PZ - Staff Report 4-15 STAFF REPORT E COMMUNITY
N --
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT .►A H O
HEARING 4/15/2021
DATE: '
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TO: Planning&Zoning Commission 16 44 $$
26
FROM: Bill Parsons, Current Planning
Supervisor
208-884-5533
SUBJECT: ZOA-2021-0001 —
UDC Text Amendment Legend �.
LOCATION: City wide AOCI
County — 69
Line
Future
Road
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 as follows:
• Standards in the Old Town District(O-T)in Chapter 2;
• Ditches,Laterals, Canals or Drainage Courses in Chapter 3;
• Comprehensive Map Amendments in Chapter 5; and
• Common Driveway Standards in Chapter 6.
II. APPLICANT INFORMATION
A. Applicant:
City of Meridian Planning Division
33 E. Broadway Ave, Suite#102
Meridian, ID 83642
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III. NOTICING
Planning&Zoning City Council
Posting Date Posting Date
Notification published in
newspaper
3/26/2021
Notification mailed to property
owners within 300' NA
Public Service Announcement 3/26/2021
Nextdoor posting 3/26/2021
IV. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ANALYSIS(Comprehensive Plan)
A. Comprehensive Plan Text(ht(ps://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 and maintain the
integrity of the plan.
3.04.01B—Maintain and update the Unified Development Code and Future Land Use Map to
implement the provisions of the Comprehensive Plan.
This round of code changes is being expedited to implement the vison of the Comprehensive Plan. In
general, the proposed changes support the redevelopment of downtown, minimize conflicts with other
agencies, limit CP"s to twice a year and improve the design standards of common driveways.
V. UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE ANALYSIS(LLD
In accord with Meridian City Code 11-5,the Planning Division has applied to amend the text of the
Unified Development Code(UDC). The text amendment includes updates to multiple sections that
pertain to the following:
• Standards in the Old Town District(O-T) in Chapter 2;
• Ditches,Laterals, Canals or Drainage Courses in Chapter 3;
• Comprehensive Map Amendments in Chapter 5; and
• Common Driveway Standards in Chapter 6.
The Planning Division is expediting these few changes at the request of the Mayor and City Council
in order to support redevelopment in downtown; eliminate code conflicts with the applicable
irrigation districts; limit the submittal dates of CPAM applications to twice a year to maintain the
integrity of the plan and further improve on the design standards for common driveways. Staff has
received comments from some members of the UDC Focus Group regarding the proposed changes
(see public record).
Exhibit V11 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 date of the staff report,Planning staff has not
presented the proposed changes to the BCA however,the changes will be shared with the BCA at
their April 13'meeting.
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In summary, Staff believes the changes proposed with this application supports the provisions of the
Comprehensive Plan.
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.
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VII. EXHIBITS
A. Table of Proposed Text Changes
Proposed UDC Text Amendments
UMSection Topic Reason Im Charge Proposed Charge
11-2D-4 Increase OT height Allow for taller buildings in city core area oFee Old The standards for development in the Old Town District are set Forth in this section as follows:
maximum Town District
A. Building Height:Maximum building height is seventy-five feet(75').Minimum building height For new
construction in the city care as defined in Chapter 1,is thiriy-five Feet(353 with a maximum height
not to exceed one hundred feet(100�.
B. Number of stories.Minimum number of stories For new construction is two[2)and/or asset Forth in
the"City of Meridian Architectural Standards Manual
11-3A-6 Ditches,laterals,canals Recently came to the City's attention that fencing may A.Purpose.The purpose of this section is to limit the tiling and piping of natural and man-made
or drainage courses not always be desired along open waterways by the waterways,including but not limited be ditches,canals,laterals,sloughs and drains where public safety'
irrigation district,specifically as it relates to not a concern as well as improve,protect and incorporate creek corridors(Five Mile,Eight Mile,Nine
maintenance of their facility.Staff is amending this
section of code to ensure the UDC does not conflict with Mile,Ten Mile,South Slough and Jackson and Evan Drains)as an amenity in all residential,commercial
irrigation district standards as requested by the City and industrial designs.When piping and fencing is proposed,the Following standards shall apply_
Council.
B.Piping.
Surrounding property owners don't need to be noticed
as the easement on the building lot(s)doesn't affect 1.Natural waterways intersecting,crossing,or lying within the area being developed shall remain as a
them—a Council waiver is sufficient This would allow natural amenity and shall not be piped or otherwise covered.See also subsection(C)[1)oFthis section.
the applicant to request a waiver during the final plat process and not require a public hearing. 2 Irrigation ditches,laterals,canals,sloughs and drains may be left open when used as a water amenity
or linear open space,as defined in section 11-IA-1 of this title.See also subsection[C)(2)of this section.
