Ascent Townhomes_Project Narrative
August 17, 2021
Meridian Building Department
Meridian City Hall
33 E. Broadway Avenue, Suite 102
Meridian, Idaho 83642
Subject: Project Narrative – Ascent Townhomes
To Whom It May Concern:
The following is a narrative describing how the project listed above addresses the standards contained
in the City of Meridian Architectural Standards Manual (ASM) and the Unified Development Code.
1. Architectural Character
a. Cohesive Design:
i. The overall building designs of this project are cohesive with one another and
incorporate architectural features on all sides of the building facades directly
facing any elements described in the ASM. The designs of the individual buildings
have been thoughtfully composed to ensure than no two buildings viewed from
a public street or public space are alike, through the variation of architectural
elements such as roof planes, material types, and color packages.
b. Building Scale & Building Form:
i. This project emphasizes and articulates architectural building forms that support
compatible building scales and appropriately scaled modulations that contribute
to the development of visually aesthetic architectural character and the quality
of the neighborhood. The buildings provide a complementary and proportionate
level of design and detail and on all public oriented facades, as well as,
incorporate modulation of their façade planes through pop-outs and step-backs
which articulate the wall planes and break up the building mass. All pop-outs
maintain a minimum depth of 12” per the ASM. The second story residential
facades do not extend to the front face of the garage bays on two of out the
three design schemes. On the design scheme in which the second story façade
does extend equally to the front face of the garage bays below, a pitched, low-
roof overhang was added to aid in the modulation of the façade. All buildings in
this project contain attached units, therefore, the designs were articulated to
differentiate the facades of individual units or groups of units through the
modulation of pop-outs and variance of siding materials and colors. All buildings
in this project modulate and articulate their corresponding roof forms to create
building profile interest and to reduce the appearance of building mass and scale
through breaking up roof massing into primary and secondary roof elements that
1307 N. 39th Street, Suite 103 NAMPA, IDAHO 83687
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correspond to modulations and divisions in the façade. Roof forms are aligned
and correlated to all entry points and porches, all slopes contain a minimum
pitch of 5/12, and all overhangs extend a minimum of 12” beyond the face of
walls per the ASM. All buildings in this project were designed with roofs that are
broken up into multiple planes and contain architectural elements such as
corbels.
c. Architectural Elements & Materials:
i. The design of this project incorporates complimentary material and color
combinations that contribute to a cohesive building design and establish an
architectural character that contributes to the aesthetic qualities of
neighborhoods and protects adjacent property values. Durable materials and
treatments such as cementitious lap and board and batten siding, ledgestone,
architectural shingles, standing-seam metal roof panel, and glazing are used in
combination with one another in cohesive color schemes. Material transitions
are clear and distinct, which aid in the overall visual pleasure of the building
design. No materials or colors will have high reflectance that direct light towards
roadways, public spaces, or adjacent uses to ensure the prohibition of public
nuisance and safety hazards.
d. Signs and/or Lighting:
i. All signs and lighting will be code compliant, energy efficient, and coincide with
the standards of the ASM. All lighting on building exteriors will promote safe
pedestrian environments along roadways, intersections, and in public spaces,
and all fixtures will incorporate consistency with other decorative hardware on
the buildings.
2. Parking Lots
a. Parking Lots are not required for this townhouse development per
3. Pedestrian walkways and facilities
a. Pedestrian sidewalks and walkways are provided throughout the site with a continuous
flow to all common areas, residences and public sidewalks.
Sincerely,
Adam Garcia
Project Manager