Narrative
1307 N. 39th Street, Suite 103 NAMPA, IDAHO 83687
PH: (208) 465-3419 FX: (208) 442-3942
October 28, 2020
Meridian Planning Division
Meridian City Hall
33 E. Broadway Ave., Suite 102
Meridian, ID 83642
RE: Written Narrative
H-2020-0022 Modern Craftsman at Black Cat
Certificate of Zoning Compliance
On behalf of Baron Properties, LLC, we hereby apply for Certificate of Zoning Compliance for the
Modern Craftsman at Black Cat project.
This new mixed-use commercial and multi-family residential development, located at the southwest
corner of N. Black Cat Road and W. Chinden Blvd., is a building lot in existing C-C and R-15 zones.
The site was approved for a rezone, short plat, conditional use and modification to the existing
development agreements under H-2020-0022 in October of 2020. The 21.59-acre site and buildings
follow the guidelines contained in the Meridian Design Manual and Meridian City Code. The gross
density of the development is 9.03 units per acre, with 2.22 acres of qualified open space (10.3%).
Access to the property is proposed via private streets off of Black Cat Rd. and Tree Crest Drive. There
are two approved access points off of N. Black Cat and one off of W. Tree Crest Drive. The Internal
drives will be owned and maintained by the property owners within the development. As designed, the
site has excellent internal circulation and access to the public road system, which has adequate capacity
to accommodate the trips generated by this development.
The site will include 195 for-rent units in a mix of traditional 6-plex apartment buildings, single-family
“detached” rental homes and vertically-integrated residential units. A clubhouse will contain an exercise
facility, lounge/kitchen, for-rent offices and meeting spaces and an outside deck area with covered bbq
area and a pool. Other site amenities include open grass areas, landscape features, a play area, bbq
shelter, community gardens, dog park and pedestrian/bicycle paths. Landscaping and the amenities will
be maintained by the development owner. The main entrance is framed by a large butterfly-roof entry
feature and signage column, while the other entrances utilize the signage column. The commercial
buildings include the vertically-integrated structure with six shell spaces on the ground level, a pop-up
commercial building with four shell spaces to serve short-term retail type businesses and a future two-
story commercial structure on the corner of Black Cat and Chinden.
All structures are cohesive in design, utilizing a modern look with clean lines, single-slope rooflines
(mixed with hip roofs) and a mixture of complementary finishes of stone, wood, horizontal siding and
stucco. Three colors palettes are spread out among all buildings, including various roof styles and finish
options. Each detached rental home has the opportunity for 18 distinct exterior looks.
1307 N. 39th Street, Suite 103 NAMPA, IDAHO 83687
PH: (208) 465-3419 FX: (208) 442-3942
The site provides for excellent connections for the residents to access the clubhouse and all amenities,
with walking paths tying the development from east to west, and multiple sidewalks/paths feeding into
the central path. The commercial structures a situated to easily serve the residents and outside
structures, with path connections and ample parking. The development also connects to the 10’ wide
multi-use pathway along Chinden and sidewalk in the neighboring Tree Farm subdivision.
The mixed-use development of Modern Craftsman at Black Cat will serve the Meridian community with
unique rental and commercial opportunities, not readily available in this form until now. We are excited
to present this project to the community.
Sincerely,
Brandon Sheltrown, AIA
Houston-Bugatsch Architects, Chtd.