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.
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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
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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)
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MINIMUM SEPARATION
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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,
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Jo each
Assistant Project Manager—Entitlements
Brighton Development Inc.
2929 W.Navigator Drive
Meridian, ID 83642