HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002 08-20Meridian City Council Meeting August 20, 2002
The regular meeting of the Meridian City Council was called to order at 6:40 P.M., on
Tuesday, August 20, 2002, by Mayor Robert D. Corrie.
Members Present: Mayor Robert Corrie, Tammy de Weerd, Keith Bird, Cherie
McCandless, and William Nary.
Others Present: Chris Nye, Gary Smith, David McKinnon, Brad Watson, Will Berg, Ken
Bowers, and Dean Willis.
Item 1: Roll-call Attendance:
Roll call.
__X Tammy de Weerd _ X__ Bill Nary
__X Cherie McCandless __X Keith Bird
__X Mayor Robert Corrie
Corrie: I will open the Meridian City Council regular meeting, Tuesday, August the 20th
,
at 6:40. Sorry for the delay. I want to welcome everyone here this evening and thank
you for coming. Council, we will have roll call attendance, please, Mr. Berg.
Item 2: Adoption of the Agenda:
Corrie: Number 2 item is adoption of the agenda. Is there any changes at this point?
Bird: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I would move that we approve the adoption of the agenda as published.
Corrie: Okay.
McCandless: Second.
Corrie: Okay. Motion has been made and seconded. Any further discussion? All
those in favor of the motion say aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 3: Consent Agenda:
A. Approve minutes from July 23, 2002 City Council Regular Meeting:
B. Approve minutes from August 6, 2002 City Council Special Meeting:
C. Approve minutes from August 6, 2002 City Council Regular Meeting:
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 2 of 41
D. Approve minutes from August 13, 2002 City Council Special Meeting:
F. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law for Approval: AZ 02-012
Request for annexation and zoning of 2.02 acres from RUT to R-4
zones by Jerald S. Frank – 2310 South Locust Grove Road:
G. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law for Denial: RZ 02-001
Request for a rezone of .97 acres from L-O to C-G zones for Lot 3
Block 2 of Amended Magic View Subdivision for a Subway sandwich
shop by Blaine and Cynthia Jacobson – northeast corner of East
Magic View Drive and South Allen Street:
H. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law for Approval: CUP 02-
016 Request for a Conditional Use Permit for an 11, 700 square foot
multi-tenant flex space office / warehouse building by Falash & Ross
Construction, Inc. – 150 S. Adkins Way, Lot 5 Block 2, Medimont
Subdivision, northwest corner of E. Franklin Road and S. Locust Grove
Road:
I. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law for Approval: CUP 02-
017 Request for a Conditional Use Permit for an 11, 700 square foot
multi-tenant flex space office / warehouse building by Falash & Ross
Construction, Inc. – Lot 10 Block 2, Medimont Subdivision, northwest
corner of E. Franklin Road and S. Locust Grove Road:
J. Development Agreement: RZ 00-010 Request to rezone 8.88 acres
from an R-4 zone to an L-O zone for proposed St. Alphonsus
Regional Medical Center Ambulatory Care Center by BRS
Architects – southeast corner of Cherry Lane and Ten Mile Road:
K. Development Agreement: AZ 01-002 Request for Annexation and
Zoning of 11.764 acres from RT to R-40 and C-G for proposed Locust
Grove Place by L.C. Development, Inc. – west side of Locust Grove
Road, south of Fairview Avenue:
L. Water Main Easement, Sundance Investments – Sunstone
Building in Silverstone Subdivision:
M. Contract for Reimbursement by Kevin Howell for sewer services
off the White Drain Trunk through Cedar Springs Subdivision:
Corrie: Item 3 is the Consent Agenda. Are there any items we wish pull off on the
Consent Agenda, A through M?
Bird: Mr. Mayor?
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 3 of 41
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I would move that we pull Item E, Order Granting Appeal for Walt Morrow, to Item
5-E on the Regular Agenda and with that change I would move that we approve the
Consent Agenda as published.
Nary: Second.
Corrie: Okay. Motion has been made and seconded to approve the Consent Agenda
with E being removed to go to Item Number 5. And any further discussion? Hearing
none, roll-call vote, Mr. Berg.
Roll call vote: McCandless, aye; Nary, aye; DeWeerd, aye; Bird, aye.
Corrie: All ayes. Motion is carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 4: Department Reports:
A. Public Works Department:
1. Award of Meridian High School Main Line Project:
Corrie: Item Number 4, Department Reports, Public Works. Gary Smith.
Smith: Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Council Members. The item we have tonight is an
award of the Meridian High School Main Line Water Project. Four requests for price
were solicited and three construction firms responded. The low bidder was Star
Construction and they have done several projects for us in the past and have done a
good job for us. We would recommend that the Council award this contract for the
Meridian High School Main Line Project to start construction in the amount of 18,972
dollars, authorize the Mayor to sign and the City Clerk to attest the agreement.
Corrie: Okay. Council, any discussion?
Bird: I have none.
Corrie: Okay. Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion on the request.
McCandless: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mrs. McCandless.
McCandless: I move that we award the contract for Meridian High School Main Line
Project to Star Construction in the amount of 18,972 dollars, authorize the Mayor to sign
and the Clerk to attest.
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 4 of 41
Nary: Second.
Corrie: Okay. Motion has been made and seconded to have Star Construction for
18,972 dollars award of the bid. Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll-call vote,
Mr. Berg.
Roll call vote: McCandless, aye; Nary, aye; DeWeerd, aye; Bird, aye.
Corrie: Okay. All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Smith: Thank you, Mayor and thank you --
Item 5: (Items Moved from Consent Agenda)
E. Tabled from August 6, 2002: Order Granting Appeal: AP 01-
002 Stop Work Order at 2340 West Franklin Road by Walt
Morrow:
Corrie: Thank you, Gary. Item Number 5 has been moved from the Consent Agenda,
Item E, which is the Stop Work Order at 2340 West Franklin Road by Walt Morrow.
Council, you got a letter of memorandum from the attorney in reference to the specific
issues raised. Paragraph 2 on Page 4 of the order, the building shall only be used for
storage and loafing area for cattle and any expansion or use of this building will require
a Conditional Use Permit. Mr. Morrow requested that Paragraph 2 should read, this
building could only be used for storage and a loafing area for cattle -- and you have two
other alternatives there, so I will -- discussion, Council. Walt, are we doing that -- is that
what -- okay.
Bird: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: The computer is smarter than me. I knocked my computer down, so I can't read
the letters, but the way that the motion and everything read is what is on Page 4,
Paragraph 2, when we appealed that it should read, the building should be only used
for storage and loafing area for cattle. Any expansion or use of this building for
anything other than what is allowed under our current I-L zoning is prohibited, unless
appropriate application is made to and approved by the city. That instead of having the
way it was -- the way it did read was the building shall only be used for storage and
loafing areas of cattle. Any expansion of the use of this building will require a
Conditional Use Permit. That's not -- that's not what the appeal or minutes say, so I
would state that in the findings that paragraph that I read first would be inserted at Page
4, Paragraph 2.
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 5 of 41
De Weerd: Was that a motion?
Bird: That's a motion.
De Weerd: Second.
Corrie: Okay. Motion has been made and seconded. Is there any further discussion?
Okay. Roll call vote, Mr. Berg.
Roll call vote: McCandless, aye; Nary, aye; DeWeerd, aye; Bird, aye.
Corrie: Okay. All ayes.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 6: Ordinance No. : RZ 00-010 Request to rezone
8.88 acres from an R-4 zone to an L-O zone for proposed St. Alphonsus
Regional Medical Center Ambulatory Care Center by BRS Architects –
southeast corner of Cherry Lane and Ten Mile Road:
Corrie: All right. Well, we got it done now, so -- Item Number 6. Ordinance -- number,
please. 02-970. This is a request to rezone 8.88 acres from an R-4 zone to an L-O
zone for proposed St. Alphonsus Medical Center and Ambulatory Care Center. At this
time I would like to have the City Clerk read Ordinance Number 02-970 by title only.
Berg: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council. Ordinance Number 02-970, an
ordinance finding that St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center is the owner of certain
real property and has made a written request for rezone in the zoning classification for
real property at the southeast corner of Ten Mile Road and Cherry Lane, Meridian,
Idaho, that lies within the boundaries of the City of Meridian, from R-4, low density
residential zoning district to L-O, Limited Office District, as defined under Meridian City
Code 11-7-2(G), repealing all ordinances, resolutions, orders and parts thereof in
conflict herewith, and directing the city engineer to add said rezoning designation to the
official maps of the City of Meridian, Idaho.
Corrie: Okay. You have heard the reading of Ordinance Number 02-970 by title only. Is
there anyone who requests to have the ordinance read in its entirety? Hearing none, I
will entertain a motion on Ordinance Number 02-970.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: I move we approve Ordinance 02-970, request to rezone 8.88 acres from
an R-4 zone to an L-O zone for the proposed St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center
Ambulatory Care and ask the Mayor to sign and the Clerk to attest, with suspension of
rules pursuant to state code.
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 6 of 41
Bird: Second.
Corrie: Okay. Motion has been made and seconded to approve Ordinance Number 02-
970 with suspension of rules. Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call vote.
Roll call vote: McCandless, aye; Nary, aye; DeWeerd, aye; Bird, aye.
Corrie: All ayes. Ordinance Number 02-970 is approved.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 7: Ordinance No. : AZ 02-005 Request for
annexation and zoning of 196.20 acres from RT to R-4 zones for
proposed Tuscany Lakes Subdivision by Gem Park II Partnership –
west of South Eagle Road and south of East Victory Road:
Corrie: Item Number 7 is Ordinance Number 02-971. This is a request for annexation
and zoning of 196.20 acres from RT to R-4 zone for proposed Tuscany Lakes
Subdivision by Gem Park II Partnership, west of South Eagle Road and south of East
Victory Road. At this time I would like to have the City Clerk read Ordinance Number
02-971 by title only.
