Email to Chad requesting additional information1
Alan Tiefenbach
From:Alan Tiefenbach
Sent:Tuesday, April 21, 2020 7:09 PM
To:'chadrbx@gmail.com'
Cc:Bill Parsons
Subject:Verraso Village North #4 request for additional information.
Dear Chad,
My name is Alan Tiefenbach and I am a new Associate Planner with the City of Meridian. I come to Meridian with more
than 15 years of current planning and development review experience in several different municipalities in Colorado. Bill
Parsons and I are working together as I transition into the City and the proposed Certificate of Zoning Compliance for
Verraso Village North is one of the projects we are reviewing together.
Please note there are several items that need to be addressed before we can complete the review. These items are
listed below:
1. Staff is unable to ascertain the net density from the .022 you provided on your application. Net density is defined as
“the ratio of the total number of dwelling units within a development divided by the total area, excluding streets,
alleys, easements, waterways, common spaces, and any other area not devoted to the residential lots.” Please
provide this number to staff.
2. The PDF submitted for the lighting plan contains errors within the file (file corrupted) and the pages cannot be
reviewed. Please submit another lighting plan.
3. 5 trees are required along N. Records Avenue. You have requested an alternative compliance request with the
explanation that the Ada County Highway District will not allow trees in the right of way. As you have noted, a
similar request was processed for Verasso Village #3, just south of the subject property. Although staff generally
supports the reduction, it is important to note that the intent of the alternative compliance process is to ensure
there is an equal or superior means for meeting the requirements when strict adherence or application of the
requirements are not feasible. Staff recommends the 5 necessary trees be planted in another location on the site
(additional trees) or additional landscape density be considered in place of trees along N. Records Avenue or at the
landscaping area to the south. In addition, a $160 application fee is required for the alternative compliance request.
4. It appears you are proposing to include a 20’ wide by approximately 380’ long area south of Buildings B & C to satisfy
some of your common open space and site development amenities requirements (see detail at bottom of site plan).
However, the landscape plan indicates this area as “zero ground cover” which results in it being of little use to the
residents. Please note per Section 11-3B-5 of the UDC, “use of mulch, organic or rock, as the only ground cover in
required planting areas is prohibited.” If this area is not landscaped, it should not be credited toward your open
space or amenities requirements. Staff believes this would be an ideal location for a park or leisure area which could
include an outdoor recreation area with benches and tables, etc. For comparison , Verraso Village No. 3, adjacent to
the south, includes a linear park bisecting the development east to west containing trees, fountains and lighting.
5. Per Section 11-4-3-27 of the Unified Development Code, development shall meet the minimum landscaping
requirements in accord with chapter 3, "Regulations Applying To All Districts.” A 10 foot buffer is required along
Tecate Lane. As the sidewalk is detached, it can be included in this buffer width. Based on a frontage of 444 feet, 13
trees are required in this buffer.
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6. Building elevations are required to include materials, colors and textures, and mechanical equipment. The elevations
submitted contain a photo simulation of the front of one of the buildings, black and white elevations with only
colors noted, color elevations without materials noted that do not contain the architectural features of the first page
photo simulation, and several photo simulations of buildings of a different project. In addition, no building heights
are identified. Please submit scaled color elevations that indicate all building materials and architectural features.
Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions,
Alan Tiefenbach | Current Associate Planner
City of Meridian | Community Development Dept.
33 E. Broadway Ave., Ste. 102, Meridian, Idaho 83642
Phone: 208-884-5533 ext. 1573 | Fax: 208-489-0571
Built for Business, Designed for Living