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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExhibit 5_CC_HE Minutes - Freedom 50HEARING EXAMINER MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, January 13th, 2026 @ 1:31 pm Caldwell City Council Chambers Room, 205 S. 6th Avenue, Caldwell, Idaho CALL TO ORDER – Hearing Examiner, Ms. Sabrina Durtschi opened the meeting for the public hearing at 1:31 p.m. REVIEW OF PROCEEDINGS (OPENING STATEMENT) – Ms. Sabrina Durtschi outlined the procedures for the public hearing. MEMBERS PRESENT: Angelica Gomez (Administrative Assistant); Joe Dodson (Principal Planner) CONSENT CALENDAR: OLD BUSINESS: 1. ACTION ITEM: Public Hearing Quasi-Judicial: Case Number: SUP25-000017, ZON25-000006: The applicant, TMOD Homes LLC., on behalf of David Nelson, is requesting rezoning of parcel R3249700000, from C-3 (General Commercial) to R-3 (Urban Residential) as well as a special use permit for Freedom 50 Development. The proposed development is a multi-family residential duplex community with fifty (50) dwelling units (twenty-five buildings), where the current City comprehensive plan future land use map place-type is identified as mixed-use. The 3.9 acre parcel is located on the south side of E. Ustick Rd., approximately 400 feet west of the intersection with Cleveland Blvd. This case was continued from the December 23rd, 2025 Hearing Examiner Hearing. Joe Dodson (Principal Planner) 205 S. 6th Avenue, provided the staff report by outlining its contents by use of a PowerPoint presentation. Mr. Dodson stated that the applicant has resubmitted many of their plans since the last hearing. They resubmitted their landscape plan, site plan and open space exhibit to try to comply with the conditions of approval that were previously there. Michael Fife (Applicant) 2667 E Gala Ct. Meridian, signed in favor of the application and stated he does not have anything else to add so he will stand for any questions. In response to the Hearing Examiner’s questions, Mr. Fife stated: • The one unit will be used as a “model unit” for potential renters to walk through. • There will be an office space for the landlord to use. Mr. Fife agreed with the Hearing Examiner that the office is due to code requirements. Mr. Fife stated that they acknowledge that it doesn’t meet every aspect of the code, particularly in relation to having residential along an arterial, but it does meet the Comprehensive Plan. They feel they are bringing an amenity to the city. In response to the Hearing Examiner’s questions Mr. Fife stated the prices for rent will be a little below what you typically see for a two-bedroom two bathroom. Ms. Durtschi stated the plans will need to reflect the additional storage and property management office building before the City Council Hearing date. FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSSIONS OF LAW FOR Case Numbers SUP25-000017, ZON25- 000006: The Caldwell Hearing Examiner accepts the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law outlined in the staff report, public testimony, and the evidence list. All adopted ordinances, standards and codes were used in evaluating the application. The proposed use was conditionally permitted by the terms of the ordinance and such conditions of approval. ORDER OF DECISION FOR CASE NUMBERS SUP25-000017, ZON25-000006: Based on the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, the Caldwell Hearing Examiner hereby orders that Case Numbers ZON25- 000006 is recommended for approval, and SUP25-000017 is approved contingent on approval of ZON25- 000006 by City Council, subject to the conditions of approval listed in the staff report. NEW BUSINESS: None ADJOURNMENT The Hearing Examiner adjourned the meeting at approximately 1:49 pm. The next meeting for the Hearing Examiner will be on Tuesday, January 27th, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Angelica Gomez, Administrative Assistant MINUTES APPROVED AND SIGNED BY THE HEARING EXAMINER, SABRINA DURTSCHI, ON THE DATE NOTED BELOW: _____________________________________ ________________________ Ms. Sabrina Durtschi Date ATTEST: ______________________________________ _________________________ Morgan Bessaw, Deputy Director Date A digital recording of the public hearing is available upon request. HEARING EXAMINER MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025 @ 1:32 pm Caldwell City Council Chambers Room, 205 S. 6th Avenue, Caldwell, Idaho CALL TO ORDER – Hearing Examiner, Ms. Sabrina Durtschi opened the meeting for the public hearing at 1:32 p.m. REVIEW OF PROCEEDINGS (OPENING STATEMENT) – Ms. Sabrina Durtschi outlined the procedures for the public hearing. MEMBERS PRESENT: Sarah Fultz (Planning Technician); Joe Dodson (Principal Planner); CONSENT CALENDAR: The Hearing Examiner approved the October 28, 2025, Hearing Examiner Meeting Minutes as drafted. OLD BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: 1. ACTION ITEM: Public Hearing Quasi-Judicial: Case Number: SUP25-0000018: The applicant, the City of Caldwell, is requesting a special use permit for the installation of a new 21 sq. ft. monument sign with a 6 sq. ft. electronic reader board for the City’s Event Center parking lot located at 124 N 21st Ave (parcel # R3536900000). The site is located on the southeast side of N. 21st Ave., approximately 500 feet south of the intersection with East Chicago St. Joe Dodson (Principal Planner) 205 S. 6th Avenue, provided the staff report by outlining its contents by use of a PowerPoint presentation. In response to the Hearing Examiner’s question, Mr. Dodson stated there was no landscape plan submitted with the building application. There are trees and grass in the buffer but just no shrubs. Specific conditions state there will need to be a landscape plan submitted with the sign permit. There was no public testimony There was no rebuttal Ms. Durtschi closed the public hearing testimony at 1:45 pm. FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSSIONS OF LAW FOR Case Numbers SUP25-000018: The Caldwell Hearing Examiner accepts the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law outlined in the staff report, public testimony, and the evidence list. All adopted ordinances, standards and codes were used in evaluating the application. The proposed use was conditionally permitted by the terms of the ordinance and such conditions of approval. ORDER OF DECISION FOR CASE NUMBERS SUP25-000018: Based on the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, the Caldwell Hearing Examiner hereby orders that Case Numbers SUP25-000018 for Event Center Sign is approved, subject to the conditions of approval listed in the staff report. 2. ACTION ITEM: Public Hearing Quasi-Judicial: Case Number: SUP25-000017, ZON25-000006: The applicant, TMOD Homes LLC., on behalf of David Nelson, is requesting rezoning of parcel R3249700000, from C-3 (General Commercial) to R-3 (Urban Residential) as well as a special use permit for Freedom 50 Development. The proposed development is a multi-family residential duplex community with fifty (50) dwelling units (twenty-five buildings), where the current City comprehensive plan future land use map place-type is identified as mixed-use. The 3.9 acre parcel is located on the south side of E. Ustick Rd., approximately 400 feet west of the intersection with Cleveland Blvd. Joe Dodson (Principal Planner) 205 S. 6th Avenue, provided the staff report by outlining its contents by use of a PowerPoint presentation. In response to the Hearing Examiner’s question, Mr. Dodson stated: • The single-family subdivision to the west did not put the drain that is to the east boundary of the subject site within a common lot as would be standard practice nowadays. Staff believes the drain acts as a buffer should and therefore supports the request for a lesser buffer of 15’ instead of 25’ as is proposed by the applicant. Michael Fife (applicant), E Gala Ct, Meridian, signed in favor of the application and gave a report of the project. In response to the Hearing Examiner’s question, Mr. Fife stated: • There was oversight on their part for the reason why they didn’t speak up during the City’s Comprehensive Plan change. In response to the Hearing Examiner’s question, Mr. Dodson stated: • The design standards were discussed internally regarding whether they meet the standards. • The applicant can ask for alternative compliance to the multi-family section in the architectural standards. • It is an administrative application. There was no public testimony There was no rebuttal Ms. Durtschi continued the application to the January 13th, 2026 Hearing Examiner Hearing. The applicant will need to update the site plan to reflect the needed buffers. Also, to ensure all the landscaping requirements are met. ADJOURNMENT The Hearing Examiner adjourned the meeting at approximately 2:16 pm. The next meeting for the Hearing Examiner will be on Tuesday, January 13th, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Angelica Gomez, Administrative Assistant MINUTES APPROVED AND SIGNED BY THE HEARING EXAMINER, SABRINA DURTSCHI, ON THE DATE NOTED BELOW: _____________________________________ ________________________ Ms. Sabrina Durtschi Date ATTEST: ______________________________________ _________________________ Morgan Bessaw, Deputy Director Date A digital recording of the public hearing is available upon request.