necessary and I -- we -- you know, I look -- kind of the same thing. You can look
down the street, you look at -- you know, frankly, you want to wait in a long line, well,
there is some burger places right down here on Main Street where you will go and they
are short -- very short line and you will be there for 45 minutes. Now, they happen to
have an area where you can drive out and get around, but it's not required under code
to do that. So, to your point, you know, the why I think is a -- is an important component
to this and I have generally -- because I have not been made aware of a public safety
necessity on this one. It would question whether or not it's even necessary in our code
to provide for an escape lane. If a business thinks that that's an important component to
allow their -- I think that's that's a -- that is a consideration, but the Burger King right
down here doesn't have an escape lane. I don't know -- it's not a hundred feet. The
Burger King is 200 feet? It didn't seem like that long, to be honest with you. But the
reality is I don't know the value and benefit of this being in our code at all. That's my
opinion. But I do think the director's determination was appropriate based upon the
code that currently exists. So, take that for whatever it means or doesn't mean and I
just had a conversation on the code right before -- in the last workshop, but this, again,
seems one that could at least be evaluated as to what it means or should it exist and
why. You know, is it how long it takes you get through the drive-through or is it how long
the drive-through is for some purpose that may or may not be defined, so --
Overton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Overton.
Overton: To Brad and Elizabeth -- and I want to make a statement first and there is a
question in there somewhere. The hardest thing I have a problem with on this is my
roots in law enforcement. We always look at what the intent was and I'm struggling with
the intent of why this became part of code and my understanding is it's been part of our
code since about 2005. It's just the way it's always been. It's standard practice, even
outside of the City of Meridian, to request this. But not my kids, although it was my
son's first job, Brad. My grandkids are why I have been in and out of your drive-through
so many times with six to eight employees helping me. But the part that I struggle with
is not the director's determination, because he is doing exactly what we ask him to do.
He is that subject matter expert looking at code. He is doing exactly what he is paid to
do. It's that I start that line usually close to Chipotle, so if I'm really really worried about I
need to get out of that line, is that really going to make that big of a difference if I have
got to sit all the way through Chipotle until I make the turn and get into that and come all
the way around before I have got an escape lane? How big of a difference does that
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May 20,2025
Page 14 of 25
really make? Secondarily -- and I have got fire and police in the room and they can help
me out, but we would never in law enforcement or fire request that somebody that
needed assistance find the escape lane and get out of the drive-through if they needed
help. We would go to them. It's not a public safety issue having an escape lane.
Unless somebody can tell me how otherwise it would be. It's not for use by your
restaurant. It's not for use by our city. The escape lane is only for the convenience of
customers and this is where I struggle with -- if you ran both lanes -- and I will make a
suggestion. If you made the right lane an express lane only for those people that used
your app, now you have got a faster lane to get people through and those people that I
get stuck behind that don't know what they want until they pull up, they take the left
lane, then, you could actually build an express lane right through your Chick-Fil-A and
have a lane that you can move somebody into to get out quicker. Now, I'm not a fan of
the second driveway, just because I think it could cause confusion. I have been going
through it since you opened up both lanes and did the whole thing with the one lone
driveway out. Sometimes it gets backed up, but I have always got out without a
problem. A little patience means we eat some of the food in the car before we get
home. Have you considered any other alternatives to what you have opposed tonight,
where it would not have to have a secondary driveway that I do believe would cause
confusion.
Koeckeritz: Mayor Simison and Council Member Overton, yes, one location -- and part
of -- and the real problem -- the real issue with this is that it is just such a constrained
site. One location is coming out right where my arrow is right there. That seems silly,
because if you are getting out there you already know -- like why didn't you just get out
ten feet earlier? The other thing -- one thing that was discussed was having the queue
lane backed up all along here where we actually extended the actual queuing lane and,
then, you know -- so, that once you went into this, then, you were in this, but then --
and, then, you could have an escape lane like right in here. But, then, that also doesn't
make sense just to build an entire additional lane that's generally not needed just so that
someone can -- just so that we can continue to make maybe a better escape lane when
it's still pre-order, it's still -- and it's just not needed most of the time. So, that sort of just
-- that doesn't necessarily make sense either, the other locations, and there just simply
isn't space in through here to have a real escape lane and, then, obviously, we are not
going out onto Eagle Road or Village Drive. So, this really is the location -- oh. And we
have got our designer here.
Bodily: Parker Bodily. Barghausen Engineering. My address is Nampa. But I have
been working on this project. We looked at different options. Really, the intent of the
option that we provided is similar to a neighboring restaurant that I'm sure you are all
familiar with, but it really was intended to meet the -- meet the code by providing an
escape lane. You know, there is -- we will pull up some examples and, then, the area.
So, you can see on the right -- and it provides an option similar to that. There is an
escape lane. There is two lanes that merge into one point and, then, there is an escape
lane right there and that's, you know, why we went with the option that we did, one that's
been approved by the city before and so at the point we -- we have brought up what
happens if a car needs to get out and I think by providing those two options we can
Meridian City Council
May 20,2025
Page 15 of 25
move cars further down while one -- while the vehicle that needs to get out can go
through that second option and those vehicles can wait after that point to get their
orders. And that's -- that's really the -- why we went with this option. Elizabeth went
over all the other ones, but --
Strader: Mr. Mayor?
Simisom Council Woman Strader.
Strader: How many cars can fit in each lane?
Miles: I got to go back and look at those. But I can give you that number.
Strader: It looks to me like ten or more can fit in each lane. So, just like hypothetically
let's say that we had a car that is stalled. So, it's not a huge emergency; right? It's not
someone having a heart attack. But we have got somebody who has got a dead battery
or we have got another problem and that individual is ten cars back, but they are
blocked in halfway through. So, what you are saying is your team of six to eight team
members is going to have to move the five cars ahead of them somewhere -- I assume
the parking lot, coordinate that, figure out getting everybody their order later. Like it just
-- I'm sorry, but it just strains credulity to me and it's pretty obvious from what an
escaping is supposed to be that functionally it should mean that you can escape. Like
to me that is like the common sense definition, plain reading of our code is that an
escape lane should mean you can functionally escape. If you have to wait until you get
all the way to the end of the lane past where you get your food, that to me was meeting
maybe trying -- attempting to meet the letter of our code, but certainly not meeting the
intent of our code and I just have to share that it -- like really to me like strains credulity
to even hear the argument. I think there are a range of circumstances that could occur
all the way from medical issues to car issues, to potentially, you know, a mass casualty
event, a natural disaster -- who knows. But we, obviously, draw certain lines in the sand
where we have determined historically if you have over a hundred this is what we
require and I feel like there is good reason for that. I don't feel personally like making an
exception here is wise from the perspective of a precedent, from the perspective of,
again, public safety -- also convenience is extremely important to me. I don't ever want
to be in a situation where I'm stuck. I have had it happen. It's the worst. I mean -- and
especially if you are trying to pick somebody up from school, you have something going
on, again, it just strains logic that this little tiny exit that you have added is somehow an
escape lane. It's just functionally not. So, anyway, that's the extent of my comments. I
think you know where I'm at. But I just -- I'm not going to be able to support this.
