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PUBLIC RESPONSE
ITEM
DATE SUBMITTED BY
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Stan Marks, Property owner, 702 Main St., Caldwell
Re: Special use permit, Colby Lampman and Homes of Idaho, Inc., 714 Main St., Caldwell
Members of the Caldwell Planning and Zoning Commission -
We think a real estate office will make a positive addition to the downtown community. Our
opposition to this request is not about the office use or the specific tenant. Our opposition is
based on this request's departure from the downtown zoning plan and the negative ramifications
associated with inconsistent enforcement of the zoning plan moving forward. We also would
like to stress the importance of maintaining confidence with property owners that we can make
decisions to improve our properties based on the zoning plan with the knowledge that the City
will uphold that plan.
Currently we are developing office space on the second floor of our building which includes
installing an elevator and a vast array of additional improvements. We anticipate attracting
higher end office use tenants wishing to locate in the downtown core and wishing to participate
in the developing dynamic of downtown Caldwell. We have invested a great deal of effort and
expense in planning and implementing this improvement with the expectation that the City of
Caldwell will be consistent in maintaining and enforcing the zoning plan under which we are
working. As a building owner we make very costly and involved decisions based on that
expectation. In this case it is to offer office space where quality office space availability is
limited.
We are currently courting a regional firm with an office in Boise that wishes to establish a
satellite presence in Caldwell. We have been involved in this delicate process for over six
months. That firm has a business association with the Gardner Company and had explored the
option of leasing space in Gardner's new building adjacent to the theater. The City denied
Gardner's request for an exception to the zoning plan. If the city were to now grant this
exception wouldn't Gardner have a reasonable expectation that they could revisit their request
and would likewise be granted an exception under this new precedent? Our efforts to bring this
new tenant into our space would be compromised as would the value of our second floor office
space overall. We've conducted our activities within the City's plan and with the expectation
that the plan would be upheld and enforced.
We would like to emphasize that we think it is an excellent idea to include a real estate office in
the downtown core but let's be consistent with the zoning plan. We respectfully urge you to
deny this request.
Thank you-
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