2022-12-01Meridian Planning and Zoning Meeting December 1, 2022.
Meeting of the Meridian Planning and Zoning Commission of December 1, 2022, was
called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chairman Andrew Seal.
Members Present: Chairman Andrew Seal, Commissioner Steven Yearsley,
Commissioner Patrick Grace, Commissioner Nate Wheeler and Commissioner Mandi
Stoddard.
Members Absent: Commissioner Lorcher.
Others Present: Joy Hall, Kurt Starman, Bill Parsons and Dean Willis.
ROLL-CALL ATTENDANCE
__X___ Nate Wheeler _______ Maria Lorcher
__X___ Mandi Stoddard _______ (Vacant)
__X___ Steven Yearsley ___X___ Patrick Grace
___X____ Andrew Seal - Chairman
Seal: Good evening. Welcome to the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting for
December 1st, 2022. At this time I would like to call the meeting to order. The
Commissioners who are present for this evening's meeting are at City Hall and on Zoom.
We also have staff from the city attorney and clerk's offices, as well as City Planning
Department. If you are joining us on Zoom this evening we can see that you are here.
You may observe the meeting, however, your ability to be seen on screen and talk will be
muted. During the public testimony portion of the meeting you will be unmuted and, then,
be able to -- be able to comment. Excuse me. Please note that we cannot take questions
until the public testimony portion. If you have a process question during the meeting,
please, e-mail cityclerk@meridiancity.org and they will reply as quickly as possible. If you
want to watch the meeting we encourage you to watch the streaming on the city's
YouTube channel and access that at meridiancity.org/live. With that let's begin with roll
call. Madam Clerk.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Seal: All right. Thanks very much. So, the first item on the agenda is the adoption of the
of the agenda. File No. H-2022-0042 for Cobalt Point Apartments will be opened only to
approve the withdrawal of the application. File No. H-2022-0074 for the Wienerschnitzel
Drive-Through will be opened for the sole purpose of continuing -- continuing to a regularly
scheduled meeting. It will be opened for that purpose only. So, if there is anybody here
tonight to testify for these applications we will not be taking testimony on them. Can I get
a motion to adopt the agenda as -- as presented?
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December 1, 2022
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Stoddard: So moved.
Grace: Second.
Seal: It's been moved and seconded to adopt the agenda. All in favor say aye. Opposed
aye? Motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
CONSENT AGENDA [Action Item]
1. Approve Minutes of the November 17, 2022 Planning & Zoning
Commission Meeting
2. Findings of Facts and Conclusions of Law for the Conditional Use
Permit for Knighthill Center Childcare Facility (H-2022-0070)
3. Finding of Facts and Conclusions of Law for the Conditional Use
Permit for Centrepoint Apartments (H-2022-0072)
Seal: Next item on the agenda is the Consent Agenda and we have three items on the
Consent Agenda. First to approve the minutes of the November 17th, 2022, Planning
and Zoning Commission meeting. We also have Findings of Fact and Conclusions of
Law for File No. H-2022-0070, which is a conditional use permit for Knight hill Center
Childcare Facility. We also have Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, for File No. H-
2022-0072, which is the conditional use permit for Centrepoint Apartments. Can I get a
motion to accept -- to accept the Consent Agenda as presented?
Stoddard: So moved.
Grace: Second.
Seal: It's been moved and seconded to adopt the Consent Agenda. All in favor, please,
say aye. No opposed. Motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Seal: Okay. At this time I would like to briefly explain the public hearing process. We
will open each item individually and begin with the staff report. Staff will report their
findings on how the item adheres to our Comprehensive Plan and Unified Development
Code. After staff has made their presentation the applicant will come forward to present
their case and respond to staff comments. They will have 15 minutes to do so. After the
applicant is finished we will open the floor to the public -- to public testimony. Each person
will be called on only once during the testimony. The Clerk will call the names individually
of those who have signed up on our website to -- in advance to testify. You will, then, be
unmuted on Zoom or you can come to the microphones in Chambers. You need to state
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December 1, 2022
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your name and address for the record and you will have three minutes to address the
Commission. If you have previously sent pictures or a presentation for the meeting it will
be displayed on the -- on the screen and you can run the presentation. If you have
established that you are speaking on behalf of a larger group, like an HOA, where others
from that group are -- will allow you to speak on their behalf, you will have up to ten
minutes. After all those who have signed up in advance have spoken we will invite any
others who may wish to testify. If you wish to speak on the topic you may come forward
in Chambers or if on Zoom press the raise hand button in the Zoom app. If you are only
listening on a phone, please, press star nine, wait for your name to be called. If you are
listening on multiple devices, such as a computer and a phone. Please, mute the extra
devices, so we do not experience feedback and we can hear you clearly. When you are
finished if the Commission does not have questions for you you will return to your seat in
Chambers or be muted on Zoom. You will no longer have the ability to speak and, please,
remember we will not call on you again. After all testimony has been heard, the applicant
will be given another ten minutes to come back and respond. When the applicant has
finished responding to questions and concerns, we will close the public hearing and the
Commissioners will have the opportunity to discuss and hopefully be able to make final
decisions or recommendations to City Council as needed.
ITEMS MOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA [Action Item]
ACTION ITEMS
4. Public Hearing for Cobalt Point Apartments (H-2022-0042) by The Land
Group, located on Parcel R7909850396, directly east of the
intersection of S. Cobalt Point Way and E. Copper Point Dr. in the
Silverstone Business Park
A. Request: Conditional Use Permit for a new 264-unit multi-family
development on approximately 11.95 acres of land in the C-G zoning
district.
Seal: At this time I would like to open the public hearing for Item No. H-2022-0042, Cobalt
Apartments, in order to accept the application withdrawal for that application.
Grace: Mr. Chairman, for a motion I guess?
Seal: Yeah. That would be fine.
Grace: Mr. Chairman, I would move that we accept the application to withdraw agenda
Item 4, File H-2022-0042.
Stoddard: Second.
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December 1, 2022
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Seal: It's been moved and seconded to accept the application withdrawal for File No. H-
2022-0042 for Cobalt Point Apartments. All in favor, please, say aye. Okay. No opposed,
motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
5. Public Hearing for Wienerschnitzel Drive-Through (H-2022-0074) by
John Day, SU Architecture, located at 3136 W. Quintale Dr., near the
northwest corner of Ten Mile and McMillan Rds.
Request: Conditional Use Permit for a new approximate 1246 square foot
quick serve restaurant with a drive-through located within 300 feet of an
existing drive-through.
Seal: Now we will open File No. H-2022-0074 for Wienerschnitzel Drive-Through for a
continuance to January 19th, 2023.
Grace: Mr. Chairman, I would move to continue File No. H-2022-0074 to our scheduled
meeting on January 19th, 2023.
Stoddard: Second.
Seal: It's been moved and seconded to continue File No. H-2022-0074 to the regularly
scheduled meeting date of January 19th, 2023. All in favor, please, say aye. No opposed,
motion carries.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
6. Public Hearing for Sagarra (H-2022-0027) by Accomplice, located at
south side of W. Orchard Park Dr., west of N. Fox Run Way and east
of N. Linder Rd.
A. Request: Preliminary Plat consisting of 114 building lots and 16
common lots (including 3 private street lots) on 17.49 acres in the R-
8 and C-C zoning districts, a Planned Unit Development for a
residential community containing a mix of single-family detached,
single-family attached, townhome and multifamily units with a
reduction to the setback requirements in UDC Table 11-2A-6 and
an Alternative Compliance to UDC 11-4-3-27B.3, which requires the
provision of 80 square foot private usable open space area for each
multifamily unit to allow zero (0) for studio/flat units and two private
streets.
Seal: All right. So, now at this time I would like to open the public hearing for Item No.
H-2022-0027, Sagarra. We will begin with the staff report. Thanks, Bill.
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December 1, 2022
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Parsons: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Commission -- Commissioner and Commissioners
online. Happy to be here tonight. I'm actually filling in for Sonya. She's been taking a
much needed vacation this week and part of next week, so I'm -- I'm jealous, to be honest
with you. Hopefully -- and she's someplace warm. She's in Vegas. So, I hope she's
enjoying the weather down there, because it's a little chilly and wet here. So, the first
application before you tonight is the Sagarra project. It's a preliminary plat and a planned
unit development, which is something that this Commission doesn't see often and it's not
-- not a portion of code that's utilized much, to be honest with you. So, you can see here
on the future land use map that the property is encumbered with -- or not encumbered,
but it's designated with two land use types, mixed use community on a portion -- western
portion of the site and also medium density residential. Before I get into too much of the
details of the application I have had a chance to look at the public record this evening and
it looks like we had some opposition in this particular application and it appears a couple
items are getting blurred tonight. So, what I mean by that is some of the testimony
insinuates that the project tonight is going to have over 504 residential units on it and that
is not the case. So, I think more than likely what has happened is, if I'm not mistaken, I
believe the applicant and developer has had a -- a recent neighborhood meeting and
discussed future plans that may come before this body, but the application before you
tonight does not include 500 plus units, it is for a planned unit development consisting of
146 residential units, consisting of single family attached, single family detached,
townhomes and 38 multi-family units. So, again, it's a substantially smaller project than
what I have seen in some of that public testimony. So, just wanted to clear up the record
tonight that that will be potentially a future date.
Seal: All right. Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
Parsons: You're very welcome. So, as -- as we mentioned in the staff report, this property
was annexed awhile ago. It actually started with the city in 2017 and it took almost two
years to -- to get to the hearing process on this particular project, so there is a lot of
history, a lot of -- a lot of work went into making sure that we have a project that meets
the community's vision I guess is the best way to say that. And so tonight this is one of a
future phase. It was always planned to have some residential component on it. Typically
in these situations you will have a development agreement modification that's associated
with changes to this property, but based on our analysis of the project we found that it
was consistent with the current development agreement that was amended recently in
2021. So, as I mentioned to you, this project does consist of a plat -- so, there is 114
residential lots and 16 common lots and, then, you can see up there in the upper left-
hand corner the project is planned to develop in two phases. So, the phase one is the
western half, phase two the eastern half. A lot of the analysis for the staff report really
went into the PUD. I mean it's easy when you -- and you look at this project you can see
that it's pretty clustered, it's a dense development and that's what the PUD process is
about. One, it allows you to deviate from the dimensional standards, but it also allows
you to have a more unique design for properties that have challenging demographic --
dimensions and this is one of those cases where you have a lot of public streets that
surround this property and, then, you add the fact that they have to build more internal
public streets makes it a unique piece of property to try to get some reasonable amount
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of density on it, so I would let the Commission know that the staff has met with the
applicant over many months to try to fine tune a plan that would work on this particular
property and they have elected to go -- allow the R-8 zoning to stay in place as it's
currently approved and, then, move forward through that PUD process and that's why you
have a multi-family component as part of this as well, because under the UDC in Chapter
2, if you go through a PUD process the applicant can request a multi-family component.
