Staff ReportItem #4D: UDC Text Amendment -Dispatch Centers (ZOA-11.005)
Application(s):
- Amendment to the text of certain sections of the UDC to allow for dispatch centers for mobile services.
Summary of Request: The Planning Department proposes to add a new use category in the UDC for mobile service
providers. Contractors and other personal and/or professional services that travel to the customer as part of the
service provided are included in this category (examples: taxis, landscape maintenance contractors, carpet cleaners,
maid service, and food delivery); this use excludes the service and/or repair of fleet vehicles.
This use is different from a contractor's yard in that equipment associated with the mobile service is contained within
the vehicle and the provider travels to the customers to perform work; work is not carried out on the site.
The new use is proposed to be a permitted use in the C-G and I-L districts and a conditional use in the C-N, C-C, L-
0, and M-E districts. Specific use standards are proposed to regulate the proposed use that prohibit outdoor storage
of materials; require adequate off-street area to be provided for fleet vehicle storage; and that prohibits the site from
being used as a contractor's yard, a vehicle wrecking or junk yard, and/or a freight or truck terminal.
Written Testimony: None
Staff Recommendation: Approval per the staff report
Notes:
STAFF REPORT
HEARING DATE:
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
July 21, 2011
Planning & Zoning Commission
Sonya Watters, Associate City Planner
208-884-5533
E IDIAN~--
IDAHO
ZOA-11-005 Unified Development Code Text Amendment -Dispatch Centers
I. SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF APPLICANT'S REQUEST
The City of Meridian Planning Department has applied for a Zoning Ordinance Amendment (ZOA)
to amend the text of certain sections of the Unified Development Code (UDC) to allow for dispatch
centers for mobile services. Please see Section VII below for a complete list of the proposed UDC
amendments.
II. SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION
Staff is recommends approval of the proposed text amendments to the UDC based on the analysis
provided below and the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law listed in Exhibit B.
III. PROPOSED MOTION
Approval
After considering all staff, applicant and public testimony, I move to recommend approval to the City
Council of File Number ZOA-11-005 as presented in the staff report for the hearing date of July 21,
2011 with the following modifications: (add any proposed modifications.)
Denial
After considering all staff, applicant and public testimony, I move to recommend denial to the City
Council of File Number ZOA-11-005 as presented during the hearing on July 21, 2011 for the
following reasons: (You should state specific reasons for denial.)
Continuance
After considering all staff, applicant and public testimony, I move to continue File Number ZOA-11-
005, to (insert specific hearing date), and direct staff to make the following changes: (insert comments
here.)
IV. APPLICATION FACTS
A. Site Address/Location: NA
B. Applicant:
Planning Department
City of Meridian
33 E. Broadway Avenue
Meridian, Idaho 83642
C. Applicant's Statement/Justification: Since its implementation on September 15, 2005, Staff has
requested several other amendments to the UDC. Staff continuously tracks the UDC in order to
identify issues that hinder the ability to efficiently and effectively administer the code. See
applicant's narrative for more information.
V. PROCESS FACTS
A. The subject application is for a Unified Development Code amendment as determined by City
Ordinance. By reason of the provisions of the Meridian City Code Title 11 Chapter 5, a public
hearing is required before the Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council on this matter.
B. Newspaper notifications published on: June 27, and July 11, 2011
C. A public service announcement was broadcast faxed on June 23, 2011 regarding this application.
VI. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN POLICIES AND GOALS
The City's Comprehensive Plan is a vision and policy document for guiding development and the
transportation needs in the City of Meridian. Staff finds that the subject Unified Development Code
Amendment complies with and furthers the goals and objectives of the 2002 Comprehensive Plan.
The specific objectives and actions that support the proposed amendment are listed below:
• "Amend the Unified Development Code and Future Land Use Map to implement this plan."
Stafffinds that the intended purpose of the subject ZOA application is harmonious with and in
accordance with the applicable objectives of the Comprehensive Plan.