Berg: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council. Ordinance Number 02-971, an
ordinance finding that said land to be known as Tuscany Lakes Subdivision, located
west of South Eagle Road and south of East Victory Road and which lies contiguous
and adjacent to the city limits of the City of Meridian, County of Ada, State of Idaho, and
finding that the owner Marty Goldsmith, Walter Sigmont, and Raymond Smith, Jean and
Richard Bernett Family Trust, which persons make up Farwest, LLC, and has made a
request for annexation in writing to the Council and that said land be annexed to the
City of Meridian with zoning designated Low Density Residential District (R-4), and
declaring that said land by proper legal description as described below be a part of the
City of Meridian, County of Ada, State of Idaho, repealing all ordinances, resolutions,
orders or parts thereof in conflict herewith and directing the city engineer to add said
property to the official maps of the City of Meridian, Idaho, and directing the Clerk of the
City of Meridian to file a certified copy of the ordinance and map of the areas to be
annexed with the Ada County recorder, auditor, treasurer and assessor and the State
Tax Commission of the State of Idaho, pursuant to Idaho Code Section 50-223 and
Section 63-2215.
Corrie: You have heard the reading of Ordinance Number 02-971. Is there anyone that
would like to have it read in its entirety? Okay. I'll entertain a motion on the Ordinance
02-971.
Nary: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mr. Nary.
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 7 of 41
Nary: I would move the approval of Ordinance 02-971, the request for annexation and
zoning of 196.2 acres from an RT to an R-4 zone for proposed Tuscany Lakes
Subdivision by Gem Park II Partnership, west of South Eagle Road and south of East
Victory Road, and for suspension of rules pursuant to the Idaho Code.
Bird: Second.
Corrie: Motion has been made and seconded. Is there any further discussion?
Hearing none, roll call vote, Mr. Berg.
Roll call vote: McCandless, aye; Nary, aye; DeWeerd, aye; Bird, aye.
Corrie: All ayes. Motion for the Ordinance Number 02-971 is approved.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 8: Ordinance No. : AZ 01-002 Request for
Annexation and Zoning of 11.764 acres from RT to R-40 and C-G for
proposed Locust Grove Place by L.C. Development, Inc. – west side of
Locust Grove Road, south of Fairview Avenue:
Corrie: Item Number 8 is Ordinance Number 02-972. This is a request for annexation
and zoning of 11.764 acres from RT to R-4 and C-G for proposed Locust Grove Place
by LC Development, Inc., west side of Locust Grove Road, south of Fairview Avenue.
At this time I would like to have Ordinance Number 02-972 read by title only by the City
Clerk.
Berg: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council. Ordinance Number 02-972, an
ordinance finding that said land to be known as Locust Grove Place, the location of
which lies contiguous and adjacent to the city limits of the City of Meridian, County of
Ada, State of Idaho, and finding that the owner LC Development, Inc., has made a
request for annexation in writing to the Council and that said land be annexed to the
City of Meridian and zoning designated High Density Residential District (R-40) and
Community Business District (C-C), and declaring that said land by proper legal
description as described below be a part of the City of Meridian, County of Ada, State of
Idaho, repealing all ordinances, resolutions, orders or parts thereof in conflict herewith
and directing the city engineer to add said property to the official maps of the City of
Meridian, Idaho, and directing the Clerk of the City of Meridian to file a certified copy of
the ordinance and map of the areas to be annexed with the Ada County recorder,
auditor, treasurer and assessor and the State Tax Commission of the State of Idaho,
pursuant to Idaho Code Section 50-223 and Section 63-2215.
Corrie: Okay. You have heard the reading of Ordinance Number 02-972. Anyone wish
to have it read in its entirety? I'll entertain a motion on the order 02-972.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor?
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 8 of 41
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: I move we approved Ordinance Number 02-972, request for annexation
and zoning of 11.764 acres from RT to R-40 and C-G for the proposed Locust Grove
Place by L.C. Development, Inc., and for the Mayor to sign and the Clerk attest, with
suspension of rules, pursuant to Idaho state code.
Bird: Second.
Corrie: Motion has been made and seconded to approve Ordinance Number 02-972
with suspension of rules. Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call vote, please.
Roll call vote: McCandless, aye; Nary, aye; DeWeerd, aye; Bird, aye.
Corrie: All ayes. Motion on Ordinance 02-972 is approved.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 9: Public Hearing: Property Exchange with Farmers & Merchants State
Bank:
Corrie: Item Number 9 is a Public Hearing. This is a property exchange with Farmers
and Merchants State Bank and the City of Meridian. At this time I will open the Public
Hearing and invite staff -- any comments? Okay. So the general public would know
what happened here. We are having a Public Hearing on an exchange of the old fire
station property for three other properties in the amount of 260,000 and having a Public
Hearing on that. Next would be the bank if you have anything that you want to say.
Thank you. Is there anyone from the public that would like to have testimony on this
request for exchange? Okay. Council, any discussion?
Bird: I have none.
Corrie: Hearing no Public Hearing on the matter I will -- I'm sorry.
Berg: Mr. Mayor, just a comment to the public, just so they will know. This property
exchange also deals with a cash settlement also for the balance of the value of the
properties that we are exchanging. It isn't an exact exchange of property, but it also has
a cash sum to it.
Corrie: Okay.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: I believe that this is in the best interest of the city. The current property that
we are exchanging for the three lots is not in a place that the city can do any business
with it. It's really not of value to the city at this point or any anticipated future use. The
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 9 of 41
current property that we are exchanging them for will really benefit our community with
their location next to our old police station and I think it's in the best interest of the city to
move forward with it. I guess with that said I would move that we close the Public
Hearing.
Bird: I second.
Corrie: Okay. Motion has been made and seconded to close the Public Hearing.
Further discussion? All those in favor say aye.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Corrie: Okay. Public Hearing is closed. I will entertain a motion for a resolution to
authorize the Mayor to sign and the City Clerk to attest to the proposed exchange and
the exchange agreement.
Bird: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I would move that we enter into an exchange agreement with the Farmers and
Merchants State Bank for the fire station property located a 716 North Meridian Road,
Meridian, Idaho. For three lots in the original town site of Meridian at 221 East Idaho
Avenue, 223 East Idaho Avenue and 237 East Idaho Avenue, exchange titles, and the
bank will pay the City of Meridian an extra 22,269 dollars and for the Mayor to sign and
the Clerk to attest.
De Weerd: Second.
Corrie: Okay. Motion has been made and seconded. Any further discussion? Hearing
none, roll call vote, Mr. Berg.
Roll call vote: McCandless, aye; Nary, aye; DeWeerd, aye; Bird, aye.
Corrie: All ayes. Motion is carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 10: FP 02-017 Request for Final Plat approval of 4 building lots and 1 other
lot on 20.01 acres in a C-G zone for Willey Subdivision by Roylance &
Associates P.A. – 3710 East Franklin Road:
Corrie: Thank you. Item Number 10 is a request for Final Plat approval of four building
lots and one other lot on 20.01 acres in the C-G zone for Wiley Subdivision by Roylance
& Associates, P.A, 3710 East Franklin Road. Staff.
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 10 of 41
McKinnon: Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council, this property is located at essentially
the 20 acres where the R.C. Willey property sits right now on the corner of Franklin and
Eagle Road. The applicant submitted a final plat that's in conformance with the
preliminary plat, as approved on May 7th
and adopted -- and with the Findings of Facts
and Conclusions of Law that were adopted on the 21st
of May of this year. The
applicant has requested one minor modification on this final plat that was not requested
on the preliminary plat. If you can open up your staff report to Page 3. In the
recommendation there are two separate options for you to adopt this night concerning
the sidewalk on Eagle Road. The applicant has requested that instead of installing the
sidewalk on Eagle Road -- it's Eagle Road -- on Eagle Road at this time, they would ask
that they be able to bond for the improvements on Eagle Road until such time that
ACHD can arrange for the design of the sidewalk from Eagle Road to Lanark Street.
Instead of putting something in that does not match ACHD's design, they be allowed to
match something that ACHD would put in. I have given two options to you that would
be recommendation 7-A or 7-B. Staff is okay with the adoption of either of the options.
Option A gives until 2004 -- the final day of 2004 to install the sidewalk and to bond for
that, and 7-B states that they should install it at time prior to the applying for a building
permit for this property. With that I would ask if there is any questions.
Corrie: Any questions of staff?
Nary: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mr. Nary.
Nary: Dave, I notice that the bond amount is 120 percent and I guess I'm used to
seeing 110.
McKinnon: Our ordinance allows for either 110 percent with a letter of credit or 120
percent with a bond and I probably should have clarified that to match exactly with the
ordinance.
Nary: Because is there a reason for one -- I guess it needs to say either 110 --
McKinnon: 110 or 120 percent.
Nary: -- with a bond or 120 with a letter of credit. Okay. Thank you.
Corrie: Is the applicant here? Give your name and address, please.
Rennison: Mayor, Council Members, my name is John Rennison with Roylance &
Associates, 391 West State Street in Eagle. Just to add a little bit of clarification there,
what we became aware of since the Preliminary Plat is that ACHD, in fact, has design
plans for the sidewalk to -- I guess it goes all the way up Franklin Road there on the
bottom of the page east-west. Then it turns and goes north along -- parallel to Eagle
Road, obviously, all the way up to Lanark Street there. They already have plans, so we
just kind of become aware of this, they are supposedly 75 percent complete, which
actually called for a sidewalk. It's on their plans, so if they want to build that, that's -- we
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 11 of 41
would be okay with that. Furthermore, just to -- not to complicate things here, but to
clarify the request. Since ACHD does have plans in place and as far as I'm aware and
we are aware, intend to build this thing in 2004, that we would also request that
consideration be given to bond for the improvements for that additional sidewalk from --
just from Lanark Street to the north property line, as opposed to the entire length of the
Eagle Road right of way. That's all I have at this time.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: Have you seen those plans? Are they planning for a detached or an
attached sidewalk?
Rennison: I believe that, if memory serves me right, I have seen the plans and if
memory serves me right it is an attached.
De Weerd: Who would want to walk on a sidewalk --
Rennison: Very good question.