So, as I mentioned to you here recently, here is the kind of -- this is less lines on this one,
so I figure this would be best to explain the project to everyone. So, you can see here
the -- along the periphery of the development the applicant is providing a transition of your
typical single family detached homes and as you transition farther north to the commercial
development you have that mix of what we call single family attached, the townhomes,
and, then, the multi-family itself is internal is located in this area here where you can see
my cursor where that larger open space area is. So, that's really -- and because of the
uniqueness of this site the PUD allows you to deviate from the setback standards as well
and that's what they have done as well. So, in a typical R-8 development you have a ten
foot setback to living area, 20 foot to garage, five foot on each side and 12 foot on the
rear. In this particular case the applicant is asking to deviate from those standards, which
we felt was appropriate given the -- the design or dimensions of this particular property.
I know some of the public testimony also had mentioned the density and whether or not
the density was appropriate for this site. As this body knows, the comp plan -- majority
of the site is medium density residential, which anticipates densities between three to
eight dwelling units to the acre. Now, what the comp plan also does -- and this particular
project comes in at a gross density of 8.35. In the comp plan it also tells us that when we
are either on the lower end or the higher end we should round to the whole -- the nearest
whole number. So, this particular number -- density, because it's 8.35, we round it down
to eight and, therefore, staff finds that this -- although it's on the higher end of the medium
density residential designation, it does meet the density requirements of the land use
designation. And, then, also the PUD standards and -- also require a mix of product type.
So, that's why you are getting the single family, the townhomes, and the multi-family. So,
again, it's a package deal. If you had a chance to look at the staff report you probably
noted that staff had concerns with the open space and also the parking and I can't say
that the information -- the application wasn't complete enough to share that information
with you, but what we -- what we really want the applicant to do is just to prove up a little
bit more how they are meeting those requirements. You can see here they have given
us an open space exhibit. Some of the areas count, some of them don't. There is certain
dimensional standards they have to meet and we explain that in the staff report. I think
the -- one of the biggest challenges we have -- and you can see on this plan and I think
it's one of the better amenities for this development -- is that pathway along the southern
and eastern boundary. That's a great amenity for that development, because not only
does it work for this portion of the development, but it's continued throughout the rest of
it, too, and connects into Chinden as well. But in this particular case there is a piped
irrigation facility in that area and so it's making -- going to make it difficult to put any trees
in that area. So, typically when staff is analyzing open space for a project, if it doesn't
meet the UDC standards we don't count it, because it doesn't meet all the rules and
regulations and so, really, what the applicant needs to do is submit for alternative
compliance and do something equal to or better than what's allowed, although we all want
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to see trees. I -- I want more trees, too. I love trees, but at the same time if it's not
feasible, they can either plant them elsewhere on the site or come up with an alternative
in that area in order for us to count that. So, in my discussions with the applicant I think
they are going to reach out to the landscape architect and figure out what areas count,
give us a more accurate reading on what that open space is and how they meet that 15
percent compliance that we require. Also because they have a multi-family component
they still have to provide that open space based on the number of residential units on the
square footage of those residential units. So, it's 15 percent plus whatever that amount
is per the 38 multi-family units. Typically the multi-family units are between 500 and 1,200
square feet, so you are looking at 250 square feet times 38, plus the 15 percent. So, I
would mention to you I think -- I mean from our perspective it looks like they probably
could get there, we just need more information and have them prove it up to us how they
are going to get there. The other issue was parking. There wasn't a real detailed graphic
showing us how they were meeting the parking standards of the code and I know this
body takes that very serious. Some of the public testimony also alluded to concerns with
parking. If you look here there is an east-west segment of local street that will be built
with this development and you can see in this graphic here that there is a series of chokers
or bulb outs for traffic calming, but it also allows for on-street parking. So, in this particular
case all of these units, except -- except for the units along the periphery, no other units
will have that parking pad, because they are going to be one or two bedroom units, so all
they need is a two car garage to -- to satisfy code. So, for example, in this location of the
development here you can see these gray areas here will be private streets in the future.
They haven't submitted a private street application to us yet, but they have been
conditioned to do that as part of their final plat and so these will be private streets and,
then, as you can see here none of the units -- and I will quickly go to their parking plan
here to show how it works. You can see here they are showing you all of the two car
garages for those that do not have parking pads and, then, you can see here the single
family homes do have the two car garage and the 20 by 20 parking pad in front of it. So,
as I mentioned to you, if it's one or two bedrooms they -- a two car garage can suffice for
the required parking. You don’t need a pad. But if it's a three or four bedroom unit, then,
you are doing four parking stalls and typically that's a two car garage and a 20 by 20
parking pad. So, again, it's -- it's not a matter of if they have enough parking, it's a matter
of giving us the information and proving you have the adequate parking, because if they
are truly all one and two bedroom units, then, the two car garages do meet code and,
then, you have that additional parking with that more urban street section that they are
doing in the center of the development with that on-street parking. So, again, I think --
again I know that a concern of this body when we are talking about parking and so, again,
the open space and the parking we have conditioned them to address that prior to City
Council. Now, if this body wants that information prior to it moving on to City Council, you
can certainly see if the applicant answers your questions adequately tonight, to ask for a
continuance and have them work with staff and correct those deficiencies before you
move that on. But I just thought I would put that out there for you as well. The other
uniqueness about this property is the -- the amount of stub streets that come into this site.
So, with the development of Paramount there were three stub streets, one on the east
and two on the south boundary. One was extended already, which is Bergman. This was
extended with the first phase of the commercial development, so this is all built, including
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December 1, 2022
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the traffic calming that was required and, then, again, this is the new street segment that's
going to be constructed with this proposed development. Amenities for the development
-- again, that's another critical component of a planned unit development is that they
provide us those amenity details. I can let you know here looking on my notes here they
are going to have that multi-use pathway along the perimeter and, then, they are going to
have a swimming pool, changing rooms, and restrooms, community workshop, dog
washing stations, outdoor activity complex, fire pits and barbecue area with tables and
shade structures. So, in our mind they are providing adequate amenities as well. So, no
concerns from staff as far as that -- that requirement goes. And, then, just because we
have common open space requirements, staff did receive an e-mail today about private
open space and the PUD standards do require that all of these units have their own
private open space either through enclosed yards or 80 square foot patios or front
porches. Looking at a lot of the submitted elevations it looks like the applicant -- some of
the units meet that requirement, some may not. So, if the applicant can't meet that
requirement with some of the units, the -- they do have the ability to go through the
alternative compliance process to -- to waive that requirement or include lessor private
open space. So, I don't want to get it confused too much between private and public, but,
really, the private is just more for the residential units themselves. Another component of
the PUD process is site -- site circulation and pedestrian circulation and so this is
something that the applicant provided to show you how all of that pedestrian connectivity
is going to occur, not only vehicularly, but also pedestrian -- with pedestrians and this was
required with their development agreement as well back in 2019 and 2021 and, then, part
of -- one of our conditions as well is that the applicant work with ACHD on getting safe
crossings across the collector road in these two locations here. So, that's been
conditioned as part of the project that they continue to work that out and make sure we
have some kind of elevated crossing or something to make sure it's -- it brings the
concerns to motorists that vehicle -- pedestrians will be crossing to the mixed use
development on the north side of that roadway. And, then, of course, with any PUD or
any development applications we do require architectural renderings. Again, further --
further refinement will be needed as they go through -- work with staff they will have to go
through that architecture standards manual and comply with those design standards. Like
some of the public testimony did -- was around the aesthetics of these buildings, they
don't match what's currently constructed in the area. Again, it's a PUD -- design is
subjective as you know. It might -- this might look great to the Commission, but maybe
somebody thinks they are not that great, but, again, the idea about a PUD is getting some
of that cluster development, maximizing the land and preserving some kind of open space
as part of the development. So, again, concerns with open space, but just need more
information how we get there. But, again, this design aesthetic probably lends itself well
with the commercial development more than the residential to the south, but I know
working with the -- the developer and the applicant on this site, they do have a very
specific vision for this property and that's why they are here tonight to share it with you.
So, looking at the public record I did want to make mention to you that, again, there was
-- let's see -- one, two, three, four, five, six, seven pieces of testimony in opposition of this
project. Again, some of it was kind of misleading or not specific to this project, maybe a
neighborhood meeting that occurred, but most of the comments stemmed around the
density of the project, the aesthetics of the project. Some of the neighbors were
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concerned that it wasn't compatible with the surrounding developments, which are a lot
of the things that you guys take under your purview when you are looking at these
applications. But with that I will go ahead and just let you know that staff is recommending
approval with the conditions in the staff report and I will stand for any questions you may
have.
Seal: Thank you very much for all that. Appreciate the extra info on there. So, at this
time would the applicant like to come forward?
Grace: Mr. Chairman?
Seal: Yes, go right ahead.
Grace: I apologize. I probably should have done this before our staff report, but I just
wanted to disclose and -- for the benefit of the applicant and the folks here who are ready
to testify, I'm a homeowner in Paramount. I'm also on the Paramount HOA and so I gave
some consideration to whether I should recuse -- recused myself from this agenda item.
I did confer with our legal counsel and I was prepared to -- to go forward based on my
review of this before the meeting tonight, but I think in the interest of -- of maybe caution,
I am going to recuse myself. I don't have any financial interests, which -- which I think is
the standard for a conflict of interest. Personally I certainly don't have any, but it is I
suppose possible that the -- that the HOA could have some interest in this based on my
knowledge of the HOAs authority and scope within that one mile plat. So, it looks like we
have a pretty full complement of Commissioners here tonight. I think you guys can handle
it. So, I think in the interest of transparency and just out of caution, I'm going to recuse
myself from this item.