VII. UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE
The applicant has identified specific sections of the UDC that should be amended for the code to
function efficiently and to more appropriately meet the needs of our customers and the City. This
application includes changes to the following sections of the UDC:
Chapter 1, Article A: DEFINITIONS
Chapter 2, Article B: COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS
Chapter 2, Article C: INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS
Chapter 4: SPECIFIC USE STANDARDS
The proposed changes are noted below in strike-out/underline format. The column marked "Reason
for Change" indicates the intended purpose of the text amendment.
Text Reason for Change
11-1A-1 DEFINITIONS OF TERMS: Add a new use category for
MOBILE SERVICES: Contractors and other personal and/or professional mobile service providers.
services that typically are invited to travel to the customer as part of the service
provided. Mobile services include, but are not limited to, taxis, landscape This use if different from a
maintenance contractors, carpet cleaners, maid service, and proceryand/or food contractor's yard in that
delivery. This use excludes the service and/or repair of fleet vehicles. equipment associated with the
mobile service is contained
PUBLIC UTILITY, MAJOR: The use of a site for a public purpose, including but within the vehicle and the
not limited to, sanitation services facility, school busing facility, and municipal provider travels to the
and utility shops, garage, or storage. customer to perform work;
work is not carried out on the
PUBLIC UTILITY, MINOR: The use of a site for minor public utility infrastructure site.
including, but not limited to: a) pumping station for water, sewer, or gas; b)
electric subtransmission line, electric distribution line; and c) wa#er~arflF; apd-d•}
storm drainage facility and storm detention facility that is not within a right of
wa .
Table ALLOWED USES IN THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS Include proposed new use in
11-2B-2 Add Dispatch Center for Mobile Services as a principle permitted use (P) in the use schedule
C-G district and a conditional use (Ca within the C-N, C-C, L-O, and M-E
districts.
Table ALLOWED USES IN THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS Include proposed new use in
11-2C-2 Add Dispatch Center for Mobile Services as a principle permitted use in the I-L use schedule
district.
11-4-3-45 DISPATCH CENTER FOR MOBILE SERVICES: Include specific use standards
A. No outdoor storage of material shall be allowed. All materials shall be stored to regulate the proposed new
indoors. use
B. Adequate off-street area shall be provided for fleet vehicle storage.
1. Fleet vehicle storage shall only be on surfaces composed of one of the
following materials: concrete, asphalt, arasscrete, pavers, bricks, macadam,
or recycled asphalt.
2. Fleet vehicle storage shall not block sidewalks or parking areas and may
not impede vehicular or pedestrian trafFc.
3. Fleet vehicle storage shall be screened with a six foot (6') sight obscuring
fence, or fleet vehicle storage shall be designed as an offstreet parkins area
consistent with the standards as set forth in sections 11-3C-5 and 11-36-8
of this title.
C. The site shall not be used as a "contractor's yard" as herein defined.
D. The site shall not be used as a "vehicle wrecking or funk yard" as herein
defined.
E. The site shall not be used as a "terminal frei ht or truck " as herein defined.
VIII. EXHIBIT
A. Required Findings from the Unified Development Code
Exhibit A -Required Findings from Unified Development Code
1. Unified Development Code Text Amendments:
Upon recommendation from the Commission, the Council shall make a full investigation
and shall, at the public hearing, review the application. In order to grant a text amendment
to the Unified Development Code, the Council shall make the following findings:
A. The text amendment complies with the applicable provisions of the comprehensive plan;
Staff finds that the proposed zoning ordinance amendment complies with the applicable
(limited) provisions of the Comprehensive Plan. Please see Comprehensive Plan Policies and
Goals, Section 6, of the Staff Report for more information.
B. The text amendment shall not be materially detrimental to the public health, safety, and
welfare; and
Staff finds that the proposed zoning ordinance amendment will not be detrimental to the
public health, safety or welfare.
C. The text amendment shall not result in an adverse impact upon the delivery of services
by any political subdivision providing public services within the City including, but not
limited to, school districts.
Staff finds that the proposed zoning ordinance amendment does not propose any significant
changes to how public utilities and services are provided to developments. All City
departments, public agencies and service providers that currently review applications will
continue to do so. Please refer to any written or oral testimony provided by any public service
provider(s) when making this finding.