Miles: I will respond. The average time that a car sits at our window is about 15
seconds and so not only would we be able to move out within two minutes, we would be
able to move out -- I don't know, ten cars, but we would also be able to move cars over
to the left-hand lane to get people out. Like I said, I think -- if you look at this diagram
and the existing restaurant that opened December of 2023 right by me, this is a direct
almost copy of that. So, that question that you posed to me, you could pose that to
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May 20,2025
Page 16 of 25
them as well. So, that was approved and so this is almost just like a carbon copy
version of what was already kind of approved. And I tell you it's a lot longer than 15
seconds at that window.
Simison: Except for the big differences is where you get your food between those two
restaurants. Yes, it looks the same on paper or in overhead, but not the same in
operational component, you know, because you still have to go past that escape lane
before you get your food, so you are making a conscious decision at that point in time
do I want my food, do I not want my food at that location; right? Just so we understand
functionally they are different in that context. It's not the same.
Strader: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. That's very helpful that you provided that, because
without having that in front of me it would be hard for me to know that. So, I appreciate
that. Thank you.
Simison: You know, going back to the one other component, it's just, again, why I think
it's worthy of a larger conversation that maybe it's not built around this application, but at
least, then, the quick Google and Al feedback, escape lanes are typically used prior to
people ordering their food, because if they can't order within six minutes -- that's
according to industry studies -- so I'm not saying Chick-Fil-A studies, but industry
studies if you wait in line more than six minutes you are likely to -- that's when you are
most likely to leave. In this case you actually force people to order way before that,
because they -- it's pretty much when they get in, you know, enough it's backed up into
the parking lot and they don't want to wait in that line, then, great, they are going to --
then they can go further and escape before they get to that point in time. But just some
various differences in how your approach actually does -- you know, generally people
are going to get -- oh, I'm going to be here. Can't respond to -- I don't think the policy is
built around a specific -- one thing that may -- Luke's wife needing a stop off at Five
Guys instead stat, you know, is the right policy thing, but I do think that there is -- in my
opinion there is a larger question about the value and purpose of it, but to this
application remain to be seen. I want to get there, too. I think --
Little Roberts: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Council Woman Little Roberts.
Little Roberts: Mr. Mayor. Elizabeth, Brad, thank you so much for being here. I have
been debating about how I feel about this and I have got an incident that really colors it
for me, because I was apparently that one in a million customer that was about ten cars
back and got a call -- my son, who has got life threatening allergies was going into
anaphylactic shock. Thank heavens I was at a drive-through that truly had an escape
lane, because I would not have felt that I was -- I would have felt like I was giving up
precious time if I would have even had to get somebody's attention to get me out of
there and I was just able to leave and to me this just doesn't provide that access and I
know that's not the standard, but that's what happened to me that I had to live through.
I mean I would have gone over shrubs if I needed to to get out of there.
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May 20,2025
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Taylor: Mr. Mayor?
Strader: Mr. Mayor, if you don't mind? Councilman, I apologize. I have an emergency
at home and I need to leave.
Taylor: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Taylor.
Taylor: A question about another alternative that hasn't been mentioned here is -- I think
I kind of know the answer is probably just not allowed on a collector, but is -- it would
look like -- could you not make a similar sort of exit onto East Village right there on the
corner? Would that make sense for a controlled escape lane there? Because that
would -- I'm just curious -- and maybe Sonya or -- I don't know if you guys considered it,
but could someone speak to -- is that not a viable option as an escape lane?
Koeckeritz: Mayor Simison, Council Member Taylor, I can answer that. I don't
remember the exact distance, but we did not meet ACHD's separation requirements.
Whitlock: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Whitlock.
Whitlock: Elizabeth and Brad -- and just so I'm clear in my mind, you are proposing to
have two lanes going all the way to the window, so there would be an opportunity to
walk across a lane of traffic to deliver food to a second lane, similar to what's at Ten
Mile.
Koeckeritz: Mayor Simison, Council Member Whitlock, that is correct.
Whitlock: And, then, the escape lane would come after food is received.
Koeckeritz: It allows nine more cars to queue through there in that -- after you have
ordered through to where you pick up the food. So, it really does increase the efficiency
and get people through much faster during those periods when it is being used,
because as I mentioned, it's not going to be used much of the time.
Whitlock: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Whitlock.
Whitlock: So, if you are following the Ten Mile Chick-Fil-A model they do put up cones
and direct it into a single lane during those nonpeak hours, so that you are not -- I guess
presumably you could have a -- an escape lane if you had an emergency by blocking
that section lane off during the nonpeak hours. It's the peak hours where you are
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May 20,2025
Page 18 of 25
stacked ten. 12, 15 cars deep in two lanes where I think the consternation is right now.
What do we do in those emergencies or situations where people need to escape?
Miles: Yeah. And I think a lot of it was when COVID happened and we had to shut
down the dining room and, then, force all of our business through the drive-through and,
then, we started becoming a nuisance to our neighbors at the time and it was like I had
never ran two lanes before then and it was just like, man, I have got to do something,
because I have -- The Village is putting a lot of pressure on me. I didn't even -- I didn't
lose staffing, I just relocated all my employees out to drive-through to accommodate
and that was a -- that was all about trying to not be a nuisance on my neighbors, having
cars back up into -- into -- into them making it difficult to get in Chipotle, making it
difficult at times to get into 547 -- all those businesses that are right there kind of across
the way from me and so this has always been about wanting to take cars from spilling
out into the center and, then, move them into where I'm at.
