CC - Applicant's Response to Council Concerns on 12-1 hearing TH
BECK&
BAI RD
December 30, 2020
City of Meridian
Community Development Department
33 E. Broadway Avenue, Ste 102
Meridian, ID 83642
Staff and City Council,
This letter is intended to provide a response to questions raised by the Council at their December 1, 2020 public
hearing regarding H-2020-0064, Pura Vida Ridge Ranch. The Council asked for more information on the
following topics:
1. Development phasing that addresses concerns with the City's fire response time goal beyond phase 1
Applicant's response: The Council's concern revolved around the Meridian Fire Department's 5-
minute response time goal which currently shows the mapping line stopping at the end of Pura
Vida's first phase. Council was concerned that the development would progress faster than the
City could prioritize,fund and construct the next fire station to serve the south Meridian area.
Placing a specific timeframe limit on Pura Vida's development, contingent on the City's priorities
may appear arbitrary given that we have provided a development plan that meets all of the
City's ordinances, comprehensive plan policies and provided coordinated connections to each,
neighboring property. That said, we are certainly willing and able to move up timing of the
construction of the Ten Mile Creek crossing bridge and access roadway to Lake Hazel through the
Poiema development to the east to provide additional emergency access. This would provide a
secondary access for emergency and fire response at an earlier date. We would also be willing
to assist in the City's priority setting processes to ensure that the development community
supports the City's efforts. In the end, we feel confident that the City's development review
processes will provide the timing buffer Council is looking for. The City will review each phase of
the development and have the ability to track it with regard to fire response time goals. We
understand that we are not the only development in the south Meridian area with similar fire
response time constraints and look forward to being part of the solution.
2. Concerns over local school enrollment over-crowding.
Applicant's response: The Council's concerns regarding the development's impact on local
schools is a bit unfounded. While the concern exists, since our last hearing we have consulted
with the West Ada School District to get an understanding of the status of local school capacities
and Pura Vida's potential impact. According to Tammy Nelson with West Ada, caps are in place
on Hillside Elementary and Hunter Elementary. The caps are in place to ensure that residents
within the designated school boundary can attend the school within the boundary they live in
2002 S.VISTA AVE. BOISE. ID 83705 1 OFFICE 208.342.2999 1 WEB WWW.SBBGO.COM
TH
BECK&
BAI RD
and by the school district's open enrollment policy, those living outside a specific school
boundary can petition to attend. The school district has assured Pura Vida that any students our
development generates can and will attend the school whose boundary they live in. In addition,
the school district re-aligns school boundaries as new schools come online. According to the
school district, the next elementary school coming online in the fall of 2021 will necessitate a
school boundary re-alignment for students living on the west side of Eagle Road in southeast
Meridian. In the end, West Ada School District has planned and continues to plan for new
students in south Meridian is actively building new schools to address this rapidly expanding
area and can provide for the public education needs that may be generated by our development.
Thank you for considering our applications. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Sincerely,
14-
Jay A. Gibbons, PLA, ASLA
Senior Landscape Architect/Planner
South Beck& Baird
2002 S.VISTA AVE. BOISE. ID 83705 1 OFFICE 208.342.2999 1 WEB WWW.SBBGO.COM