Seal: Okay. Thank you for that. Appreciate it. Okay. Now, would the -- would the
applicant like to come forward.
Slavin: Two microphones. Do we speak into both of them?
Seal: Either one will work.
Slavin: All right. Commission, thanks for having me. Commissioner. Pleasure. Thank
you so much.
Seal: Need your name and address for the record, please.
Slavin: Michael Slavin. 424 East Thurman Mill Street, Garden City, Idaho. I'm with the
development team. Accomplice is partnering with the landowner, which is High Desert
Development. And Bill does such a wonderful job starting out, he's actually going to bring
up some slides to aid our presentation. I believe we have ten minutes. We will make it
pretty quick. But just to launch in and give you a background, this is stemming from a
development agreement that was entered into in 2019. This is an R-8 zoned piece of
property, roughly 17.49 acres. We are adhering to the density standards. That was really
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December 1, 2022
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important to us. At the same time this site is a little precarious shape. So, that led us to
a little bit more creativity in how -- we actually have a -- what -- a density minimum
standard of at least R-6 on this property. So, that was our starting point as a low bar. But
thought it would be really interesting to challenge ourselves to -- to really put forth an
interesting design that also fulfills the development agreement, being that one of the
wishes is there is a natural transition from single family homes from the south to
commercial to the north. So, you see more contemporary design, but the main reason
for that -- or the driver for that was to create this natural transition zone and so we want
to be in -- to be really intellectually honest and you make a site that transitions nicely and
is also very walkable to the commercial zone in the hopes that people will use their cars
less. So, just running down into the site, I think that -- yeah, I have it up. Thank you so
much, Bill. So, this is the vicinity. You are very familiar with this. Of course, zoning, we
just covered this piece. Looking at the site this hopefully helps you visually -- or helps us
visually demonstrate what we are wanting to accomplish. You will see in the periphery
this is a wish of the community, as well as commentary or notes by the planning staff is
that there would be single family homes adjacent to the Paramount site, transitioning east
-- sorry -- north to the commercial -- or sorry. Orchard Park Drive and also from the east
boundary west we wanted to start making the site more dense and more interesting and
tapering up to -- a much -- I think there is -- well, we have a 50 foot height provision in the
mixed use zone to the north. So, we wanted to create a natural transition to that and so
thought that, of course, townhomes would -- would be an interesting way to solve that
issue, that it was the wish of the development agreement. Let me see if -- and I want to
make a couple other points on this topic is that, you know, one of the other wishes of the
development agreement is that we -- we actually offer a mix of housing types that
includes, you know, single family detached, attached, multi-family, definitely allowed with
certain provisions, and so we went ahead and used the code to find a way to make that
happen. Getting into the actual Comprehensive Plan analysis, we wanted to talk on a
couple of notes that we thought to be important. Bill already addressed some of the prior
notes in his presentation, but we thought it's really important to create this connectivity
from the residential to the mixed use to the north. We will work with ACHD, we are happy
to, we have received quite a few comments from the neighborhood community and they
think they are well-founded comments that we can have, you know, raised street in spots
to slow down car traffic. That's a really good idea and something we want to work towards
and pursue. You will see that there actually are a couple demonstrated pathways. One
kind of north of Bergman. We actually have a flat work area -- I will show in more detail
on an amenity plan that sits adjacent to some of the multi-family with outdoor patios and
fire pits and outdoor space for the community that we think is pretty cool. We also have
an area that leads from a dog park. You can see on the left portion we have two acres.
It's a dedicated -- it's not actually part of this application, but I think is important. We have
a two acre park that's for community use that we think will be a really great amenity.
Thank you, Bill. And you can -- it's going to be most likely an off-leash dog park. Those
seem to be pretty rare throughout the entire Treasure Valley and pretty highly sought
after. We thought it would be interesting -- the other place that we are really focusing on
is a pedestrian connection to the library and so we want to draw a direct connection. We
think that's great, a community that we are really proud of and happy with our partnership
with the Meridian Library District. Some of the other -- some comments I want to address
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December 1, 2022
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directly, of course, didn't -- we have touched on that. We're falling within our legal bounds
for the recent zoning that was applied in 2019 and, then, moving to the preliminary plat I
just want to look at the -- these are some of the comments, by the way. It's talking about
open space, that that was a great question and thank you for the comments from the
planning staff. We have had several conversations. We, of course, relocated a large
irrigation canal with -- and the chairman of the irrigation committee -- or the ditch board
for this particular ditch, Rod Ragner, he is open to giving us a license agreement to plant
-- we can even plant trees, we just need to present certain trees and certain species with
shallow root systems that won't intrude the tile ditch that we put in place. So, that's
absolutely a possibility. So, we will work really quickly to do that. I know that we have to
provide that information before our Council hearing. So, we will move very quickly to
rectify any open space questions and we are very excited about that open pathway as
well. And, then, speaking of parking, we somewhat have this in our back pocket,. We
know it could come up. It comes up into development quite a bit and for good reason and
so, Bill, has actually ran the calculations -- I will just go to this parking diagram I have in
the back that he had showed earlier and so we are providing, just to be really clear,
enough off-street parking for the development to work, you know, and is code compliant.
We have a surplus of ten spaces that are off-street for the development and I would also
like to point out that each of the single family homes in the periphery were -- were going
to the maximum standard of three to four bedrooms, which requires four spaces per spot.
Some of those likely could be one or two bedrooms, depending on how -- those are going
to be somewhat custom built homes. So, a lot of those could be smaller. These are
smaller lots and we see a lot of downsizers and retirees that are very interested in this
location, just because it's a very walkable area. So, in addition to that, though, we wanted
it to provide in our parking study, so we are overparked off site -- or, sorry, on -- I guess
on-site or off-street. On-street we have 122 additional spaces. This diagram -- it's not
large enough probably for you to be able to see or appreciate, but we have also discussed
with the Meridian Fire Department that we have fire access throughout the site and so we
have -- you can see where cars are missing on the street, those are actually for radius
turns for fire trucks and fire access. So, we have had them sign off on the site plan as
proposed as well. But we feel that the 122 extra spaces would be adequate, in addition
to the additional spaces we have on site and that is taking into account the guest parking
standards as well for all units. I'm going to jump back up to slide six. Have that in my
back pocket. As I said, Bill did such a great job I'm going to be repeating a little bit of this
stuff, unfortunately, but things that we thought to be interesting -- so, in talking --
specifically the planned unit development a little -- is a little bit rare. We have done these
in other cities. We are happy with that provision. We -- it's something we don't take
lightly. We don't abuse. It's not to get extra density. In this particular case you can see
on the triangular portion of the site -- we like to consolidate homes when we can to create
more open space. So, we wanted to build more of a Gramercy Park style setting. You
look at most developments and there is a pool that's infrequently used and usually there
is a big wrought iron fence around it and it's in the corner of the development and usually
the most undesirable piece of property and in this particular case we wanted to make it
the heart of the development where the community can come together. You know, they
-- we have a clubhouse, we have a lot of amenities that surround the pool and we find
that to be pretty interesting. So, we want to build a community building site and that's, of
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December 1, 2022
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course, one of the tenants of -- of a PUD is it allows for innovative design and it also, you
know, creates functionality -- or a functionally integrated development, which we feel this
does. Let's see here. And what else do we talk about? Oh. Private patios. That was
mentioned briefly. We did leave a comment earlier on the review of our file. We are
providing private patio space for all units. And, Bill, maybe I didn't send that in the
package, but some of the multi-family units we were counting on public spaces that would
satisfy that requirement. We have just added balconies to those different buildings in 80
square feet and above for those units. So, we will go ahead and update that to you as
well. But we have addressed that issue. Let me see what else we have. Going
specifically to multi-family requirements, which are allowed in a PUD provision. This really
just drives home. The biggest requirement that we have -- and I think we have surpassed
it based on planning standards -- is it -- for the amount of multi-family units we are
providing on the site or are planned on the site, we need to have at least three public
community -- what amenities on the site for 38 to I think 50 and so what we have is we
have a community -- community house next to a community pool. We also have a tool
library. Those have gotten to be pretty popular and people living in more urban settings,
they don't need their own, you know, huge garage. We all want them, but sometimes we
don't get them, it's a nice place to tinker on bikes and have a little woodshop, things like
that and also dog wash stations. So, we can have these nice consolidated resources that
the entire neighborhood can enjoy, so we thought it would be pretty interesting and, of
course, you know, fire pits and community gathering areas, et cetera. And, then, lastly
-- I know my time is probably almost up. The building elevations have been submitted as
well. And so -- speaking to parking, Bill -- and I will send this to you. I have a table. So,
if you have any specific questions about the count -- we did go through the count last
night just to make sure that we are squared away with the parking, that we are satisfying
the requirement. Oh, we did it.
Seal: Thank you. Do our Commissioners have any questions for the applicant or staff?
All right. With that we will open up the -- you can go ahead and take a seat, sir. Yep, We
will open up the public hearing portion of this. Do we have anybody signed up?
Hall: Doug Jones.
Seal: Good evening, sir. Need your name and address for the record and the floor is
yours.
Jones: Good evening. My name is Doug Jones. 1274 West Barrymore in Paramount.
My -- I don't know enough about this to make relevant comments specifically. I did attend
the public meeting they had at the clubhouse some months ago. I did express concern
about parking at that point. That's come up again tonight. My frustration really -- the
developer sent out a letter a month or more back announcing this public hearing. But
there was nowhere to get additional information. No website. No QR code. Nothing.
And when you Google it you don't get any information. So, other than my memory of what
I saw several months ago, that's the only information I was able to draw on about this
project and where they are in the development. So, my suggestion to Commission and
staff -- and I have talked to the city staff some time ago -- make these developers put in
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December 1, 2022
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a link so you can find out more about the project before you show up here tonight to talk
about a public meeting. I'm not necessarily opposed to the project. Somebody needs to
put something on it. Multi-family housing done right is a need this community has got,
but I sure would like to have known more about it before I got here this evening. So, that
would be my comment -- more to you guys than the developer, but for Pete's sake, give
us a link, give us where to find more information. I did find some drawings finally going
through -- back through. ACHD had some drawings in their link to what was available
there. So, that would really be my comment, more to the process than to this specific
development, because the more people have information, the better prepared they are to
make relevant comments and not make comments to some other part of the -- the
development that may not be relevant to what's being talked about here tonight. So, I will
follow the process. I want to see what's going to happen. I live pretty close. But that
would be my comment. Do your due diligence with staff and with your Planning and
Zoning Commission. Be sure it's done right, because it's a lot easier to do it right than to
try to change it later. I was skeptical about the canal company allowing him to plant trees
over the top of that pipe, but that's my own personal opinion as a farmer and dealing with
canal companies, so -- thank you and I would be happy to answer any questions you may
have.