Simison: Council, additional questions or comments? Okay. Well, let's see if anyone
signed up to provide testimony on this item then.
Johnson: Mr. Mayor, anybody signed up.
Simison: No one signed up. Okay. Well, is there anybody present either in the room or
online that would like to provide testimony on this item? Okay. Seeing none, would the
applicant like to make any final comments for closing?
Koeckeritz: I guess I would just like to say a couple of things. As mentioned, this is a
escape -- like it is an escape lane. It does meet code. A variance was not applied for.
It was not looked at doing anything else, because there is really nothing that we would
be asking to vary from, because it does meet the technical language of the code and for
that reason -- and I mean -- and the bigger reasons are it just makes a lot of sense to
have -- like you have the technical legal argument that I can make, but, then, all of the
common sense reasons on people don't typically actually come through and, then,
change their mind once they have ordered and decide that they really have to get out.
There is the very rare occasion that Council Member Little Roberts has experienced.
But generally speaking this is something that's good for the community, it's good for the
patrons, it's good for the city, it helps continuing to increase the tax base here. It is a
small business owner with -- who is trying to do right by his neighbors to not be an
impediment on the neighboring properties, to do right by his customers who want to be
able to come through there and, then, also to do right by his employees, many of whom
are just our local high school kids and so I do think that there is ample -- like plenty of
reasons to overturn the director's decision and we would ask that you do that today.
Simison: Thank you. Council?
Overton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Overton.
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May 20,2025
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Overton: Just a last clarifying question. Out of your operating hours how much of the
time do you run just a single lane at the drive-up window where the escape lane that's
already there is being used as an escape lane or available?
Miles: So, we open at -- we are Monday through Saturday. 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and
so we are operating under a single lane from 6:30 a.m. until around 11:30 and, then,
11 :30 until about 1 :30 is going to be dual. So, it's two hours. And, then, again, from
5:30 to 7:30 and that's -- the nighttime -- we have more lunch business than nighttime
and so it's typically more like an hour and a half, 90 minutes at night. So, out of -- out of
that I would say three and a half hours right now out of the day is used as a pure lane.
Overton: Mr. Mayor, one follow up.
Simison: Councilman Overton.
Overton: And, Brad, is -- I'm going to walk you through what I have done before and
what I have witnessed when you are using one lane versus when you are using two,
because it moves pretty fast and I think you estimated that even if somebody needed to
get out when you were using dual lanes, with a number of employees you have you
could move everybody over to the left lane and probably clear that for the car that
needed to leave in two minutes or less. Would that be a correct statement?
Miles: Pretty confident with that. If there was a -- according to where they are at, but
I'm pretty confident within two minutes we could have that car out.
Overton: Okay. Thank you.
Whitlock: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Whitlock.
Whitlock: Just one clarifying question, Elizabeth. In your testimony you said this does
meet the requirements of city code, which if I read the language it said any lane longer
or greater than a hundred feet requires an escape lane and so you have got two lanes
that are greater than a hundred feet; is that correct?
Koeckeritz: There are two -- yes. Well, there -- right now there is one lane, plus the
escape lane. But we would be proposing two lanes that are both greater than a
hundred feet.
Whitlock: So, color in the edges for me then. If the two lanes are greater and city code
says any lane greater than a hundred feet requires an escape lane and you don't have
that escape lane until after the hundred feet, how -- how are we meeting city code?
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May 20,2025
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Koeckeritz: The code does not -- Mayor Simison, Council Member Whitlock, it does not
require -- where is the -- it does not have any information at all whatsoever about where
the escape pod has to be.
Whitlock: You cross --
Koeckeritz: It's within these -- it's within this drive-through.
Simison: I -- I think maybe Council Member Whitlock was going -- I don't want to put
words in your mouth, but you were -- under the code this may require you to have two
escape lanes. If we are going to -- if we are going to legal each other I think he might
have you on the -- on the legal definition.
Whitlock: Don't put words --
Simison: I am going to put words -- any stacking lane and you have two -- shall provide
for an escape lane. To me that's a -- going to be pretty clear legally defined. That
would require two escape lanes under the code.
Koeckeritz: Mayor Simison, I would argue it does not say that each one needs its own
stack -- own escape lane. Nowhere in there does it say two escape -- that each shall
have --
Simison: Right. Correct. And each one of those needs one and you are only providing
one for one lane, unless you are going to consider the exit and escape lane for the other
lane and, then, you don't have an exit lane. We are not going to lawyer this, but I think
-- I got to give it to him, he is -- you don't have your JD yet; right? You are still working
on it? But -- if we are going to be legal about it and argue legal merits, I think that's a
pretty good legal argument, not that we were making it, but -- to me I think this should
go back to a larger conversation about this issue generally, but --
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: Yeah. I think a larger conversation that we are doing some UDC changes.
I'm very open to a larger conversation down the way about code related to emergency
lanes and stacking lanes and -- it sounds like staff is working to provide some greater
clarity. Personally think from a legal and a common sense standpoint this isn't -- it's not
an escape lane. So, I'm happy to move that we uphold the planning director --
Simison: We got to close the public hearing.
Cavener: Oh, we got to close the public hearing. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I
move that we close the public hearing.
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May 20,2025
Page 21 of 25
Little Roberts: Second.
Simison: 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.
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: Mr. Mayor, I don't know where this will go, but for all the reasons I have
shared I'm going to move that we uphold the director's decision of denial on the
certificate of zoning compliance and design review for application A-2024-0082.
Little Roberts: Second.
Simison: Have a motion and a second to uphold the director's decision of denial. Is
there discussion on the motion?
Taylor: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Taylor.
