A corner on Ten Mile Rd. could be home to more than just a church in the future.The Meridian City Council voted unanimously to approve a rezone of about 12 acres of land to a different type of commercial land use and modify an existing development agreement on about 5 acres at the northwest corner o f Ten Mile and Franklin roads, adjacent to Ten Mile Christian Church, which owns the land. Michael Meuret, the applicant, said he is purchasing the land from the church to develop it.The application includes a conceptual development plan proposing more than 52,000 square feet of new office and commercial space, including retail, restaurants, and drive-thrus.Meuret said he is in conversations with 7 Brew Coffee about potentially operating from a 500 sq. ft. coffee shop with a drive-thru, but said a finalized lease is “far out.”A map shows a proposed conceptual development plan for a commercial area at the northwest corner of Ten Mile and Franklin roads. The plan contemplates more than 52,000 sq. ft. of retail and office space. Map: Via ALC ArchitectureThe Arkansas-based coffee chain is planning one location at The Village with another in the works in an old car wash in Boise, as BoiseDev reported. A location being explored by the company along State St. in Boise did not move forward due to the company’s desire for a dual lane drive-thru, as BoiseDev reported. (And neither did a Dunkin’, but for different reasons.)The staff report for the project said the church is asking for changes in order to pay down its debts. Meuret said the church is looking to pay off about $9 million in debt.Retail interest in the siteIn addition to 7 Brew, Meuret said a variety of retailers have expressed interest in the property over the past year, including the Boise Co-op, Trader Joe’s, Discount Tire, and Take 5 Oil Change.The conceptual development plan shows a number of buildings in the commercial acreage, including a 10,700 sq. ft.-office and retail building, a 3,000 sq. ft. office building, a 9,000 sq. ft. restaurant building, and a 15,000 sq. ft. “mid-box retail building,” the staff report said.The land is currently zoned as a Neighborhood Business District, or C-N, and the applicant is seeking a Community Business District, or C-C designation. Meridian Associate Planner Sonya Allen said that the C-N zone restricts business hours to between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., while the C-C designation has no restrictions on business hours.The conceptual development plan shows the mid-box retail store along Franklin Rd., but not on the corner of the parcel closest to the intersection with Ten Mile. This prompted Allen to suggest a condition that the project comply with the design guidelines of the Ten Mile Interchange Specific Area Plan. Council approved the plan with that condition, and the council will approve a tweaked conceptual development plan when it approves its findings at a future meeting.Ten Mile traffic concernsSeveral council members expressed concern that the development would exacerbate traffic issues on Ten Mile Rd.The last traffic impact study for the property took place in 2005 for the original church development agreement and land annexation. Chad Jones, a project manager and designer with ALC Architecture, said that the applicant is in the process of conducting an abbreviated traffic impact study for the site, which could determine access points for the site.Comments from the Ada County Highway District submitted for the project note that traffic pressure on Ten Mile Rd. should see some relief with the completion of Highway 16 and the Linder Rd. overpass project. Meridian Mayor Robert Simison said both projects are anticipated to be completed in fall or early winter 2027.Meuret said he anticipated it would take at least a year for any construction work on the project. Now that the council has approved the rezone and development agreement changes, he anticipates it could take another 10 months to get a preliminary and final plat approved for the site, followed by “another six months minimum of improvements.”.kb-google-maps-container1396314_9a5037-56{height:450px;} ...read more read less