PZ - Staff Report 7-16
Page 1
HEARING
DATE:
7/16/2020
TO: Planning & Zoning Commission
FROM: Bill Parsons, Current Planning
Supervisor
208-884-5533
SUBJECT: H-2020-0072
2020 UDC Text Amendment
LOCATION: City wide
I. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Meridian Planning Division has applied for a Unified Development Code (UDC) text amendment to
update certain sections of the City’s Code (UDC) as follows:
Code Enforcement and Penalties in Chapter 1;
Specific Use Standards in Chapter 4;
Public Hearing Process in Chapter 5; and the
Subdivision Design and Improvement Standards in Chapter 6.
II. APPLICANT INFORMATION
A. Applicant:
City of Meridian Planning Division
33 E. Broadway Ave, Suite #102
Meridian, ID 83642
STAFF REPORT
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Page 2
III. NOTICING
Planning & Zoning
Posting Date
City Council
Posting Date
Notification published in
newspaper 6/26/2020
Notification mailed to property
owners within 300’ NA
Applicant posted public hearing
notice sign on site NA
Nextdoor posting 6/23/2020
IV. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ANALYSIS (Comprehensive Plan)
A. Comprehensive Plan Text (https://www.meridiancity.org/compplan):
3.01.01B - Update the Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development Code as needed to
accommodate the community's needs and growth trends.
Many of the requested code changes below reflect the desire of the Community to have a more
transparent and inclusive process to address the current growth trend. Other changes are requested
by Code Enforcement to clarify procedural processes in the code and close “loopholes” to improve
enforcement of the code.
3.04.01B – Maintain and update the Unified Development Code and Future Land Use Map to
implement the provisions of the Comprehensive Plan.
The UDC changes are tracked through-out the year to ensure the code remains current. The
proposed changes are the first round of changes to address some of the concerns brought up
throughout the previous year, primarily related to the planning process. A second round of UDC
changes are envisioned later this year, after coordination and vetting through the UDC Focus Group.
V. UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE ANALYSIS (UDC)
In accord with Meridian City Code 11-5, the Planning Division has applied to amend the text of the
Unified Development Code (UDC). For purposes of this application, both the Planning Division and
the Code Enforcement Division have work closely to compile a host of changes and combine them
into one application. Staff believes these changes are fairly straight-forward and largely
administrative in nature; related to process primarily and not development improvement
requirements. NOTE: Code Enforcement changes are first in the table and pertain to Chapter 1
of the UDC.
The text amendment includes updates to multiple sections and the addition of new provisions that
pertain to the following:
Code Enforcement and Penalties in Chapter 1;
Specific Use Standards in Chapter 4;
Public Hearing Process in Chapter 5; and the
Subdivision Design and Improvement Standards in Chapter 6. And other miscellaneous sections
to improve the administration of the code.
Page 3
Exhibit VII below includes a table of the requested changes/additions and supporting commentary
explaining the purpose of the change to the UDC. Many of these changes have been vetted with City
Council before the application submittal and the draft changes were shared with the UDC Focus
Group and others to solicit feedback. As of the print deadline for this report, Staff received one email
from one of the members of the UDC Focus Group pertaining to the submittal timeframes for public
testimony (see public record).
In summary, Staff believes the changes proposed with this application will make the implementation
and use of the UDC more understandable, useable and enforceable, while greatly improving the
transparency and efficiency of the planning and development process.
VI. DECISION
A. Staff:
Staff recommends approval of the proposed text amendment to the UDC based on the analysis provided
in Section IV and V, modifications in Section VII and the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
listed in Section VIII.
B. Commission:
Enter Summary of Commission Decision.
C. City Council:
Enter Summary of City Council Decision.
Page 4
VII. EXHIBITS
A. Table of Proposed Text Changes
Page 5
Page 6
VIII. FINDINGS
1. UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TEXT AMENDMENTS: (UDC 11-5B-3E)
Upon recommendation from the Commission, the Council shall make a full investigation
and shall, at the public hearing, review the application. In order to grant a text amendment
to the Unified Development Code, the Council shall make the following findings:
A. The text amendment complies with the applicable provisions of the comprehensive plan;
Staff finds that the proposed UDC text amendment complies with the applicable provisions of
the Comprehensive Plan. Please see Comprehensive Plan Policies and Goals, Section IV, of
the Staff Report for more information.
B. The text amendment shall not be materially detrimental to the public health, safety, and
welfare; and
Staff finds that the proposed zoning ordinance amendment will not be detrimental to the
public health, safety or welfare if the changes to the text of the UDC are approved as submitted.
It is the intent of the text amendment to further the health, safety and welfare of the public.
C. The text amendment shall not result in an adverse impact upon the delivery of services
by any political subdivision providing public services within the City including, but not
Page 7
limited to, school districts.
Staff finds that the proposed zoning ordinance amendment does not propose any
significant changes to how public utilities and services are provided to
developments. All City departments, public agencies and service providers that
currently review applications will continue to do so. Please refer to any written or
oral testimony provided by any public service provider(s) when making this finding.