De Weerd: -- in that area? I just don't get it. Is there something that our staff can look
into, perhaps? Would you be amenable to a detached sidewalk? I mean probably
paying the same thing. There would be a right of way issue or -- but would you be
willing to work with that?
Rennison: Absolutely.
De Weerd: Good answer. I appreciate that.
Rennison: In our opinion, yes, we would much rather -- my personal opinion I'd much
rather walk on a detached sidewalk, if I was going to walk on that road right of way.
De Weerd: It just makes sense there.
Rennison: I would probably pick an alternate route to begin with, but if I had to walk on
it, detached would be the much preferred option. Again, in ACHD's plans that we saw, I
believe if memory does serve me right. They were stamped 75 complete, which is -- I
think there is a few items to be worked out with that design that I'm not real privy to, but
who knows, there could be some opportunity for that sidewalk to become detached on
their plans as well.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: I guess if staff could contact ACHD regarding that and depending on the
answer it might be an item for discussion at our next joint meeting.
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 12 of 41
Corrie: Maybe we'll get good results this time.
McKinnon: Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council, could I ask a question of the applicant?
Corrie: Sure.
McKinnon: John, up in the -- I guess it would be the southwest corner of the property
we have some elevation that drops off rather rapidly, don't we, into the site? The
southeast corner of Eagle and Franklin?
Rennison: The southeast corner or southwest --
McKinnon: Southwest corner. Thanks. Southwest corner. Doesn't the elevation drop
pretty rapidly towards the northeast?
Rennison: That is correct.
McKinnon: And so that might be part of the reason that they are going with the
attached, rather than the detached.
Rennison: That could be. That could certainly have a -- play a role in their design.
However, I couldn't say one way or another if that dictates their design or not.
McKinnon: Thank you.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor, I guess one further question.
Corrie: John, I guess -- sorry.
De Weerd: You want to bond or do a letter of credit?
Rennison: In the past I guess R.C. Willey has chosen to write a letter of credit to the --
to the city. I would suspect at this time that they would prefer to go that same route as
what they have for the Evans Drain, for instance. If it's possible to leave it open to
either bond or provide a letter of credit, that would be --
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you.
Corrie: Any further discussion? Okay. I'll entertain a request for Final Plat approval.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: I move we approve the request for Final Plat of four building lots and one
other lot on 20.01 acres in a C-G zone for Willey Subdivision, to note in staff
recommendation that -- to reflect the comments on development of a sidewalk to be a
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 13 of 41
detached sidewalk and to ask the attorney to draw up Findings of Facts and
Conclusions of Law and Division of Order. That's it.
Bird: Second.
Corrie: Okay. You have heard the motion for the request for Final Plat on Willey
Subdivision. Further discussion? Hearing none, roll call vote, Mr. Berg.
Roll call vote: McCandless, aye; Nary, aye; DeWeerd, aye; Bird, aye.
Corrie: All ayes. Motion is approved.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 11: Public Hearing: MI 02-006 Request for an Amendment to the Area of
Impact by Capital Development (Bristol Heights) – southeast corner of
Chinden Boulevard and North Locust Grove Road:
Corrie: I apologize to the audience. Our picture screen is kind of fading. We have to
buy a new bulb. It's on order, so -- we found out the cost of a new bulb and a machine.
The bulb is 500 dollars and the machine is 7,000. He's going to take it out of his
budget. That's what we were discussing. I apologize for the poor quality of that, but
hopefully there will be a new bulb in there. Item Number 11 is a Public Hearing. This is
a request for an amendment to the area of impact by Capital Development, Bristol
Heights, southeast corner of Chinden Boulevard and North Locust Grove Road. At this
time I will open the Public Hearing and on the -- first hear from staff.
McKinnon: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council. You have heard this item
before, so I'll keep it brief. We are talking about the 9.25 acres just south of Chinden
Boulevard and east of Locust Grove highlighted on the map in front of you. The
property has requested to be placed in the City of Boise's area of impact and removed
from the City of Meridian's area of impact. The City of Meridian Planning and Zoning
and Public Works staff agree with the applicant that this property should be moved to
the City of Boise. In order to service this area with gravity sewer three to four feet of fill
would have to be placed on the property to elevate the property to be within the City of
Meridian's service plan. Gary, do you have any comments?
Smith: No.
McKinnon: With that I'd just say that this is supported by staff and we'd ask if there are
any questions.
Corrie: Questions?
Bird: I have none.
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 14 of 41
Corrie: Okay. Is the applicant here or representative here tonight? Okay. Is there
anyone here that would like to issue testimony on this exchange of amendment to the
area of impact? Okay.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: I guess I have a question regarding the process for this. We just adopted a
new land use map. This is one amendment, we know of two more coming down the
way. Why are we doing this one at a time? Why don't -- I thought when we talked
about the land use map and the process to amend, at that time we wanted to see these
all together. Why are we not seeing them all together?
Corrie: Well, I think one would be a timing element here. Not everybody has asked to
do it and has adopted a procedure. This is one that has been on the request for quite
sometime by Mr. Yorgason and we have another one that's coming through where this
is the first time we have had a chance to really know what we are doing as far as
changing area of impact and we are finding out how the procedure goes. If we want to
change the area of impact with Boise, we have to initiate it, and the other is Boise
needs to be initiate theirs to get back to the City of Meridian. I suppose mainly is a
timing schedule.
De Weerd: But these all should go together to Ada County at the same time and isn't
there something in the land use law by state you can only change your map every six
months? Does this -- does this stall the applications, then, for the Moore property and
the Caven property? Again, I guess that's why I thought we would see all of these at
the same time. We have been talking about all of these at the same time and how this
one got on Planning and Zoning last week and ours this week where the other ones
have a process, they are going through. I guess I would like to see fair and equitable
and the same treatment for all of these and that's why I have a concern here.
McKinnon: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Member of the Council. If I could just comment. I
agree with you, Tammy that we need to be fair and equitable on this. As far as terms of
legal matters as to how this changes the map and whether or not this is a land use map
change, the future land use map change, you're book ended by two attorneys on either
side of you that might be better asked that same question. My understanding is that
removing an item or a piece of property from the area of impact does not make -- is not
a change to the comprehensive plan map, it's a removal from the area of impact, which
is a separate issue. It would not be considered a change to the Comprehensive Plan.
At this time the one that was just adopted, that was approved, by the Commission back
in December and if it were we would be the six-month time frame out, but my
understanding is this is not a change to the Comprehensive Plan, but a change to the
area of impact.
De Weerd: Okay.
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 15 of 41
Corrie: Any other questions? Mr. Berg.
Berg: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council, just to make a couple comments.
We are talking about three parcels together, but yet they are separate situations. The
Winston Moore property, it is coming into our area of impact, so it's kind of a reverse roll
that it will be talked about at the County and then we will accept it. All of these three
are, hopefully, to be at one meeting at the County for all three projects. That's the way
the County wants to handle it and that's how we are proceeding. The other I think is a
timing issue that the instructions would be Caven -- or, excuse me, with the Capital
Development project was to rush it through, because it was implied or thought that we
had already done that at a meeting about a year ago and I guess we did not follow
proper procedures, so it was rushed through. Then I guess the applicant for the other
came in and doing the timing of getting it noticed, you know, the 15 days prior to the
meeting, I'm just following the instructions.
Nary: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mr. Nary.
Nary: I think the whole process -- maybe it's been a learning process for all of us, staff
included, and I think that probably what is necessary for the future, because see Mr.
Smith's memo tonight is another similar request to -- by an individual and Mr. Grove had
given his testimony about that property and I guess it's the same kind of thing, but I
think Mr. Berg's right, the property from Mr. Moore is asked to be placed in our area of
impact and has to be approved by the City of Boise first, it's their area of impact. This
one should have been done first here, then with Boise, but I think Boise's already
approved this. It's just because there was some misunderstanding of when it was
accomplished. And the other one -- actually, Mr. Caven's property is the one that
appears to be done properly and the process is the way it should be. This is just an
error and a misunderstanding and miscommunication about how it gets done. I think it's
all on track and there isn't an issue about the change in the land use map, so --
De Weerd: But we will meet on all three in one week. The three different meetings or --
yes.
Corrie: We hope to. I don't guarantee it.
Berg: Excuse me, Mr. Mayor. I was just inquiring if you had gotten the
recommendations from the Planning and Zoning Commission on this item? There is a
cover letter from the attorney and then a one-page recommendation, just so it's a matter
of record.
Corrie: Oh. I'm sorry. Okay.
Nary: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mr. Nary.
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 16 of 41
Nary: Just one other thing, really, for the record and I brought this up to Mr. Smith
previously and I think this application, as well as the inquiry regarding this Dunbar
Estates Subdivision really goes to the issue that I guess has been before both our city,
as well as the City of Boise, is that all along the area of impact boundary this issue is
probably the most prevalent thing that we are going to see, whether it's serviceable by
our sewer or by Boise's sewer, and what I think needs to be done and, as I said. I
proposed this to Mr. Smith earlier, that there be some discussion between both our
Public Works staff, as well as the Boise Public Works staff, to see whether or not some
of these issues can be clarified by both our Council, as well as Boise's Council, so that
we aren't going to piecemeal this all the way down the line. We are going to have some
clear cut view of what can be serviced and whether the impact boundary needs to
change anywhere down this line from a serviceability standpoint. There may be other
issues, planning, ownership, other things that may come into play, but at least this we
won't have to revisit every single time and that's something I think Mr. Smith has in the
priority things to do and something that I think we'll see get accomplished here, so I
think that will clear a lot of this up.
Corrie: That was one of the main reasons that we have the area of impact given, so
that the drainage and the sewer, gravity flow, and this just happened to be one that it
worked the wrong way that we thought after the fact. The rest of it we can make sure
we can do it right. That's correct. Any other questions? Discussions?
Bird: I have none.
Corrie: Okay. I'll entertain a motion, then, to close the Public Hearing on the request
for annexation of Bristol Heights.
Bird: So moved.
Nary: Second.
Corrie: Motion has been made and seconded to close the Public Hearing. All those in
favor say aye. All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Corrie: All right. Any further discussion on the request?
