21-1932 City Code Use Standards in Old Town District Item#19.
CITY OF MERIDIAN ORDINANCE NO. 21-1932
BY THE CITY COUNCIL: BERNT, BORTON, CAVENER,
HOAGLUN, PERREALT, STRADER
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING MERIDIAN CITY CODE AS CODIFIED AT TITLE 11,
PERTAINING TO SPECIFIC USE STANDARDS IN THE OLD TOWN DISTRICT 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; AND PROVIDING FOR A WAIVER OF THE
READING RULES; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Unified Development Code is the official zoning ordinance for the City of
Meridian and provides an opportunity to better support the Comprehensive Plan and provide a tool
that is relevant and contemporary to the needs of the City; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Meridian deems it to be in the best interest of
the health, safety and welfare of its citizens to incorporate changes to the Unified Development Code
within the City of Meridian.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF MERIDIAN, IDAHO:
Section 1. That Meridian City Code 11-2D-313.4,Unified Development Code,be amended as
follows:
4. ,
height e)(eeediRg the maximum height allewed- fe—p the district
l threUgh a Rditi9R ,I , Mit. In the 0-T and TN-C districts, the
additional height allowed is limited as follows:
a. In the area defined as the city core in chapter 1 of this title, additional building height may
deviate up to twenty (20) percent of the minimum or maximum height in the 0-T district
subject to the alternative compliance procedures set forth in chapter 5, "administration",
of this title. Proposed building height exceeding twenty (20) percent of the maximum or
minimum height for the district requires approval through a conditional use permit. In no
case shall the building height exceed fifty (50) percent of the maximum height allowed in
the district.
ba. Additional building height not to exceed twenty (20) percent of the maximum height
allowed for the TN-C district may be approved by the Director through the alternative
compliance procedures set forth in chapter 5, "administration", of this title. Additional
height shall be allowed when the development provides ten (10) percent of the building
square feet in open space, courtyards, patios, or other usable outdoor space available for
the employees and/or patrons of the structure, excluding required setbacks and landscape
buffers.
MAY,2021 UPDATE
UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TEXT AMENDMENT ORDINANCE—H 2021-0001 PAGE 1 OF 5
Page 344
Item#19.
c-4. Additional building height exceeding twenty (20) percent of the maximum height allowed for the
TN-C district or when additional height is requested without providing the required open space in
accord with subsection (B)(4)ab of this section requires approval through a conditional use permit.
Section 2. That Meridian City Code Section 11-2D-4, Unified Development Code, be amended as
follows:
The standards for development in the Old Town District are set forth in this section as follows:
A. Building Height: In the area defined as the city core in chapter 1, any new construction shall
have a minimum height of thirty-five feet (35') and a maximum height of one hundred feet
(100'). All other areas in the district, the Mmaximum building height is seventy-five feet (75').
B. Number of stories. Minimum number of stories for new construction is two (2) and/or as set
forth in the "City of Meridian Architectural Standards Manual".
C-P. Streetscape improvements. Streetscape improvements within the city core shall be designed
in accord with the "City of Meridian Public Works Design Standards Manual".
D€. Residential to commercial conversions. Residential to commercial conversions within old town
shall comply with the established standards set forth in the "Architectural Standards Manual"
(ASM) and structure and site design standards set forth in section 11-3A-19 of this title. Where
there are site constraints that prevent a conversion from wholly complying with these
standards, the applicant may submit for a design standard exception as set forth in the ASM.
E . Public and other urban open spaces. When proposed as part of a development, public and
other urban open spaces shall have sufficient pedestrian access and be integrated into the
overall site design.
Section 3. That Meridian City Code Section 11-3A-6, Unified Development Code, be amended as
follows:
A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to limit the tiling and piping of natural waterways,
including but not limited to, ditches, canals, laterals, sloughs and drains where public safety is not
a concern as well as improve, protect and incorporate creek corridors (Five Mile, Eight Mile, Nine
Mile, Ten Mile, South Slough and Jackson and Evan Drains) as an amenity in all residential,
commercial and industrial designs. When piping and fencing is proposed, the following standards
shall apply.
B. Piping.
MAY,2021 UPDATE
UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TEXT AMENDMENT ORDINANCE—H 2021-0001 PAGE 2 OF 5
Page 345
Item#19.
