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2014 10-16Meridian Planning and Zoning Meeting October 16, 2014 Meeting of the Meridian Planning and Zoning Commission of October 16, 2014, was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chairman Joe Marshall. Present: Chairman Joe Marshall, Commissioner Steven Yearsley, Commissioner Rhonda McCarvel and Commissioner Patrick Oliver. Members Absent: Commissioner Scott Freeman. Others Present: Machelle Hill, Ted Baird, Justin Lucas, Sonya Watters and Dean Willis. Item 1: Roll -Call Attendance: Roll -call X Steven Yearsley Rhonda McCarvel X Patrick Oliver X Scott Freeman X Joe Marshall - Chairman Marshall: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to welcome you to the regularly scheduled Planning and Zoning meeting for Thursday, October 16th, 2014, and I'd like to begin by asking for the roll. Item 2: Adoption of the Agenda Marshall: All right. So, first thing on the agenda is the adoption of the agenda. Now, do have a change to the agenda. We have added the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law as a part of Action Item B, just so it's on the agenda if we so find -- if we agree to approve that, then, we could actually act on the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law at that time. That is the only change I have to the agenda -- well, excuse me, I do have just a point of order. Action Item A will be opened, but we need to consider a continuance for Action Item A on PP 14-016. So, with those two modifications that's all have on the agenda. So, could I get a motion to adopt the agenda? Yearsley: Mr. Chairman, I move that we adopt the agenda as amended. Oliver: Second. Marshall: I have a motion and a second to adopt the agenda as amended. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? That motion carries. MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. ONE ABSENT. Item 3: Consent Agenda Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 2 of 27 A. Approve Minutes of October 2, 2014 Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Marshall: All right. We are now to the Consent Agenda. The only item on the agenda is the approval of the minutes of the October 2nd, 2014, Planning and Zoning meeting. Does anybody have any changes, corrections, additions to those minutes? No? Not seeing any, could I get a motion to approve the minutes? Yearsley: Mr. Chairman, I move that we move approve the Consent Agenda. Oliver: Second. Yearsley: I have a motion and a second to approve the Consent Agenda as written. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? That motion carries. MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. ONE ABSENT. Marshall: Now, to the Action Items and before we begin I would like to explain how this process works, if I could. All right. In back I have a sign-up sheet. All right? So, if you would like to testify to one of these action items, I would appreciate it if you could sign up and, then, I can call those people by name when that comes up. Now, the one we start with is the staff report. I'm going to open the hearing for each of these items, ask for the staff report. Staff will give their review of the item and tell us how it meets city code and ordinance and the facts of the application. After staff has given their report, then, I will ask for the applicant to step forward. The applicant will be given 15 minutes to present any additions, any other information that might help us deliberate on this item. After the applicant has spoken, then, we ask for the public and first thing I'm going to do is go to those sign-up sheets and one by one ask anybody that would -- each of those people to come forth and testify. You will each be given three minutes, unless you represent a large group of people and by show of hands, those people will provide that person their time and they will be given ten minutes to speak on behalf of a larger group. All right. Then after everybody on the list has been called I will ask if there is anyone that has reconsidered or has walked in after we have started and wanting to testify and see if anybody else would like to testify to it. Then I will ask the applicant to come back up and address any issues that might have arisen during the public testimony. At that time we hope to close the public hearing, deliberate and render a decision. Item 4: Action Items A. Public Hearing: PP 14-016 Coleman by Wal-Mart Real Estate Business Trust Located Northwest Corner of N. Ten Mile Road and W. McMillan Road Request: Preliminary Plat Approval of Five (5) Commercial Lots on Approximately 26.16 Acres in the C -G Zoning District Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 3 of 27 Marshall: All right. So, let's begin with PP 14-016. I'd like to open that public hearing and at this time I believe there is a request -- request by the city to continue this item. Lucas: Thank you, Mr. Chair, Members of the Commission. This first item before you needs to be continued, because there was an error in the sign posting and so the project did not meet our posting requirements and, therefore, can't move forward with the public hearing tonight. I believe the applicant has requested a November 6th public hearing to go ahead and do that application. It will give them a chance repost the site. Marshall: Thank you. Now, Commissioners -- is the applicant here to address that? Lucas: I don't see the applicant here, Mr. Chairman, and they wouldn't need to be here, because there is really nothing -- we have got to move it forward to the -- Marshall: Yeah. Just thought I would ask, because we have been asking applicants to come forward when we ask for a continuance, but this is actually the city asked for this. So, I would like to point out on the record that the November 6th meeting we have absolutely no other applications and the only reason for meeting would be this one item. We do have several items on the November 20th agenda. They have requested November 6th. Any discussion, Commissioners? Yearsley: Do we know how many items on the agenda are for the 20th? Marshall: I'd have to ask staff on that. Lucas: Mr. Chair, Members of the Commission, I believe we have two items on the November 20th agenda so far. So, likely to move forward on those two items, as long as everything goes okay with their posting and everything else, but, yes, there are two items currently scheduled for the 20th and no items currently scheduled for November 6th. Yearsley: So, if we move it to the 20th we are not -- we should have plenty of time to hear that one, yeah. Okay. Marshall: Thank you, Commissioner Yearsley. Anyone else? Any thoughts on that? McCarvel: I think it's saving time for everyone, so -- Marshall: Thank you, Commissioner McCarvel. Commissioner Oliver does not have a comment. So, could I get a motion? Yearsley: Mr. Chairman, I move that we continue public hearing PP 14-016 to November 20th, 2014. Oliver: Second. Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 4 of 27 Marshall: I have a motion and a second to continue PP 14-016 to November 20th. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? That motion carries. MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. ONE ABSENT. B. Public Hearing: Rise Volleyball CUP 14-015 by Rise Volleyball Academy, LLC Located 719 N. Principle Place, Ste. 110 Request: Conditional Use Permit Approval for an Indoor Recreation Facility in an I -L Zoning District 1. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law for Approval: Rise Volleyball CUP 14-015 by Rise Volleyball Academy, LLC Located 719 N. Principle Place, Ste. 110 Request: Conditional Use Permit Approval for an Indoor Recreation Facility in an I -L Zoning District Marshall: All right. At this time I'd like to open the public hearing for CUP 14-015 for Rise Volleyball and ask for the staff report, please. Watters: Thank you, Chairman Marshall, Members of the Commission. The first application before you tonight is a request for a conditional use permit. This site is currently zoned I -L and is located at 719 North Principle Place, Suite 110. This site is surrounded by I -L zoned industrial property. The Comprehensive Plan future land use map designation is mixed use regional. The applicant requests conditional use permit approval of an indoor club volleyball practice facility in a 12,750 square foot tenant space in an existing building in the 1-L district for Rise Volleyball. The practice facility is classified in the UDC as an indoor recreation facility, which requires conditional use approval in the I -L district . Access is provided via North Principle Place from East Pine Avenue. Based on the square footage of the building a minimum of six parking spaces are required to be provided. A total of 16 spaces are available for this tenant space, with up to 97 shared spaces available for the building. Because the proposed hours of operation are evenings and weekends staff feels the amount of parking provided on the site should be adequate for the proposed use. Written testimony was received from the applicant's representative Karena Gilbert in agreement with the staff report and staff is recommending approval with conditions. Staff will stand for any questions the Commission may have. Marshall: Commissioners, any questions of staff? No? Okay. I'd like to ask for the applicant to come forward, please. And when you get to the mike I'm going to ask for your name and address for the record, please. Anderson: Hi. My name is Loren Anderson. My address is 2107 North 32nd Street in Boise, Idaho. Marshall: Thank you. Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 5 of 27 Anderson: I don't really know what else to add to what she's already said, other than two years ago I stood before you and asked for the same -- a similar conditional use permit for a facility that we moved into two years ago in the City of Meridian and at that time it took our -- our membership in our club from 60 girls to 120. Two years later we are fortunate now to feel that we need another larger space, which is what this would allow for us. This would allow us to go from 120 athletes to 210, including -- well, not including also increasing the rate of our -- the size of our camps, clinics, and other offerings we do for the athletes in the area. Marshall: Commissioners, any questions? I have got a quick question. What are your typical hours of operation generally? Anderson: Our earliest practices typically start around 4:30 to 5:00 o'clock and they will last around until 9:30, 10:00 o'clock in the evening, Monday through Friday. And, then, on Saturdays we are typically doing things from 9:00 o'clock in the morning until about 4:00 o'clock in the afternoon. Marshall: Thank you. Anderson: You're welcome. Yearsley: Mr. Chairman? Marshall: Commissioner Yearsley. Yearsley: I -- with your first practice how many kids at a time usually come in through your door? Anderson: That's going to be a good question. With the new facility it will be larger and we will be kind of playing around with how many, so I can't give you an exact number, but based on where we are at now and the projected increase I would say somewhere around 30. Yearsley: Okay. Anderson: And those athletes that would be coming at that early time would be athletes that would be younger, not -- they would not have driver's licenses of their own, so they would be dropped off by parents, usually in a car pool situation. Most of our athletes are coming from -- well, not most. There are athletes coming from everywhere and so they -- most of them will car pool three to four in a car. Yearsley: Okay. Thank you. Marshall: Any other questions? Thank you. Thank you very much. Anderson: Thank you. Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 6 of 27 Marshall: All right. I have a Loren Anderson signed up. He just spoke. He is the applicant. I apologize. Is there anyone else here that would like to testify to this application? No? Well, Mr. Anderson, I don't think I'm going ask you back up to rebut your own testimony, so Commissioners, maybe we could close the public hearing on this? Yearsley: Mr. Chairman? Marshall: Commissioner Yearsley. Yearsley: I move that we close the public hearing on CUP 14-015. Oliver: Second. Marshall: I have a motion and a second to close the public hearing on CUP 14-015. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? That motion carries. MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. ONE ABSENT. Marshall: I have got a couple quick comments. Yearsley: Go for it. Marshall: We have approved some gymnastics -- again some volleyball for these guys a couple years ago in the I -L district. I believe there has been other couple activities focused items in this general area in the I -L district. I really like to see these blooming and blossoming in -- in the heart of our city. Obviously, they feel there is a demand and need there and I'm excited to see this grow. I will point out on the negative side why we require these CUPs for something like this in an I -L district is that right now -- just a few days ago I was reading a report on the vacancy rates in industrial districts and they tend to be very low, I believe it was about six and a half percent at max right now and it's becoming more and more difficult. But, obviously, this was still available and they have a need and -- to grow there. We do I think address that issue in the future land use map and the Comprehensive Plan, so I would say we need to be sensitive to those issues that we do probably need more industrial districts as we are growing and probably need to protect those areas that we designated to be industrial. That's my only thought. You know, there may be exceptions to that, but, again, I'm absolutely for this and excited to see the growth. And I like the hours in that the traffic there -- the general traffic will be on off hours and it helps balance things out and I'm all for it. Anybody else? Yearsley: Mr. Chairman? Marshall: Commissioner Yearsley. Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 7 of 27 Yearsley: I kind of echo your thoughts. I think it's exciting to see that he was here not too long ago and he's exceeding his capacity now and needing additional capacity, so that -- you know, I think that's opening up one I guess is light industrial area for another, so I don't see this being a big issue at all, so -- Marshall: All right. Commissioners? Commissioner Oliver? Commissioner McCarvel? Would somebody like to make a motion? Yearsley: Mr. Chairman? Marshall: Commissioner Yearsley. Yearsley: After considering all staff, applicant, and public testimony, I move to approve file number CUP 14-015 as presented in the staff report for the hearing date of October 16, 2014, with no modifications. I further move to direct staff to prepare an appropriate findings document to be considered at the current Planning and Zoning Commission of October 16th, 2014. Oliver: Second. Marshall: I have a motion and a second to approve CUP 14-015. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? That motion carries. MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. ONE ABSENT. Marshall: So, seeing how we did approve that with no modifications and staff being very proactive has already -- already prepared a set of Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law. Could I possibly get a motion to move this forward and approve those? Yearsley: Mr. Chairman, I move that we approve the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law for CUP 14-015. Oliver: Second. Marshall: I have a motion and a second to approve the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law for CUP 14-015, Rise Volleyball Academy. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? That motion carries. Thank you. MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. ONE ABSENT. C. Continued Public Hearing from September 18, 2014: AZ 14-012 Hill's Century Farm by Brighton Investments, LLC Located 5340 S. Eagle Road Request: Annexation and Zoning of 223.73 Acres with an R-8 Zoning District Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 8 of 27 D. Continued Public Hearing from September 18, 2014: PP 14-014 Hill's Century Farm by Brighton Investments, LLC Located 5340 S. Eagle Road Request: Preliminary Plat Approval Consisting of 675 Building Lots, 47 Common Area Lots and 1 Other (Elementary School) Lot on 221.8 Acres of Land Marshall: All right. Now, onto AZ 14-012 and PP 14-014 for Hill's Century Farm by Brighton Investments and I'd like to ask for the staff report, please. Watters: Thank you, Chairman Marshall, Members of the Commission. The next applications before you tonight are a request for annexation and zoning and a preliminary plat. This site consists of 221.8 acres of land, currently zoned RUT in Ada County, and is located at 5340 South Eagle Road on the east side of South Eagle between Amity and Lake Hazel. Adjacent land uses and zoning. To the north and south are rural residential agricultural properties zoned RUT in Ada County. To the east are also rural residential and agricultural properties and soccer fields, zoned RUT in Ada County and residential properties in Rock Hampton Subdivision, zoned R-4 in Ada County. To the west is South Eagle Road and across Eagle are rural residential agricultural properties, zoned R-4, I believe, in the city. They were just recently annexed. The Comprehensive Plan future land use map -- as you can see here on the map on the right, designates the north end of this property -- it's approximately 91 acres -- as low density residential. That designation is for three or less dwelling units per acre. The middle yellow portion is designated for medium density residential uses, which is three to eight dwelling units per acre. That area consists of approximately 90 acres also. And the southern portion, which is approximately 40 acres, is designated for medium high density residential uses, which is eight to 15 units per acre. The applicant is requesting annexation and zoning of 223.73 acres of land with an R-8 zoning district. The density in the low density residential designated area is proposed at three units per acre, not including a lot that they have designated for a school lot. The density in the medium density residential designated area is 3.1 units per acre and the density in the medium high density residential designated area is 3.5 units per acre. The applicant is requesting a step down in density from the medium high density residential to the medium density residential designation for the