Seal: Okay. Do you have any questions? All right. Thank you very much.
Jones: Thank you.
Seal: Appreciate it. Madam Clerk?
Hall: Chris Eastman.
Seal: Good evening, ma'am. I need your name and address, please.
Eastman: Yes. My name is Chris Eastman. I live at 1192 West Bacall Street in
Paramount. Well, good evening, Commissioners. I actually wish I was not standing here
before you today. This is not my cup of tea. But, unfortunately, I have been in this process
since back in 2007. What I would like first to say is, you know, they talk about a lot of the
work that went in in 2017 and what was proposed and what we worked so hard to get an
agreement was not what you're seeing tonight. Although they can say that's the criteria,
the picture that was presented to us back then was two rows of homes and, then, going
from there, going into condos, and so there would have been no two extra streets needed.
There would have been just one private street, both sides with the homes and, then,
slowly going out. So, they have added so much more density than what was initially
presented in 2017. So, that's my first comment is I definitely agree that this is -- there is
just too much and if you could actually take the time to stand in this area, because it looks
lovely in this picture when they try and put it on, but when you stand in front of this area
and you try and envision a home, going to a condo, going into a townhouse with no space
between the sidewalks, it's pretty hard to see how -- they are going to be packed in there.
The second comment I wanted to make -- as I was leaving to work late yesterday,
because my daughter was not feeling well, and, thankfully, my patient was -- had to cancel
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December 1, 2022
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because of the snow and I was going out through this jog of the road, which there has
already been accidents and concerns with people driving and just turning out at a different
time in the morning I was able to see the crazy traffic that came from Rocky. I have never
been going out. I normally leave earlier. I helped a teenager who crashed her car into
the fire hydrant. She went off the road, crashed in the fire hydrant and was stuck there
in a total hysteric. Panicked. Was able to stop and help her for a while and I sat there
and watched as teenager after teenager came down that road through this jog, so much
through that way to get to Rocky. There were so many near misses, not only to me, this
teenager, but on the other side of the road and here we are talking about them adding
parking to a street. I mean I'm asking you guys to, please, not only use your brain -- this
looks lovely on a picture, but it is not lovely in real life. It needs to have some corrections.
I want this developed. I want to have homes behind me. I want it to be switched, but I
want it to be done right and that is what I'm asking you guys, to have them do it correctly.
It doesn't -- it's not all about -- it doesn't meet exact requirements. Can this be livable?
Are we going to protect our community and people's lives? Because what I saw last time
was very concerning. So, thank you.
Seal: Thank you very much.
Hall: Sally Reynolds.
Reynolds: Good evening, Commissioners. I have a presentation that was e-mailed in,
so I'm going to be using that. But while she looks for it, since it's not quite ready, I'm
happy to yield the floor to someone else who doesn't need the presentation.
Seal: Okay. That will work. Got somebody else --
Hall: Shane Nye.
Seal: Okay. I appreciate that. Good evening, sir. Name and address, please.
Nye: My name is -- My name is Shane Nye and I live at 858 West Bacall Street and I
appreciate you being here and I'm kind of in the same situation. I didn't have very much
access to information before now, so the questions I guess I could have asked during the
presentation, but didn't want to interrupt, is the other night they were talking about the
million dollar homes and I wish he would point out which ones are the million dollar homes
on the diagram. Sorry. I just want you to point out the million dollar homes on your
diagram that you were talking about the other night.
Seal: I was going to say he will -- when he comes back up he can point those out, so --
Nye: Okay.
Seal: We can't have a back and forth dialogue with this.
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December 1, 2022
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Nye: No. I understand. That's fine. I didn't know he would be coming back up, so -- but,
yeah, I just didn't have very much information and I would like to know when this was
presented to the City of Meridian, because I kind of tried to keep up on this. Is this just
now being presented to you or how long have you had the information?
Seal: I don't know the exact answer to that, but staff can probably reply to that question.
Nye: Okay. At a later time or -- sorry.
Seal: Well, I was going to say he is busy right now, so we will --
Nye: Anyway, it's something I have tried to keep up on as much as I could and I made
some pretty specific phone calls and this was not presented to me as early as two months
ago and so I -- I was just curious about that. Those are the only questions I had. So,
thank you, sir.
Seal: Thank you very much.
Hall: That is all I have signed up at the moment and there is no one online. We are still
pulling up her presentation.
Seal: You got it? Okay. If you want to come back up. It sounds like we have got it. We
will get there. I promise.
Reynolds: Oh, no worries. That's fine. I would rather have my words in front of me then.
Seal: Understood. Happens to the best of us. If it's okay?
Reynolds: Yes. Yeah.
Seal: Okay. Yes, ma'am. Come on up, please. Good evening. Name and address,
please.
Metcalf: Lisa Metcalf. My address is 967 West Barrymore Drive in Paramount and I did
have a concern about street parking. I know that the apartments that are in Paramount
currently that are kind of close to Meridian Road and by that middle school over there -- I
think it's called the Paramount Apartments, but I don't know the name. There is a lot of
parking on the street there and I find it dangerous sometimes just trying to get in and out
and around. You can't see. And so I was curious, is there going to be no parking allowed
at any time on specific streets in this development? Like that --
Seal: I was going to say --
Metcalf: -- it goes like an S kind of. That would be one of my major concerns, because
that street already is dangerous. I drive it every -- well, embarrassingly every day when I
go to Winco, because I'm not a planner, but if there were cars parked on that street it
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would be an absolute -- completely dangerous. And, then, also on the streets, just near
any of like where the major inlets are from the neighborhood, if there is parking allowed
on those streets near the inlets it's going to cause a problem as well. So, I would just be
concerned about safety.
Seal: Right. I think what Bill's pulled up here. The areas -- that are noted in pink on the
roads are no parking; is that correct, Bill? That's my understanding of it. I may be
understanding that incorrectly, so --
Parsons: Mr. Chair, Members of the Commission, I think those are the parking areas.
Seal: Oh, pink is the parking areas?
Metcalf: That is parking.
Seal: That is parking, yes.
Metcalf: Okay. I'm strongly opposed to that and I would ask that you take that into
consideration, because that street -- go drive it. Seriously, just go drive that little street
right there, so --
Seal: We understand what you are saying and those are public streets. The major streets
here are public streets, so --
Metcalf: So, that you don't have --
Seal: That is ACHD all the way, so --
Metcalf: Yikes.
Seal: Unfortunately.
Metcalf: Okay. Thank you.
Seal: You're welcome. Would anybody else like to testify? Ma'am, come on up.
Hall: Our internet is not working at the moment. That's why --
Seal: Oh. Okay.
Carpenter: Perfect. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Kelly Carpenter. My address
is 5991 North Arliss Avenue in the Paramount community. Thank you so much for being
here and thank you for hearing us this evening. We appreciate your time as well. If you
wouldn't mind, Bill, advancing to the next couple of photos. So, the photos that I brought
to you tonight are Bergman, as Lisa was just speaking to, the zigzag street. When this
community was being developed we did as a community ask for traffic calming street and
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December 1, 2022
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that's why the zigzag is there and it has already proved massively effective as we have
had different people crash into the field because they were out hot rodding. So, what we
are showing here today are what is suggested by ACHD is parking on both sides of
Bergman, as well as traffic attempting to pass through. So, per the parking plan -- and,
again, it is ACHD recommended that they are -- there is parking on both sides of Bergman
and so you see one car trying to go through -- and, Bill, can you advance to the next
photo, please? And, then, this lovely teenager was attempting to go to Winco for lunch
and asked if he could get through, because he really couldn't get through with what
potentially would be a car parked on both sides and, then, two way traffic attempting to
get through. So, we would really ask that ACHD re-evaluate the streets there and that
they do not recommend it. Per the ACHD guidelines, it does suggest a 36 foot street and
that street is only 33 feet and that is within guidelines, but, again, I think that extra space
really makes a difference. So, yes, as Paramount homeowners we are concerned about
the parking. We are also concerned about the density. Yes, the property is zoned R-8,
but, please, also consider that Paramount is zoned R-8 and we do have very nice homes
that are very nicely spaced and that's really what we're asking of the developer is that he
could -- they could go back and look at reducing the number of units to reduce the number
of cars, to reduce the amount of parking needed and to remove -- reduce the amount of
strain on the community, i.e., the schools and fire department, police department, et
cetera. Just like some of the other neighbors got up and spoke about, it is a bit difficult
to find the information, unless you know where to look, and I have been in this community
since 2016. So, fortunately, I know how to scour the City of Meridian websites and look
at all the planning and zoning, but I will tell you after reading everything I feel like I should
have a Ph.D. in this. So, really, that's the moral of it is reduce the number of units, that
would reduce the need of parking, reduce the strain on the community. Again to the look
of the community is extremely modern and our homes are not -- they are not modern.
They are more classic traditional and, forgive me, the developer, I forgot his name, but
he did speak to Gramercy Park and that is New York. This isn't New York, this is Meridian,
Idaho. Three stories is too much. It's too high. We all have two story homes. We have
beautiful views of Bogus Basin and we would like to retain that. It really in our mind makes
more sense that it would be a two story maximum housing and then -- and, then, on the
other side of Orchard Park, then, we can talk about a higher. But, you know, some of
those three stories are 39 feet and that is extremely high and extremely blocking to our
current views. So, those are the main comments that I have.
Seal: Okay.
Carpenter: Any questions?
Seal: None for me. Any from the other Commissioners? No. All right. Thank you.
Carpenter: Thank you so much for your time. We appreciate it.
Hall: I think we are good.
Seal: Do we have a presentation?
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December 1, 2022
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Hall: We do.
Seal: Okay. I'm excited. There has been a lot of hype around this.
Reynolds: I know. Now, I can't let you down; right? Thank you so so much for getting
that ready. Hold on just a second before I start. Will I be able to control it from here, Bill?