Taylor: I'm not going to support the motion, because as I review this -- I think the words
are really important and we as a city have not done a very good job making it clear what
we expect here. I'm kind of stuck on the idea of what's the purpose of these escape
lanes and, then, I was looking for do we define what an escape lane is? Is it for
convenience? Is it for public safety? What's it for? All good points about a broader
discussion. Again, here we are with drive-throughs talking about them. Let's add this to
the list of do we as a city -- are we going to require an escape lane? If so we need to be
clear what it is, where it should be. I -- I think if we -- and I understand the decision by
the director here, because when we talk about an escape lane I think we all feel like we
know what that is, but we don't actually know what it is. We haven't defined it in my
mind. We haven't done a good job defining it. So, it's a subjective interpretation. When
I consider the -- how we apply it as a city, it should be fair and consistent. It is not fair
and consistent to read -- to reject this -- or to uphold the director's decision, because I
don't see it being applied fairly across the city. I can't in good conscience say you get
this, but you don't and I think that's our fault. Not that we meant to, but just for lack of
getting to the point of providing the clarity that I think is there. So, that's -- for me that's
-- if we are going to require this we need to be consistent and I don't see us being
consistent. So, I think because of that we are open to being able to say we as a body
get to use our own interpretation of what's the intent here. I have been in the lane that's
gone back to Chipotle, too. I see this as saying we can move nine cars through in a
lane -- like that actually makes a big difference. It is a -- it is a challenging location
getting in, getting out, whether you are a patron that's walking into the restaurant or if
you are a patron who is in the drive-through it is just challenging. I also agree that the --
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May 20,2025
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the escape lane has proposed really is a secondary exit. It's not an escape lane in how
we are liking to think of it, but I'm okay with that. I'm okay with that. But to me it comes
down to -- if we are going to require it we need to be consistent and by upholding the
director's decision I don't think we are being consistent. So, I won't be supporting that.
Overton: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Overton.
Overton: I agree with a lot of the points from Councilman Taylor. I always want to agree
with our directors, because they are the subject matter experts, but what really bothers
me is Chick-Fil-A has been operating in this manner with both lanes for quite some time
and we are not here because there is a problem. Let me say that again. We are not
here because there was a problem with how they were operating. We are here
because they changed their operations and never got it approved and when they went
to go get the certificate of zoning compliance this rule was found and this is what
frustrates me the most. They created a drive-through with double lanes that was much
quicker, much more efficient, dealing with a greater number of cars in a shorter amount
of time to alleviate the backup into the parking lots of other restaurants and we are
doing so and still are doing so very efficiently, but we are now caught up on a code in
which we want to deny it based on something that's been there since 2005 and we are
trying to fit it into this application in this location and I'm struggling with how do I -- how
do I stand by that and say that was the right decision when I have watched them
successfully do this for at least a year, if not -- if not two years very efficiently and very
quickly.
Simison: As I think I maybe have stated or haven't stated -- I mean I think there is a
little bit more going on here. There isn't a desire to extend a canopy to do some
additional work, you know, that -- so there are some points and times where some of
this is being further evaluated in that context. But, you know, on a very personal -- I
have no issue with there not being an escape lane. I have no issue with there just being
two drive-through lanes as a general rule through this -- there are probably, frankly,
many other properties and sometimes it is about the entity. Sometimes it's not. But as
a -- as the way the Chick-Fil-A operates compared to the way -- you know, if we were at,
you know, one of the finest burger restaurants in Meridian right down the road here on
Main Street at Main Street Burger and they had two lanes that you could not escape,
you might be there for an hour. I mean that's the way they operate. You know, different
model. Different thing. So, sometimes looking at the -- you know, the code doesn't look
at type of -- you know, who the business is, they just look at the -- you know, function of
how we treat all businesses. But to my point I'm okay if there is not one, but I'm not
okay with not upholding the director's determination, because I think it's clearly
articulated common sense. I mean, again, if we are going to use common sense on
both sides you got to use common sense to what an escape lane is and common sense
dictates that, you know, what's proposed is not that and, you know -- so, that's -- I won't
be voting unless someone abstains from themselves this evening, but that's just my
personal viewpoint on this issue, but, you know, leave it for wherever it goes and I think
Meridian City Council
May 20,2025
Page 23 of 25
irregardless we know we are going to have a follow-up conversation about what and
how and if and whatever decision is made I think that there is an opportunity in the
future for what and how and if in my mind. Further discussion?
Whitlock: Mr. Mayor, I guess --
Simison: Councilman Whitlock.
Whitlock: -- that's where my head is, too. This is probably a decision that ultimately will
be back before somebody at City Hall, either with a code change or tonight it might get
approved, but to me the wording of the code is pretty straightforward. The definition
and purpose of an escape lane can be debated. That's not defined in code. But I have
a hard time reconciling in my own mind that this does meet the requirements of city
code. I'm just -- I'm not there. Now, city code can be changed and this could meet city
code in the not too distant future.
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: I know that there is a motion on the table, but a question if I may for staff.
Sonya, recognizing some of the feedback that you have heard from Council and
sounding like that staff have already initiated some clarifying language around this,
would it make sense -- and, again, I don't know how the applicant -- we may want to
reopen the public hearing. If the Council were to continue this to a date certain, after
the Council have had a chance to weigh in on some UDC changes around escape
lanes, would this applicant be subject to the previous code or would they be subject to
the code changes if we were to make them?
Allen: Mr. Mayor, Councilman Cavener, they would be subject to the code in effect at
the time of their application submittal.
Cavener: Okay. Fair enough. Thank you.
Simison: Is there discussion? If not, Clerk call the roll.
Roll Call: Cavener, yea; Strader, absent; Overton, yea; Little Roberts, yea; Taylor, nay;
Whitlock, yea.
Simison: Four ayes. One nay. And the motion to uphold the director's determination is
agreed to. Thank you. I don't think the conversation is over. I look forward to future
conversations. I'm sure Sonya and the team will be in touch with you as we move that
conversation forward.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. ONE NAY. ONE ABSENT.
Meridian City Council
May 20,2025
Page 24 of 25
ORDINANCES [Action Item]
3. Ordinance No. 25-2084: An ordinance (Farmstone Crossing
Subdivision — H-2023-0045) annexing a parcel of land located in a
portion of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section
15, Township 3 North, Range 1 West, Boise Meridian, Ada County,
Idaho, more particularly described in Exhibit "A"; rezoning 33.893
acres of such real property from RUT (Rural Urban Transition) to the
M-E (Mixed Employment) zoning district; directing city staff to alter
all applicable use and area maps as well as the official zoning maps
and all official maps depicting the boundaries and the zoning
districts of the City of Meridian in accordance with this ordinance;
providing that copies of this ordinance shall be filed with the Ada
County Assessor, the Ada County Treasurer, the Ada County
Recorder, and the Idaho State Tax Commission, as required by law;
repealing conflicting ordinances; and providing an effective date.
Simison: Okay. With that we will move on to Item 3, which is Ordinance No. 25-2084.