Bird: I have none.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: I just -- a further statement, I guess. I have no problem with it, but I would
prefer to see them all come through at the same time and so I still -- I don't need to say
anything more.
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 17 of 41
Corrie: I think we all agree with that. That's not a problem. A crystal ball may make the
change for us, but I hope not. Okay. Any other discussion? I will entertain a motion,
then, for the request for an amendment to the area of impact for Capital Development.
Nary: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Nary.
Nary: I move we approve the request for an amendment to the area of impact by
Capital Development of Bristol Heights, southeast corner of Chinden Boulevard and
North Locust Grove and for counsel to prepare Findings of Facts and Conclusions of
Law and Decision and Order. I guess I'm not sure from the information on whether an
ordinance is necessary to amend the area of impact or a resolution. I don't know if it's -
- if we simply need to do a resolution and then county would do an ordinance to amend
it. To prepare an ordinance that amends the area of impact as well.
McCandless: Second.
Corrie: Okay. Motion has been made and seconded. Any further discussion? Hearing
none, roll call vote, Mr. Berg.
Roll call vote: McCandless, aye; Nary, aye; DeWeerd, aye; Bird, aye.
Corrie: All. Okay ayes. Motion is approved.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 12: Public Hearing: CUP 02-013 Request for a Conditional Use Permit for
four 4-plex units on 1.08 acres in an L-O zone on Lots 4 and 5, Block 2 of
Scottsdale Subdivision by C.W. Construction, Inc. – West Alden Drive,
at the southwest corner of West Franklin Road and SW 7th
Avenue:
Corrie: Item Number 12 is a Public Hearing. This is a request for a Conditional Use
Permit for a four 4-plex unit on 1.08 acres in an L-O zone on Lots 4 and 5, Block 2, of
Scottsdale Subdivision by C.W. Construction, Inc., west of Alden Drive at the southwest
corner of West Franklin Road and SW 7th
Avenue. At this time I will open the Public
Hearing and invite staff's comments first.
McKinnon: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council. If I could direct your
attention to the overhead that you have in front of you. The highlighted area is the
subject area for the four four-plexes for a total of 16 apartment units. The property is
located one block south of the Dreamland Day-Care Center. That's the very obvious
day-care center with the castle turrets on Franklin Road. The site, as you can see, is a
vacant lot right now. Just to the east of the property, there is some four-plexes. There
are a number of other apartment units as well, including an eight-plex. As you can see
from this photo, you can see Dreamland Day-Care Center to the north of this project.
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 18 of 41
On this photo, if you can look at the lower -- I guess the lower half of the photo you can
see that there is an asphalted area, that's the darker area, and that will be something
that the applicant has proposed to use for a driveway for parking for the project. This
asphalted area is actually an asphalted drive where a sewer line comes through. This
is, actually, a common lot owned by the homeowner's association and the applicant has
received approval from the homeowners association to use the asphalted area as a
driveway for their parking lot on the north side of their building. As you can tell and as
the Mayor apologized for the lighting of the projection, it's coming out very lightly, but
this is a -- this is two four-plexes on each lot. As you can see, the buildings are set
back approximately 30 feet from the fence line adjacent to the single-family homes
there on -- it would be the top of this photo, which would actually be to the west. The
four-plex units would be two-story units and the Planning and Zoning Commission has
made a recommendation that those units not be allowed to have any balconies on the
second floor. In addition to that, they have allowed only two windows on the sides of
the structures that face towards the homes to keep the privacy of these -- of the people
who live in the single-family homes to the west. If this came out a little bit clearer you
could tell that the buildings are actually oriented towards the center of the project and
the buildings face towards -- the side of the building that -- or the elevation that faces
towards the single-family homes are the sides that have only one window. That window
is a kitchen window. The project has its amenities, half court basketball facility that will
not be lighted at night, in addition to some picnic areas and at least 10 percent open
space. The calculations are provided within the staff report for that. With that I'd ask if
there is any questions and turn the time back over to you.
Corrie: Any questions from Council?
Bird: I have none, Mayor.
Corrie: All right. This is a Public Hearing. Is there anyone from the public that would
like to issue testimony on this? Just request that you limit it to three minutes, so --
McCarthy: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Corrie: Is the testimony you're about to give the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth, so help you God?
McCarthy: It is.
Corrie: Name and address, please, for the record.
McCarthy: My name is Mike McCarthy. We own 250 South Outfield, which is -- if you
look at the chart, the top corner right there, we are pretty much right behind the first
building. Okay. Could you go to the picture that shows the field?
Corrie: Can you hang on just a second? Is the applicant here tonight? I got us out of
order. I'll hear yours after we hear his.
McCarthy: All right.
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 19 of 41
Corrie: We need to hear what he has to say. I apologize. Is the testimony you're about
to give the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Breinholt: Yes.
Corrie: Name and address, please.
Breinholt: My name is Richard Breinholt. I am the owner of the application. I
appreciate the time to visit this application. The staff presented our project fairly well.
The only thing I would add to their comments is that through the hearings we have also
put in the recommendations that all of the lighting will be down shielded. I would point
out also along the back property line, which is where all the single-family residences
are. There is a 20-foot privacy buffer, which was put into the subdivision. That buffer
has been spec'd out with higher than normal density of trees and landscaping, not to be
encroached in by the buildings and so on to protect the privacy of those people and
that's a fair size amount of our land that we are dedicating to that privacy. Also, the
developer put in a new fence all along the backside of that to help appease that issue.
We have gone to a great expense in reorienting the buildings, eliminating balconies,
and so on to also protect the privacy of that issue. We feel like this an appropriate
project. It is within the proper zoning. It's in like use. There is -- along the other side of
the subdivision the four-plexes, which are adjacent to it, and my understanding is that
there is also more four-plexes being proposed on those locations, too. Without going
into any further extent, I just would like the City Council to recognize the efforts, which
we have gone to to protect the privacy and the neighborhood issues that, might be
considered. Do you have any questions of me?
Bird: I have none.
Corrie: Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much. Okay. Since you were sworn before,
just give your name and address for the record.
McCarthy: Mike McCarthy, 250 South Outfield is the property we own. Before we
purchased our home just a little over two years ago we made a phone call to the city
and Planning and Zoning informed us that the lots -- vacant lots behind us were zoned
L-O, which they currently are today, and we were told they were to be like professional
office buildings with a brief explanation of what was going to be back there. As a result
of that, we did purchase our home and have enjoyed it quite a bit over the past two
years. We have helped our backyard flourish into what it is today and we do enjoy our
outdoor garden hobby. I know the residents that are my neighbors also feel -- and we
are also in a single-story neighbor. We were not allowed to have any two-story homes
in that area. Now we are faced with two story four-plexes behind us and I know the
construction company has eliminated the balconies, which is a help. However, we still
feel that when we enter our backyards we will be in more or less a fish bowl. The buffer
zone of 20 feet, which can be seen in the pictures here actually towards back. I know
it's hard to see. There are existing trees in place, they are fir trees, and most of them
cannot be seen above the fence. They offer very little privacy. The kitchen windows
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 20 of 41
that we are talking about up above, I know as you stand in a kitchen window you're
pretty much bored doing dishes or getting a drink of water, you look outside, what are
you going to be looking at. You will be looking right in our backyards. We will always
be looking over our shoulders. Yes, there are other four-plexes and other apartments in
the immediate area. They are away from our house and none of them, not one
building, backs up to a single-story or even a two-story residence. They all go to
commercial property. Every one of them. Most of them back up to the Acorn
Apartments -- or Acorn Storage buildings. We are also concerned about additional
noise. Again, we are only 20 feet away, our fence line, and a commercial office, as an
example, would probably shut down by 6:00 in the evening and the noise would go
away, such as a doctor's office. This is about the time most of these residences will be
returning home and that noises will start. Of course, there is no control over something
like that. In conclusion, I really just want to say that our feelings are that apartments are
probably not in the best interest of the neighborhood or the city and we hope that you
kind of side with us on this. Thank you for your time.
Corrie: Thank you, Mike. Any questions of -- is it David and Joe Bingham? Beamon?
Okay. Both of you wanted to speak? Okay. Mike. Or David. Excuse me. Is the
testimony you're about to give the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so
help you God?
Beamon: Yes.
Corrie: Okay.
Beamon: David Beamon, 226 South Outfield Way. Like my neighbor said, when we
purchased our house we were told that it was zoned for L-O, light office space, so we
thought it would be like an insurance, you know, building or something like that,
something that would shut down in the evenings. With knowing that we went ahead
and purchased our house and we were really, surprised to hear they wanted to build a
four-plex behind our house, being told what we were told in the beginning. So -- and
we went to the public Planning and Zoning and we told them about our privacy issue
and to get to the point, I don't really have too big a problem with it anymore. The main
thing is like the trees that they have back there they barely stick up above the fence.
We are wondering if there is additional landscaping that's going to be put back there or
what -- how big these things are going to be, how much privacy are they going to be
able to provide. Right now there really isn't much back there. The trees that are there
are about 40 feet apart and they are only about five feet tall. That's one question that I
have.
Corrie: Questions?
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: I guess just a clarification. Our Planning and Zoning Commission went
through the process there, they answered a lot of your concerns.
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 21 of 41
Beamon: Well, they did. The first meeting it was recommended that the applicant go
back and see if they could make it a one-story apartment complex and when they came
back they said that they couldn't make money at it, so they went ahead with the two-
story anyway.
De Weerd: Well, you made a statement that you don't have -- after that meeting you're
not as opposed to it or they solved -- they answered a lot of your questions?
Beamon: Well, I was disappointed that they recommended that it be one-story and
since the applicant couldn't make -- it wasn't reasonable for them, that it was kind of
blown off that, well, he can't make money, so we'll let him go with two stories.
De Weerd: And your feeling is now -- I'm just trying to get an idea of what your feeling
is.