southern 40 acres of the site. The proposed R-8 zoning accommodates the proposed densities with approval of a step down in density for the medium high density residential portion. The preliminary plat shown here on your left consists of 635 single family residential building lots, 47 common area lots, and one lot for a future elementary school that is shown here at the northeast corner of the site. Total area of the plat is 221.8 acres of land. The subdivision is proposed to develop in 16 phases as shown on the map on your right there. Secondary access is required for any portion of the development with 30 homes or more by the fire department. Development will commence at the northwest corner of the project adjacent to Eagle Road and is anticipated to occur over the next ten years. Access is proposed via three access points on adjacent arterial streets, two from South Eagle Road. The main access here is highlighted in orange. This is Taconic Drive. There is another access to the north, Aukland Street, and one other main access is proposed from Lake Hazel Road here at the south. Collector streets are shown here in Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 9 of 27 orange. They are running north -south and east -west as planned on the master street map. Staff and ACHD is recommending that Aukland Street access via Eagle Road is constructed as a temporary access until two points of ingress and egress are constructed that meets the fire department standards. Again, that was this access right up here on the north end. This area should ultimately develop with building lots and a common area lot with a pedestrian pathway to Eagle Road. The plat depicts connections to existing stub streets in Rock Hampton Subdivision here on the east side and stub streets to adjacent undeveloped parcels for future extension and interconnectivity. A portion of this site lies within the Meridian flood plain overlay district. That area is shown here in the darker gray. A flood plain permit application is required to be submitted, reviewed, and approved prior to any development within the overlay district. There are currently no plans to widen South Eagle Road or East Lake Hazel Road, although turn lanes into and out of the subdivision are proposed to be constructed by the developer within the extra right of way dedicated with this plat. The capital plan designates Eagle Road between Amity and Lake Hazel Roads to be widened to five lanes between 2022 and 2026. Lake Hazel between Eagle and Cloverdale Roads is scheduled to be reconstructed and widen to five lanes between 2027 and 2031. The traffic impact study recommends the installation of either a roundabout or a signal at the Eagle -Taconic intersection. And that was the same entrance right here. To insure sufficient right of way to accommodate either improvement, ACHD recommends that additional right of way is provided. And a landscape plan was submitted that depicts street buffers and open space in accord with UDC standards. Based on the area of the plat, minus the school lot, a minimum of ten percent or 21.36 acres of qualified open space is required. The applicant is providing a total of 12 percent or 25 acres, consisting of common lots, parkways, street buffers in the Ten Mile Creek pathway corridor. Parkways are proposed throughout the development along all streets. The Ten Mile Creek goes along the southwest boundary of the site from Lake Hazel and extends through the site to Eagle Road. You can see it in blue here. A segment of the city's multi -use pathway system is proposed along the west side of the creek in accord with the master pathways plan. One site amenity is required for every 20 acres of development area. Based on the area of the plat, minus the school lot, a minimum of ten amenities are required to be provided. The applicant proposes to provide a community center, tot lot playground, exercise stations, passive gathering space seating, a regional pathway, micropaths and land reserved for an elementary school. A six foot tall solid fence is proposed to be constructed by the developer around the perimeter of the subdivision. No other fencing is proposed. Staff is recommending fencing as required in accord with UDC standards adjacent to the micropath connections to distinguish common from private areas as required. The application has submitted some typical sample building elevations for future homes within this development as shown. Building materials are proposed to consist of architectural shingles and a mix of board and batten and lap siding and stucco, with cultured stones wainscot. Because homes on lots that back up to South Eagle Road and East Lake Hazel Road will be highly visible, staff is recommending the rear or sides of structures that face these streets incorporate articulation through changes in materials, color, modulation and architectural elements, horizontal and vertical, to break up monotonous wall plains and roof lines. Written testimony was received from Mike Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 10 of 27 Wardle, the applicant's representative, in agreement with the staff report. Staff is recommending approval with conditions and a development agreement per the staff report. Staff will stand for any questions the Commission may have. Marshall: Commissioners, any questions of staff? Yearsley: Not at this time. Marshall: I do very quickly, Sonya. You mentioned that the northern access to Eagle recommendation is to -- both by staff and ACHD is to make that temporary. But you also mentioned that turn lanes may be added. So, are you talking about a turn lane to the temporary access or to the permanent access, as in an extra lane that the developer is suggesting they may add for that? Watters: Chairman Marshall, Commissioners, the applicant can clarify this, but I believe they are only proposing turn lanes at the main accesses on Taconic and Eagle and Lake Hazel, from the collector street going in there from the south. Marshall: Thank you. All right. No other questions, I would like to ask the applicant to come forward and I'm going to have to ask for your name and address for the record. Wardle: Mr. Chairman, Commission Members, Mike Wardle, Brighton Corporation. Address is 12601 West Explorer Drive in Boise. Just handed out to you what Sonya referred to a moment ago -- and I will get back to it in a bit, but it just simply notes that we concur with staff's recommendation, including the conditions of approval, but we will be asking the commission to provide one qualifying statement that I would like to address in just a couple of brief slides. Sonya, can you bring -- we will see if technology -- Watters: Is that the one you want, Mike? Wardle: I'm not seeing anything here, so -- Watters: Oh. Nobody turned it on. Sorry about that. Wardle: I got the power on, so we will see what we got. Yes. Mr. Chairman -- thank you, Sonya. This particular slide -- and let me -- I just want to go back to the first slide. Is that -- okay. Simply shows the overall site plan and, again, for orientation, Amity Road is a quarter mile to the north. Eagle Road is the west boundary. The 40 acre parcel to the south abuts Lake Hazel Road and, then, with an addition of 20 acres that was acquired during the process, it put us contiguous to the Rock Hampton project, which is across the imaginary line between the areas of impact of Meridian and Boise. We are contiguous, as staff noted earlier, from the developments just to the west of Eagle Road. I would also note that we are in our final phase of the Messina Meadows area of Tuscany, which is -- as the crow flies is three -tenths of a mile to the northwest, quarter mile to the north to the intersection to the roundabout and, then, a quarter mile Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 11 of 27 west of that. So, this is as contiguous a ground as we could -- you know, we could find in that area to continue the development patterns that we have enjoyed for the last few years in the southeast portion of Meridian. Okay. Let's -- so the -- yeah. Take me to the -- okay. Following the primary colors and with specific reference to your question, Mr. Chairman, that -- the red arrow depicts the item that both staff and ACHD have requested be temporary at best and because it really is a bit of a challenge to do a temporary -- ACHD staff -- excuse me -- ACHD's draft staff report notes that the solution likely would be an interim facility, not this access, and we are proposing to follow their lead and that would be at least a minimum 24 foot wide fire lane access, which would end up being also a pedestrian access. So, we will be redesigning that pod and -as a result of not having that access in front of Eagle Road coming into that open space area, it necessitates that that whole northwesterly pod be somewhat redefined. Going to the yellow items -- and, by the way, these little notations there, the 1.1.2-1 relative to the yellow arrows notes that both staff of the city and ACHD have requested that that collector roadway that was identified earlier be continued to the north and so we will be modifying that location, including the school site that would enable us to make a sweeping road, rather than a tight intersection, because this -- the slide that Sonya