HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 1, 2003Meridian Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting
May 1, 2003
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Item 16. Public Hearing: CUP 03-018 Request for a Conditional Use Permit for
a bank with drive-thru in an I-L zone for Washington Trust Bank by Russ
Wolfe -south of East Presidential Drive and east of North Eagle Road:
Borup: Okay. Our next item is Public Hearing CUP 03-018, request for Conditional Use
Permit for a bank with adrive-thru in an I-L zone for Washington Trust Bank by Russ
Wolfe. We'd like to open this Public Hearing at this time and start with the staff report.
McKinnon: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Members of the Commission. On the overhead
we have got the subject property in bold. It's at the southeast corner of Presidential and
Eagle Road. The applicant is requesting an 11,000 square foot drive-thru bank facility.
I have had a chance to talk with the applicant. He's in agreement with the staff report as
written. I assume you have all had an opportunity to review that, but just to point out
one item that needs to be brought up is the landscaping. There were just the two small
landscaping issues that needed to be resolved. Down on the south side of the property
you can see some angular parking. That far corner -- the farthest southern -- thanks,
Bruce. There is not afive-foot buffer in that location just right there at the corner. They
had to add five feet. The applicant is in agreement with modifying the Site Plan to do
that. In addition to that, on the eastern side of the parking they have more than 12
parking spaces linearly arranged without a landscape island and the applicant has
agreed to include the landscape island there. Those comments are noted on Page 4
Item Number 6, of the staff report staff recommends approval of this project. I will turn
the time back over to the Commission for any questions you might have of us and for a
Public Hearing.
Borup: Questions from the Commission?
Centers: Mr. Chairman? All your concerns are in the staff report and your requirements
are there?
McKinnon: That's correct.
Centers: Thank you
Borup: Is the applicant here? Would they like to make any comments or a
presentation?
Wolfe: Yes. My name is Russ Wolfe of Wolfe Architectural Group and I'm here --
Borup: You might pull the mike up just a little bit closer.
Wolfe: I'm here with members of Washington Trust Bank and we do agree with Dave's
staff report. There are only a couple items -- and there was one suggestion that
signage goes through a design review. It's -- I don't really know what that process is.
We are -- and I was just hoping to get some clarification on that process. As far as the
additional landscaping, we would agree with that, and we have no problem
Meridian Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting
May 1, 2003
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implementing that into our final drawing. We have got -- you know, this parcel is a great
parcel and we look forward to moving forward in a cooperative manner and if you'd like
any comments from the owner, they are here and could fill insight in on the intent of the
project.
Borup: Well, I think we had understood that this would be the type of business going in
there and, really, the only reason you're here is because of the drive-thru.
Wolfe: Right. That's correct. I think the banking industry really pivots around those
drive-thru lanes and it's critical. It's the heart of -- the branch banking facility is just a
small portion of this project. There is -- additionally, there is nine -- you know, there will
be 11,000 square feet. The branch facility is about 3,000 square feet of the building.
There are additional functions that are going to happen out here and -- from
conferencing centers to loan centers. This will be -- you know, it serves more than just
a branch bank. This is kind of a hub out in Meridian and should be a great addition for
the community.
Borup: Questions from the Commission?
Centers: Mr. Chairman? Yes. It looks like you have plenty of stacking for the cars. I
bet you hope you need it.
Wolfe: We are trying to get a few of them to come off of Eagle Road for sure.
Centers: So, I don't think that's a problem with the drive-thru. Maybe the staff can
answer your question on the sign.
Borup: I think it said that you need to comply with the Sign Ordinance and, then,
depending on what's submitted, would be whether it needs to be subject to design
review. Is that correct?
McKinnon: That's correct.
Borup: So, if it's something that may not fall right in with the --with the Sign Ordinance,
then, it may need review. That would be determined when you submit that in.
Wolfe: Okay. You know, we fully -- you know, we will submit a full set of documents
with our signage contractor and cross that bridge when we get there.
Centers: Well, I think for my information, design review is the staff, isn't it?
McKinnon: That's correct.
Centers: So, you may be thinking, based on where you're from, that you have to go to
another board. No, you don't.
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Wolfe: Okay. That was my question. I was kind hoping you were going to say that.
That was the bulk of our questions. I think we -- you know, we agree with it and we are
ready to move forward.
Borup: Okay.
Zaremba: I would just ask out of interest, the conference room areas that you're going
to have are those for internal meetings or are they going to be available for public
meetings?
Wolfe: You know I might turn that over to a member of the bank. Dean is here and he
can probably answer that better than I can.
Oberst: Predominately it's going to be --
Borup: Name?
Oberst: Oh, I'm sorry.
Borup: Your name.
Oberst: Dean Oberst.
Borup: Name and address for the record.
Oberst: 2412 North Lark, Meridian. Predominately, it's going to be for internal
communications. We are going to have video conferencing for training in Spokane and
throughout the rest of the banking deal, but, obviously, if there is a need, it's not a
security issue, and it's during normal times, we can certainly look at allowing
opportunities for other uses of the facilities. Predominately, it's going to be video
conferencing, bringing people into one main location for training.
Zaremba: Thanks.
Borup: Thank you. Do we have anyone else here to testify on this application? Seeing
none, Commissioners?
Centers: I'd move we close the Public Hearing.
Zaremba: Second.
Borup: Motion and second to close the Public Hearing. All in favor? Any opposed?
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
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Zaremba: This has come before us because of the drive-thrus, but I think this drive-thru
is far enough away from any residential and by that configuration any speakers they
would be using would be not pointed towards the residential to the east. I don't see any
reason not to approve it.
Borup: I agree.
Centers: Mr. Chairman, I would like to recommend approval of Item 16 -- previously 16,
moved up to Item Number 5 on our agenda, which is CUP 03-018, request for
Conditional Use Permit for a bank with drive-thru in an I-L for Washington Trust Bank by
Russ Wolfe. South of East Presidential Drive and east of North Eagle Road, including
all staff comments from the memo dated May -- excuse me -- dated -- it says hearing
date May 1St, received April 25th, including all staff comments from that memo.
Zaremba: I will second that.
Borup: Motion and second. Any discussion? All in favor? Any opposed?
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES
Borup: Okay. Thank you, Mr. Wolfe. Was that fast enough for you, for your schedule?
We'd like to mention that if you have the revised plan into staff at least 10 days before
the City Council Hearing -- well, maybe you don't need ten days to review those
changes, but those shouldn't take too long to change either, All right. Thank you.
McKinnon: Mr. Chairman, Members of the Commission, since we have got a little break
here, I'd like to recognize the fact that the new Planning Director is here tonight, Anna
Powell. Those of you who haven't had a chance to --
Borup: I did notice that and I was to going to mention that. I didn't know if she was
going to participate in something coming up or not.
Powell: No. Just listening tonight.
Borup: Okay glad to have you, ma'am
Item 5. Public Hearing: PFP 03-001 Request for Preliminary /Final Plat
approval of 2 building lots on 2.46 acres in an L-O zone for Gala Park
Subdivision by Paul Aigner- 1620 Celebration Avenue:
Borup: Okay. The next item is Public Hearing PFP 03-001, request for
Preliminary/Final Plat of two building lots on 2.46 acres in an L-O zone for Gala Park
Subdivision by Paul Aigner at 1620 Celebration Avenue. We'd like to open this Public
Hearing and start with the staff report.