Beamon: I just -- I kind of want to know what -- where is the ultimate call going to be
made? At the first meeting I felt like, okay, this is what they have recommended and
this is what's going to happen and each meeting that we went back to -- we went
through three meetings and the story kind of changed each time. I'm kind of wondering
where is the final call going to be, because we have seen a couple different plans and
it's changed numerous times. I'm just wondering, you know, what's said tonight, is that
going to be the way it's going to be, or is it going to change again? I just kind of want to
know what's going on.
De Weerd: Well, what is decided here would be the end of it.
Beamon: Okay.
De Weerd: So it wouldn't change again.
Beamon: And my other question is are they going to add additional landscaping?
What's back there isn't going to provide much privacy for us. I guess he did mention
that there was going to be landscaping. I don't know if they are adding more is what I'm
curious about.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Corrie: Steve Cloyd. Is the testimony you're about to give the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Cloyd: Yes, sir.
Corrie: Okay. Name and address, please, for the record.
Cloyd: Steve Cloyd. 232 South Outfield Way. Okay.
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 22 of 41
Corrie: Three minutes.
Cloyd: Pardon me?
Corrie: Three minutes.
Cloyd: I purchased my property 11 months ago. One of the initial questions that I
asked of the homeowner and the real estate agent is what's going in behind us. We
were told office buildings, a dentist, insurance agencies, and things of that sort. As
other people have attested to, when you think of that you think they are going home at
6:00 I'm going to have some peace and quiet, I'm not going to have a big building
looking into my backyard. I can tell you for a fact if there were four-plexes built there
when I looked at the property I would have not bought it. I would not have bought it if I
knew four-plexes were going to be built there, as a concern, as a concern to my
neighbors, a concern to me. It only affects five or six lots and the majority of us are
here to object to that today, that we are concerned about four-plexes. A single-story
property I would have no problem at all with. I would actually encourage the duplexes. I
know that there are properties in town that you can build duplexes on very nicely, keep
everybody happy, and basically improve the neighborhood. Property values, you know,
my opinion is if there is such concern about people purchasing, you know, houses with
townhouses behind there, your property values are an issue. I know for a fact that my
neighbors currently have their house on the market, they had an offer as contingent
upon your decision tonight. If those townhouses go in, their offer is void. So they are
going to lose their sale if you guys approve this. As far as quality of living is concerned,
I spent a lot of time in my backyard. I have a hot tub back there, I'm a single father, my
son and I spend a lot of time throwing the baseball around, playing with our dog, doing
things in the backyard and I don't want to have to worry about who is looking at me out
the window. Where my house is located, it is directly behind one of the units that they
have proposed. One thing I would like to encourage you to think about is the 20-foot or
20 yard buffer. What that's going to do is that's going to give everybody a better view of
our yard by moving it back from the fence they are going to get a better angle then to
our yard and they should be able to see a lot better. That's a concern. I guess -- I
guess what I would encourage each one of you to do tonight, if you could put this
decision off, drive over to the subdivision, and drive down 7th
Street, you're going to see
numerous four-plex units in there, you're going to see basically they are all rentals. I
don't know where you folks live, typically rental units don't tend to be kept up quite as
nice as privately owned residences. If you drive down the street you're going to -- you
will be able to notice that, because you drive right through all those rentals and you can
definitely see cars that are being worked on out on the street, trash is left out, it's just
not as clean. I would like to ask each one of you to consider the fact that if you lived
there, would you want 4-plexes going in behind you and I'm concerned that if you
approve this, my property values will go down, my quality of life will go down, and
basically just for the profit of a building. Thank you. Any questions?
Corrie: Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to issue testimony? Is the
testimony you're about to give the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so
help you God?
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 23 of 41
Doherty: Yes, it is.
Corrie: Name and address.
Doherty: My name is Joseph Doherty, 264 Outfield Way. Okay. At the first meeting
with Planning and Zoning they denied the two-story buildings. Okay. C.W. Construction
was asked to revise their plans to single-story. We all agreed on that. At the next
meeting, all they did was reposition the buildings, take out the balconies, make a few
changes, and ask to submit a Landscaping Plan for the third hearing. What happened
to the single level buildings? Why did C.W. Construction get a second shot at redoing
it? They were already denied once the first time. Once again, we were all told when
purchasing the homes, like you have all heard, that it would be single-family -- or single
level houses. How is this project going to be an asset to the neighborhood? It's low
income housing, it's more traffic, more noise, more school buses, crime, garbage --
would you like that behind your house? In July you denied a bar downtown, okay,
because the local businesses did not approve. Well, if the neighborhood does not
approve of this project -- and we also have a petition signed for evidence from everyone
in the neighborhood, which we went around and submitted to everybody, and you
already know we currently have 14 two-story four-plexes. One being an eight-plex and
the other 16 duplexes, the 14 two-story four-plexes overlook, like they said, a storage
shed and vacant land. We also have a big eyesore there, the castle, and the day-care
center. We realize that the zoning can be changed by whomever, but we are hoping
that you will be on our side, the homeowners, and take pride in our privacy and that's it.
Thank you.
Corrie: Thank you. Anyone else like to issue testimony? Okay. Hearing none,
developer, you have the last answer to any questions here.
Breinholt: Mayor, I think I can answer some of the questions of the issues that they
have brought up. The additional landscaping, what is on the property at this point is on
the plot plan, what is spec'd out is the evergreen trees and I think that in your packet is
a copy of this -- I'm losing papers here. Is a copy of this plot plan? The evergreen trees
are the ones that are dark here along this property line. In between all of those are
large deciduous trees and shrubbery to be added to that and so there will be additional
landscaping put in. As I stated before, it will be even denser than is normal placement
of trees and shrubbery. It's a very -- it's a very thick buffer that's going to be put there.
As far as the two-story issue, the discussion of a single-story project was brought up by
the people from the subdivision behind, but that was not a requirement that was placed.
It was just a matter of discussion, and we went back and changed the orientation of the
buildings, we looked at all kinds of different scenarios, going daylight basement and
different things, but because of the egress problems and so on we weren't able to do
that. Also the attractiveness of the buildings becomes an issue, too, and that single
story becomes more of a motel-like appearance then it does a townhouse type. We
have gone to great efforts to make this an acceptable project. We are doing stucco
exterior with stone amenities on it and so on. As far as the crime and the trash issues,
actually, we have more control on who comes in and out of a rental by way of our ability
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 24 of 41
of who we rent to when we renew their contracts, than the people in the single-family
residences do. We can screen them and if they are not acceptable, then they go down
the road. Our trash -- we have trash enclosures that's the latest technology that makes
availability and enclosures that will keep the trash from scattering, drawn into our plans.
What we have now is simply the neighborhood dump where all of the lawn clippings
and whatever else are deposited in the neighborhood. I feel like this would be an
improvement to the neighborhood, rather than a deterrent. That's all I have to say,
unless you have some questions.
Nary: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mr. Nary.
Nary: Could you show me -- and maybe, David can -- show me where it says in that
Landscape Plan that you just showed us in relation to these people's homes.
Breinholt: Yes. The dark -- the dark trees on this line here are the evergreens and they
are placed along this 20-foot buffer here and in between those are probably twice again
the number of those trees are deciduous and then in between those are bushes.
Nary: And, Mr. Breinholt, I notice that the Planning and Zoning Commission -- that your
testimony was, at least from the landscape folks that you had talked to, the two inch
tree would grow faster than the three inch tree?
Breinholt: That's correct.
Nary: It would basically be quicker at covering this area?
Breinholt: Within one year the two inch tree will equal the height of the growth of the
three inch tree and also after that period they grow faster and thicker. A three inch tree
becomes very stressed when it's transplanted and also the availability of them is almost
not available, not to mention the cost difference in just that number of trees was close to
3,000 dollars for the investment of it.
Nary: But isn't -- I guess -- and part of the question from the neighbors is -- I mean I
recognize most of them are saying they don't want this at all, but, obviously, part of their
concern is the screening of this property from their property. I guess what I'm hearing
you saying, though, are that for a year they will have less screening than if we required
three-inch trees there. It's the long term it may or may not impact them, but the
immediacy would be screening quicker.
Breinholt: The screening that will be there -- well, what is there now are evergreen
trees that are only about six feet tall and so they are about the same height as the
fence. Now is the time that they will take off and they will grow about two to three feet a
year, but the trees that we will be planting should be about somewhere between 15 and
20 feet tall and so there will be a screening there immediately.
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 25 of 41
Nary: The two-inch trees will be 15 to 20?
Breinholt: That's my estimate, yes.
Nary: Okay and the three inch trees would be how big?
Breinholt: First of all, they are not available and so I'm not sure, but in my recollection
the ones that I have seen would be about 20 feet tall. I think if you did the geometry
that on the actuality of their yard that it's pretty well screened.
Nary: Thank you.
Corrie: Any other questions?
Bird: I have none.
Corrie: You did say the balconies were going?
Breinholt: The balconies were taken off. That was part of the changes. We also turned
the buildings, so they were side wards away from the back fence line and we limited the
number of windows, just a kitchen window on that side.
Corrie: Thank you.
Nary: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mr. Nary.
Nary: David, I noted in the Planning and Zoning minutes talked about the required
buffer and all of that. Could you maybe repeat that again? This separation between
this project and the neighbors?
McKinnon: I sure can, Councilman Nary. The 20-foot landscape buffer actually came
about from the annexation of this property and the developer was required to install all
of the evergreen trees for this property at the time of the annexation. As part of the
development agreement, all of the people who subsequently developed the property in
the future are required to put in all of the deciduous trees. Rather than put all of the
onus on the developer at the time to develop the entire area, they asked that the
developer be allowed to put in just the evergreen trees and then as developers come in,
like Mr. Breinholt, it is requested that they would put in the rest of the required
deciduous trees and so there are a number of trees that are required as part of this.