showed earlier, we have that Taconic, New Castle, collector roadway that ties from -- yes. Ties down to Lake Hazel and we couldn't go any further to the east, because of ownerships and the way that the other land has developed, but by going, then, from the upper part of that sweep north to what is identified as Howry Lane, it's a private lane that actually provides access to the 20 acre site that we have included in our project, so that eventually, then, would be the collector connection to the north to Amity Road from the center of this section. Back to the other slide. So, there will be a modification, then, of the school site and, then, condition 1.1.2.M also notes that the northerly stub street will be relocated to the other pod to the west and the reason for that -- unfortunately, you can't quite see it, but behind the tag of the notation there is a new home owned by one of the -- the Hill family members and putting that roadway stub -- would put it almost right at this garage. So, it's just a minor relocation, but ACHD and staff I believe have concurred with that. Also just noting that phase one boundary, we are starting on the northwest, but we will actually come in and make that Taconic connection, so the collector will be constructed -- the first phase with that project. We will provide that secondary access to Eagle Road in lieu of that street access and it would be a fire lane of some sort through -- as we go through the design process. And, then, finally, staff has asked for some additional micropath connections that as we work out the details of the remainder of the project we will also look at these elements and I suspect that we will go through an iterative process with staff, but all of these changes will be completed and provided and vetted through staff before this item goes onto the City Council. So, they will see, essentially, the finished product and there may be an item or two that the Council is going to have to sort out, but I doubt that there will be any major issues. Just -- the last slide, Sonya. Just -- it was -- oh, you twisted it on me. Good job. Yes. North being up. This simply shows what Sonya pointed out earlier, that on the easterly side there are two existing stubs denoted in the red arrows from the Rock Hampton Subdivision. Those connections will be made as anticipated, obviously, when that subdivision was platted and certainly as required by public policy of the city and ACHD. would note, however, that those phases that would make that connection will be Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 12 of 27 substantially later in the project. Hard to tell what the markets will do, but six, eight, ten years, whatever -- however long it takes us to work that direction. We have also, then, showed three arrows -- yellow arrows that denote stubs to the north and to the south from that 20 acre pod, as well as easterly from our southeastern portion into the existing soccer fields. Now, I suspect that -- we have heard somewhat that the soccer folks have been a little concerned about that, but we have no choice. We are required again by public policy to make certain that no parcel is ever left unconnected to the fabric of the community. Again, nothing will go there, except a stub and a barrier to denote that at some point in the future -- because that soccer field is an interim use and eventually that will change. I have nothing further, Mr. Chairman, other than to -- I would take you back to that little handout sheet. We are simply asking that you make your recommendation to the Council that you include a statement similar to - that the number of lots in Hill's Century Farms Subdivision be as proposed in the preliminary plat application or the number of lots generated by the changes required by the conditions of approval. We don't expect a major difference plus or minus, but there could be a bit of a difference, but, again, those numbers would be known by the time it gets to City Council, so they will be able to address in their final findings and conclusions precisely the magnitude of the project. With that, Mr. Chairman, I would be happy to answer your questions and, then, certainly look forward to responding to any public testimony. Marshall: Commissioners, any questions of the applicant? Yearsley: Mr. Chairman? Marshall: Commissioner Yearsley. Yearsley: Can you go back to the slide where you're -- I think it was the second slide. That one. Yes. With the relocation of the future school, where do you anticipate that going? Wardle: We will be still in that northeasterly quadrant, but it would be along that collector roadway. So, that eventually it would have good access from Amity to the north, as well as from the interior of the project, but it will stay in that general vicinity. Yearsley: You end up moving it probably to the west a little bit, I would imagine. Wardle: Yes. Again, there would be some modifications in the layouts there. All of that's anticipated by the conditions that staff has recommend that we do again prior to City Council. So, not -- the same intent is there and when we conceived the project we anticipated that the -- that street would just follow along the south boundary of the school and intersect to the properties to the east that would eventually develop and take it to the north. But we are willing to tie it somewhat more in a manner so that it hits the mid section line, which is that Howry Lane alignment. Yearsley: Okay. That sounds good. All right. Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 13 of 27 Marshall: Commissioner Oliver? Oliver: So, along those same lines that he was referring to, the property amount doesn't change? Marshall: No. Mr. Chairman, Commissioner Oliver, as we worked with the school district -- and now let me just note without a lot of detail -- there is a proposed park that one of the Hill family members is anticipating building on the north side of that line and so we worked with the school district and with the parks folks that are all part of this discussion, so that the seven acre school site will remain and become, you know, a co - use type of facility between the two. So, there are a lot of details yet to work out, but the city parks folks and public officials or elected officials are all aware of these items that will be meshed at some point in the future. Oliver: Mr. Chairman? Marshall: Commissioner Oliver. Oliver: If I could continue, looking 1.1.2M -- Wardle: Uh-huh. Oliver: So, again, you will be using Marty Hill's driveway to access that? Is that correct or -- Wardle: No. Mr. Chairman, Mr. -- Commissioner Oliver, we are simply noting that that stub to the north that goes roughly in Marty's backyard will move to the west, so that it provides access up there, but, again, this is something that is required. We collaborated with Marty so that he -- he knows that there will be a roadway, he just didn't want it right there. Oliver: Right there. Yeah. Wardle: So, all part of the discussion, sir. Oliver: So, the other thing I have is just a question -- I know you have been working with ACHD on this, looking at the intersection of Eagle and Amity where there is a roundabout there, knowing that there is 16 phases and we are talking a long time out, do they perceive changing that from a roundabout eventually back into a five lane with lights? Is that what they are thinking? Wardle: Mr. Chairman, Commissioner Oliver, no. They anticipate that at some point in the future -- and they have already got this into the long range planning -- staff may be able to elaborate. I don't remember the dates. But they anticipate that that will be expanded beyond the one lane to a two lane roundabout facility in the future. So, it will not revert to a signalized intersection, it will simply be expanded to add capacity. Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 14 of 27 Oliver: So, they assume that it -- the two lanes will be able to handle that amount of homes? Wardle: Yes. A second lane in the roundabout -- eventually, of course, Eagle Road will be expanded to a five lane -- five lane facility, meaning that there will be two lanes coming in and two lanes coming out of that round about as well, both north -south and east -west eventually. Oliver: And, then, of course, then, we will have five lanes at Lake Hazel and Eagle. Wardle: Possibly in the future Lake Hazel may be a seven lane facility. It's anticipated to be a major east -west corridor through south Meridian. Oliver: Okay. Wardle: Again, those are -- I think that's actually part of the existing south Meridian transportation study that was done some years ago, but that's -- that's really the major corridor, Lake Hazel will be. Oliver: Right. Thank you. Wardle: You bet. Yearsley: Mr. Chairman? Marshall: Commissioner Yearsley. Yearsley: I had one other question. They were talking about the round -- a proposed roundabout at Eagle Road and Taconic. Were you in agreement of that and willing to give the right of way for that additional roundabout? Wardle: Mr. Chairman, Commissioner Yearsley, the decision is a future decision relative to what it will be, whether signalized or a roundabout. ACHD's policy these days is you look at and make certain that there is the capability for a roundabout and the default would be