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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBasalite Concrete Prod.CommentsQASALITE° CONCRETE PRODUCTS -BOISE, IDAHO Mayor and Council Members City of Meridian c% City Clerk Meridian City Hall 33 E. Idaho Ave. Meridian, ID 83642. Dear Mayor and Council IViembers, August 29, 2003 RECEIVED SEP 0 2 2003 City Of Meridian City Clerk Office I am writing to you to comment about the "Mayfair Commons" residential subdivision proposed development and rezone application which was denied by the Planning and-Zoning Commission at a public-hearingabout three-weeks-ago. I attended that public hearing and presented my objections to this development and.rezone application,- I-also presented a letter which outlined the main objections - I have attached a copy with this letter to submit to the City Council and Mayor (rather than repeating those points here). I thank you for considering these comments. The Phuuring and Zoning Commission for Meridian made the correct decision in rejecting the rezone request. Basalite Concrete Products has been located at our present Meridian site since 1978. Our manufacturing processes are clearly not compatible with residential developments and the present commercial zoning designation should be preserved I do want to make one additional comment because I anticipate this argument will be presented before the Mayor and Council, There was some discussion about placing a requirement upon the developer and/or property owner to disclose to individuals who rent the apartments in this proposed complex that they aze located in an industrial azea and that-businesses may operate 24 hours and 7 days per week and furthermore that machine, truck and forklift noise could be a problem. This idea has-good intentions I'm sure; however, I do not believe it would be practical to implement or enforce. This would be a requirement-that would have to be adhered to by the owner, future owners and all tenants forever ...unless the requirement was somehow changed or deemed unenforceable by future City Councils or Courts. This idea does not protect businesses who need the flexibility to operate 24/7_ if needed to be efficient, competitive enterprises. 1300 E: FRANKLIN ROAD MERIDIAN, IDAHO 83642 (208) 888-4050 I am writing to ask the Mayor and Council members to review the attached letter which outlines our concerns about the potential harm that would occur to existing and future businesses, and the safety issues that would exist should a rezone to residential be granted. I am asking the Mayor and City Council members to protect the businesses now operating and retain the "I-L" zoning designation. Best regards, Mark Smit General Manager [3ASALITE° CONCRETE PROQUCTS BOISE, fDAHO Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission City of Meridian Meridian City Hall 33 E. Idaho Ave. Meridian, ID 83642 Attn: Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission C~p~ August 7, 2003 I would like to thank you for the opportunity to present ow conunents and concerns regarding the application of Wildwood Development, LLC, for a rewne of property for the proposed "Mayfair Commons Subdivision". Basalite Concrete Products (formerly known as Builders Masonry Products) is located at 1300 E. Franklin Road, in Meridian. We are a manufacturer of concrete products including block, brick pavers, retaining wall blocks and other landscaping products. The company has been in its Meridian manufacturing location since 1978. The company employs approximately 30 to 45 people. Ow manufacturing facility (the Plant building) is located on the north end of ow 20 acre site, right next to the railroad tracks and canal which separates our property from the proposed residential development. Depending on economic conditions which vary from year to year, ow block machines, trucks and forklifts sometimes operate several shifts and occasionally could be put in a " 24 / 7" operating mode. Concrete block machines are noisy as they cycle several time per minute. During the warmer months, generally May -September, it is necessary to keep overhead doors and windows open in the Plant. Even with most of the doors and windows closed however, the noise can be heard from outside the building. Based on ow experience with other Basalite Plant locations as well as ow knowledge of the experience of other block manufacturing plants where residential development has been allowed near the Plants we know that there is a very high probability of complaints coming from the new residences because of noise caused by the block machines, the forklifts and loading trucks. Restrictions are then often placed on the Plants limiting their ability to operate after normal business hours and weekends. These 7300 E. FRANKLIN ROAD MERIDIAN, IDAHO 83642 (208) 888-4050 types of restrictions are extremely costly to the business as efficiencies are lost and the business cannot compete effectively. The I-L zoning for this property (identified as "1125 Pine Street") is the appropriate designation and should not be changed. Several years ago we opposed another residential development (an "Assisted Living" complex) that was proposed for this same location. The Meridian Planning & Zoning Comnussion,did not approve that development as originally designed and required some significant modifications which included moving residential buildings to the north end of the parcel and building buffers such as storage buildings, landscaping and a sound wall fence on the south end. Even with these design modifications we were very concerned about getting noise complaint. That proposed Assisted Living development was never built. Residemial development should not be allowed near an industrial area. The long- term results will be complaints and, most likely, restrictions placed on the surrounding businesses limiting production capabilities. Additionally, where there are families residing there are, of course, children Industrial sites are sometimes attractive play areas for some kids who do not respect "Private Property" and "Keep Out" warning signs. Regardless of efforts to fence and secure a site, some kids will fmd a way to trespass and then there is significant danger of injury and fatalities. Maintaining the zoning designation as "I-L" will go a long way towards protecting Meridian industrial businesses (who need the operating flexibility that their sites now provide), and will certainly reduce the likelihood of children trespassing onto industrial properly and playing on or around heavy machinery and vehicles. I want to thank you again for taking the time to review this matter and for considering our comments and concerns. Best regards, 9 - Mark Smith General Manager C~Op~ 1 1 I j. Y, L ....~ 1 Tj~~. } ~- F f i /^ g ° t ~ _ `~ ~- ... ~< ~ 1 ~~ P F ; ~~ x s c Imo. ~£ I '~ i ~~ ~ 3 ~- 1 :S. i"e~ .k 1 I € ~e f r-r:rr~.nVA; r+ - __..~. „~ ] t 1 riJ ~~ "," . . ...~ z~...c: u..r ....n c.. .~ ... nin... _''** ~ ::i f `r ~ ~a.:~:i~ f f `~ . 3` __~ „ ~ ~,..z% ... 1' t~ € E """"° ° ' CHECKED 8Y DRAWN BY APPROVED 8Y.' LAST EDI i.' PLOT DATE: OS 27 03 DATE BY REV RENSIOry CKDAPP ~. T~ ~~>~ w WILDWOOD DEVELOPMENT P1NE STREET SUBDlVIS10N V/ClN/TY MAP 7" = 300' SCALE