Spacebar to -- okay. Could you just go full screen? Maybe -- all right. My name is Sally
Reynolds. 1166 West Bacall Street in Meridian, Idaho. I am here to request continuance
of this application at the P&Z level due to the staff report not being submitted in a timely
manner. The development does not meet the requirements for a PUD. The staff report
indicates multiple exhibits that need to be revised, including landscaping, site amenity,
parking and open space exhibits. There are outstanding questions regarding the
southern fence, street parking, three alternative compliance fulfillments and the irrigation
easement. So, Meridian City Code states what a PUD can be used for. This development
does not qualify under points one and three and it does not qualify under point two,
because the density is just about eight acres and PUDs are supposed to be for greater.
The garages actually do all front the streets and just because there are a variety of
residential units does not necessarily make it innovative. Those units were selected
because that's what maximizes household on this lot without needing a complete rezone
to R-15. And as Bill pointed out, allows for the multi-family. It may be argued many
rooftops are needed to make the commercial piece economically viable, but there are
1,500 households that can walk to this area without crossing a major road. Plus Tuesday
night the neighborhood meeting was held that laid out plans for potentially 500 more units
in the northwest corner of this plat. With that said, they are using the PUD to request
exactly what Meridian said it should not be used for, to change dimensional standards,
and even if it was a PUD and the code -- the code -- well, as you can see this is a chart I
wanted to point out. They are asking for basically modifications on almost every single
setback for every single building on almost every single lot. But even if it was a PUD, the
code still says that the setback around the periphery of the planned development cannot
be changed. They are asking for zero feet along the north side behind the townhomes in
violation of UDC 11-7-4. PUDs also require 80 feet of private usable space to each unit.
I wasn't given an answer until just now, but before neither the application or staff report
was clear on how they are tentative -- alternatively complying with the request. Finally,
the application does not meet minimum open space requirements, which were supposed
to be even more, because three years ago the developer horse traded providing more
open space in return for Winco's larger footprint. This parcel should be developed to what
was in the current agreement adhering to R-8 zoning. Consequently, the number of units
may need to be more around 100 to 120, which would allow for greater compliance with
private and overall space requirements, as well as setback dimensions. The two major
questions -- Kelly's talked about one -- is the on-street parking of Bergman. Hopefully
that will be addressed by ACHD. And, then, also the southern fence is in disrepair from
when the canal was rerouted along the residents' back fences. It is 15 years old, but the
side fences have not -- have been able to be -- so, in conclusion, my recommendation is
that it be reworked. The fence could be repaired. Some lighting to be considered to
reduce criminal activity along that corridor and just to continue it, so that it can be
completely cleaned up and the exhibits can be finalized before it goes to Council. And I
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December 1, 2022
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-- I would like to add one private -- or one positive note for the developer. I would really
like to thank this developer. What we worked with four years ago, they have been much
better to work with. They have been better transparency. I do appreciate their attempt
to feather the density from, you know, our houses out and so there are some good things
that they have done. I just think that it's -- it's pushing the boundaries a little bit too far
and we need to watch the code. Thank you. I will stand for any questions.
Seal: Any questions? I keep looking over at you and I realize you are not -- you can't,
but nobody else is raising their hand, so -- thank you very much. Anybody else want to
come up and testify? Sir, come right up. Name and address, please.
J.Carpenter: Justin Carpenter. Oops. Sorry. 5991 North Arliss, Paramount Subdivision.
Thank you for your guys' time tonight. You know, to Sally and what Kelly said, these guys
have been very good about their information that they have been presenting. Not to beat
the dead horse about parking and -- and density, but, you know, I just want the -- you
know, kind of the greater picture. You know, everybody has talked about R-8 and that
this Is R-8. I think there is plenty of examples in the valley where just because you could
doesn't mean you should and that's what I ask you guys to look at this, you know, from
an objective perspective and, yes, it's -- it's to the guidelines of what R-8 is, but you're
just sausage casing so much into just such a tiny area. You know, I went -- you know, if
you guys could take a field trip and look at it -- I think it was Sally who even said -- or one
of the other testimonies -- just get a feel for what this lot looks like and, then, envision this
and I -- I think that if we could get that reduction in units, give these people some more
space, we would have a much better, you know, development that is going to be a shining
star to Meridian. You know, right now it's just -- it's just too much. That's all I wanted to
say.
Seal: Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. Questions? Okay. Come on up. Good evening.
Just need your name and address for the record. And, please, speak right into the
microphone, please.
Card: My name is Jennifer Card and I live at 6301 North Booth Avenue in Paramount.
We back up --
Seal: Can you come a little closer to --
Card: Sorry.
Seal: Yeah.
Card: We back up to this development as well. The biggest thing I think is parking. I
mean I'm going to beat a dead horse. Parking is a major issue. Parking is going to fall
into our neighborhood. Where this curve is is incredible. I walk my dog early in the
mornings, generally during the summer. Even -- kids even then are squirrely. That needs
to have some stuff worked out and I'm -- ACHD and get a hold of them and write letters
and whatever I need to do. But we also have -- there is a traffic flow issue here and there
Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission
December 1, 2022
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is a density. When we walk we walk our dogs around this every single day and like
somebody said earlier, I cannot fathom how they can fit all of this in that spot, having open
spaces and stuff like that. To be able -- somebody said to be able to count the grass
along the sidewalk as an open space, whether that's a fact or not -- I hope is not true and
I hope that you -- you guys can see through that. But I hear about responsible growth
and we know this is going to be developed. We just want it to be developed the right way.
And like somebody else said, once you do it you can't go back. So, we need to do it right
the first time and that's really important with the massive growth that's happening here.
So, I appreciate the time. Thank you.
Seal: Thank you very much. Okay. Come one up.
Duran: My name is Julie Duran and I live at 1236 West Bacall Street. Also just backing
up to this area. We bought our house in 2018 and at the time the plans for the area, as
someone else mentioned, was like two rows of houses with a road in between and not
directly behind my house, but to the side there was this big park area that was like a
community park for these houses going in that would give them this -- this area that, open
space that you were talking about, and now I look in there is -- there is no park. Like you
have the triangle area and they said they had like a community pool and stuff in there,
but it's -- it's not the same as having like open green area in the community. And so just
like the last person mentioned, a little patch of grass next to the sidewalk is not the same
as the feeling of having an open park where people can be with their children. Like a dog
park is not a children's park; right? Like those are -- those are different spaces. And I
just feel like with the library there and all these houses, like you -- you need a park. You
need -- you need that green space. So, taking it away or providing a provision that they
don't have to do it -- like it's not the same and to have so many people in such a small
area without big open areas where -- where people can take their kids to play or just be
outside a patio is not the same as green space and I just -- I think that's really important
for this development. I also have concerns about density and parking, especially that little
lightning bolt S-shape, like that sucker is a mess. Like even if you are driving like 15 miles
an hour, like to state -- if you -- there aren't even lines drawn in the middle, because no
one would be able to -- like it's -- it's tricky and it's fine now, because there is usually only
one car on the road at a time. But if you put 146 units there and, then, you put a big five
story thing on the other side, you are going to have people there always and people
parking there always and that's -- like it's not safe. Even -- even just two-way traffic, if
there is someone coming the other way you have to be very careful and if people are
parking on the side, it's -- it's -- it's something for consideration I feel like and that's all I
have to say.
Seal: Thank you very much. Anybody else wants to testify? Commissioners, do you
have any questions for the applicant or staff before he comes back up? I do have one.
One question was brought up, which is basically when was this plan presented to staff. I
don't know if we have a date on that or not.
Parsons: Commission, we started with the applicant months ago. So, it was -- we have
been fine tuning this for probably over a good year or more.
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Seal: Okay.
Parsons: And I can tell during the many meetings I have had with the applicant and we
have talked about getting the neighbors involved and getting buy-in from the community,
because that's what transpired four years ago when we went through all of this and we
said that would be a huge hurdle they would have to overcome is to get community buy-
in and that that would be a big part of their -- their submittal to us and our support and so
I think for the most part, in having my meetings with this applicant, and they have reached
out and been very open to the community in sharing their ideas with them. So, that's all
I can share as far as my interaction with getting this project started.
Seal: Thank you. Would the applicant like to come back up?
Hall: Mr. Chair, if I may.
Seal: Yes, ma'am.
Hall: On the city's website we do have underneath -- the application and everything, it
was put in -- in October it was available on our website -- the city's website.
Seal: Okay. Thank you. Come on up.
Slavin: I will try to respond in kind as much as I can. I would like to make a general
statement, because there has been quite a few concerns about this north-south street,
which we would be happy not to put it in, but we were -- we were actually legally obligated
to put it in. We are happy to stand with you and eliminate all parking on that street, by
the way. We don't want it. We don't like it. We don't need it for the development. So,
there are plenty of other spaces that can be used. So, absolutely. ACHD, as you said,
they are their own beast, gotten to know them fairly well. Yeah. Sorry. Sorry about that.
But we are -- we are one hundred percent in agreement on the parking and I do apologize.
Mr. Jones, very quickly, I'm sorry you weren't able to get more information. I will work
with the city in future iterations to make sure you are able to access information. I
completely agree with that. To Chris Eastman, as far as the density goes, our traffic study
back in 2017 through our traffic engineer was actually for 146 units. It was always planned
to be 146 units. So, that's never changed. Nobody's ever been trying to be sneaky or
coy at all. It's always been an R-8 development. We have had a traffic study that
substantiates that. Eliminate parking. That was another comment I would like to make.
To Sally Reynolds, thank you. I love facts. You know code so well. We do have a lot of
exhibits that we will be filling in the blanks and we are confident that we are taking the
right path. We put a lot of work into this development. Shane Nye, the million dollar
homes, they will be the homes in the periphery and that was, you know, maybe a few
months ago. There is -- the interest rates are very high. There might be some
suppression. But, you know, homes in the valley staggeringly enough are trading at 500
bucks a foot, so it's not hard to get to a million dollar home anymore. A little bit
unbelievable to think that five years ago a 200,000 dollar home was a very opulent home
and that's why a lot of people moved to Boise. Let me see. Your neighborhood meeting.
Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission
December 1, 2022
Page 22 of 35
We did have a neighborhood meeting. I'm sorry if you didn't get a letter. That was in
February. We actually held a second neighborhood meeting out of courtesy in June. So,
we do really take to hear what people have to say. We want to produce a quality
development in the neighborhood. The green sweater woman, I don't remember your
name. Yes. Parking. We will get rid of it. Those are most of the comments. I think that
one of the big ones to Justin Carpenter is that the reason that we are offering this
neighborhood is not everybody wants a big home with a yard. You know, some people
like to lock and leave. They live here halftime, they live in Florida halftime and this is a
unit that isn't really offered in -- in Meridian in any great number and definitely not without
walkable amenities. I mean half the vision of this is -- and I'm one of those people that
live in Garden City, I love to get on a bike and walk to, you know, restaurant, walk to
coffee shops, different lifestyle. Some people want a big family home. They want a big
home. Some people want a smaller space. We are trying to fill out a product mix and
also trying to fulfill the mixed use spirit of the -- of the future land use map and the
Comprehensive Plan, et cetera. So, this, you know, in our view really conforms to the
Comprehensive Plan. And Jennifer Card, open space. Yeah, it -- there actually is a park,
so we don't want be misleading about that. We didn't include it in the application. There
is a two acre park that's dedicated that we can't build on. So, just to let you know there
is a two acre park. We might or might not let it be a leash off dog. There is other concerns
about that. Some people really want it. That having been said is we are providing a really
cool plaza for the library. We are going have so many cool spaces for kids to hang out
and, you know, for the library to -- to actually, you know, roll out 3D printers. They have
been so wonderful to work with. So, I'm very confident there is going to be a lot of public
space for children, for adults, for everybody to enjoy this entire site. Thank you.
Seal: Quick -- quick question for you. There was somebody that mentioned that the -- it
sounds like the multi-family is going to be three story; is that correct?
Slavin: Yeah. Yes, it is. Actually, thank you. I want to speak to the height for a minute.
It's -- when you have two story homes next to two story homes, you are not taking views
away and in our case we have a lot of flat roof homes versus a gable home. So, when
you think about it, if you are standing in perspective, there is -- you know, you're on ground
floor and there is a two story home in front of you, you're going to have the same
difference in view. It's not going to impede your view any more or less. We do have a
height restriction on the site. We are definitely complying with that and so we're really
trying to do everything by the book. It's not trying to be cute. These -- these zoning
standards are in place for a reason and we are -- we are working within the zoning
compliance standards there are. So, I'm sorry, there is not going to be a field there
forever. I mean I really am. We all go through changes. It's not fun. But at the end of
the day this is going to be probably the highest quality development you could conceivably
have in this location, so thank you.
Seal: I had another question, but it's eluding me at this point. The rest of our
Commissioners are online. Do they have any other questions for the applicant or staff?
I'm going to take that as a no. Okay. With that, you can go ahead and take a seat and
need a motion to close the public hearing, please.
Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission
December 1, 2022
Page 23 of 35
Slavin: Thank you.
Seal: Thanks you, sir. Sorry, we can't have you come back up. I need one of my
Commissioners who are online, please, close the public hearing part of this. Need a
motion, please? Don't -- don't worry.
Stoddard: Do I have to say something specific or do I just move to close the public --
public hearing?
Seal: Just -- just need a motion to close the public hearing.
Stoddard: I move we close the public hearing.
Yearsley: I will second that.
Seal: It's been moved and seconded to close the public hearing for File No. H-2022-
0027. All in favor, please, say aye. Any opposed? Okay. Public hearing is closed.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. ONE RECUSE. ONE ABSENT.
Seal: All right. Who wants to go first?
Yearsley: Mr. Chair?
Seal: Commissioner Yearsley, please, go ahead.
Yearsley: I don't know if I have really have too much to say. This -- this has been planned
out from the very beginning of the site plan for Winco and they are just bringing it to
fruition. I think it looks good and don't have any issues with it at all.
Seal: Okay. Anybody else want to comment?
Wheeler: Mr. Chair, this is Commissioner Wheeler.
Seal: Go ahead.
Wheeler: Yeah. I'm with Commissioner Yearsley. I'm the same way. I just don't know
what's -- you know, much more to say. It looks like they have been working on it for a
long time. We got a staff recommendation on this. I'm in support of this project.
Seal: Well, I will throw my two cents in here. So, I have nothing -- I don't really have any
major reservations about it. Parking is a pain. It's a pain everywhere. So, unfortunately,
ACHD owns the streets and if they say they can park on them, they can park on them.
So, unfortunately, our hands are tied with it. So, what I try to tell people is if you are here
for the parking in the streets, you're at the wrong meeting. ACHD controls those. So, by
the time we get them we have to go by what their report says and what their findings are,
Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission
December 1, 2022
Page 24 of 35
unless we want to get lawyers involved. So, I don't think as taxpayers we want to do that
on every application. I do agree with some of the testimony that's been provided tonight.
I think this is a little bit -- well, I won't say a little bit. I think it's incomplete, so -- I don't
have any reservations about it, I just think that better definition of the open space and
how that's going to be refined. My opinion is that's going to affect density. I don't think
that you can offer the open space that's going to be required without eliminating some of
the units that are in here. So, you know, two birds one stone with that one is my opinion.
So, I mean you're technically within the density limits, but only because we are rounding
down, so -- I mean in the communities that we have let's just try and keep the density
where it needs to be. Three to eight. Keep it three to eight, not 8.35. So, I mean that's
-- you know, I'm not trying to be cute either, but at the same time, you know, three to eight
is three to eight, so -- I would like to see the common open space better defined -- you
know, come back with basically -- what I would do at this point is I would -- I would
continue this, so that you can come back, have a better defined open space presentation.
Better define the parking that's in here. You know, put it in writing what it is. I understand
that you brought something tonight, but I didn't -- I wasn't able to read that before tonight.
So, I don't know. So, to me it's just incomplete. So, I don't have any reservations about
the design of it. In fact, I think it's a good design for where it's at. I mean I kind of -- you
know, I would almost look at this as in-fill if it wasn't something that had been planned out
for so long. I really like the path that you have done around the perimeter. I'm also -- I
like to bike, I like to walk, I talk about it on almost every Planning and Zoning meeting.
People probably get tired of hearing it, but I think it's valuable and imperative that we do
that. So, you know, as somebody that goes to Eagle a lot to ride their bike, because our
community doesn't provide a really good basis for doing that, I can tell you if you want to
save public land start putting pads on it. So, I'm -- I'm glad to see that there. The one
reservation I do have on it -- or the one question I do have on it -- that was my question.
I remember now. The fencing that's along the Paramount properties, since it's not a
privacy fence, how will that be handled? Bill? Sorry.
Parsons: Chairman, Members of the Commission, it's -- it's existing fencing now. So, it's
-- it's whether or not the applicant and the homeowners can -- can work on a solution
there.
Seal: Okay. It looks like the -- I mean the fencing looks fairly dilapidated. That's not --
in my opinion, that's not something that the applicant should have to single handedly take
care of, but I think there is probably agreements that can be made, something amicable.
What I'm getting at is generally speaking that would be required to be private -- or, you
know, semi-private, semi-open, however you want to say it. You know, basically visible
fencing, because that is going to close that area off to make it somewhat of an alleyway
type situation. So, I mean to have that open style fencing on both sides would be
something that would make that, you know, better for everybody. So, again, I like the fact
that it's a pathway. Understand the -- you know, what you are up against as far as having
an irrigation canal there and everything. So, I don't think there is anything nefarious going
on here. I just think that there is more work that needs to be done and I would rather
continue this and have you come back with a complete application that better defines the
open space, has a solid plan for what you're going to be able to do with the landscaping
Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission
December 1, 2022
Page 25 of 35
along the ditch area. What's going to happen with the fencing. You have indicated in
here you are more than happy to go in front of ACHD, try to eliminate as much parking
as possible and we will give you time to do that as well. So, again, I think there is nothing
necessarily wrong with the application that's here. I just think that it can be more complete
and more time would allow you to do that. That's my opinion.
Stoddard: Mr. Chair?
Seal: Commissioner Stoddard, go ahead.
Stoddard: Yeah. I actually agree with you that a continuance would be a good idea. I
do think that there are some good things with the application, but it does need to be fine
tuned a little bit.
Seal: Okay. With that I will -- we will need a motion of some type or more conversation
from any of the Commissioners.
Yearsley: Do we have a date that it needs to be continued to?
Seal: That's a great question. I don't know. I mean, honestly the applicant's comment
about going to ACHD and talking about this is -- that would probably, in my mind, kick it
down the road the furthest. So, I don't know what that would even look, like to be perfectly
honest, in reference to time. You know, to be honest, I mean it is -- it is something that
is out of everybody's hands in this room. It is something that ACHD would definitely have
to take care of, so -- and I -- in my mind they have already written what they are willing to
do. That includes the parking, so -- I don't agree with it. I'm in agreement with, you know,
most people in this room that, you know, that parking -- parking on a road like that, with
that kind of connectivity, is probably going to be an issue. But that's ACHD's purview, so
I don't know how long it would take to do that. So, that's a really long way of saying I don't
know, Commissioner Yearsley. I would say -- I mean at least a month. So, I mean we
are at the first meeting in December, I would say at a minimum the first meeting in
January.
Yearsley: Oh, I would go probably the first meeting in February, just because you're going
to lose a lot of time for the holidays.
Seal: That's true. We do have the holidays coming, so --
Hall: Which is February 2nd.
Seal: Okay.
Starman: Mr. Chairman, can I offer a thought or two?
Seal: Absolutely. Always appreciate your input.
Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission
December 1, 2022
Page 26 of 35
Starman: So, the first thought is with respect to ACHD -- I think a lot of the issues that
you mentioned, Mr. Chairman, in terms of open space calculations, more information
about parking and so forth, those are all issues that are important for this body's decision
making. So, those are very legitimate to ask for a continuance or require a continuance
until you have a complete application that -- and you have the answers to your questions,
because those are key decision points. They are facts that are necessary for you to make
a decision. I would just contrast that with the ACHD topic, which really is not within -- it's
not a key decision point for this body in terms of what you're being asked to make a
recommendation on. I think it only would come into play is if they can't meet their parking
obligations without that on-street parking. So, I think that's the only way you would draw
that connection. Otherwise, the ACHD conversation really probably -- it's not critical to
your -- make sense?
