Meridian City Council on Dec. 9 approved Meridian Luxe (file H2025-0035), a 5.99-acre rezoning and development agreement change at 2350 West McMillan Road that converts a previously planned office designation to commercial and allows a mixed project with 24,336 square feet of multi-tenant commercial space and 54,000 square feet of privately owned storage condos.

The council’s decision follows staff and applicant presentations and extensive public testimony from nearby residents worried about traffic and cut-through access from Lolo Pass. Nick, the city planner, told council the project requires a comprehensive plan amendment (office→commercial), a rezone from LO to CC, a conditional use permit for a self-service storage facility, and a development agreement modification. Staff reported the Unified Development Code parking standard requires 1 space per 500 square feet (49 spaces required); the applicant increased the plan to 61 spaces. Staff recommended restrictions on high-intensity uses and flagged a council waiver required for the access to McMillan.

Applicant representative Natalie Johnson described the project as two complementary components: commercial flex space on the west and larger “luxury asset condos” for storage on the east. Johnson said the storage condos are larger than typical units and therefore generate fewer individual trips, and that the applicant had revised the landscape proposal to provide immediate, mature plantings in place of a berm because the irrigation district will not permit berm encroachment on its easement. “There is no lower traffic count than storage units,” Johnson said, explaining the project mix lowers expected daily trips compared with some alternatives.

Neighbors disputed that conclusion and urged stronger protections. Penny Fisher, who lives within a few blocks, said the property sits “in the middle of an established family neighborhood” and asked council to keep Lolo Pass closed or otherwise restrict through traffic. Several residents emphasized proximity to an elementary school and asked for a gate and stricter buffering.

Council members debated tradeoffs between preserving neighborhood character and creating flexible commercial space. Councilman Schaedter said he was sympathetic to the original all-storage option and warned that “if making these uses compatible requires shutting down access to the surrounding neighborhood, that is a big red flag.” Other council members favored allowing flex space with stronger developer commitments on landscaping, fencing and hours.

Councilman Taylor moved to approve H2025-0035 with the following conditions captured in the development agreement: allow the applicant to replace the 4‑foot berm with more mature landscaping (specifying larger-caliper trees to ensure earlier screening), permit the multi-use pathway alignment to meander to accommodate utility poles, require an 8‑foot fence where storage buildings are not present, maintain storage hours consistent with code (6 a.m.–11 p.m. adjacent to residences), approve the waiver for McMillan access, and rezone the property from LO to CC. The motion was seconded and passed on roll call: Little Roberts Aye, Taylor Aye, Schrader No, Whitlock Aye (3–1).

The council’s approval is conditioned on final design and development agreement language; the project will proceed to design review and permitting with the conditions adopted by the council. The applicant and staff will finalize DA provisions and technical drawings in subsequent review steps.