Ask the clerk to read this ordinance by title.
Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is an ordinance annexing a parcel of land located
in a portion of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 15, Township 3
North, Range 1 West, Boise meridian, Ada county, Idaho, more particularly described in
Exhibit "A"; rezoning 33.893 acres of such real property from RUT to M-E zoning district;
directing city staff to alter all applicable use and area maps as well as the official zoning
maps and all official maps depicting the boundaries and the zoning districts of the City
of Meridian in accordance with this ordinance; providing that copies of this ordinance
shall be filed with the Ada County Assessor, the Ada County Treasurer, the Ada County
Recorder, and the Idaho State Tax Commission, as required by law; repealing
conflicting ordinances; and providing an effective date.
Simison: Thank you. Council, you have heard this ordinance read by title. Is there
anybody who would like to read it in entirety? If not, do I have a motion?
Taylor: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Taylor.
Taylor: I move that we approve Ordinance No. 25-2084.
Overton: Second.
Simison: Have a motion and a second to approve Ordinance No. 25-2084. Ask the
clerk to call the roll.
Meridian City Council
May 20,2025
Page 25 of 25
Roll Call: Cavener, yea; Strader, absent; Overton, yea; Little Roberts, yea; Taylor, yea;
Whitlock, yea.
Simison: All ayes. Motion carries and the item is agreed to.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
FUTURE MEETING TOPICS
Simison: Council, anything under future meeting topics or do I have a motion to
adjourn?
Cavener: Mr. Mayor?
Simison: Councilman Cavener.
Cavener: Move we adjourn the meeting.
Little Roberts: Second.
Simison: Motion and a second to adjourn. All in favor signify by saying aye. Opposed
nay? We are adjourned.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:18 P.M.
(AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
MAYOR ROBERT E. SIMISON 6-3-2025
ATTEST:
CHRIS JOHNSON - CITY CLERK 6-3-2025
E IDIAN
'aAHO
AGENDA ITEM
ITEM TOPIC: ALS Awareness Month Proclamation
E IDIAN --
IDAHO
the Office of the Nayor
PRO CALAMA r1ow
WHEREAS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS ) , also commonly known as Lou Gehrig' s
disease , is a progressive fatal neurodegenerative disease in which a person's
brain loses connection with their muscles , slowly reducing a person' s ability
to walk, talk, eat, and eventually breathe ; and,
WHEREAS, thousands of new ALS cases are reported every year, and estimates show that
every 90 minutes , someone is diagnosed with ALS and someone passes away
from ALS ; and,
WHEREAS, the ALS Association is the largest philanthropic funder of ALS research
globally and is committed to accelerating the pace of discovery, fueled by the
hope that one day ALS will be a livable disease for everyone , everywhere ,
until a cure can be found; and,
WHEREAS, clinical trials play a pivotal role in evaluating new treatments , enhancing
quality of life , and fostering assistive technologies for those living with ALS ;
and,
WHEREAS, ALS Awareness Month provides an opportunity to increase public awareness
of the dire circumstances of people living with ALS , acknowledge the terrible
impact this disease has on those individuals and their families , and support
research to eradicate this disease .
THEREFORE, I, Mayor Robert E . Simison, hereby proclaim May 2025 as
.� S Awareness Month
in the City of Meridian and call upon all our citizens to join in supporting ALS research, advocating
for increased funding, and standing in solida ' it t s T:cted by this relentless disease .
Dated this 20`h day of May, 2025
Ro ert . Simi on, Mayor
Luke :er, City Council President
Liz Strader, City Council Vice-President
�✓ Brian Whitlock, City Council
Doug Taylor, City Council
John Overton, City Council
Anne Little Roberts , City Council
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E IDIAN;---
/hl R
AGENDA ITEM
Public Forum - Future Meeting Topics
The Public are invited to sign up in advance of the meeting at
www.meridiancity.org/forum to address elected officials regarding topics of
general interest or concern of public matters. Comments specific to an active
land use/development applications are not permitted during this time.
By law, no decisions can be made on topics presented at the Public
Forum. However, City Council may request the topic be added to a future
meeting agenda for further discussion or action. The Mayor may also direct
staff to provide followup assistance regarding the matter.
CITY OF MERIDIAN
CITY COUNCIL
PUBLIC FORUM SIGN-IN SHEET
Date:
Please sign in below if you wish to address the Mayor and City Council and
provide a brief description of your topic. Please observe the following rules of
the Public Forum:
• DO NOT:
o Discuss active applications or proposals pending before Planning
and Zoning or City Council
o Complain about city staff, individuals, business or private matters
• DO
o When it is your turn to speak, state your name and address first
o Observe a 3-minute time limit (you may be interrupted if your topic
is deemed inappropriate for this forum)
Name (please print) Brief Description of Discussion Topic
C� E IDIAN
Planning and Zoning Department Presentation and Outline
h2
City Council Meeting, 2025 th May 20
Approved Site PlanProposed Site Plan
Changes to Agenda: None
Item #2: Chick-Fil-A (CR-2025-0001)
Application(s):
City Council Review of the Director’s Decision
Size of property, existing zoning, and location: This site consists of 1.22 acres of land, zoned C-G, located at the NEC of N. Eagle
Rd. & E. Village Dr.
History: This property received CZC approval for a drive-through establishment in 2012 with the site plan shown on the left. The UDC
requires an escape lane to be provided in the drive-through if the stacking lane is greater than 100’ in length. The approved site plan
complies with this standard by utilizing (2) stacking lanes, which converge into one after ordering to allow a clear travel lane on the
outside to “escape” or leave the site if necessary, before reaching the service window.
The Applicant applied for a new CZC to change the configuration of the existing drive-through by replacing the escape lane with an
additional queuing/stacking lane and adding a new escape lane after the service window. The request was denied by the Director
because it doesn’t comply with the intended purpose of the requirement, which is to provide a clear travel lane for vehicles to bypass
the stacking lane and exit the drive-through before reaching the service window. A situation when this may be necessary is when a
driver forgets their wallet or no longer has time to wait. An escape lane after the service window does not meet the intent of this
requirement, thus the reason for denial.
Summary of Request: The Applicant has submitted a request for City Council review of the Director’s decision in this matter.