They currently only have a conceptual Landscape Plan, but we do have a Landscape
Plan that shows the number and the required number of those trees. As you noted at
the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting it was discussed very heavily the
difference between a size three and a -- a three inch caliper tree and a two inch caliper
tree and the Planning and Zoning Commission had originally requested the three inch
caliper tree to provide more visual screening at an earlier time, rather than at a later
time as Councilman Nary pointed out. Planning and Zoning Commission changed their
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 26 of 41
minds at the third Commission meeting and decided to go with the two inch caliper tree
and make that a requirement. We do have a Landscape Plan and prior to construction
a new landscape plan showing all the species of trees will be required at that time and
that is in compliance with the Meridian City Code Landscape Ordinance. If there are
any other questions I haven't clarified, a specific question regarding the current
landscape plan, I would be able to answer that if you have a specific question.
Nary: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mr. Nary.
Nary: I guess my only question, David, is in our ordinance the 20-foot buffer is required,
they are not required to have a further buffer away correct?
McKinnon: That's correct.
Nary: And the landscape requirement is required by our ordinance as to how much
landscaping they have to have and they are complying with that as well?
McKinnon: That's correct.
Nary: All right. Thank you.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: I guess just a question to staff. In the L-O zone, apartments are acceptable
with a Conditional Use Permit?
McKinnon: That's correct.
De Weerd: And if a neighbor were to call and say what is it zoned behind me, would
they have been explained all of that, or usually it's just zoned L-O, which is limited
office, and you probably don't go through the whole list of permitted use -- permitted
uses or uses allowed with a Conditional Use Permit?
McKinnon: In my experience whenever someone asks me what the property is zoned
and what the property can be -- what can be placed on that property -- and we do
receive that question quite often -- inevitably the conversation reverts back to the
schedule of use control. It goes through and says what are permitted uses and what
are conditional uses within that zone. When I talk to people I offer that to them, it is
available via the website that we have, and we can send that to people. If they are
willing to wait on the phone and let me read through everything, I have actually done
that a few times as well. We typically do discuss the schedule of use control and state
that just one or two uses, such as office only in the L-O zone, is not the discussion that I
have seen among other staff members, including myself. We usually discuss all the
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 27 of 41
uses. If someone asks for what a definition of an L-O zone is, the definition will be
given.
De Weerd: Okay. Thank you.
Corrie: Any other discussion? Okay.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: I guess, David, if you could kind of walk us through, what has changed in
this application since the beginning of the Planning and Zoning meeting? I'm assuming
that these buildings have been turned and windows taken out, balconies taken out.
Could you kind of walk us through the steps of what has happened with this application
through this process?
McKinnon: Be happy to. Actually, David Beamon and Joseph Doherty kind of hit the
nail right on the head when they talked about how there have been a number of
changes. Actually, Joseph actually explained all three meetings fairly accurately. At the
first meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commission heard the request for the four four-
plexes. The Planning and Zoning Commission was ready to make a motion to deny the
project outright, because of the location adjacent to the single-family homes on the east
side of the property. Prior to making that decision they asked Mr. Breinholt if it would be
okay for him to take a look at it to see if it would be feasible to go to single-story. Mr.
Breinholt said that would be -- he would be grateful for that and was very
accommodating and said that he would come back with a new site plan. I do have a
copy of the original site plan that was presented at that meeting. It includes four
windows on the south -- on the side elevations, rather than one, and the building
orientation was such -- and it also included balconies. The building orientation was
such that the rear of these buildings did face some of the single-family homes. Prior to
the second meeting on this project Mr. Breinholt submitted a new plan that still showed
two story buildings. He submitted two separate elevations, one that included a balcony
and one that included no balcony, and basically stated that he would be agreeable to
either, if they were approved as part of this project, he would provide that and reduce
the number of windows on the second story. It became apparent that it would not be
economically feasible to do the project without having a second story, so he felt that it
would be best to provide the additional screening by changing the orientation of the
building, reducing the lighting on the rear of the buildings, as he stated earlier the down
shielding on the back, and he basically made those changes in addition to some
parking changes from the first meeting to the second meeting. Prior to the third
meeting a couple of changes took place, that was dealing with the lighting and dealt
with the three inch caliper trees and the two inch caliper trees. It also dealt with one
other issue -- I'll have to refer to my notes on this. That -- well, actually, those were the
basic issues that came back from the third meeting. They were about ready to go with
it on the third meeting, but they wanted to make sure that they had all the items written
out and staff comments regarding the two inch, three inch caliper trees, the lighting
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 28 of 41
issues and the balcony issues. They wanted that all included in the staff report. We
revised the staff report rather quickly, in about a week's time, and had it back on the
third meeting about two weeks after the second meeting with all the revisions and
modifications from the Planning and Zoning Commission. That's what we have in front
of you tonight is all their revisions based upon those first three meetings.
De Weerd: Thank you.
Corrie: Any other questions? Okay. Then no further questions I will entertain a motion
to close the Public Hearing.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor, I move we close the Public Hearing.
Nary: Second.
Corrie: Okay. Motion has been made and seconded to close the Public Hearing on
Item Number 12 for Scottsdale Subdivision. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all
those in favor say aye. Opposed no? All ayes. Motion carried.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Corrie: Comments? Questions? Decisions?
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: I guess my concern is that when you do move in most often people don't
know what is zoned in their backyard and this is actually zoned, it was zoned L-O. I'm
amazed that the neighbors actually even asked what was in their backyard, so that's the
first good thing. The second good thing is whom goes further than, you know, means L-
O limited office. This use is misleading and that's why there is a Conditional Use Permit
attached to it, but the applicant would have to go through a Public Hearing process, so
that neighbors have an opportunity to comment. I'm sure no one was trying to be
discriminatory to apartment dwellers. I had been an apartment dweller until I was a
rather old age. I'm not old but, you know, people go to apartments for various reasons
and, I'll tell you what, I have seen a lot of apartment complexes that are much more well
kept than many single-family housing out there and so that's not an issue with me.
What is of concern is the L-O appearance of this to existing housing or housing that
was developed in the meantime and the potential of who their backyard neighbors
would be and limited office are generally single-story buildings and no one would
anticipate this and I imagine that was what Planning and Zoning concern was originally
as well. We don't let existing landscaping as a buffer to single-family housing in an
industrial complex. It has been a bone of contention almost every time an application
comes in on that development. It's not sufficient for a two-story building, you know,
especially when this was zoned L-O to begin with and so I really understand the issues
that the neighbors have. I appreciate the developer trying to reaclimate the buildings
and all of that, but, you know, you have to have window in an apartment and people do
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 29 of 41
look out them. I just would agree with the neighbors that it's a use that is not just
probably a good place for it, in my opinion, so --
McCandless: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mrs. McCandless.
McCandless: The same thoughts have been going through my mind and I was going to
talk about them, but Councilwoman de Weerd has said just about everything I was
going to say, but I feel the same way. I have a great deal of sympathy for the
neighbors, because I think they truly believed that what was going to be in back of them
would be one-story homes -- or offices and it would be a shame to put a two-story
complex behind them like that that looked right into their backyards. I wouldn't like it, I
know that.
Nary: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mr. Nary.
Nary: I guess the only comment I have is that the -- I guess I would concur with Council
Member de Weerd that it is not appropriate for us to make a ruling based on your
perception of what apartments dwellers are like. It is not appropriate as to whether or
not it would be maintained at the same level as your neighborhood, because it may be.
That's not -- that's not what our ordinance talks about and I think our ordinance is
working properly. It is an L-O zone, there are other uses besides offices that can be in
an L-O zone and what our ordinance allows is exactly what's happened here. You get
notice, they ask, we decide whether or not it fits. It's working the way it's supposed to,
but I guess where I would concur on this is that the transition between the types of
housing that we have here is something we tried to take very seriously in making
decisions. We do this all over the city in trying to decide the level of density and type of
housing between one another and we look at two-story homes versus one-story homes,
single-family homes, and what kind of -- so that they are compatible. I think the
problem here is, is that it's a pretty abrupt change between single-family homes and
two-story apartment buildings, with very little buffer in between. I recognize that 20 is
allowed by our ordinance and that's a general overview, that's for the whole city, that's
not just for individual neighborhoods and now we have to look at the individual
neighborhood and say does that fit, is that compliant, and is that going to fit in the
conditional use requirements that would be compatible with the neighborhood and I
don't think it is. I think that -- I think the change is too abrupt, I don't think the 20-foot
buffer is adequate, I don't think there is adequate screening, I think everything else
about this project is fine and if it was across the street these folks wouldn't be here. I
think it's a nice project, and I think that developer has done a very good job of trying to
change it to make it as compliant as he can and to be able to build it and be able to do
something with it. I just think trying to put a two-story building, apartments right
adjacent with only a 20-foot buffer between this project and the neighbors is too close,
it's not compatible, and I guess I would agree with Council Member de Weerd and
McCandless that I couldn't support it either.
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 30 of 41
Corrie: Okay. Any further discussion?
Bird: I have none.
Corrie: Okay. If there is no more discussion, I will entertain a motion on the request for
a Conditional Use Permit for four four-plex units in an L-O zone in Lots 4, and 5 of Block
2 of Scottsdale Subdivision.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: I move that we ask the attorney to draw up Findings of Facts and
Conclusions of Law and Decision of Order to deny the request for a Conditional Use
Permit for four 4-plex units on 1.08 acres in an L-O zone on Lots 4 and 5, Block 2, of
Scottsdale Subdivision by C.W. Construction and to include -- well, and not to include all
staff comments, because they don't apply. I would state for the reason of the two story
buildings and the incompatible transition from single-family housing into the L-O zone.
Nary: Second.
Corrie: Excuse me. Motion has been made and seconded to deny the request for
Conditional Use Permit to Scottsdale Subdivision. Is there any further discussion on the
motion? Hearing none, Mr. Clerk, roll call vote, please.
Roll call vote: McCandless, aye; Nary, aye; DeWeerd, aye; Bird, aye.
Corrie: All ayes. Motion for Conditional Use Permit is denied.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 13: Public Hearing: VAR 02-010 Request for a Variance from the minimum
lot frontage requirement for Lot 1 Block 3 of Bear Creek Subdivision by
Bear Creek LLC – Lot 1 Block 3, 714 West Calderwood Street:
Corrie: Item Number 13 is a Public Hearing. This is a request for a Variance from the
minimum lot frontage requirement for Lot 1, Block 3 of Bear Creek Subdivision by Bear
Creek. At this time I will open the Public Hearing and invite staff's comments first on the
request.
