ACHD- MER19-0037 ISU Parking Lot Expansion ReviewedRebecca W. Arnold, President
Mary May, 1st Vice-President
Sara M. Baker, 2nd Vice-President
Jim D. Hansen, Commissioner
Kent Goldthorpe, Commissioner
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Ada County Highway District • 3775 Adams Street • Garden City, ID • 83714 • PH 208-387-6100 • FX 345-7650 • www.achdidaho.org
May 29, 2019
To: Joint School District, via email
1303 E Central Drive
Meridian, ID 83642
Subject: MER19-0037/ A-2019-0171
915 E. Central Drive
ISU Parking Lot Expansion
The applicant is requesting design review and certitificate of zoning compliance approval for
the construction of a 5 acre over-flow parking lot for Idaho State University..
A. Findings of Fact
1. Central Drive
a. Policy:
Access Policy: District Policy 7205.4.1 states that all access points associated
with development applications shall be determined in accordance with the policies
in this section and Section 7202. Access points shall be reviewed only for a
development application that is being considered by the lead land use agency.
Approved access points may be relocated and/or restricted in the future if the land
use intensifies, changes, or the property redevelops.
District Policy 7206.1 states that the primary function of a collector is to intercept
traffic from the local street system and carry that traffic to the nearest arterial. A
secondary function is to service adjacent property. Access will be limited or
controlled. Collectors may also be designated at bicycle and bus routes.
Driveway Location Policy (Signalized Intersection): District policy 7206.4.3
requires driveways located on collector roadways near a signalized intersection to
be located outside the area of influence; OR a minimum of 440-feet from the
signalized intersection for a full-access driveway and a minimum of 220-feet from
the signalized intersection for a right-in/right-out only driveway. Dimensions shall
be measured from the centerline of the intersection to the centerline of the
driveway.
Driveway Location Policy (Stop Controlled Intersection): District policy
7206.4.4 requires driveways located on collector roadways near a STOP controlled
intersection to be located outside of the area of influence; OR a minimum of 150-
feet from the intersection, whichever is greater. Dimensions shall be measured from
the centerline of the intersection to the centerline of the driveway.
Successive Driveways: District policy 7206.4.5 Table 1, requires driveways
located on collector roadways with a speed limit of 25 MPH and daily traffic volumes
greater than 100 VTD to align or offset a minimum of 245-feet from any existing or
proposed driveway.
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Ada County Highway District • 3775 Adams Street • Garden City, ID • 83714 • PH 208-387-6100 • FX 345-7650 • www.achdidaho.org
Driveway Width Policy: District policy 7206.4.6 restricts high-volume driveways
(100 VTD or more) to a maximum width of 36-feet and low-volume driveways (less
than 100 VTD) to a maximum width of 30-feet. Curb return type driveways with 30-
foot radii will be required for high-volume driveways with 100 VTD or more. Curb
return type driveways with 15-foot radii will be required for low-volume driveways
with less than 100 VTD.
Driveway Paving Policy: Graveled driveways abutting public streets create
maintenance problems due to gravel being tracked onto the roadway. In
accordance with District policy, 7206.4.6, the applicant should be required to pave
the driveway its full width and at least 30-feet into the site beyond the edge of
pavement of the roadway and install pavement tapers in accordance with Table 2
under District Policy 7206.4.6.
Minor Improvements Policy: District Policy 7203.3 states that minor
improvements to existing streets adjacent to a proposed development may be
required. These improvements are to correct deficiencies or replace deteriorated
facilities. Included are sidewalk construction or replacement; curb and gutter
construction or replacement; replacement of unused driveways with curb, gutter
and sidewalk; installation or reconstruction of pedestrian ramps; pavement repairs;
signs; traffic control devices; and other similar items.
b. Applicant’s Proposal: The applicant is proposing to close a driveway onto Central
Drive located 35-feet east of the east property line (measured from the east
property line to centerline of the driveway) with curb, gutter and sidewalk and
construct a new 41-foot wide driveway located at the east property line with a
dedicated right hand turn-lane on Central Drive.
c. Staff Comments/Recommendations: The applicant’s proposal to close the
existing driveway onto Central Drive with curb, gutter and sidewalk to match the
existing improvements on either side meets District policy and should be approved,
as proposed.
