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CC - Narrative -;- BR.IGHTON April 15, 2022 C. Caleb Hood,Planning Division Manager Community Development Services Meridian City Hall Be: Records Apartments—Collector Access Waiver Dear Mr. Hood: On April 7th,the Planning &Zoning Commission approved a conditional use permit for Records Apartments(File H-2022-0008)and concurred with the applicant's request for a driveway access from Records Way as shown below. That waiver is allowed by UDC Section 11-3A-3, Access to Streets, subject to City Council approval inasmuch as Records is a collector roadway. FRIM i 2 F Y 5 �P� 'rvie n �►r1� LLL The Records access is important not only as the 'front door"to the project opposite The Village entertainment and retail core,but also to the leasing office—a component of the two-story clubhouse and pool complex connecting the north and south apartment structures. ACHD reviewed and approved the Records driveway access at the proposed location,restricted to right-in/right-out only with a right-turn lane from Records into the site. The graphic on the next page depicts points of access and site circulation. Access to the podium parking on the first level of each building and surface stalls is from Elden Gray Street via the 30-foot wide service drive between the project and Carmax. Those entering from Records must circulate south to the rear of the buildings. BRIGHTON—Creating GREAT Places—2929 W. Navigator Drive,Ste.400, Meridian, ID 83642 www.brightoncorp.com 208-378-4000 p f NO FIRE TURNAROUND ' r t� a � a� _ mamma DEARNIN I IIIuIN .� FAIMEW AVE - - UDC Section I1-3A-3A.1 states that access should be from a local street,where available,or "the applicant shall reconfigure the site circulation plan. " The project does take access from Elden Gray,the local street, as noted above—but not directly. To do so, coming out of the roundabout with the immediate access into Kleiner Park,would be challenging at best. We believe that the service drive accesses, indirectly from Elden Gray, avoids potential traffic conflicts. The most significant reason for the Records access, hence the waiver request, is for emergency services and fire access. The Meridian Fire Department reviewed the project, including the site plan base in the drawing below. The Department's Staff Report,dated February 8, 2022, states the following in Paragraph 4 -Accessibility: "This project meets all required access, road widths and turnarounds as presented in the preliminary plat. Any changes shall require fire department approval if any roadways or accesses are changed"(underline for emphasis) — MEMORIAL PA ORILPARK _^V MINIMUM SEPARATION BETWEEN ACCESSES L'I 14aR1(dt PCCI'J31 ..- .\ ,•11' - o . FAUENG.APLA ha ff� 1 _ ,J' y�•��f' 9nE VW�4ip _ I GOOI MEIEOIY , � .• r 'It ' I , •2 - _ 112 OVERALL ,III �' TEASING OFFICE t ' CLUBHOUSE DIAGONAL z-sr 41 nn DIMENSION II III � - ' •ain�Vimm _ -� PODIUM �-- {I` PARKING AREA SOUTH MINIMUM SEPARATION I \ BETWEEN ACCESSES (o I I I - ���i•ly IIIII i T.� I � ---�.cPw,WF -i � I f_fssrvfw/YXXE The fire staff report goes on, in Paragraph 16, to explain the access road requirements: "The access roads shall be placed a distance apart equal to not less than one half of the length of the overall diagonal dimension of the property or area to be served. " To assure that the exhibit above correctly interpreted that requirement, the applicant conversed with Joeseph Bongiorno, the report author, on April 131 and with Tom Walsh the following day. Mr. Bongiorno reiterated the diagonal requirement and stated that the proposed Records access is important and "definitely wanted;"Mr. Walsh explained the diagonal standard. The exhibit shows the minimum diagonal separations for each of the primary service drive accesses. Fairview Avenue access is not a possibility—and the closest Elden Gray access is literally at the roundabout and park entrance point of conflict. The proposed Records access is the only feasible option for the required second means of emergency services access. Thus, we respectfully request a City Council waiver of a UDC 11-3A-3A.1 for the Records Apartments, as proposed, and supported by the Planning & Zoning Commission in its approval of the conditional use permit on April 7' For Brighton et al, )X4, L� Jo each Assistant Project Manager—Entitlements Brighton Development Inc. 2929 W.Navigator Drive Meridian, ID 83642