McKinnon: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Members of the Council. I assume you have read
the staff report. The project that we are working on tonight is for a corner lot located in
the Beer Creek Subdivision. It's the red highlighted lot on the map ahead of you. It's on
the corner of Calderwood and South Bear Tooth Way. I'm sorry for the visual. You guys
have a better copy on your -- actually, on your own laptops. Just to give you a simple
overview, on the Final Plat that was approved by this body there was an arrow placed
on the plat that delineated the fact that the house should front the direction of the arrow
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 31 of 41
and not any other direction. The direction of that arrow was towards Calderwood Street
and not towards Bear Tooth. The reason that the arrow was added to the Final Plat,
besides just for clarification that the property did not have enough frontage on Bear
Tooth is just to alleviate any question. The applicant was -- the applicant actually
submitted this plat and -- for approval and it was approved with this and now they are
asking that the home be able to be located towards Bear Tooth Way. When we make a
determination on the frontage on a corner lot, we take the length and then half of the
cord length around the corner. We don't count the entire cord length around the corner.
In our Meridian City Code it's not apparent this is exactly the way it shall be measured,
but that has been the commonly approved practice in the City of Meridian. Gary Smith
is here tonight. He may have some additional comments concerning this, as it does
affect public works as well. However, we are dealing with essentially a five-foot lack of
frontage on South Bear Tooth that keeps this home from being able to be built facing
Bear Tooth -- actually, six feet. Bruce Freckleton from the Public Works Department did
the math and it showed it's a 74-foot frontage on South Bear Tooth. If you have read
through the Variance report there was nothing special or unique about this piece of
property. We deal with many variances for this very similar issue. We deal with fence
Variances often on these corner lots, because people do not believe that they have
enough rear yard because of the orientation of the building. We have actually taken the
building that's been proposed here and cut it out, flipped it, placed it on the map facing
towards Calderwood, rather than Bear Tooth. The property does fit on this exact same
piece of property, the exact home could be built, and however, you reduce the amount
of usable rear yard by doing so. There is nothing in the code that would state that there
is any special reason this Variance should be approved. However, we are dealing with
an issue of six feet and we have actually requested that you deny this Variance,
because there are no special mitigating circumstances surrounding this piece of
property that shows that any home could not be -- that could be build facing Bear Tooth
Creek be built facing Calderwood. With that, I would ask if there are any questions.
Bird: I have none, Mayor.
Corrie: Questions? Okay. Gary, did you have any comments?
Smith: Mr. Mayor and Council Members, I would like to make a couple comments. This
-- the policy that I initiated some years ago in measuring the lot frontage on a corner lot
is -- we have been adhering to that and it was challenged by a developer sometime ago
on another subdivision and was brought before you for discussion. The policy that I
had established was upheld at that time and that is that the street frontage, as defined
in the ordinance, is actually measured across the frontage of the street and not across
the width of the lot. Simplistically I just split half of the cord length or half of the curb, as
it used to be, and assigned half of that to each side lot line to determine what the street
frontage is on each side street. The city ordinary states that the frontage of the lot in an
R-4 zone is 80 feet and so in that regard half of the cord length, plus the side length --
side lot length is to be 80 feet. In an effort to provide some constellation to the
developer, we have allowed a lot to go foreword without a side lot dimension of 80 feet
as long as one side lot dimension of 80 feet, as long as the other side lot does measure
80 feet. To make sure that everyone understands where the front of the lot is, we have
asked that the developer place an arrow on the lot designating the front and that has
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 32 of 41
been our policy. As David mentioned, we do receive a significant amount of requests
for variances to establish the six-foot fence in the side yard setback area on corner lots.
I think we did a little research and in the last 14 months we have had 44 requests for
variances to set a six foot fence in a side lot setback and the reason for that is because
the corner lots historically are not large enough with two 20-foot setbacks on each side
to provide an adequate backyard. I think the Fence Variance Committee as it exists
today has, in most all cases, granted that Variance, just because of the problem that an
adequate backyard on a corner lot presents to a homeowner. I think they don't really
realize until they get the building structure built what kind of backyard they end up with.
That's a little bit of history on how we are where we are today and the reason for the
policy that I established a number years ago in trying to be fair with establishing a
frontage for a corner lot. Thank you.
Corrie: Thank you, Gary. Any questions of staff?
Nary: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mr. Nary.
Nary: Which is the city ordinance, Gary that you're talking about?
Smith: The ordinance, Councilman Nary? Pardon?
Nary: The ordinance you said that talked about the measurement. You said part of it's
policy, part of it's an ordinance.
Smith: The ordinance states that a lot in an R-4 zone is to have 80-foot street frontage.
David says it's 11-9-1 is the ordinance. I'm sorry.
Nary: That's fine. Thank you.
Corrie: Any other questions? Is the applicant here? Is the testimony you're about to
give the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Schultz: It is.
Corrie: Name and address, please.
Schultz: Matt Schultz, 660 East Franklin, Meridian. Bear Creek LLC. I represent the
applicant, myself, and the owner of the lot, which we sold the lot to, Borup Construction.
On that site I do appreciate the intro by staff. Before I get going I'd like to hand out my
little exhibit. This may be a little bit clearer than what is on the board there for you, if I
could. What you have on the first sheet is an improved plot plan than what was
submitted to the building department by the builder a few months back. Sheet two and
sheet three is a copy of the recorded final plat, which shows an arrow. You look at the
arrow, you look in the legend, and on the third sheet, and it says lot front orientation.
Because that was on the Final Plat, the Building Department official said, Mr. Builder,
we are not going to let you build what you submitted here as shown, which is a
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 33 of 41
standard house on a pretty standard large lot, an over 10,000 square foot lot, standard
front facing house, which is the general orientation of most lots. Not all, but most lots
and what buyers typically want and what they prefer to have. So we have this little
dilemma of, first of all, why did that arrow get there -- or how did it get there, because
it's the only arrow on the whole subdivision plat of 128 lots, and what are we going to do
about it, because we really don't like it that way. That's really how we looked at it. The
builder had a hard time coming up with a desirable floor plan. It's not that you can't do
it, because, believe me, for a 45,000-dollar lot you can find a way to do it if you really,
really have to, but it's just not preferable. We believe it's unfair and it's unreasonable
how staff has been enforcing an ordinance for I don't know how many years, that
essentially the measure into halfway of the cord. Which you can very clearly see I
came up with 71 feet and Bruce came up with 74. I don't know how he measured, but if
you just come back to the front of the lot -- of the house, it's 84, it’s 85, and we probably
wouldn't have to ask for a Variance. We would just -- the arrow would never have been
put there in the first place. To recreate how -- you know, Mr. McKinnon did state that
the applicant did submit the Final Plat for approval and we did get it recorded, so we put
that arrow on there. Well, to kind of give you a little bit of a background on how things
happen. The arrow was put there in response to a comment from staff in the 11th
hour,
the Final Plat coming through. There are 127 other lots that are waiting to get recorded
and sold, the developer is saying record that plat, record that plat, and the surveyor
said, well, put an arrow on there and get this thing recorded. We are now a year later
going, well, you know, we were involved to say, yes, that was okay, but he didn't want to
argue with staff, even though he might have liked to, because it's kind of unfair how
that's done. Even though it is standard, it doesn't say that in Code anywhere. When I
came here two years ago I didn't know that's how staff did it until you get -- until you
design the lot it's almost too late to change it. You know, we are kind of caught by this
we-have-always-done-it-this-way attitude that -- I have never seen it done this way
anywhere else in the world, but that's just me. What we are asking for is the ability to
build a standard house on a fairly standard lot that meets all the setback requirements,
we are not asking for a fence variance or anything like that, it's just -- it seemed to be a
little bit of an arbitrary way to measure lot frontage, in our opinion. If that is, indeed, the
policy, we are asking for the Variance. If it's not the policy or if it's not an ordinance,
then we wouldn't have to ask for a Variance. What we would have to do, though, is file
a -- I think around here they call it an affidavit of correction for a Final Plat. A survey or
record to go to the County Recorder and file a document that says that arrow, which
now points south -- there is only two ways to do it. You can correct it to face west or
you can just add another arrow so it runs both directions, so the builder would have the
option of building it both ways, as long as it meets setback requirements. I guess with
that I'll stand for any questions or any other comments that Mayor and Council may
have.
Corrie: Okay. Any questions?
Bird: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 34 of 41
Bird: Matt, when the purchaser purchased it, he did see the Final Plat. Did he see the
note with the arrow and everything?
Schultz: He did.
Bird: Okay.
Nary: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mr. Nary.
Nary: Mr. Schultz, is there some way you can tell me that the -- that if we didn't grant
this that it would be an extraordinary hardship because of the unusual topography of the
land or the nature and condition of the development or other physical condition?
Schultz: Well, off the top of my head I looked at this corner lot and see that there is a
little curve in it and the rest of the lot is plenty wide. It's just right on the narrow part of it
and the fact that the surveyor decided to draw a straight line on the cord -- and I know
that's how they measure the cord, but it just seems to be a very arbitrary way to do it.
This one particular lot is -- I believe was unfairly pointed out as how to rotate a house.
It's a nice big lot, there is plenty of opportunity to build a nice, adequate size house on it
because of the arbitrary way of measuring that and because the curve of the street
comes in, it places a hardship on the builder to have to come up with some fairly
extravagant and creative ways of dealing with this. It's not impossible. I won't stand
here and say it's impossible.
Nary: Well -- but didn't I hear you say -- actually, your testimony was that they could
build it, it's just that they don't want to build it this way?
Schultz: It's not desirable and the buyer does not want it -- they'd prefer not to have it.
There are extra doors you can put on it, there is different things you can do.
Nary: And aren't all of these issues regarding the arrow and the orientation of the
house and all of that, couldn't that all have been done at the final plat before we
approved it?