Written Testimony: None
Possible Motions:
Denial
After considering all staff, applicant and public testimony, I move to uphold the Director’s decision and deny File Number CR-2025-
0001 as presented during the hearing on May 20, 2025, for the following reasons: (You should state specific reasons for denial)
Approval
After considering all staff, applicant and public testimony, I move to approve File Number CR-2025-0001, as presented during the
hearing on May 20, 2025: (Add any proposed modifications to conditions)
Continuance
I move to continue File Number CR-2025-0001 to the hearing date of ____________ for the following reason(s): (You should state
specific reason(s) for continuance.)
W IDIAN�
AGENDA ITEM
ITEM TOPIC: Public Hearing for Chik-Fil-A (CR-2025-0001) by Barghausen Consulting
Engineers, Inc., located at 2012 N Eagle. Rd.
Application Materials: https://bit.ly/CR-2025-0001
A. Request: Council Review of the Director's decision of denial on the Certificate of Zoning
Compliance and Design Review Application (A-2024-0082) for expansion of the existing drive-
through and extension of the canopy for Chik-fil-A.
PUBLIC HEARING SIGN IN SHEET
DATE: May 20, 2025 ITEM # ON AGENDA: 2
PROJECT NAME: Chick-Fil-A (CR-2025-0001)
Your Full Name Your Full Address Representing I wish to testify
(Please Print) HOA? (mark X if yes)
If yes, please
provide HOA name
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Mayor Robert E. Simison
City Council Members:
C� E IDIAN .Iz - Luke Cavener, President
Liz Strader,Vice President
1 D A H O Brian Whitlock
Doug Taylor
John Overton
Anne Little Roberts
April 7, 2025
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor& City Council
FROM: Sonya Allen, Associate City Planner
CC: City Attorney, City Clerk
RE: Chick-fil-A—CR-2025-0001 2012 N. Eagle Rd.
The Applicant submitted a Certificate of Zoning Compliance and Design Review application(A-
2024-0082)to change the configuration of the existing drive-through by replacing the escape
lane with an additional queuing/stacking lane and adding a new escape lane after the service
window. Per UDC 11-4-3-11CA, an escape lane is required to be provided for any stacking lane
greater than 100 feet in length.
Although an escape lane was proposed, the request was denied by the Director because it doesn't
comply with the intended purpose of the requirement, which is to provide a clear travel lane for
vehicles to bypass the stacking lane and exit the drive-through before reaching the service
window. A situation when this may be necessary is when a driver forgets their wallet or no
longer has time to wait. An escape lane after the service window does not meet the intent of this
requirement(see proposed site plan attached as Exhibit B).
The Applicant's narrative states the current site utilizes two stacking lanes to the point after meal
delivery, after which the two lanes merge into one to exit the site and that the current stacking
lanes and subsequent merged lane total more than 100 feet but don't include an escape lane. This
does not comply with the site design originally approved in 2012 with CZC-12-015/DES-12-
009),which does show an escape lane in accord with UDC 11-4-3-11CA (see site plan below in
Exhibit A). The existing operation is in violation of City code and should cease immediately.
EXHIBIT A
Existing Approved Site Plan
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EXHIBIT B
Proposed Site Plan
LPNOSCAPE PLAN
CHICK-FIL A MERIDIAN
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PROJECT CONTACTS:'. SITE INFON Tg spp LANDSCAPE SHEET WIDIM- GM LNOTES: Qw 4 JO
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C i E IDIAN.;---
Agenda Item
Applicant Presentation
ape-
1., ,`�'- �•' � � , +ry' -
`. .1�Mil NNNN
Property Location Histor
- 121. r
• 2012 — Original approval4r
• 2019 — Drive through canopies
approved i
• February 2024 — Building permit -
submitted for drive through and -
' 4 4
canopy expansion
• April 2024 — CZC and DR required
• February 2025 — Denial of _j
applications '
• May 2025 - Appeal z
f
4
•
• r
Proposedsite improvements
Existing Proposed
L —_ I — - --- S89'34'50"E 266.33'— -- ------
U �589°34'SO"E 266.33'--••-- ,•'------' .. ,--- ,.
t
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4 d
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e .
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_ — ---- t '
• -4 �YT/T77 �7- � ri i -r r �7-7-/777 r7:�_l
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S87°36'3h"E 81.76'
`-r1 -- --- -- -- -- --•--.._._ -- -----•------- __' .°. .. .. — _ 589-34061139.79'
E VILLAGE DR,
587°36'36"E 81 J6'
--- ---- — ----- - -- - - -- -- — —
10-FOaT PUBLIC UTILITIES, • - - ... L� _____ _
If I E VILLAGE DR.
Proposedsite improvements
r V ------- ------S89°345(YE Z66.33'------ ------ ,,-----..
j - . . I
Employee safety striping -
o
■ T team member 4
4
striping between lanes ` - b -
i `^
Canopy for weather
■ 2' striping adjacent protection
to building L
u a } oI
a
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o �
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I rP y I •.1
VA
Slight pavement a, - ,,r Escape Lane
widening
07,
589°34'06"E 139.79
E VILLAGE DR.
Benefits
Q ------ ------589'34.5D"E 266.33--------t------ .—-----
N.
+ Enhanced safety for team
o ,
members
+ Enhanced safety for patrons 4 ___
+ Increase site/drive-throu h -
g
efficiency. n LL
o ,II
+ Reduce stacking within
0
Vp1 II T 1 :' l •j f.
parking and drive-aisles -- -- - � _
.; .
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77
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5 BI11L➢ING
-S 5,858 SQ FT-
y �
1 4 ••
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• 1:
S89'34'D6"E 139.79'
S87°36'36"E 81.- 76'
-- --- --- ---- --- - ------------------- - - ------------- 1-.
E VILLAGE ❑R.
Application - Request
Approval of additional drive-thru lane and canopy extension.
City Denial
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 some location as the existing escape lane
and in lieu of the required escape lane, which does not comply with the
aforementioned-standard.
