Loading...
2020-01-13 Blackrock Letter addressing concernsCity of Meridian Mayor and City Council Planning and Zoning Department 33 E. Broadway Ave. Meridian, ID 83642 Re: Blackrock Homes - Community/Housing Package Dear Decision Makers: I am writing you to address comments staff has raised at recent hearings as it relates to Blackrock Homes housing product. We have been building homes in Meridian for close to 25 years and one of our current communities, called Verado, at Ustick and Locust Grove was one of the bestselling communities under $325,000 in Meridian last year. Buyers love our community/housing package and we now have over 6 years of experience with this this specific product. This experience is the basis for my comments below. PARKING- In several recent applications we have had staff comments/opinion about parking. I would like to be on the record confirming there IS NOT a parking problem in our communities. Our communities exceed the parking requirement of the Meridian Unified Development Code. Our buyers fully understand there are four (4) on property parking spots provided with the home they are buying, and that there is additional on-street parking throughout our communities. For our buyers, this is adequate for their needs or they would purchase a home elsewhere. In fact, many of our buyers specifically comment that they really like the fact that random cars, boats and RV’s will not be cluttering the street, as those were problems with previous places they lived. To further prove out there is not a parking problem and put an end to this myth, we employed a drone photographer to take photos a couple times a day for two weeks in each of 3 communities that we have built. We took the photos at times of day we felt would have the most potential for cars to be home, early morning and evening. Some of the photos are in the dark due to the time of year. We also took them during the day on weekends. As you scroll through the photos you can clearly see there is not a parking problem. My concern is that in several applications, staff has suggested parking may not be adequate even though we exceed code. This is very problematic in my view and believe, as a community, we should not over design parking for the remote possibility of a once a year super bowl party, just like any successful restaurant does not size their facility for the Mother’s Day brunch crowd- they size for the average daily situation. We have more than adequate daily parking. It works, it is not an issue, and we should rely on code rather than unfounded recommendations that our parking not being adequate. EAVES- We do install eaves on the front and rear of all homes, we return them down the sides for the first 4 feet. In locations where eaves would be visible (adjacent to streets, for example), we now ensure they are installed as well. We have been building our homes this way for the last 5 years and have not had one issue with any rain water or drainage problems down the sides of the homes. We build our homes in accordance with the approved building codes and are issued permits, as we are in full compliance with all the International Building Codes. To require side eaves, is again a staff opinion with no basis. Our customers love the look of the homes we build. We ensure the customer’s money is spent on the front area of the homes with more brick and stone, where they can see and appreciate the extra money they are spending. We have not had a SINGLE customer ask to have eaves added to the side of their house. COLORS- We spend an enormous amount of time and energy selecting and coordinating 18 different color combinations throughout each of our communities and we find it offensive that City of Meridian Staff would again inject their opinion about our need to vary housing color and require color stripes or bands. As a home builder for nearly 25 years, we know what colors are needed to make an attractive neighborhood that sells well, Meridian planning staff does not. We spend millions of dollars ensuring that each project is carefully and purposefully planned to properly function and is attractive to our homebuyers. We build for sale product in multi-phase developments, so we must be successful with every home in every phase, or homes do not sell. Parking must work, which it does, colors must be attractive, which they are, and the pricing must justify the offering, which it does. In 2019, we were the #1 bestselling community in Meridian, with the average home price under $325,000. Blackrock Homes has been very successful in the Meridian market, providing homes at a price that is necessary for Meridian’s continued success. My request is that Planning Staff, P&Z, and, ultimately, the City Council provide for rules that are consistently applied across all applicants with a firm basis in the UDC. I ask that you acknowledge these arbitrary concerns as staff opinions that do not have a basis in fact and are not a City Code requirement. Sincerely, Jake Centers President, Blackrock Homes Solterra Subdivision Parking Study Movado Subdivision Ph. 1 Parking Study Verado Subdivision Parking Study