3.Except as allowed above,all other irrigation ditches,laterals,sloughs or canals,intersecting,crossing
or lying within the area being developed.shall be piped,or otherwise covered.This requirement does not
apply to property with only an irrigation easement where the actual drainage facility is located on an
adjoining property.
a.The decision-making body may waive the requirement for covering such ditch,lateral.canal,slough
or drain,if it finds that the public purpose requiring such will not be served and public safety can be
preserved.
C-Fencing.
1.Fencing along all natural waterways shall not prevent access to the waterway.In limited circumstances
and in the interest of public safety,larger open water systems may require fencing as determined by the
City Council,Director and/or Public Works Director.
2_Ditches,laterals,canals,sloughs and drains do not require Fencing if it can be demonstrated by the
applicant to the satisfaction of the Director that said ditch,lateral,canal,sloughs or drain serves as or will
be improved as a part of the development,to he a water amenity or linear open space.If designed as a
water amenity.c6onstruction drawings and relevant calculations prepared by a qualified licensed
professional registered in the Starve of Idaho shall be submitted to both the Director and the authorized
representative of the water facility For approval.
3.Except as allowed above,all other open irrigation ditches,laterals.canals,sloughs and drains shall be
fenced with an open vision Fence at least six(6)feet in height and having an 11-gauge,two(2)inch mesh
or other construction,equivalent in ability to deter access to said ditch,lateral,canal,slough or drain,
which Fence shall be securely fastened at its base at all places where any part of said lands or areas being
subdivided touches either or both sides of said ditch,lateral,canal,slough or drain.
D.Improvements.Improvements related to piping,fencing or any encroachment as outlined in
subsections(A),(B),and(C)of this section requires written approval from the appropriate irrigation or
drainage entity.
E.Easements.In Residential Districts.irrigation easements wider than ten feet(1"shall be included in a
common lot that is a minimum of twenty feet(20')wide and outside of a fenced area,unless med4ied
otirerwise waived by City Council
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11- D-7C_3 CPAM amendments With adoption ora new Comprehensive Plan,limit the The City Council shall not consider amendments to the land use map ofthe adopted comprehensive Plm
frequency to which it can be amended.Make it clear that more than twice per calendar year.The application deadlines for amendments to the land use map
Map amendments will be processed no more than every component of the comprehensive plan shall be June 15 and December 15 of every year.
6 months—cut-0ffs.
11-6C-3D Common driveways Commission.Council and PW is having concerns with the D. Common Driveways:
number of units taking access from a common driveway.
This impacts the extension of services,parking and trash 1. Maximum Dwelling Units Served:Common driveways shall serve a maximum of six(6)dwelling
service.Staff is not proposing to reduce the number
dwellings served,but to expand on the requirements units.
when a greater number of units take access from a
common driveway.This will allow the City Engineer to 2. Width standards:Common driveways shall be a minimum of twenty(20)feet in width_unless a
require a wider common driveway,if an applicant is greater width is required by the City Engineer.All common driveways shall be on a common lot
required to extend City mains underneath the driveway,
consistent with other easement requirements of the City. 3. Maximum length.Common driveways shall be a maximum of one hundred fifty(150)feet in length
or less,unless otherwise approved by the Meridian City Fire Department.
4. Improvement standards.Common driveways shall be paved with a surface with the capability of
supporting fire vehicles and equipment
S. Abutting properties.All properties that abut a common driveway shall take access from the
driveway:however,if an abutting property has the required minimum street frontage.that
property is not required to take access from the common driveway.in this situation,the abutting
property's driveway shall be on the opposite side of the shared property line;away from the
common driveway.Solid fencing adjacent to common driveways shall be prohibited,unless
separated by a minimum five-foot wide landscaped buffer planted with shrubs.]awn or other
ve"tative groundcover.
6. Turning radius.Common driveways shall be straight or provide a twenty-eight-foot inside and
fortymeight-foot outside turning radius.
7. Depictions_For any plats using a common driveway,the setbacks,fendng,building envelope,
landscaping and orientation of the lots and structures shall be shown on the preliminary plat
and/or as an exhibit with the final plat application.
VIII. FINDINGS
1. UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TEXT AMENDMENTS: (UDC 11-513-3E)
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
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.
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