Escape La nes - An stackin lane reater than one hundred
Y g g
100 feet in length shall provide for an escape lane. U DC 11-4-3-1 1C
-----------
No other reference to or r 4
definition of escape lanes are
provided within code
• Proposed escape lane meets
requirements of City Code
0 4,858 SO.
rT-
E. VILLAGE DR. �rWy
Multi - use lane
• A bypass/escape lane in non-peak
hours Proposed
• Flex lanes that can be used in cases
of emergencies
• Dual lanes would be used y
----------
approximately from 11am-2pm ---- -y :
and 5pm-7pm ;
�_ ._, •�.j is -.;
Note : Chick-fil-A utilizes attendants = 4.SFT.
in the drive-through to provide
N
quicker service and direct vehicles. 54.5U' _ a -
S15734'06*E 139.79'
E. VILLAGE DR. �r363�
Site Constraints
• Exit on Eagle Rd would ------- ----- ------ -
15—FOOT POWER EASEMENT 1
not meet I T D standards WITH NO RECORDING ti: -f'• ;
INFORMATION AS SHOWN ON `" `•�`� !
• ROS INST. NO. 108093071. • . '.- '
20-FOOT MULTI-USE
• Exit on E Village Dr PATHWAY EASEMENT
INST. NO. 112073615. �;• b Q ;'�':-• �,1
10-AFOOT ELECTRICAL 9-_ '
would not meet A C H D POWER FACILITIES _ r'
EASEMENT,
INST. NO. 112050560. b
standards. Q .: . f
S(734'15V 171.82'
10-FOOT PUBLIC UTILITIES,
• Existing canopy would DRAINAGE AND IRRIGATION
EASEMENT,
INST. NO. 112094151 ! " _ Q
[PLAT}.
restrict an earlier escape
1 _ r i
lane. d _ 4.858 54.
35—FOOT LANDSCAPE
STREET BUFFER EASEMENT, ' 's - - _ f
INST. NO. 112094151 :` L
• Setbacks on Village PLAT)
N5501'441154. D� ••_ ,
Drive I 589'34'06"E 134.7 -------------
. VILLAGEQR. - — r —_------_
S8T36'36"E _ -
8_1.76'
8-FOOT PUBLIC ACCESS, UTILITIES
• Least intrusive option w I rps ••_ - -- -'�:-' -_ r-•:-::. .,-... .. - AND RIGHT OF WAY EASEMENT.
J In INST. NO. 112007198.
3 �
with the biggest effect W 10—FOOT PUBLIC UTILITIES, DRAINAGE AND IRRIGATION EASEMENT,
10-FOOT LANDSCAPE STREET BUFFER EASEMENT,
INST. 140. 112094151 [PLAT].
by utilizing the flex lane
Site Constraints a
. lk r4L
f F I
H7EC I'
L
CIF' {Vq}x�YV
Alm
Request approval of Escape Lane
• Meets requirements of City Code
• Multi-purpose dual lane
• Constrained site — pre-existing building, numerous setbacks &
easements
• Unique operating method ensures team member available to assist in
emergencies
Thank you ,
MEN"
Additional Slides
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w ,
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5
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Escape Lanes
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ir
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-------------
15-FOOT POWER EASEMENT
WITH NO RECORDING
INFORMATION AS SHOWN ON 1- 4 ,• : •- r: :• I , ,
ROS INST. NO. 108093071. `f ;
20-FOOT MULTI-USE -'
PATHWAY EASEMENT, :F_-
INST. NO. 11 073615. ---- _ � •'`'_ :�'4�.- ,
10-FOOT ELECTRICAL
POPPER FACILITIES ; i4 ~ ;"~ ' .. }: ' �4 j `--
EASEMENT, o- .° -
INST. NO. 11 050560.
50'34'15 171.82' , I 4 I #'i n
i - , f I }
I 1 1 1 I ;� e,'i L ; ;' fl. N
10-FOOT PUBLIC UTILITIES, - -- - -- -- - -- -- -- i-, `
DRAINAGE AND IRRIGATION
EASEMENT, ---
INST, NO, 112094151 i -Y .;y'`� A Iff �,'f
(PLAT),
-_' FT,
35-FOOT LANDSCAPE
STREET BUFFER EASEMENT,
INST- NO- 11094151
(PLAT). -, _ r;;
—7r— R
I ~-- ------- --.58 3------_ ------ ' ------------------- ------ -- ,4
E. VILLAGE DR. - 70364310E 81.76'
= B-FOOT PUBLIC ACCESS, UTILITIES
LLI �-�. -•-ps -:•' - -- --r" ;1-� - -_ - •- -�• �• ' ._ - ,_ _ AND RIGHT OF WAY EASEMENT,
1.7 INST. N0. 11200719&
LID4
10-F007 PUBLIC UTILITIES, DRAINAGE AND IRRIGATION EASEMENT,
LV 10-FOOT LANDSCAPE STREET BUFFER EASEMENT,
INST. NO, 112094151 (PLAT).
V IDIAN�
AGENDA ITEM
ITEM TOPIC: Ordinance No. 25-2084: An ordinance (Farmstone Crossing Subdivision — H-
2023-0045) annexing a parcel of land located in a portion of the northwest quarter of the
southwest quarter of Section 15, Township 3 North, Range 1 West, Boise Meridian, Ada County,
Idaho, more particularly described in Exhibit "A"; rezoning 33.893 acres of such real property
from RUT (Rural Urban Transition) to the M-E (Mixed Employment) zoning district; directing city
staff to alter all applicable use and area maps as well as the official zoning maps and all official
maps depicting the boundaries and the zoning districts of the City of Meridian in accordance
with this ordinance; providing that copies of this ordinance shall be filed with the Ada County
Assessor, the Ada County Treasurer, the Ada County Recorder, and the Idaho State Tax
Commission, as required by law; repealing conflicting ordinances; and providing an effective
date.
