CC - Alternate Compliance Letter TH E
LAND
GROUP
July 14, 2022
City of Meridian, Planning Division
Attn: Sonya Allen, Associate City Planner
33 E Broadway Ave, Suite 102
Meridian, ID 83642
RE: Acclima Subdivision I McDermott Rd
Final Plat Landscape Plan—Alternative Compliance PN 121201
Dear Sonya,
We respectfully submit this alternative compliance narrative along with the Final Plat Landscape Plan
associated with the Acclima Subdivision. We are requesting the replacement of streetscape Tree and
Shrub requirements along the Future Highway 16 corridor and McDermott Road along the north 1/3 of
the parcel with an on-site landscape enhancement. Specifically,we are requesting to include a
functional orchard in lieu of standard streetscape treatment north of the northernmost drive approach
into the site.The orchard would be completed at the time of the on-site development of the Acclima,
Inc.facility.This request is submitted for several reasons. For Acclima, Inc., this design feature allows for
the primary function of the site (testing irrigation efficiency monitoring devices in real-world
applications)to occur on the site and keep a local company and employment opportunities in the City of
Meridian. Additionally, locating Class II or Class III trees in these buffers would skew device performance
and create inaccurate sun exposure to the test plots in this area. Acclima, Inc. devices are utilized in any
number of settings, but a primary application is agricultural use; in these cases, agricultural fields
typically have consistent exposure across a crop type for predictable growth, irrigation requirements,
and harvest windows. In short,Acclima, Inc. needs to test products in the context they will operate in to
remain competitive in this challenging market.
In addition to the use benefits of the proposed orchard to Acclima, Inc. product testing,the proposed
design meets the intent of code, exceeds the planting requirements set forth in UDC 11-313-7, and
provides a landscape improvement that fits into the unique agricultural character described in the City
of Meridian's Fields Sub-Area Plan.
Meeting the Intent of Code and Exceeding the Planting Requirements of UDC 11-3113-7:
The landscape plan included in this Final Plat application to the City of Meridian otherwise complies or
exceeds requirements for the future Highway 16 corridor and McDermott Road frontages.The
landscape plan includes 38 Class II or III trees (50.1%) exceeding the required 35%class II tree
specification. Additionally, 104 total trees are proposed across the site, exceeding the 75 trees required.
Aesthetically pleasing clusters of native shrubs and boulders contribute to the vernacular design along
the McDermott frontage and help to provide human-scaling between the pedestrian way and the future
site improvements. In lieu of traditional turf sod, a regionally sourced native prairie grass sod will
drastically reduce consumptive water use while building the network of threatened vegetation in the
area (including Snake River Wheatgrass and Bluebunch Wheatgrass) and will continue to meet the intent
462 East Shore Drive, Suite 100, Eagle, Idaho 83616 208.939.4041 thelandgroupinc.com
Page 2 of 3
of the code by providing a 100%vegetative ground cover. This approach is equal in aesthetics to turf
grass and far more responsible to the community through reduced water inputs.
The buffers also meet or exceed dimensional standards. For example,the future Highway 16 buffer is
35-FT wide to comply with the entryway corridor designation. Despite ACHD and Nampa Meridian
Irrigation District easements and the related constraints along McDermott Road, a 7.5-FT planting buffer
from back of detached walk exceeds the required 5-FT dimensional standard for buffers outside of
easements. The overall buffer dimension for McDermott Road is 37.5-Feet from back of curb, ensuring
the required NMID and ACHD access is met while ensuring ample soil volume for a quality landscape
design to improve the appearance of the future building fagade.
Creating a Sense-of-Place and Preserving Agricultural Character
The subject property has historically served agricultural uses.According to the City of Meridian's Fields
Sub-Area Plan, properties in the area should "Build on the area's agricultural history through character
and design standards, integration of art, or reuse/re-purposing of existing structures."The design team
contends that carrying forward agricultural use and agrarian forms like a functional orchard meets this
adopted planning goal better than a street landscape buffer endemic to any streetscape in America.This
approach is decidedly Meridian, and appropriate to rural southwestern Idaho. It is also our opinion that
leveraging a local company's business interest in creating an iconic landscape meets the intent of code
and improves the health, welfare, and economic value of the region. Below are some precedent images
that communicate the character that an orchard will provide on this particular site.
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t?AM. THE
5Q LAND 462 East Shore Drive, Suite 100, Eagle, Idaho 83616 208.939.4041 thelandgroupinc.com
=r GROUP
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We appreciate your consideration of this matter and strongly believe that this is a great opportunity for
the city to partner on a unique landscape solution that keeps Meridian's agricultural history alive and its
economic future promising.
Please feel free to contact me directly should you wish to discuss further.
Sincerely,
1w
Matthew T.Adams, Principal
The Land Group, Inc.
t?AM. THE
5Q LAND 462 East Shore Drive, Suite 100, Eagle, Idaho 83616 . 208.939.4041 - thelandgroupinc.com
=r GROUP