Elevate Ustick phase II_design exception
July 15, 2020
Planning Division
City of Meridian
33 E. Broadway Ave., Ste 102
Meridian, ID 83642
RE: ASM design exception – H-2020-0051 – Ustick Marketplace Storage Phase II
Dear Director,
The following items are subject to design exception based upon our understanding that phase I did not
fully comply with City of Meridian’s ASM prior to approval. Phase II project standards are meant to
continue to use the language provided by phase I with no delineation for consistency:
1. Goal 2.1A - Buildings with rooflines 50-feet in length or greater must incorporate roofline and
parapet variations. Variations may include step-downs, step-backs, other modulation, or
architectural features such as cornices, ledges, or columns, and must occur in total combination
for at least 20% of the façade length. May be averaged over entire façade, but may not exceed
75-feet without a break.
a) Phase II provides variation in building façade by providing step-backs at the intervals
listed in goal 2.1A.
2. Goal 3.2A - For at least 30% of applicable façades use any combination of concrete, masonry,
stone, or unique variation of color, texture, or material, at least 10-inches in height, around the
base of the building. May alternatively incorporate other architectural features such as ledges,
façade reveals, ground level fenestration, raised planters, or landscaping elements within 3-feet
of finished grade.
a) Project use a combination of cultured stone, fiber cement panel and metal panels as
well as lush landscaping around the perimeter of the project to provide interesting
building form.
3. Goal 3.4A - For flat roofs, incorporate primary and secondary roof elements including but not
limited to: multiple material types along parapets, multiple parapet elevations with at least 1-
foot change in elevation, or modulation of at least 2-feet in the parapet, such as along entryway
overhangs. Qualifying elements must exist for at least 20% the length of applicable façades. May
also incorporate secondary roof types, such as hip roofs along overhangs.
a) This project is the second part to an existing structure. Entryway overhangs were
addressed during phase I of this project.
4. Goal 3.4B - For sloped roofs, incorporate at least two of any one roof element, including but not
limited to: valleys, ridges, or gables. Qualifying elements in total must exist for at least 20% of
applicable façade roof area and be visible from the same façade elevation. May also incorporate
other roof styles, such as parapet walls over entryway features.
a) See response to Goal 3.4A above
5. Goal 4.1A - Provide at least three detailing elements that transition façade material changes or
integrate pedestrian scale elements, such as doorways, windows, or material banding, at the
base of the building. Examples include but are not limited to: cornice work around primary
entries, decorative caps on brick or stone banding, architectural canopies over entries, or
decorative lintels above the first floor windows.
a) These elements were introduced in phase I and added in phase II as allowed to maintain
the consistency of the overall project. The exterior façade is consistent with the
approach that was approved for the phase I portion of this project.
6. Goal R5.1E - Unfinished or colored ordinary smooth face block, untextured concrete panels, and
prefabricated steel panels are prohibited as a finish material for building façades, except an
accent or secondary field material.
a) Metal panels were one of the exterior finish materials used and approved on phase I.
The use of the material is to maintain the consistency throughout the project.
Furthermore metal panel is one of three different materials used in this project and
would be regarded as a secondary or tertiary field material.
If you have any questions, please let us know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Rick Stewart
Project Manager