Ada County Recorder Trent Tripple 2025-031263
Boise,Idaho Pgs=4 cfowler 05/21/2025 08:24:39 AM
CITY OF MERIDIAN IDAHO$0.00
Electronically Recorded
CITY OF MERIDIAN ORDINANCE NO. 25-2084
BY THE CITY COUNCIL: CAVENER, LITTLE ROBERTS, OVERTON
STRADER, TAYLOR, WHITLOCK
AN ORDINANCE (FARMSTONE CROSSING SUBDIVISION — H-2023-0045)
ANNEXING A PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED IN A PORTION OF THE NORTHWEST
QUARTER OF THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 15, TOWNSHIP 3 NORTH,
RANGE 1 WEST, BOISE MERIDIAN, ADA COUNTY, IDAHO, MORE PARTICULARLY
DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A"; REZONING 33.893 ACRES OF SUCH REAL PROPERTY
FROM RUT (RURAL URBAN TRANSITION) TO THE M-E (MIXED EMPLOYMENT)
ZONING DISTRICT; DIRECTING CITY STAFF TO ALTER ALL APPLICABLE USE AND
AREA MAPS AS WELL AS THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAPS AND ALL OFFICIAL MAPS
DEPICTING THE BOUNDARIES AND THE ZONING DISTRICTS OF THE CITY OF
MERIDIAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS ORDINANCE; PROVIDING THAT COPIES
OF THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE FILED WITH THE ADA COUNTY ASSESSOR, THE
ADA COUNTY TREASURER,THE ADA COUNTY RECORDER,AND THE IDAHO STATE
TAX COMMISSION, AS REQUIRED BY LAW; REPEALING CONFLICTING
ORDINANCES; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS,the City of Meridian received a written request from property owner Endurance
Holdings, LLC and Challenger Development to annex and rezone the land described in the legal
descriptions attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and the maps attached hereto as Exhibit `B" ("Subject
Property"), which exhibits are incorporated herein by reference;
WHEREAS,the Subject Property is contiguous to the corporate limits of the City of Meridian,
Idaho;
WHEREAS, the City of Meridian is authorized by Idaho Code section 50-222 to annex the
Subject Property;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN, COUNTY OF ADA, STATE OF IDAHO:
SECTION 1. That the City Council of the City of Meridian hereby annexes the Subject
Property.
SECTION 2. That the City Council of the City of Meridian hereby rezones 33.893 acres of
such real property from RUT (Rural Urban Transition) to the M-E (Mixed Employment) zoning
district.
ANNEXATION ORDINANCE—FARMSTONE CROSSING SUBDIVISION H-2023-0045 Page I
SECTION 3. That City Staff is hereby directed to alter all applicable use and area maps as
well as the official zoning maps and all official maps depicting the boundaries and the zoning districts
of the City of Meridian in accordance with this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the City Clerk is hereby directed to file a certified copy of this ordinance
and its exhibits with the Ada County Assessor, the Ada County Treasurer, the Ada County Recorder,
and the Idaho State Tax Commission, within ten (10) days following the effective date of this
ordinance.
SECTION 5. That all ordinances, resolutions, orders or parts thereof in conflict herewith are
hereby repealed.
SECTION 6. That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon publication, in
accordance with law.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN,IDAHO,this 20th
day of May, 2025.
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN, IDAHO, this 20th
day of May, 2025.
MAYOR ROBERT E. SIMISON
ATTEST:
CHRIS JOHNSON, CITY CLERK
STATE OF IDAHO, )
) ss:
County of Ada )
On this 20th day of May 2025,before me,the undersigned,a Notary Public in and for said
State,personally appeared Robert E.Simison and Chris Johnson known to me to be the Mayor and City Clerk,
respectively,of the City of Meridian,Idaho,and who executed the within instrument,and acknowledged to me that the
City of Meridian executed the same.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF,I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal the day and year first
above written.
(SEAL) Notary Public
Commission Expiration: 3-28-2028
ANNEXATION ORDINANCE—FARMSTONE CROSSING SUBDIVISION H-2023-0045 Page 2
EXHIBIT A
Description for
Annexation
Farmstone Crossing Subdivision
August 29, 2023
A portion of the Northwest 1/4 of the Southwest 1/4 of Section 15, Township 3
North, Range 1 West, Boise Meridian, Ada County, Idaho more particularly described
as follows:
BEGINNING at the 1/4 corner common to said Sections 15 and 16, T.3N.,
R.1 W., B.M., from which the Section corner common to Sections 15, 16, 21 and 22
T.3N., R.1W., B.M., bears South 00043'07" West, 2,656.14 feet;
thence South 89014'43" East, 1,322.85 feet to the Center-West 1/16 corner of
said Section 15;
thence on the east line of the Northwest 1/4 of the Southwest 1/4 of said
Section 15, South 00039'26" West, 1,216.87 feet to the centerline of U.S. Interstate 84;
thence on said centerline, North 80°32'51" West, 1,339.69 feet to the west
section line of said Section 15;
thence on said west section line, North 00043'07" East, 1,014.28 feet to the
POINT OF BEGINNING.
Containing 33.893 acres, more or less.
End of Description.
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P:\Farmstone Crossing(820 Block Cat) 22-074\dwg\Annex Ex.dwg 8/29/2023 10:37:37 AM
I DAHO
Exhibit Drawing for z0 xz.
955 9
SURVEY EMERALD ST. Annexation Sheet No.
955 IDAH083704
,
(208)846-8570 Farmstone Crossing Subdivision 1
GROUP, LLC A portion of the NW1/4 of the SW1/4 of Section 15, Dwg. Date
T.3N., R.1W., B.M., Ada County, Idaho. 8/29/2023
CERTIFICATION OF SUMMARY :
William L. M. Nary, City Attorney of the City of Meridian, Idaho, hereby certifies that the summary
below is true and complete and upon its publication will provide adequate notice to the public .
VVI
William L. M . Nary, tity Attorney
SUMMARY OF CITY OF MERIDIAN ORDINANCE NO. 25-2084
An ordinance (Farmstone Crossing Subdivision — H-2023 -0045) annexing a parcel of land located in
a portion of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 15 , Township 3 North, Range 1
West, Boise Meridian, Ada County, Idaho , more particularly described in Exhibit "A"; rezoning
33 . 893 acres of such real property from RUT (Rural Urban Transition) to the M-E (Mixed
Employment) zoning district; directing city staff to alter all applicable use and area maps as well as
the official zoning maps and all official maps depicting the boundaries and the zoning districts of the
City of Meridian in accordance with this ordinance; providing that copies of this ordinance shall be
filed with the Ada County Assessor, the Ada County Treasurer, the Ada County Recorder, and the
Idaho State Tax Commission, as required by law; repealing conflicting ordinances ; and providing an
effective date . A full text of this ordinance is available for inspection at City Hall, City of Meridian,
33 East Broadway Avenue, Meridian, Idaho . This ordinance shall be effective as of the date of
publication of this summary.
[Publication to include map as set forth in Exhibit B .]
ANNEXATION ORDINANCE — FARMSTONE CROSSING SUBDIVISION 11-2023 -0045 Page 3