The applicant’s proposal to construct a 41-foot wide driveway onto Central Drive
does not meet District Width or Successive Driveway policies because it exceeds
the 36-foot maximum driveway width and it does not meet the minimum offset of
245-feet from an existing driveway. However, staff recommends a modification of
policy to allow the driveway to be constructed, as proposed because it will
accommodate two entry lanes which will allow for simultaneous left and right turns
into the site. Staff also recommends approval of the driveway location because the
existing driveway is a low volume driveway. This is a 2% modification to the
dimensional standards and is approved at the discretion of the Development
Services Manager.
Consistent with District Minor Improvements policy the applicant should be required
to repair, replace any damaged or deficient improvements along Central Drive
abutting the site.
B. Site Specific Conditions of Approval
1. Close the driveway onto Central Drive located 35-feet east of the east property line with
vertical curb, gutter and sidewalk to match the existing improvements to the east.
2. Construct a new 41-foot driveway onto Central Drive located at the east property line with
a dedicated right hand turn-lane.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ada County Highway District • 3775 Adams Street • Garden City, ID • 83714 • PH 208-387-6100 • FX 345-7650 • www.achdidaho.org
3. Consistent with District Minor Improvements policy the applicant should be required to
repair, replace any damaged or deficient improvements along Central Drive abutting the
site.
4. A Traffic Impact Fee may be assessed by ACHD and will be due prior to issuance of a
building permit. Please contact the ACHD Planner (see below) for information regarding
impact fees.
5. Submit civil plans to ACHD Development Services for review and approval. The impact
fee assessment will not be released until the civil plans are approved by ACHD.
6. Comply with the Standard Conditions of Approval as noted below.
C. Traffic Information
Trip Generation
Condition of Area Roadways: Traffic Count is based on Vehicles per hour (VPH)
Roadway Frontage
Functional
Classification
PM Peak Hour
Traffic Count
PM Peak Hour
Level of Service
Locust Grove 0-feet Minor Arterial 1,147 Better than “E”
Central Drive 41-feet Collector 276 Better than “D”
* Acceptable level of service for a five-lane minor arterial is “E” (1,540 VPH).
* Acceptable level of service for a three-lane collector is “D” (530 VPH).
Average Daily Traffic Count (VDT): Average daily traffic counts are based on ACHD’s most current
traffic counts
• The average daily traffic count for Locust Grove north of Overland Road was 21,588
on April 12, 2017.
• The average daily traffic count for Central Drive west of Locust Grove was 5,599 on
April 25, 2017.
D. Attachments
1. Vicinity Map
2. Site Plan
3. Standard Conditions of Approval
4. Appeal Guidelines
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Ada County Highway District • 3775 Adams Street • Garden City, ID • 83714 • PH 208-387-6100 • FX 345-7650 • www.achdidaho.org
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (208) 387-6218.
Sincerely,
Dawn Battles
Planner
Development Services
cc: City of Meridian (Kevin Holmes), via email
KM Engineering (Sabrina Durtschi), via email
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Ada County Highway District • 3775 Adams Street • Garden City, ID • 83714 • PH 208-387-6100 • FX 345-7650 • www.achdidaho.org
VICINITY MAP
The parking lot will be located on the
south portion of the site.
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Ada County Highway District • 3775 Adams Street • Garden City, ID • 83714 • PH 208-387-6100 • FX 345-7650 • www.achdidaho.org
SITE PLAN
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Ada County Highway District • 3775 Adams Street • Garden City, ID • 83714 • PH 208-387-6100 • FX 345-7650 • www.achdidaho.org
Standard Conditions of Approval
1. All proposed irrigation facilities shall be located outside of the ACHD right-of-way
(including all easements). Any existing irrigation facilities shall be relocated outside of
the ACHD right-of-way (including all easements).
2. Private Utilities including sewer or water systems are prohibited from being located within
the ACHD right-of-way.
3. In accordance with District policy, 7203.6, the applicant may be required to update any
existing non-compliant pedestrian improvements abutting the site to meet current
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. The applicant’s engineer should
provide documentation of ADA compliance to District Development Review staff for
review.