Seal: It does. And that's -- I guess I -- and you have elaborated more on how that ties in
as far as the parking piece of it. I mean there is a concern as far as safety, but there is
also the concern of will they meet parking. So, again, you know, a better defined devised
plan as far as open space parking, density, how that all plays out, so --
Starman: My second thought was you -- this is at the chair's discretion, so you are not
required to do this, but we have done this in the past. You may -- if you are inclined to do
so, you could ask the applicant if they have a thought about how much time they might
need to respond to the items that you have listed. So, you can solicit their input. You
don't have to, but we have done that once or twice before.
Seal: Okay. I was kind of leaning in that direction. If we are going to look at a continuance
we do need to open the public hearing back up. So if -- if that's the direction that we are
going I would take a motion to do that.
Yearsley: So moved.
Stoddard: Second.
Seal: It's been moved and seconded to reopen the public hearing for File No. H-2022-
0027. All in favor say aye? Any opposed say nay. All right. The public hearing is open.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. ONE RECUSED. ONE ABSENT.
Seal: Applicant, please come back up. Thank you, sir. Sorry. There is a little bit back
and forth here, so --
Slavin: It takes a village.
Seal: Yeah. It takes a village. Exactly. So, if you want to give us your best estimation
on what can be done and what timeframe we are more than -- more than happy to hear
it.
Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission
December 1, 2022
Page 27 of 35
Slavin: Sure. To the points that are tied to the specific development, the open space
calc, which would drive density, of course, and parking, we would be ready by the next
Commission hearing with that information. I feel confident in that. ACHD is a different
matter and I'm not being cute or nefarious on this either. This -- it takes time with them
even to get a meeting and several other instances they take months and months to
respond and my -- my view on that is the road is constructed. It's not going to change,
the design or construction of the road. The best we can do is in the future have it marked
as nonparking and that -- I mean as long as that's done, you know, as soon as we could
possibly do it, but I would say that would take three or four months at best to, you know,
have the right discussions with the right folks at ACHD and get to some type of conclusion.
For them they have a formal process as well, just like any city does. So, I'm sure you are
going to go through some bureaucratic steps. We would prefer to go to the next hearing
prepared to answer the questions that are germane to our development.
Seal: Okay. Do we know in the next hearing how many we have at this point? It seems
like we were pretty crowded.
Hall: Mr. Chair, we already have five.
Seal: We have five. We will probably go one more other than --
Hall: On January 5th we only have one date.
Seal: Okay. January 5th we will -- we will shoot for that. Generally speaking if we are
going to be for a continuance you would go in at the end and if we have -- we have found
that after five applications we get into, you know, 11:00 o'clock at night and, generally,
we just continue them anyway, so we don't want to do it to you again.
Slavin: I appreciate it. It's a date.
Seal: Thank you very much. All right. Sorry, I can't call you back up. If we had a specific
question I could call you back up, but we don't. Sorry. Okay. With that can I get a motion
to reclose the public hearing for File No. H-2022-0027.
Starman: Mr. Chairman --
Yearsley: For a continuance we don't close the public hearing.
Seal: Oh, yeah. You're right. Sorry. Okay. With that, if somebody wants to make a
motion.
Yearsley: So, I didn't hear the date for that continuance.
Seal: January 9th, 2020 -- oh. January 5th, 2023.
Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission
December 1, 2022
Page 28 of 35
Yearsley: Okay. Mr. Chair, I move that we continue File No. H-2022-0027 to the hearing
date of January 5th, 2023.
Stoddard: Second.
Seal: It's been moved and seconded to continue File No. H-2022-0027 for Sagarra to the
date of January 5th, 2023. All in favor, please, say aye. Any opposed say nay. Okay.
Continuance passes. Thank you very much, everyone. Appreciate it.
MOTION CARRIED: FOUR AYES. ONE RECUSED. ONE ABSENT.
7. Public Hearing for West Valley Emergency Center (H-2022-0065) by
Fulmer Lucas Engineering, LLC., located at the southwest corner of N.
Levi Ln. and N. Rustic Way
A. Request: Development Agreement Modification to the existing
development agreement for Prescott Ridge (Hospital Portion)
(Inst.#2021-132724) to update the phasing plan and modify the
provision requiring noise abatement to be provided along W.
Chinden Blvd./State Highway 20-26 to allow for alternative
compliance.
B. Request: Conditional Use Permit for a hospital in the C-G zoning
district.
Seal: Give everybody a second here to clear out and, then, we will start the next one. All
right. At this time I would like to open File No. H-2022-0065 for West Valley Emergency
Center and we will begin with the staff report.
Parsons: Thank you, Mr. Chair, Members of the Commission. The last item on the
agenda this evening is the West Valley Emergency Center. As you mentioned, this is a
development agreement and a conditional use permit before you this evening. As we
typically explained to this Commission, the development agreement -- because the CUP
is with -- concurrent with a development agreement modification, both -- you guys are a
recommending tonight and that CUP will go up with that DA modification to City Council.
Seal: Okay.
Parsons: So, the site consists of 16.46 acres of land. It's currently zoned C-G in the city.
It's located at the southwest corner of North Levi Lane and North Rustic Oak Way. If you
recall, this project was in front of you in 2021 as part of the Prescott Ridge development
and so all of that R-15 and R-8 to the south of this property was also annexed in with this
particular piece. At the time of that hearing it was disclosed that a future hospital would
be located on this site. As part of that process with -- as they went through City Council,
Council made a determination -- you know, typically when we look at hospital specific use
standards, they typically have access to arterial roadways and we know how constrained
Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission
December 1, 2022
Page 29 of 35
a corridor that Chinden Boulevard is, but one of the requests that we made of City Council
at the time was whether or not this hospital taking access off the collector road would still
meet the intent of it -- the collector road tying into the arterial -- the state highway would
still meet that intent and they could move forward with that and the Commission -- or,
excuse me, the Council did conclude that they could make that finding. So, therefore, we
are here tonight to talk about phase one with you. You can see here on the future land
use map that there -- again, this property has two designations on it. A mixed use regional
and -- and medium density residential and that's how it ended up zoned C-G, because
it's predominantly mixed use regional and a hospital tends to have a regional draw. The
other issue, if you recall, as part of that application was the hospital was -- or at least the
applicant was generous enough to go back and purchase additional property to make
sure that we had a cohesive plan as part of their development. So, again, that's why we
are here tonight and you can see here they have provided -- so, really, the purpose of the
DA mod for City Council is to basically pull this to have them enter into their own DA
subject to their own phasing plan and allow them to seek alternative compliance for the
noise abatement along Chinden Boulevard. It's interesting that uses other -- you know,
typically when we have residential uses along a state highway we have a four foot berm
and a sound attenuation wall to mitigate the residential use, but there is also specific uses
like hospitals, schools and churches that also have that same requirement and so in this
particular case the applicant has submitted an alternative compliance, which has been
approved, to present their case that there is not a need for it, because they are set back
from the highway and I think from our discussions with the applicant I think they are
amenable to doing some type of berming, just not a ten foot tall berm or a fence. Just
maybe a four -- three or four foot tall berm, just to kind of screen the parking lot and soften
the -- the amount of asphalt that you see from the roadway. But I won't get into too many
of those details. As I mentioned to you, staff's already approved that request and, then,
ultimately Council has to approve the DA mod to go along with that alternative compliance
request. So, you can see here -- here is their phasing plan and so the first portion of their
development will be the emergency center. You can see two access points here and,
then, the applicant is also proposing to build the 30 foot wide landscape buffer adjacent
to those residential uses as well with the first phase. What the ultimate goal of having a
secondary access that ties into Serenity Lane here in the northwest corner -- if you had a
chance to look at our staff report you realize that there -- there may be some obstacles
for that to occur. I think the applicant's working through those details, but if they can't or
don't have the right to get an emergency access to that roadway, we have conditioned
them to provide that emergency access to this cul-de-sac. Also mention to the Council
-- or to the Commission that this phase of the Prescott Ridge Subdivision has been
approved or will be approved for final plat and we also condition -- placed that same
condition, that if the hospital is not able to obtain the emergency access in the northwest
corner, that they work with the hospital in order to facilitate that secondary access through
this cul-de-sac here in the southwest corner. So, we have -- I think we have had -- that
provision is covered. I know the applicant's aware of that and they are good with that as
well. I would also mention to the Commission that because this is not a lot of square
footage with this particular phase, secondary access is not required at this time. So, that
will happen probably with a later phase, but I just wanted to at least go on the record and
share that with you. I would also mention to you that the MOB retails, restaurant building,
Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission
December 1, 2022
Page 30 of 35
phase two will not require any further refinement or action from the Commission, because
that is a principally permitted use, so they will just have to go through staff level approval
for that. But because this CUP does not include the third phase, they will have to come
back and modify the CUP to -- to construct the third phase and that's been conditioned in
the staff report. Here is the landscape plan again. Alternative compliance. That multi-
use pathway is occurring. Access, again, is located off the collector roadway. To my
knowledge the applicant is in agreement with the conditions in the staff report. I would
mention to the Commission that we did receive written testimony from some of the
adjacent neighbors in Val Vista I think it was the subdivision, if I -- memory serves -- well,
not -- what -- Serenity Lane. And they would prefer that the emergency access go with
option two, which is the cul-de-sac in the southwest corner. Again, with that I will conclude
my presentation and stand for any additional questions you may have.
Seal: Thank you very much. Would the applicant like come forward. Good evening,
ma'am. Need your name and address, please.