to a signalized intersection, a decision yet to be made. But the footprint when you look at the entrance, there is a very -- probably a little minor reshaping at the southeast part of that intersection as you come into us, but the northwestern -- that should be the northeastern corner of that provides no -- no difficulty, because it's a large piece that really is going to be probably more public type facilities anyway. Yearsley: Right. Wardle: Amenities. So, we don't think there is a footprint problem with that right of way. It's not a -- it's not really that huge when you look at it. Again, a single lane roundabout Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 15 of 27 potentially. They would be working with us and we with them down the line to make sure that it all works. Yearsley: Well, I would assume that it would be a dual lane roundabout when it went to five lanes. Wardle: It likely would in the future, but, again, there is a draft staff report from ACHD that we are also going through. Staff -- your staff and we got that today. It's been a long iteration that's not surprising information, but it's simply one of two options and to make that determination will be a collaborative effort between us and ACHD at some point in the future. Yearsley: Okay. Thank you. Marshall: Thank you, Mr. Wardle. Wardle: Thank you. Marshall: All right. I have several people signed up for this and I'd like to start with Dennis Nichols. Mr. Nichols, I'm going to have to ask for you to give your name and address for the record, please. Nichols: Is this the right mike? My name is Dennis Nichols. I live at 12490 West Mardia Street in Boise. Marshall: Thank you. Nichols: And, Mr. Chairman, Commission Members, I'm sorry, I don't really have a statement at this time, I just reserved it in case I had questions. Thank you. Marshall: Fine. Thank you, sir. All right. I'd like to call Keith Miller then. I'm going to sound like a broken record by the time we are done, but I'm going to have to ask for your name and address for the record, please. Miller: Keith Miller. 6246 North Maximus Place, Meridian. Question. As some of the Commissioners have already stated, concerned about the traffic with the proposal, but not planned -- the current plan and current proposal is not complete. There is a lot of detail it looks like that's not been completed and I would think that would be pretty hard for the Commissioners to approve something based on promises. I have lived in other parts of the nation where many subdivisions are connected by traffic barriers that you can't cross and go through and I think some of those details need to be worked out and completed, so that you do know where the traffic is going to go and what's going to happen. I'm concerned about a double traffic circle in that most of the people in Idaho do not know how to use a traffic circle yet and a double lane will be twice as confusing to them. But we are going to probably add somewhere around 1,200 additional drivers coming out of this subdivision and I think it's a problem that needs to be addressed and Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 16 of 27 looked at. Currently Ada County and others have 20 year plans to update roads like this and 20 years is a long time from now and I think some of the needs are there and I think some of these proposals need these roads taken care of at the same time the building is going on, rather than later, and that needs to be pushed in this part of Meridian, because in other parts of Meridian you haven't done that and you have some tremendous problems and I think you need to look at how you're going to handle this and need some additional things to be looked at, rather than just adding more people to an area. Thank you. Marshall: Thank you, sir. Any questions for Mr. Miller. No? All right. I'd like to ask for Maryann Miller. From the audience she suggests no. She did mark that she was against the project. I would like to ask for Loni Wageman. And if I slaughter your name at any point in time, please, do correct me as you give your name and address for the record. Wageman: My name is Loni Wageman. I live at 5662 South Graphite Way in Meridian. Forgive me for my ignorance. I have never done this before. So, I have a few issues. The school, which I'm not -- I didn't catch when it was going to be completed, which phase. Have they looked into the impact of Lake Hazel Elementary and Mary McPhearson until the completion of that school? The other thing about the traffic, we are -- I'm in Black Rock and right below it is a new subdivision Sun Mesa and they exit on Taconic and Amity. The first phase is just going in now. It's going to be I think 44, 45 houses, but it -- eventually it's going to be quite a bit more. I believe into the hundreds. That being said, that Eagle and Taconic are going to be heavily impacted already before this subdivision is even started and this subdivision, which will exit at Taconic and Lake Hazel and maybe at sometime Amity, is going to severely impact how the people in Black Rock get out of their neighborhood, because there is only one exit. So, if there is all this construction and trucks and -- you know, we have been through it for a whole year with Sun Mesa going in. So, now we have this new subdivision and Eagle is getting more and more crowded with traffic -- I mean I don't know how we are going to get out of our road, you know. You have to consider how bad it's going to be for the people that have one exit. You know, we are stuck there and it's -- if all this construction starts -- I just don't know. You know. And 2022 for widening of Eagle, that's way too far for me to think ahead. I'm thinking like this year, next year, because it's already impacted. Then the other thing is that Black Rock is very low density. Sun Mesa going in is low density, medium density, and I just want to ask you to consider not letting high density go into the area, because it's just going to be so impacted already with the new subdivision going in. So, that's what I have. Marshall: Commissioners, any questions? Well, Mrs. Wageman, I appreciate your testimony. Wageman: Thank you. Marshall: Thank you. At this time I'd like to call Michael Wageman. And I'm going to have to ask for your name and address for the record, please. Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 17 of 27 M.Wageman: My name is Michael Wageman. I live at 5662 South Graphite as well. actually have nothing more to add to my wife, other than the fact that I completely agree with her and the vagueness and the years that the transportation has been addressed concerns me greatly. High density is completely unreasonable to -- with the current transportation that's available and this year 2022 stuff is completely unacceptable as well. Marshall: Any questions for Mr. Wageman? Thank you, sir. All right. I'd like to ask for Harold Belodoff. Please correct me as you get to the microphone with your name and address, please. Belodoff: Thank you. It's Howard Belodoff. But most people get the last name wrong, so you did very well. Thank you very much. My address is 3209 North Mountain Lane, Boise, Idaho. I'm hear on behalf of the FC Nova soccer complex. It's on Lake Hazel. It's 3924 Lake Hazel Road. We -- we have been there for well over ten years as a soccer facility. These are our new neighbors. We have some concerns. The first concern is to preserve our use. In the last three years we have put a half a million dollars into our facility. We serve on an annual basis over 2,000 children, mostly from this area. We provide what the City of Meridian doesn't. We provide opportunities for recreation, because -- and I'm sure that this board knows there aren't enough facilities. We have very -- the best fields in the valley. We provide our goals. We provide a clubhouse. We provide these kids with an opportunity and our motto is opportunity looks a lot like hard work. To learn from age four to age 19 and, then, on, because we provide college advisory. Millions of dollars in scholarships are awarded to these kids. So, in order for us to function and serve the kids we have to preserve our use. We have lights and our lights are going to be right on the -- the -- I guess it's the western boundary there on Lake Hazel Road. They are already installed. They are directed down. But -- and I foresee there will be some complaints. We are out there almost 12 months a year. The kids -- hundreds of kids make noise. We have tractors. We have wheel lines. We have to cut the grass. We have to water the grass. These are our uses. We need to preserve those uses and we need some protection against our new neighborhoods making complaints about the noise, whatever it is. And I don't know if we can protect -- we can protect that by insisting on some notice in the CC&Rs or something. So, we are not in the midst of litigation or whatever at a later point in time. So, that -- those are one type of use and there is no question that this -- this development -- and, you know, we support it, but we have our concerns. It's the impact to travel and that intersection at Lake Hazel and Eagle Road in a nightmare. I have some pictures and I forgot it. It's a four-way stop. There is not shoulders. There is a drop off. No guard rail. We have known drivers coming between about 3:00 and 7:00 o'clock or even later at that intersection. I, myself, have seen ten cars backed up. When they did the traffic study in July that's not our most heavily used period of time. So, I think that really undercounts the use of that road. When we developed our property for the CUP three years ago -- if I may have a few more minutes. Marshall: I just going to have to ask you to, please, try to start wrapping it up here. Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 18 of 27 Belodoff: I will. Marshall: Thank you. Belodoff: My point is that -- that it is a safety issue and ACHD their plans are many years and I don't know exactly when that southern part of the development will be built, but I'm concerned about it getting too far ahead. We have that collector street coming out. There is not going to -- we had to install a turn lane and we have far less traffic. So, we have a center turn lane that ACHD made us do when we -- to complete our CUP and so those are our concerns and I know that ACHD has a condition of an updated CSI and I would like to see that done sooner, actually, because I do believe that this is going to have a huge impact and it's not going to be a ten year build out, it's going to -- those houses are going to go quicker than ACHD is going to build. So, if there is any questions. Marshall: Commissioners, any questions? Yearsley: No. Oliver: Mr. Chairman? Marshall: Commissioner Oliver. Oliver: Just tell me again who owns that property that you're playing on? Belodoff: We own it. We owe a lot on it, but we pay it off with donations, fundraising and mostly the fees that we have to charge our families. Oliver: At this point have you ever met with Brighton to talk to them about these problems? Belodoff: I think somebody may have met with individuals on -- I think their families have been members of our club. I'm not quite sure. I personally have not and I would welcome the opportunity to talk to them at anytime, because, you know, like I said, we do not really oppose this development, we just have those concerns, which is a six foot fence. We have put landscaping on our other side of the property where -- where the subdivision was and I'm telling you right now we still have issues. The balls are going to be kicked over the fence. We have to go around -- the kids have to go around and get those balls. There is just a lot of issues running a facility like we have, you know, and it's just unavoidable. We try to avoid it and I don't know how close those houses are going to be in the back, but we have had broken windows and we pay to replace them. Oliver: Just a real quick question. The land originally was owned by McKays; is that correct? Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 19 of 27 Belodoff: I believe that -- Darwin McKay. Yeah. I believe that is correct. I think he still owns the -- the piece that's on the corner there. Oliver: You have never had conversations with him about maybe eventually when he retires that he may sell off part of that property? Belodoff: We tried to buy this property, but we couldn't afford it. But it was before it went to Williams, who is selling it, I believe, to -- Oliver: So, at that point you did know that it eventually would be sold off? Belodoff: We knew -- I mean, obviously, we all know that it would be eventually -- it would be -- eventually be sold off. Oliver: Okay. Belodoff: So, we got -- I don't believe that the uses were the same as this. I think this is higher density and different uses and we got our CUP and we were there first, so -- Oliver: You knew something was going to happen, you just didn't know what; is that correct? Belodoff: Well, this is Meridian, Idaho. We know something is going to happen. I -- have no personal knowledge of that, you know, I'm just making that assumption, so just want to be clear. I had nothing to do with that. I wasn't around when Darwin McKay sold the property. I have been involved with the club a little less than four years right now. Oliver: Okay. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Belodoff: Thank you. Marshall: All right. I have no one else signed up at this time, but is there anyone else that would like to address this project? Anyone? Seeing no other hands and no one else stepping up, I'd like to ask the applicant to come back up, please. Mr. Wardle, I'm going to have to again ask for your name and address for the record. Wardle: Yes, Mr. Chairman. Mike Wardle. Brighton Corporation. 12601 West Explorer Drive in Boise. Mr. Turnbull will take a few minutes when I conclude to talk about the soccer issue. He is well aware and has dealt with that, but I would assure -- and I did not get Howard's last name, but I would assure Howard that the phases that we will be doing that would be adjacent to that facility will be among the last, because sewer and all of the other facilities -- services have to come in from the north and the west. So, however long that takes, that would certainly be the case. We will just go to the -- think the benefits of recent changes in public policy and it really goes back to the requirement that we not have that second access on Eagle Road, except for the one at Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 20 of 27 Taconic, because it really tells the public that the controlled access means that the improvements can be made at one location. There will be either a signal or a roundabout there. This project and the other that the folks mentioned below Black Rock will help facilitate the improvements, so that there will be -- instead of the -- the nightmare I believe that was identified, there will certainly be ability to access Eagle Road, because that's a need that is anticipated in the ACHD requirements that have been placed upon us. It also, then, suggests that the improvements between Taconic at the mid mile and the roundabout at the mile, the section line, means that it gets down eventually to just widening for capacity. But intersection improvements are the most critical elements of moving the traffic through the system, both to get access to and through. Mr. Miller talked about, you know, the details not being completed. Well, in fact, ACHD does have long range plans already in place. It was simply the question of do they accelerate by the way that community growth occurs or are they out there some distance in the future. Obviously, this project, with the ones below Black Rock on the other side of Eagle Road will help accelerate some of those needs and improvements. But they are not unanticipated. They have been -- it's simply a timing question and some of these improvements are already in the plans within the -- what you would call impact fee eligible improvements. So, this is not a neglected issue. It's been considered by ACRD and it's certainly part of the requirements that they will place upon us, which is in our review are not, again, unanticipated in the way this project will develop. With regard to the schools, one of the first contacts we made was the school district. Due to -- because there was a little symbol on the Comprehensive Plan that suggested that there would be a school facility in this section and so as we' met with Dr. Gestron, he said, yes, we need an elementary site. They already have acquired a high school site a mile east of the intersection of Amity and Eagle Road on the north side. So, they already have a high school planned out here at some point in the future. Relative to when this elementary school would be constructed, we don't control that, but they are in the process in anticipation of their bonding and phasing of schools, but one of the things that we do in every project that we undertake -- and we have got a lot of them going on in the Meridian area, schools are among the first items that we consider and in almost every project that we are doing there is at least an elementary school site. So, that's not unanticipated again in looking toward how this project will impact in the future. But, again, until the houses appear the needs don't change. It will always follow the need and the Meridian -- well, West Ada School District now I believe does a good job of anticipating and sometimes they have to staff up their facilities and use modulars until they get to the point that they can add the new school and, then, they move people out. That just happened this school year in our Paramount project in north Meridian where people were concerned in the neighborhood as we expanded that project about the impacts on the school, but they just opened a school across Linder Road that vacated some space and allowed our community to continue to add to that -- that school population. So, again, traffic control anticipated and, in fact, we will probably help improve in the -- not the immediate, but certainly earlier than it otherwise would to get an intersection of some type controlled by either signals or a roundabout at Taconic and help those folks that are already there in the Black Rock community. Unless you have questions of me, I'm going to turn the balance of the time to Mr. Turnbull to talk about the soccer facilities. And I thank you very much. Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 21 of 27 Marshall: Mr. Turnbull, I'm going to have to ask for your name and address for the record, please. Turnbull: Mr. Chairman, David Turnbull. 