4. Replace any existing damaged curb, gutter and sidewalk and any that may be damaged
during the construction of the proposed development. Contact Construction Services at
387-6280 (with file number) for details.
5. A license agreement and compliance with the District’s Tree Planter policy is required for
all landscaping proposed within ACHD right-of-way or easement areas.
6. All utility relocation costs associated with improving street frontages abutting the site shall
be borne by the developer.
7. It is the responsibility of the applicant to verify all existing utilities within the right-of-way.
The applicant at no cost to ACHD shall repair existing utilities damaged by the applicant.
The applicant shall be required to call DIGLINE (1-811-342-1585) at least two full
business days prior to breaking ground within ACHD right-of-way. The applicant shall
contact ACHD Traffic Operations 387-6190 in the event any ACHD conduits (spare or
filled) are compromised during any phase of construction.
8. Utility street cuts in pavement less than five years old are not allowed unless approved in
writing by the District. Contact the District’s Utility Coordinator at 387-6258 (with file
numbers) for details.
9. All design and construction shall be in accordance with the ACHD Policy Manual, ISPWC
Standards and approved supplements, Construction Services procedures and all
applicable ACHD Standards unless specifically waived herein. An engineer registered in
the State of Idaho shall prepare and certify all improvement plans.
10. Construction, use and property development shall be in conformance with all applicable
requirements of ACHD prior to District approval for occupancy.
11. No change in the terms and conditions of this approval shall be valid unless they are in
writing and signed by the applicant or the applicant’s authorized representative and an
authorized representative of ACHD. The burden shall be upon the applicant to obtain
written confirmation of any change from ACHD.
12. If the site plan or use should change in the future, ACHD Planning Review will review the
site plan and may require additional improvements to the transportation system at that
time. Any change in the planned use of the property which is the subject of this
application, shall require the applicant to comply with ACHD Policy and Standard
Conditions of Approval in place at that time unless a waiver/variance of the requirements
or other legal relief is granted by the ACHD Commission.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ada County Highway District • 3775 Adams Street • Garden City, ID • 83714 • PH 208-387-6100 • FX 345-7650 • www.achdidaho.org
Request for Appeal of Staff Decision
1. Appeal of Staff Decision: The Commission shall hear and decide appeals by an
applicant of the final decision made by the Development Services Manager when it is
alleged that the Development Services Manager did not properly apply this section
7101.6, did not consider all of the relevant facts presented, made an error of fact or law,
abused discretion or acted arbitrarily and capriciously in the interpretation or
enforcement of the ACHD Policy Manual.
a. Filing Fee: The Commission may, from time to time, set reasonable
fees to be charged the applicant for the processing of appeals, to
cover administrative costs.
b. Initiation: An appeal is initiated by the filing of a written notice of
appeal with the Secretary and Clerk of the District, which must be filed
within ten (10) working days from the date of the decision that is the
subject of the appeal. The notice of appeal shall refer to the decision
being appealed, identify the appellant by name, address and
telephone number and state the grounds for the appeal. The grounds
shall include a written summary of the provisions of the policy relevant
to the appeal and/or the facts and law relied upon and shall include a
written argument in support of the appeal. The Commission shall not
consider a notice of appeal that does not comply with the provisions
of this subsection.
c. Time to Reply: The Development Services Manager shall have ten
(10) working days from the date of the filing of the notice of appeal to
reply to the notice of the appeal, and may during such time meet with
the appellant to discuss the matter, and may also consider and/or
modify the decision that is being appealed. A copy of the reply and
any modifications to the decision being appealed will be provided to
the appellant prior to the Commission hearing on the appeal.
d. Notice of Hearing: Unless otherwise agreed to by the appellant, the
hearing of the appeal will be noticed and scheduled on the
Commission agenda at a regular meeting to be held within thirty (30)
days following the delivery to the appellant of the Development
Services Manager’s reply to the notice of appeal. A copy of the
decision being appealed, the notice of appeal and the reply shall be
delivered to the Commission at least one (1) week prior to the hearing.
e. Action by Commission: Following the hearing, the Commission shall
either affirm or reverse, in whole or part, or otherwise modify, amend
or supplement the decision being appealed, as such action is
adequately supported by the law and evidence presented at the
hearing.