HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter from JUBr
RECEIVED
acr o ~ zoos
October 3, 2007
City of Meridian
Planning and Zoning Commission
660 Watertower Lane, Suite 201
Meridian, ID 83642
City Of Meridian
City Clerk Office
RE: Selway Multi-Family Development -Revised Conditions of Approval
Members of the Commission:
208-376-7330
Fax: 208-323-9336
www.jub.com
We are in receipt of the revised staff report dated September 20, 2007 from Bill Parsons to the
Planning and Zoning Commission regarding the above-noted project. We are comfortable with
the conditions of approval and agree that they reflect the intent and substance of the
Commissioners discussion at the close of the public hearing. However, there are two
conditions that will be extremely problematic with regard to how the project will actually be
constructed.
Specifically, Condition 1.1.10 requires that all amenities must be installed prior to the
occupancy of the third building; and Condition 1.1.20 requires that the landscape buffers on
the north and west property lines be installed prior to issuance of the first Certificate of
Occupancy.
While we understand the intent of these conditions, they are problematic because they will
actually result in the destruction of the required improvements during construction.
Landscaping and sidewalks are always the last items to be installed in a project such as this
because they are easily damaged by heavy equipment. There will be a large amount of
machinery such as scrappers, backhoes, concrete trucks, dump trucks and small cranes
working on the site at various times. All of these machines need considerable room to
maneuver and will absolutely wreak havoc on the landscaping and sidewalks if installed in
accordance with conditions of approval. While we agree with the intent of installing these
items early, we absolutely do not want to install them twice. It is for this reason that we
respectfully request that the Commission modify Conditions 1.1.10 and 1.1.20 as follows:
F:\ProjectManagers\DSF\10-07.030 -Selway Apartments\10.07-030 - Admin\final conditions response ltr.doc
J-U-B ENGINEERS, Inc.
ENGINEERS • SURVEYORS • PLANNERS
Regional Office
250 South Beechwood Avenue, Suite 201
Boise, ID 83709-0944
i~
~. a
~~~u B'
Engineers Surveyors Planners
Staff Report Response
Setway Apartments
September 18, 2007
Page 2
1.1.10 Provide amenities as follows: a minimum 74,782 sq. ft of open space, a 2,500 square-foot
community club house and fitness facility (Quality of Life), storage building, pool and hot
tub (Recreation), 5 foot walking trails around the perimeter of the property (Recreation),
covered picnic area with barbeques (Quality of Life), a 2,000 square foot tot tot
(Recreation) and open space (Open Space), as proposed. In addition, provide an additional
active amenity (BBQ area, horseshoe pit, etc.) in the vicinity of Building 7B. Except for
the landscaping directly around the structures, the amenity in the vicinity of BIdQ 76 and
the path system, all amenities shall be completed prior to occupancy of the third building
in the development.
1.1.20
' .Prior to obtaining any occupancy for any building,
all development improvements such as irrigation, parking and landscaping shall be
installed on that building's site. Perimeter landscaain~ shall be installed concurrently
with the buildinu site landscapinu adiacent to that aortion of the perimeter
Although these are very minor changes to the conditions as written by staff, they are of
critical importance to the developer and will literally save tens of thousands of dollars in
waste. We appreciate the Commission's careful consideration of this matter and will be at
the hearing to offer further clarification should it be necessary.
Sincerely,
J-U-B ENGINEERS, iNC.
Daren Fluke, AICP
Senior Planner
DSF/ch
F:\ProjectManagers\DSF\10-07-030 - Selway Apartments\10-07-030 - Admin\final conditions response ltr.doc