12601 West Explorer Drive in Boise. appreciate the time you have given us for consideration here tonight. I would add to Mike's comment regarding the school. We are very proactive with the schools, as Mike mentioned on every project we do they are the first people we meet with, whether there is a little dot on the Comprehensive Plan or not and we are working with them on two school sites right now. And, in fact, they have engaged the architect on this specific site already. So, plans are moving forward. We are massaging and tweaking and plans moving forward. So, it's about as expeditious as you could imagine. I'd like to -- again, didn't catch the gentleman's name from the soccer club. It's Howard -- anyway, wanted to address that, because I have a long history with that particular club, this particular property. I was -- I have two boys that played for the Capital Soccer Club -- think between the two boys they won 11 state championships for that club and I have spent a lot of time out here. When this facility was first put out there it was a dirt parking lot and I remember a few rainy days where we were going up to our axles in mud in the parking lot, so I helped and donated to weather proofing that parking lot and I know all of the issues that they went through with Ada County on their conditional use permits and getting extensions on their conditional use permit and we think it's a great use out there and -- and I think that everybody knew as that facility was put in that growth was going to occur around the area. So, I think that that's a big surprise. I actually have -- and to this gentleman's question, I actually met earlier this year with a couple of representatives of the club about this facility whether they would like to look at additional facilities or expanded facilities somewhere else. So, I'm pretty familiar with this. You know, we are going to be neighbors and we are going to have to coexist, but we built Paramount around a high school and a football field and soccer fields. You know, there are some people that want to live up against it and deal with the chatter of kids and the lights, you know, there is some people that don't. But people that do really like that activity out their backyard. It's kind of why they live there. I remember going to soccer games since my kids were this little in parks all over this valley and thinking, you know, when I'm an old geezer I want to live on a park just like this, so I can sit in my chair out in my back patio and watch these kids play. Marty Hill, who lives to the north of us, is doing that park just for that very reason, because Dixie Hill used to live up against Hobble Creek Park, which we built, and she just loved being out there with all the activity and watching it from her deck. So, these things happen and we will coexist and there might be some, you know, issues along the way, but people work it out. So, we realize that. We think we are a good neighbor. Fact is, the density here is less than what would be allowed and we think we have got a great plan here. I think the overall layout is very desirable. You can see that we have scattered green space throughout the community. We are excited about this project and we think that this is the natural progression of the expansion of the area of the city, so we would appreciate your support and I will stand for any questions. Marshall: Commissioners, any questions? No? Thank you very much. Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 22 of 27 Turnbull: Thank you. Marshall: All right. With that said, Commissioners, I'm looking for a motion to close the public hearing on AZ 14-012 and PP 14-016. Yearsley: So moved. Oliver: Second. Marshall: I have a motion and a second to close the public hearing. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? That motion carries. MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. ONE ABSENT. Marshall: Commissioners, thoughts? Comments? Yearsley: Mr. Chairman? Marshall: Commissioner Yearsley. Yearsley: If you don't mind I'd like to go first on this one. Marshall: It is yours, sir. Yearsley: For those of you out there -- I live in Tuscany, so I have lived in your neighborhood, so I understand your concerns with traffic and I try to get out on Eagle every morning, so I feel your pain. With that, the city has no control over the roads. That is ACHD's issue that's there to work out. I know as developers they do pay impact fees for each lot and my guess for this facility they are going to be paying a significant amount of impact fees to help with the improvements around that area. Will the improvements come in time? No. I can probably guarantee you that. But I think if we all complain to ACHD about the traffic problems, we may be able to get it pushed up a little bit more. I will serve on one of the commissions for ACHD as well and work to try to get these projects moved forward as much as possible. But understand that there is need all throughout Ada County on roadway issues. So, with that it will be an issue and we will just have to bear through it. I think with this it's naive not to believe that this area is going to expand. When we moved from Nampa we chose to be south of the interstate because of the access and the area it is and I think a lot of people are in that same boat, is they want to be out this side of the interstate just for access and now we are going to be paying the price a little bit, but I think we have done a decent job at least getting us -- with the intersection improvements and hopefully to continue with those improvements. So, I understand the traffic issues and the concerns. I also agree I don't like dual lane roundabouts either, but that's not my choice per se. With the schools think this development has done a good job providing for a school site. I am better accepting of the school site given that there will be another collector street heading to Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 23 of 27 the north. I have seen other instances where they put the school in the very back corner and people getting access to and from the school causes problems with other neighbors and so having that secondary access I think will be helpful and I appreciate you relocating that collector to the north, so we can stub that out for future development. So, I think that will be beneficial. Overall I think it's a good layout. It's a good design. don't know if I would consider this high density. We have had significant areas there that we could develop at a higher rate, but they chose not to and so at a lower rate. So, I think it's a good mix. I like the walking paths and the green space along Ten Mile Creek. I think that will be beneficial for the project and for the future city. So, with that am actually in favor of this project. Marshall: Thank you, Commissioner Yearsley. Oliver: Mr. Chairman? Marshall: Commissioner Oliver. Oliver: I like the layout. I like the way it looks. I believe it will be a very good development for Meridian. My only concern is to see that final platting that's the final design with the changes made to see. My only concern with it -- and that's not much, but I would like to see that change made before I make the final decision. That's all I have. Marshall: Commissioner McCarvel, comments? Thoughts? McCarvel: Mr. Chairman, I'd just like to tell everybody that I also live south of the interstate and along roads under construction and I know it's going to be inconvenient for a while. It would be nice if we can get those roads -- and especially intersections seem to relieve a lot of that pain if they can get at least those done. But I know that's not our choice, so -- Marshall: I guess it's my turn. All right. So, it sounds like a lot of people were caught off guard, didn't know what was going to go on here and things like that and I would like to draw your attention for just a minute to that map over thereon the wall. That is called the FLUM, the Future Land Use Map, it's very tied to our City of Meridian Comprehensive Plan. That isn't the City of Meridian putting that together, that is decades of committees of citizen volunteers -- in fact, early on our Mayor -- that's how she started out her whole political career was simply volunteering for some committees to help develop the Comprehensive Plan and other people have -- hundreds of people from our community have taken time to develop that. So, I'd like to point out something. Over this piece of property it was marked -- a section of it was marked -- about 90 acres was marked low density, which meant three -- three residents or less per acre. A section of it was marked medium density and a section medium high density. Now, this was by the committees and this was developed over years and a lot of this has been up here for years and years. We tweak it all the time. People -- we have committees -- the city has committees and if you would like to be involved in this, please, see some of Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 24 of 27 these people, they will get you in touch with the right people and spend some time, volunteer some time, give your opinion on how this city should develop. But we have