Hunsicker: Betsy Hunsicker. 1717 Arlington Avenue, Caldwell. 83605. I'm the
administrator at West Valley Medical Center and with HCA Healthcare. So, good evening
and thank you. We have been here -- I feel like -- I feel like I have been here a lot and it
looks like we have got a few new faces from maybe the last time we were here. So,
thanks for hearing this tonight. We also have several others with us who can speak to
any questions you might have about the project, including our architect and our civil
engineer, if you have some specific questions. And as Mr. Parsons mentioned, this
project was previously approved as part of a master development and we are back today
seeking the required conditional use permit, which we knew at the time would be coming
back for that and, then, also some development -- development agreement amendments
that Mr. Parsons also described. We continue to be really excited about bringing this
project to -- to this area of Meridian. You all know better than anyone how quickly -- how
fast this area is growing and there are really no healthcare services in this part of the
community and, you know, I would like to just give you a little bit about HCA and West
Valley, since we do have some new folks here. We are a taxpaying entity. So, unlike
some other hospital partners in the area and across the country, this property will
generate property taxes and income taxes for the City of Meridian, thereby supporting
growth and infrastructure well beyond our own use. West Valley has been the best place
for modern healthcare. Over seven times in the last eight years we have received a
leapfrog in safety score, which is the highest score possible, 18 periods in a row and we
have received the Patient Safety Excellence Award from Health Grades, which puts us in
the top ten percent of hospitals across the country for patient safety based on publicly
reported data. I'm really proud of who we are and I'm really proud that we are going to
be able to bring our people and our culture to this area and provide great patient care for
people in this community and, then, I would also mention that HCA has been recognized
by Ethisphere as one of the world's most ethical companies for 12 consecutive years. So,
I would really like to thank the Planning staff for working with us and all the various
recommendations and involvement in this phase of the project. We are comfortable with
their recommendations. There was one public comment letter in the packet that he
referred to and I was just going to address that as well. We also would prefer to use that
Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission
December 1, 2022
Page 31 of 35
south emergency access through the cul-de-sac and we have talked to Hubble Homes
about that. So, I think that would be our plan of -- kind of our plan moving forward, which
addresses the neighbors concerns. You know, that road is I believe required by the city,
so if we do need to construct that road at this stage and we would basically barricade it
at both ends -- or, you know, block it, not allow use on it. And, then, the other comment
was really around the -- the berm wall, the noise abatement, and in the report you will see
we did hire a noise engineer to make sure that we were -- that this alternative compliance
would meet the requirements and that noise engineer felt that the distance of -- I think it's
400 feet set off the property was an adequate noise abatement, just distance alone. But
we do definitely agree with the staff -- staff's recommendation for a three foot berm and,
actually, I think that will provide some -- the opportunity to provide a nice landscape and
screening and really make that an inviting property for the community. So, with that I will
stand for any questions. Which I may need backup on just -- you know, if you get too
technical on me.
Seal: Commissioners, do we have any questions for the applicant or staff?
Hunsicker: Okay. Thank you.
Seal: None right now. Thank you very much. Madam Clerk, do we have anybody signed
up to testify?
Hall: We have a Sharon Kamel or Kamal. How about Cory Coltrin?
Seal: Good evening, sir. Name and address, please.
Coltrin: Cory Coltrin. 6178 North Serenity Lane. I'm the third lot from Chinden that backs
up to the -- to the hospital there and I am here representing the HOA for the Peregrine
Heights Subdivision. The -- no one from HOA was able to make it, so they asked if I
would come and I just wanted to express our -- our opinion that we are really in favor of
that access going out that back cul-de-sac to the south. Serenity Lane is a private lane
and we -- we don't plan on -- we -- that -- we not going to -- we don't appreciate a private
entity trying to take that over and we would really appreciate if that was -- if this -- we
appreciate the staff's opinion on going out the back as a way better alternate -- alternative
to kind of hijacking our -- our private neighborhood that we have had for -- I have been
there for 22 years. So, appreciate your time. I look forward to being a good neighbor and
-- and it's going to be a wonderful facility, we know that, and we just would like to keep
our lane to ourselves.
Seal: All right. Thank you very much.
Hall: Mr. Chair, that is all we have signed up online or in house.
Seal: Okay. I only see one other person in Chambers. I don't see a hand popping up.
Would any of our Zoom attendees like to raise a hand? If not, the applicant can come
back up. Is there anything further you want to add?
Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission
December 1, 2022
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Hunsicker: I just would like to clarify. So, you know, if we all agree to -- that we would
prefer to use that south access, what -- maybe, Bill, we just need to clarify what the
expectations are for that frontage road, because if we -- you know -- and what the city's
expectation is on the construction of that frontage road and maybe that's a separate staff
conversation, but I don't know what has to be kind of in the development agreement,
because right now the development agreement requires us to build that frontage road.
So, that would be I think a question for staff, because we would be fine not even -- we
would be fine not constructing the frontage road if we don't have to.
Seal: Okay. Quick question on the -- on the berm and everything. Could we do like four
foot berm, six foot fence, because that's generally -- there is a lot of that that goes around
and that's generally what's worked off of. So, kind of makes it in compliance with
everything else and might have a similar look and feel for anything that goes in down the
road.
Hunsicker: Well, the recommendation from staff was a three foot berm.
Seal: I know. I want another foot, Bill.
Hunsicker: Without a fence?
Seal: No. With a fence.
Hunsicker: So, the commercial developments on Chinden do not have a berm and a
fence. I mean so from my -- from our perspective as a business that's a real deterrent,
because you can't see the business and the only reason that's required is for noise
abatement. So, it's not a -- it's not a -- it's not a screen for the property, it's for noise
abatement. So, I guess that would be -- that's why we -- that's why -- it's not required for
-- I'm looking at the staff. It's not -- my understanding is it's -- the only reason the walls
-- or that berm's height is for noise abatement. I mean that's -- for us as the -- as the
occupant of that property to be setback 400 feet and, then, have a six foot wall and a four
foot berm, you're -- we are -- it needs to be a viable business.
Seal: Oh, yeah. Absolutely. I mean that's -- you know, I'm also looking at the restaurant
pad that's going to go there and just try to make sure that we get a similar look and feel
as we go into this thing. So, I mean whatever is going to go along there, as we stretch
down -- further down Chinden Boulevard to the east is -- you know, we want to make sure
what -- whatever gets put here is going to set a precedent for whatever goes in. So, if
something taller is going to be required further down the road, then, I would think we
would want to start here.
Hunsicker: I guess I would point out that Costco has zero berm zero landscaping on the
Costco lot, which is -- I mean I know it's not a hospital use, but it is a commercial use.
And the only reason that is required in our properties is for noise abatement purpose.
Seal: Okay.
Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission
December 1, 2022
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Parsons: Mr. Chair, Members of the Commission, just those two points. So, first of all,
the director has already approved the alternative compliance, so it's a four foot berm is
what we are getting. Certainly if you want Council to take that under consideration they
can do that as part of their purview, but right now we have -- the director has approved it
and they -- approved that they do at least a minimum four foot tall berm along that.
Seal: Okay.
Parsons: To the second topic that the applicant's brought up is if the DA requires the
road -- and so there is a couple things we have to look out. One is their MDA request
does not include that to be modified. Two, the property was mixed use regional at the
time that we acted on this application. The way our code reads is when you front of state
highway code requires you to build a backage road, because we try to limit accesses on
Chinden Boulevard. Typically the code says you do that by building a road 660 feet from
the intersection. So, you have adequate light depth to do something in that area. This
particular case, given this -- the existing county subdivision, that limited -- that they are
walled off and couldn't do that, the concession was made that they would build that road
-- that cross-access road across the frontage there, consistent with this plan. So, again,
need to look at the DA. I think it's more of a conversation with staff. But, certainly, if that's
something they need to address, they should take that up with Council when they do that
with a DA modification.
Seal: Okay. Thank you much for that. Appreciate it. Okay. If nobody else wants to
testify, can I get a motion to close the public hearing for File No. H-2022-0065?
Stoddard: So moved.
Grace: Second.
Seal: It's been moved and seconded to close public hearing for File No. H-2022-0065.
All in favor, please, say aye. Any opposed say nay? I'm not sure what that sound was,
but I will I take that as an aye and the public hearing is closed for File No. 2022-0065.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Seal: Who would like to comment first or we can hear a motion or any of the above.
Grace: Mr. Chairman, just a comment that I think it's -- it's a well needed -- well -- much
needed service in that area and I -- it seems like there is universal agreement on the --
on the emergency access on the south via the cul-de-sac. So, that would be my
recommendation to the City Council to -- to the extent they need it. So I'm in favor of it.
Seal: Okay. Other Commissioners want to comment?
Wheeler: Mr. Chair, this is Commissioner Wheeler.
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December 1, 2022
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Seal: Go right ahead, Commissioner Wheeler.
Wheeler: I really don't see much of the -- the argument for, you know, anything else, but
just -- for me it's just in the -- it seems that that's the best use for it. They are seeming to
comply with city zoning requirements, access issues. I like the way that the parking space
-- spacing is there to where it's not immediate access to any of the facilities, just straight
off the highway. So, for me this is something I could support.
Seal: Yeah. I'm kind of the same -- on the same page. I mean what's in our purview to
speak to you tonight is the CUP really, which has really nothing to do with the -- you know,
which road they take at this point in time. So, it sounds like everybody's in agreement as
to what they would like to do with this, it's just a matter of working with staff and making
sure that that's something that is provided for before you go to City Council. So, you
know, the fact that the representative from the HOA is here to now say that this is a
beautiful thing, after spending a lot of time with you previously, is a great thing. So, happy
to hear that. I mean I'm of the opinion that, you know, this has been hashed out and
what's here is -- is going to serve the community well and is a good thing for the
community as well. So, I would be more than happy to take a motion on this.
Grace: Mr. Chairman?
Seal: Go right ahead.
Grace: After considering all staff, applicant, and public testimony, I move to recommend
approval to the City Council of File No. H-2022-0065 as presented in the staff report for
the hearing date of December 1st, 2022.
Stoddard: Second.
Seal: It's been moved and seconded to approve File No. H-2022-0065 for West Valley
Emergency Center with no modifications. All in favor, please, say aye. Opposed nay?
Motion carries. Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
Seal: Okay. Actually, I need to bring up that on our next meeting, if the Commissioners
can, please, be here at 5:00 p.m. for some training and we would like everybody -- well,
we need to have everybody come on site for that. If that's not going to work for you,
please, let Joy know and we will see how many people we are going to have here and we
will act accordingly. With that I will take one more motion.
Grace: Mr. Chairman, motion to adjourn.
Yearsley: Second.
Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission
December 1, 2022
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Seal: It's been moved and seconded to adjourn. All in favor say aye. Thank you. We
are adjourned. Thanks.
MOTION CARRIED: FIVE AYES. ONE ABSENT.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:51 P.M.
(AUDIO RECORDING ON FILE OF THESE PROCEEDINGS.)
APPROVED
_____________________________________ _____|_____|_____
ANDREW SEAL - CHAIRMAN DATE APPROVED
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
CHRIS JOHNSON - CITY CLERK