1. Natural waterways intersecting, crossing, or lying within the area being developed shall remain
as a natural amenity and shall not be piped or otherwise covered. See also subsection (C)(1) of this
section.
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 11-1A-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 be a water amenity or linear open
space. If designed as a water amenity, cEonstruction drawings and relevant calculations prepared
by a qualified licensed professional registered in the State 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 (10') shall be included
in a common lot that is a minimum of twenty feet (20') wide and outside of a fenced area, unless
wed otherwise waived by City Council at a PHI91iG he-,ring With n tiee + RdiRg r Fty
eWReFT
Section 4. That Meridian City Code Section 11-513-7C.3, Unified Development Code, be amended
as follows:
MAY,2021 UPDATE
UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TEXT AMENDMENT ORDINANCE—H 2021-0001 PAGE 3 OF 5
Page 346
Item#19.
3. The City Council shall not consider amendments to the land use map of the adopted
comprehensive plan more than twice per calendar year. The application deadlines for
amendments to the land use map component of the comprehensive plan shall be June 15 and
December 15 of every year.
Section 5. That Meridian City Code Section 11-6C-3D, Unified Development Code, be amended as
follows:
D. Common Driveways
1. Maximum Dwelling Units Served: Common driveways shall serve a maximum of fours�(46)
dwelling units. In no case shall more than three (3) dwelling units be located on one side of
the driveway.
2. Width standards: Common driveways shall be a minimum of twenty (20) feet in width
unless a greater width is required by the City Engineer. All common driveways shall be on a
common lot.
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.
5. 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, lawn or other vegetative groundcover.
6. Turning radius. Common driveways shall be straight or provide a twenty-eight-foot inside
and forty-eight-foot outside turning radius.
7. Depictions. For any plats using a common driveway, the setbacks, fencing, 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.
8. Easement. A perpetual ingress/egress easement shall be filed with the Ada County Recorder,
which shall include a requirement for maintenance of a paved surface capable of supporting
fire vehicles and equipment.
MAY,2021 UPDATE
UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TEXT AMENDMENT ORDINANCE—H 2021-0001 PAGE 4 OF 5
Page 347
Item#19.
9. Alternative compliance. The Director may approve or recommend approval of alternative
design or construction standards when the applicant can demonstrate that the proposed
overall design meets or exceeds the intent of the required standards of this section and shall
not be detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare.
Section 6. That all other provisions of Title 11 as they relate to the Unified Development
Code remain unchanged.
Section 7. That this ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its passage and
publication.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Meridian, Idaho, this 15th day of June, 2021.
APPROVED by the Mayor of the City of Meridian, Idaho, this 15th day of June, 2021.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
Robert E. Simison, Mayor Chris Johnson, City Clerk
MAY,2021 UPDATE
UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TEXT AMENDMENT ORDINANCE—H 2021-0001 PAGE 5 OF 5
Page 347
Item #19.
NOTICE AND PUBLISHED SUMMARY
OF ORDINANCE PURSUANT TO I. C. § 50 -901 (A)
CITY OF MERIDIAN ORDINANCE NO . 214932
An Ordinance Amending Meridian City Code as Codified at Title 11 , Pertaining To
Specific Use Standards In The Old Town District 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 ; And Providing for a Waiver of the Reading
Rules ; And Providing an Effective Date .
A full text of this ordinance is available for inspection at City Hall, City of Meridian,
33 East Broadway Avenue, Meridian, Idaho . This ordinance shall become effective upon
the passage and publication .
City of Meridian
Mayor and City Council
By: Chris Johnson, City Clerk
First Reading.
Adopted after first reading by suspension of the Rule as allowed pursuant to Idaho Code
§ 50-902 : YES NO
Second Reading .
Third Reading.
STATEMENT OF MERIDIAN CITY ATTORNEY 214932
The undersigned, William L.M . Nary, City Attorney of the City of Meridian, Idaho,
hereby certifies that he is the legal advisor of the City and has reviewed a copy of the
attached Ordinance No . 21 - 1932 of the City of Meridian, Idaho, and has found the same to
be true and complete and provides adequate notice to the public pursuant to Idaho Code §
50-901A (3 ) .
DATED this 15th day of June, 2021 .
J(000e
William . L.M. Nary
City Attorney
MAY, 2021 UPDATE
UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TEXT AMENDMENT ORDINANCE - H 2O21 -0001
Page 348