PZ - Staff Report907 N.W. 2nd Street – RZ H-2016-0040 PAGE 1
STAFF REPORT Hearing Date: May 5, 2016
TO: Planning & Zoning Commission
FROM: Sonya Watters, Associate City Planner
208-884-5533
Bruce Freckleton, Development Services Manager
208-887-2211
SUBJECT: 907 N.W. 2nd Street – RZ (H-2016-0040)
I. SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF APPLICANT’S REQUEST
The applicant, City of Meridian, has submitted an application for a rezone (RZ) of 0.27 of an acre of
land from the R-4 to the O-T zoning district.
II. SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of the proposed RZ application in accord with the Findings of Fact and
Conclusions of Law in Exhibit C.
III. PROPOSED MOTION
Approval
After considering all staff, applicant and public testimony, I move to recommend approval to the City
Council of File Number H-2016-0040, as presented in the staff report for the hearing date of May 5,
2016, with the following modifications: (Add any proposed modifications).
Denial
After considering all staff, applicant and public testimony, I move to recommend denial to the City
Council of File Number H-2016-0040, as presented during the hearing on May 5, 2016, for the
following reasons: (You should state specific reasons for denial)
Continuance
I move to continue File Number H-2015-0040 to the hearing date of (insert continued hearing date
here) for the following reason(s): (You should state specific reason(s) for continuance.)
IV. APPLICATION AND PROPERTY FACTS
A. Site Address/Location:
The site is located at 907 N.W. 2nd Street, in the NE ¼ of Section 12, Township 3 North, Range 1
West. (Parcel No.: R6066000165)
B. Owner:
John Schroeder & Margaret Lezamiz
3786 S. Suntree Place
Boise, ID 83706
C. Applicant:
City of Meridian
33 E. Broadway Ave.
Meridian, ID 83642
907 N.W. 2nd Street – RZ H-2016-0040 PAGE 2
D. Representative:
Austin Petersen, City of Meridian
33 E. Broadway Ave.
Meridian, ID 83642
E. Applicant's Statement/Justification: Please see applicant’s narrative for this information.
V. PROCESS FACTS
A. The subject application is for a rezone. A public hearing is required before the Planning & Zoning
Commission and City Council on this matter, consistent with Meridian City Code Title 11,
Chapter 5.
B. Newspaper notifications published on: April 18 and May 2, 2016
C. Radius notices mailed to properties within 300 feet on: April 5, 2016
D. Applicant posted notice on site(s) on: April 22, 2016
VI. LAND USE
A. Existing Land Use(s) and Zoning: There is a multi-family dwelling (4-plex) on this site, zoned R-
4.
B. Character of Surrounding Area and Adjacent Land Use and Zoning:
1. North: Multi-family apartments, zoned O-T
2. East: Single-family residential, zoned R-4
3. South: Single-family residential, zoned R-4
4. West: Single-family residential, zoned R-4
C. History of Previous Actions:
A rezone (RZ-03-007) to R-4 and conditional use permit (CUP-03-026) for the multi-
family development was approved in 2003.
A Certificate of Zoning Compliance (CZC-04-006) was approved in 2004 for the existing
4-plex.
D. Utilities:
1. Location of sewer: The subject site is currently being served with sanitary sewer from the
City of Meridian.
2. Location of water: The subject site is currently being served with water from the City of
Meridian.
3. Issues or concerns: None
E. Physical Features:
1. Canals/Ditches Irrigation: There are no waterways that cross this site.
2. Hazards: Staff is unaware of any hazards that exist on this site.
3. Flood Plain: This site does not lie within the Meridian Floodplain Overlay District.
907 N.W. 2nd Street – RZ H-2016-0040 PAGE 3
VII. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN POLICIES AND GOALS
The Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map (FLUM) designates this property as Old Town. This
designation includes the historic downtown and the true community center. The boundary of the Old
Town district predominantly follows Meridian’s historic plat boundaries. In several areas, both sides
of a street were incorporated into the boundary to encourage similar uses and complimentary design
of the facing houses and buildings. Sample uses include offices, retail and lodging, theatres,
restaurants, and service retail for surrounding residents and visitors. A variety of residential uses are
also envisioned and could include reuse of existing buildings, new construction of multi-family
residential over ground floor retail or office uses.
The current use of this property as a multi-family 4-plex is proposed to continue – no changes are
proposed with this application. Multi-family uses are a desired use in the Old Town designation and
contribute to the variety of uses in the downtown area. Staff finds the existing and continued multi-
family residential use of the property is consistent with the Old Town land use designation.