Schultz: Yes and in theory. We would probably have to delay the recordation of the
final plat to come to this point to overrule -- to try to get an overruling on the staff
decision to place -- to require us to place the lot frontage arrow on it, which at that time
would have been fairly costly and time prohibitive to do.
Nary: So it was expeditious to get it approved when you had it approved, but it wasn't
certainly -- and we did a Final Plat tonight. We do one every week. The comments
said that this one lot was a problem, we need to fix that before we get to finalized, here
is what it is, before we grant a Variance and we get a clarification on how you measure
it, all that could have been done before we approved the Final Plat, couldn't it?
Schultz: Theoretically, yes.
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 35 of 41
Nary: Theoretically? You don't think you could have done that?
Schultz: I couldn't have, because I wasn't around, so I can't answer --
Nary: But you do this all the time. Can't you, before the Final Plat, come in and make
every one of these requests that you have made without having to do a Variance? We
could have readjusted, we could have redrawn it, we could have done -- at the
Preliminary Plat we could have done it, the Final Plat we could have done it, well before
it had to be a Variance correct?
Schultz: I agree wholeheartedly.
Corrie: Any other questions?
De Weerd: He's hard to argue with sometimes.
Schultz: I have been here before.
De Weerd: But, you know, you got hooked on your word arbitrary. What's arbitrary
about when you put that arrow on there? I don't know -- are you --
Schultz: It's also a vague term, you know, lot front orientation and arrow on it, it's very
vague, it's -- I would ask that -- just for the sake of new engineers and planners and
everybody that doesn't know somebody that knows somebody that knows what the rule
is, that that should be put in the ordinance that that's, indeed, how it is measured. It
seemed to be a very complicated, you know, mathematical little thing that was done by
your -- you know, when Mr. Smith is gone in 10 years it could come up again. Maybe
from our standpoint we would just appreciate in the future that that would be more
spelled out in the ordinance than it is.
Nary: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mr. Nary.
Nary: Would it be clear, Mr. Smith, if the ordinance said -- well, I guess Mr. Schultz
asked for it to be lot frontage and our ordinance says street frontage. Is that --
Schultz: Does it say street frontage?
Smith: I believe our ordinance says street frontage.
Schultz: I don't know that it does or not. I think that a lot that --
Nary: So if it says street frontage that would be fairly clear.
Smith: Mr. Mayor, Councilman Nary, I have got a -- Bruce Freckleton wrote the
definition of frontage on this memorandum he gave to me. The frontage of the lot
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 36 of 41
measured along the street from side property line to side property line. On corner lots
and through lots all sides of the lot adjacent to street shall be considered frontage.
Nary: Now I guess the question is, is that in our ordinance?
Smith: That is.
Nary: The term street frontage.
Smith: I am reading from Ordinance 12-13-5 under definitions.
Nary: I can't think of anything clearer than if it says street and it says lot orientation.
You and I both know what that means. I don't think that's that confusing to people. I
guess we disagree on what it should say.
Schultz: Yes, we do.
Corrie: Okay. Any other questions? Okay. Thank you. Is there anyone else from the
public that would like to issue testimony? Is the testimony you're about to give the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Borup: It is.
Corrie: Name and address, please.
Borup: Keith Borup, 2250 North Meridian Road. I originally was not planning on
testifying, but it looks like too much fun. I'm not sure what -- just some of the thoughts I
had in listening and I think Mr. Schultz got into that, but -- and I got to say when I bought
the lot I saw the arrow, I knew what that meant.
De Weerd: I would hope so.
Borup: I'm not making any excuses there but I have spent since last year trying to find
someone that would come up with a design to orient it the other way and have not been
successful. We have a plan that's selling very well and people want the plan and will
want this lot. I guess the point -- there is no written definition in the ordinance on how --
on how it is measured. We are talking about streets, street frontage. I believe the post
office -- and I suspect the city talks about street frontage to the middle of the
intersection. That's how you tell which way a house is facing and where the street
ends. You know, that's another 25 feet beyond the property line if we are talking about
street frontage. Our reason for coming here, really, is not that we couldn't get the house
to orient on that lot it is what's the most acceptable, pleasing, and reasonable site
design. The house would rotate the other way and give us a six-foot backyard, which I
don't think is a pleasing design. The City Ordinance also calls for a 15-foot minimum
setback in a backyard. Well, this corner -- I believe it's in the same ordinance, it says if
you have a corner lot and you don't have enough room to have a 15-foot setback in the
backyard, you can designate the side yard as the backyard. That's how this would
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 37 of 41
comply. What our entire side yard is would become the backyard by definition. Then
the setbacks do comply. The way that it would comply is to have a door facing
Calderwood and not change anything else from what you see and what the application
is. Having the door facing the other street doesn't make that as the front of the house,
which just means a longer access around. You know, to me probably another
necessary design change to make, which, again, probably is not that esthetically
pleasing, but I guess my point in saying all this, it can comply, but I don't think it's the
best design and best interest of the neighbors and the neighborhood. I don't believe I
have other comments, unless you have any questions. Thank you.
Corrie: Thank you. Anyone else like to issue testimony? Okay. Council, any other
discussion with the Public Hearing?
Bird: I have none.
Corrie: Okay. Hearing none, I will entertain a motion to close the Public Hearing.
McCandless: Mr. Mayor, I move that we close the Public Hearing.
Bird: Second.
Corrie: Motion has been made and seconded to close the Public Hearing. All those in
favor say aye. Opposed no? The Public Hearing is now declared closed.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Corrie: Discussion on the request for variance?
Nary: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mr. Nary.
Nary: I'm sure most everybody can see where I feel on this. The ordinance says what
it says. I think the street frontage is -- I think it is clear. I think it is required for the staff
to interpret it. From what I heard from Mr. Smith's testimony -- or Mr. Smith's statement,
this is the way we do it all over the place. If we want to reinterpret this for the Public
Works Department, then we will have to reinterpret it for everyone, not just this lot. If
we were to grant it for this lot, then we'd have to make a finding under our Variance
requirements and I just don't think there is enough evidence to provide that. It is -- it
may be inconvenient. I have seen some corner lots -- I happen to live on a corner lot. I
have seen them, they are a little -- sometimes the houses are a little goofy, you have
got a garage on one side and a door on another, and sometimes they are a little bit odd,
but they can be done and our ordinance says they have to show a hardship that's
extraordinary, not inconvenient. This is something that probably should have been
cleared up at the point that the final plat was done, it wasn't, they want to leave it for a
Variance, that's the risk you take that you're just not going to have enough to show
extraordinary hardship, that there is unusual topography, there isn't -- there is just
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 38 of 41
nothing that's required by our ordinance. I feel for the builder and I understand the
dilemma, but I just don't see any reason that our ordinance be granted a Variance when
I think everything done by the Public Works Department was reasonable.
De Weerd: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mrs. de Weerd.
De Weerd: I think since Mr. Nary is being so easy on this builder -- I think I remember
less than a month ago it was a little different. Now I looked at the reasons to grant a
variance and I just don't see any of those reasons really meeting the intent of this
variance. I would concur with Councilman Nary of his rather eloquent synopsis of the
situation.
Corrie: Anybody else before I editorialize here? Get in trouble. All right. If there is
nothing else, I will entertain a motion on the request for the Variance.
Nary: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mr. Nary.
Nary: I would move that we deny the request for Variance on the minimum lot frontage
requirements for Lot 1, Block 3, for Bear Creek Subdivision by Bear Creek LLC, Lot 1,
Block 3, at 714 West Calderwood, and for counsel to prepare Findings of Fact and
Conclusions of Law consistent with that denial. As well as incorporating the testimony
from this evening.
Bird: I would second that.
Corrie: Motion has been made and seconded. Is there any further discussion?
Hearing none, roll call vote, Mr. Berg.
Roll call vote: McCandless, aye; Nary, aye; DeWeerd, aye; Bird, aye.
Corrie: All ayes. Motion to deny is approved.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Item 14: Water, Sewer and Trash Delinquencies:
Corrie: Ready for the next one? Okay. Next is the delinquency. This is to inform you
in writing if you so choose you have the right to a predetermined hearing on Tuesday,
August 20, 2002, before the Mayor and City Council to appear in person to be judged
on the facts and defend a claim made by this city that your water, sewer, and trash bill is
delinquent. You may retain counsel and this service will be discontinued on August 21st
or August 28th
, unless payment is received in full. Is there anyone present that wishes
to have his or her water, sewer or trash delinquency contested? You are hereby
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 39 of 41
informed that you may appeal or have the decision of the city reviewed by the Fourth
Judicial District Court pursuant to Idaho State Code. Even though you do appeal, your
water will be shut off. The amount of the shut off list is 31,072.30. Council, you have
seen the list of delinquency turn off schedule. What is your pleasure? I'll entertain a
motion to approve the turn off list.
Bird: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move that we approve the delinquency turn of list and to have the turn off date
as August 21, 2002, and August 28, 2002, unless payment is received in full and the
amount is 31,072.30.
De Weerd: Second.
Corrie: Okay. Motion has been made and seconded to approve the delinquency turn
off schedule. Any further discussion? Hearing none, roll call vote, Mr. Berg.
Roll call vote: McCandless, aye; Nary, aye; DeWeerd, aye; Bird, aye.
Corrie: All ayes. Motion carried to approve the delinquency turn off list is approved.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
Corrie: And that ends the agenda. I'll entertain a motion to adjourn.
Bird: Mr. Mayor?
Corrie: Mr. Bird.
Bird: I move we adjourn the August 20, 2002, Council meeting.
Nary: Second.
Corrie: Motion has been made and seconded to adjourn the meeting. All in favor say
aye. Approved at 8:34.
MOTION CARRIED: ALL AYES.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:34 P.M.
(TAPE ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS)
APPROVED:
Meridian City Council Meeting
August 20, 2002
Page 40 of 41
/ /
ROBERT D. CORRIE, MAYOR DATE
ATTESTED:
WILLIAM G. BERG, JR., CITY CLERK