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