identified areas of -- that should be higher densities and lower densities and I'd like to point something out. This applicant is actually asking to lower the density from what we have got on our future land use map and is listed in the Comprehensive Plan. I don't see that very often. Usually they are trying to raise the density. But it makes sense having seen a number of the other projects, it actually makes sense that this density works quite well for their developments and, Commissioners, I would actually be in favor of lowering the density. Staff feels that, again, the Ten Mile Creek might be a good buffer between medium density and medium high density, which would be -- medium high density is eight to 15 -- between eight and 15 residences per acre and if you don't like that high density, again, get on a committee, talk -- you know, get involved with this, so we can change the future land use map the way you want to see it. But, again, many, many people throughout this city north, south, east, west have worked on this and this is one area they identified and this area has been identified long ago for a higher density, because it's near traffic corridors. Now, I agree, that traffic is bad out there and -- and I know both of us have served on the traffic task force -- it's not the traffic commission that works with ACHD, identifies areas within the City of Meridian that we really need some help with and we prioritize those intersections throughout the entire city and I will tell you guy you have needs out there. You really do. There are needs all over the city and those are being prioritized and every city in Ada County does that and, then, ACHD has a grading system, which, fortunately, was revised a few years ago and is working more in our favor than it was just ten years ago, I will tell you that -- or five years ago. It's working much better I think and addressing the needs better, rather than placing money, because that's where some money came from. It's doing better. I can also address the issues on the traffic circles and there has been a number of commissions working on that with ACHD. They have identified that as the default intersection. Traffic circles are the default intersection and there will be a traffic circle, unless they cannot put one in and, then, they will consider a traffic light and why. And love the point that Idahoans don't have -- don't know how to use them. I agree. absolutely agree. Idahoans don't and they frustrate me to no end, because Idahoans don't know how to use them, because I will tell you what, once we all learn and everybody knows how to -- the reason they are defaulting to that is because they flow more traffic over a shorter period of time. I have a hard time doing those in Europe, because, gosh, I don't know how to use them yet, but, wow, they know how to use them and they flow a lot of traffic really fast and that's why we are defaulting to those, because they work better than a signalized intersection. The traffic flows faster and it flows better. So, again, I agree, though, those of us in Idaho need to learn how to use them and that's -- that's going to take some doing. But we will never learn how to use them if we don't put them in is I believe ACHD's point of view. Again, that's not up to me and it's not up to these people, that's ACHD. It's not up to the city. ACHD has made that determination and I would suggest if you don't like those and don't think those should be default, please, go talk to them about it. I do appreciate a lot of the comments about -- about the traffic, you're right, and we really can't address that. What we can do is simply address future growth and what the city has done to do that is the future land use map and the Comprehensive Plan and, again, what this applicant is Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 25 of 27 asking to do is actually lower the density from what the city had actually identified from there. To be honest, I'm actually very favorable for this. One of my pet peeves is multiple accesses to roads, because that's where -- that's exactly what's happened -- the downfall of Eagle Road is way too many accesses. Everybody agreed that would be served by frontage roads and, then, it developed uncontrolled and Eagle Road does not operate -- you know, north of this area it does not operate at its designed speed at all. And so I appreciate the fact that -- that north -- I understand why you would want a temporary access there, because now you're going to actually have to build a bridge and everything else. It's going to be very expensive to get that entrance in before you have sold a lot. I get that. And so it would have been nice to have had that temporary access, but I really appreciate putting money forward up front in building that access, since you have that main access first. I really appreciate that and that's -- I would have been favorable towards the temporary, but I like this. They will -- I do believe there is a temporary there and they are talking about a 24 foot construction and this also -- the request here actually protects a lot of what people were asking -- I'm also for this -- in trying to identify that this is how many lots would be -- would end up even after the road is curved up in there. I see how it's -- I have spent a few years laying a few of these out and I understand how that's going to change that northern corner quite a bit, but as long as it's going to the same number of lots, we still have the same size school facility and that -- that connector is pretty and is now linked to the north, so it can go up to Amity through future development. I'm for it. I think it's a very good project. Oliver: Mr. Chairman? Marshall: Yes, sir. Oliver: Is it okay to consult staff on this for a second? Marshall: Absolutely. Question regarding -- Oliver: Just regarding this. Does staff have any problem with the changes made there? Watters: Changes made to the applicant's comments? Oliver: Yeah. What do you want us to do and propose closing one and moving it? Watters: Staff has actually recommended that in our conditions of approval for the applicant to do. Oliver: Okay. Watters: Yeah. If you're asking about the -- increasing the number of lots, that's great. Staff knows that if you -- that access will result in an increase in lots. Oliver: Okay. All right. Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 26 of 27 Marshall: Anything else, Commissioners? So, I guess -- Yearsley: Mr. Chairman? I actually wanted to ask Commissioner Oliver -- you had a concern about the future school site. Did you want to see that? Would you recommend a continuance or -- Oliver: I guess my concern is that -- I understand what Mr. Wardle is talking about, but seeing -- seeing it -- seeing that road wrapping around and seeing the -- yes. I would like to. Yearsley: Okay. Oliver: I don't know -- that's why I guess I'm consulting staff as to whether it's something I -- it's not a big concern? Watters: Chairman Marshall, Commissioner Oliver, they -- they are revising the plat prior to the Council meeting and that will include that revision if -- however, if the Commission -- if you guys would like to see that before you move it onto the Council that is certainly -- Oliver: Okay. Watters: -- up to you. Your decision. Oliver: That clarifies that. Marshall: Commissioner Oliver, I'm going to make a quick comment. Personally, would love to see that finalized before I made a decision here, but I also know that by putting that off and continuing this, it does cost considerable amount of money and, to be honest, I don't think it's going to make an impact on my decision. Oliver: After what was just said with the City Council seeing this after that, I have no problems. Marshall: Okay. Yearsley: Mr. Chairman? Marshall: Commissioner Yearsley. Yearsley: After considering all staff, applicant, and public testimony, move to recommend approval to the City Council of file number AZ 14-012, PP 14-014, as presented in the staff report for the hearing date of October 16th, 2014, with the following recommendation to City Council: That the number of lots in the Hill's Century Farms Subdivision shall be proposed to be preliminary plat application -- or the number Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission October 16, 2014 Page 27 of 27 of lots generated by the changes required by conditions of approval. I hope I got that right. Oliver: I second that. Marshall: I think I understood that. I have a motion to approve PP 14-015 and AZ 14- 012 as amended. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? That motion carries. MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. ONE ABSENT. Marshall: Commissioners, looking for one more motion. Oliver: Mr. Chairman? Marshall: Commissioner Oliver. Oliver: I move that we adjourn the meeting. Yearsley: Second. Marshall: I have a motion and a second to adjourn. All those in favor say aye. Opposed? That motion carries. MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. ONE ABSENT. Marshall: We are adjourned. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:27 P.M. (AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS.) ATTEST: VVJ4 JAYCEE HOLMAN, CITY CLER I(I Z a DATE APPROVED 4QO�P7�4D AUGUgTr,� 9 �O z w V � @w NpER of tEe TREPS