VIII. UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE (UDC)
A. Purpose Statement of Zone: Per UDC 11-2D-1, the purpose of the traditional neighborhood
districts is to encourage mixed use, compact development that is sensitive to the environmental
characteristics of the land and facilitates the efficient use of services. Vertically integrated
residential projects are encouraged in all traditional neighborhood districts. A traditional
neighborhood district diversifies and integrates land uses within close proximity to each other,
and it provides for the daily recreational and shopping needs of the residents.
B. Schedule of Use: Unified Development Code (UDC) Table 11-2D-2 lists the principal permitted
(P), accessory (A), conditional (C), and prohibited (-) uses in the O-T zoning district. Any use not
explicitly listed, or listed as a prohibited use is prohibited. Multi-family developments are listed as
a principal permitted use in the O-T zoning district.
C. Dimensional Standards: Development of the site should be consistent with the dimensional
standards listed in UDC11-2D-4 for the O-T zoning district.
D. Landscaping: Street buffer landscaping is not required in the O-T zoning district.
E. Off-Street Parking: Off-street parking is required in accord with UDC Table 11-3C-6 for multi-
family dwellings.
IX. ANALYSIS
A. Analysis of Facts Leading to Staff Recommendation:
Rezone
The applicant has applied for a rezone of 0.27 of an acre of land from the R-4 to the O-T zoning
district. As discussed above in Section VII, the proposed zoning is consistent with the policies in
the Comprehensive Plan and the FLUM designation of Old Town for this property.
The reason for the rezone request is because the Public Work’s Department will be installing a
new sewer line in N.W. 2nd Street and abandoning the old sewer line in the alley between N.W.
2nd and N.W. 3rd Streets. The sewer service for the properties along N.W. 2nd St. will be re-routed
to flow into the new sewer main in N.W. 2nd St. A new sewer service cannot be installed to serve
921 N.W. 2nd St. entirely within the property lines of that property without causing damage to
landscaping and disruption to tenants. Therefore, the property owner has requested that the sewer
service line to the building at 921 N.W. 2nd St. run through the subject property, which is under
common ownership. In order to do this, the subject property must be rezoned to the same zone as
907 N.W. 2nd Street – RZ H-2016-0040 PAGE 4
the adjacent property; then a property boundary adjustment can be applied for to combine the two
parcels into one parcel.
The legal description submitted with the application, included in Exhibit C, shows the boundaries
of the property proposed to be rezoned. The property is contiguous to land that has been annexed
into the City and is within the Area of City Impact boundary.
Once the rezone ordinance is approved, the applicant plans to submit and obtain approval of an
application for a property boundary adjustment to combine the parcels.
The City may require a development agreement (DA) in conjunction with a rezone pursuant to
Idaho Code section 67-6511A. Because no development is proposed with this application, staff
does not recommend a DA is required as a provision of the rezone.
In summary, Staff recommends approval of the proposed rezone request for this site in accord
with the findings contained in Exhibit D.
X. EXHIBITS
A. Vicinity/Zoning Map
B. Legal Description & Exhibit Map for Rezone Boundary
C. Required Findings from Unified Development Code
Exhibit A Page 1
EXHIBIT A: VICINITY/ZONING MAP
- 2 -
EXHIBIT B - LEGAL DESCRIPTION & EXHIBIT MAP FOR REZONE BOUNDARY
- 3 -
- 4 -
EXHIBIT C: REQUIRED FINDINGS FROM UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE
1. Rezone Findings:
Upon recommendation from the Commission, the Council shall make a full investigation
and shall, at the public hearing, review the application. In order to grant an annexation, the
Council shall make the following findings:
a. The map amendment complies with the applicable provisions of the Comprehensive
Plan;
The map amendment to O-T is consistent with the FLUM designation of Old Town. The
existing and continued use of the property as a multi-family 4-plex is a desired use in the Old
Town designated area and will complement the existing mix of uses in the downtown area
(see section VII above for more information).
b. The map amendment complies with the regulations outlined for the proposed district,
specifically the purpose statement;
Staff finds that the proposed map amendment to the O-T zoning district is consistent with the
purpose statement for the traditional neighborhood districts as detailed in Section VIII above.
c. The map amendment shall not be materially detrimental to the public health, safety,
and welfare;
Staff finds that the proposed zoning map amendment will not be detrimental to the public
health, safety, or welfare. City utilities already exist to this site. Staff recommends that the
Commission and Council consider any oral or written testimony that may be provided when
determining this finding.
d. The map amendment shall not result in an adverse impact upon the delivery of services
by any political subdivision providing public services within the City including, but not
limited to, school districts; and,
Staff finds that the proposed zoning amendment will not result in any adverse impact upon
the delivery of services by any political subdivision providing services to this site.
e. The annexation is in the best of interest of the City (UDC 11-5B-3.E).
This finding is not applicable as the request is for a rezone.