Alternative Compliance Narrative
April 7, 2020
Joseph Dodson
City of Meridian – Community Development Department
33 E. Broadway Ave, Suite 102
Meridian, ID 83642
RE: McMillan Independent Senior Living
Alternative Compliance
Dear Joe:
The attached Alternative Compliance application is for the 6.563-acre parcel (R9010680071) generally
located at the northeast corner of Ten Mile and McMillan Roads. The parcel is zoned C-G in the City of
Meridian. Please consider this Alternative Compliance application as a supplement to the CZC and ADR
applications for this property.
The McMillan Independent Senior Living is a new independent living community for residents aged 55 and
over offering extensive on-site amenities to promote a comfortable aging-in-place lifestyle. Comprised of
three connected buildings the 161,800-square-foot complex offers 160 total units comprised of studio,
one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units; and two additional units are reserved for visiting guests.
Although per the Meridian Unified Development Code (UDC), the project is categorized as multi-family, it
couldn’t be more different in design, services, and the amenities offered to each of the senior residents.
The McMillan Independent Senior Living development is a senior living community which offers its
residents much, much, more in amenities when compared to traditional multi-family developments.
Per UDC 11-4-4-27.B.3: All units include a private usable open space such as a patio or balcony. However,
the size varies, and not all are a minimum of 80 square feet. The average balcony size is 60.6 SF.
Unit Type Patio / Balcony SF Number of Units Total SF under 80 SF
A1 63 20 340
A2 43 32 1,184
A3 65 16 240
A4 75 16 80
A5 85 8 0
B1 70 12 120
B2 80 24 0
S1 43 32 1,184
Total 160 3,148
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Please consider the following alternative means in which the development meets and exceeds the
intended purpose of the private open space provision.
The open space requirements in the specific use standards for multi-family developments requires a total
of 37,300 SF for this development. The McMillan Independent Senior Living Community includes
approximately 48,000 SF of qualified open space which is approximately 10,700 SF, or 29%, in excess of
the requirement.
The McMillan Independent Senior Living is under one roof with access to the two-story central club house
through two connected wings. The amenity program far exceeds any multi-family project, and most senior
living facilities, both indoors and out.
A highlight of the planned amenities includes:
*A minimum of 260 individual seating options exist throughout the community as alternatives.
The applicant has experience with senior living design and operation. Their experience is that most seniors
prefer the programmed amenities in lieu of private patios. The type of seniors attracted to this type of
facility would rather be around others and taking part in the activity director’s daily activities and use the
amenities to sit, eat, walk, swim, and enjoy life. With other senior living communities, the applicant
currently operates, the individual patios and balconies are not utilized, with the residents preferring the
many other amenities offered.
Indoor Amenity SF of area devoted to amenity Number of seats
Bistro lounge 850 38
Casual dining room 1200 60
Formal dining room 780 40
Private dining room 275 10
Chef’s table for cooking classes 270 12
Outdoor dining on the back patio with water feature, fire pit & outdoor kitchen 2777 50
Temperature controlled wine storage lockers for residents 140 2 - 4 seats
Gym 675
Wellness room with massage table 190
Beauty Salon 270
Indoor pool with sauna and steam room 1775
His and Her locker rooms 330
Movie theater 750 19
Library 400
Crafts 390
Upstairs lounge with patio 925 20-30
Multipurpose 470
Storage lockers for bikes and personal items 1560
Exterior Amenity SF of area devoted to amenity Number of seats
Golf putting area 1065
Bocce Ball 720
Fire pit with seating 845 10
Front Water Feature 3910
Back Water Fountain 627
Pickle ball court 2232
Plaza hardscape with Walking paths, benches and patio seating 13277 32 tables and benches
Dog park 2683
Shuffle board 520
Temperature controlled greenhouse 112
Gardening plots 2500
*
Page 3 of 3
We respectfully request approval of our Alternative Compliance Application. The McMillan Independent
Senior Living Community offers many open space amenities for individuals, including private patios, and
seating areas throughout the development.
The complete amenity package of the McMillan Independent Senior Living Community is much more
robust and comprehensive than any multi-family or senior living project in Meridian or contemplated in
the Meridian UDC.
Thank you, we look forward to your consideration and support.
Sincerely,
Tamara Thompson
Director of Client Services
The Land Group, Inc.