Jeanne Ambrosio - Linder Village 7-241
Machelle Hill
From:Morgan Andrus
Sent:Monday, July 24, 2017 8:41 AM
To:Caleb Hood; Machelle Hill
Subject:FW: Zoning Changes Requested by Linder Village Developers
Please add this to the record.
Thanks,
Morgan Andrus
From: Jeanne Ambrosio [ mailto:jeanne031259@gmail.com ]
Sent: Sunday, July 23, 2017 12:21 PM
To: mayortammy; Keith Bird; Anne Little Roberts; Genesis Milam; Joe Borton; Luke Cavener; Ty Palmer
Subject: Zoning Changes Requested by Linder Village Developers
Dear Mayor de Weerd, Meridian City Council President Bird, and City Council Members Little
Roberts, Milam, Borton, Cavener, and Palmer,
When my husband and I created a short list of retirement cities in the spring of 2013, Boise, ID was
one of five final locations. We visited Meridian and were so impressed by it that we purchased our
home in the Paramount subdivision that very weekend and never bothered to research the
remaining four locations on our short list. We packed up our home in Princeton, NJ and moved into
our new home at the corner of Fox Run and Dreyfuss Lane in June 2013.
As Meridian residents and Paramount homeowners, we are very concerned about the impacts to our
City and community should the zoning changes requested by the developers of Linder Village be
approved. We believe that the developer's request to alter current zoning designations, thus
allowing the construction of a super shopping center anchored by big-box stores, will have a
negative impact on both the City and our subdivision for the following reasons:
1. Quality of Life / Smart Growth: When we purchased our home in 2013 it was with full
understanding that the property between Chinden and Linder was slated for development. Our
home buying decision in Meridian was based on the stated goal of Meridian's Comprehensive Plan to
"sustain, enhance, promote, and protect elements that contribute to the livability and a high
quality of life" for Meridian and its citizens. This is a good plan! What value is such a plan if it can
be changed as drastically as the developers are requesting?
My husband and I are not opposed to commercial development. In fact, we welcome it. We would
love to see a greater variety of small-scale stores, restaurants, services, and family-owned
businesses in a pleasant, attractive setting that we could walk or bike to. If Meridian approves this
application as the developers submitted it, the message will be loud and clear to future developers
that years of city planning can be brushed aside without concern for the "high quality of life" that
Meridian's citizens were promised.
2. Traffic: The Linder Village developers propose adding a new traffic light at Bergman and
Chinden Boulevard, violating the half-mile standard and setting another precedent. Traffic along
Chinden and Linder is already quite heavy due to Meridian's population growth and the traffic
2
shows no signs of slowing down. If a Linder Village super shopping center is allowed, traffic would
increase even more as people from surrounding towns drive over to shop. Chinden Boulevard
would become another Eagle Road .
3. Impact on Paramount Homeowners: My husband and I worry that the noise levels within
Paramount would increase if a WinCo, or any superstore for that matter, is allowed to be open
24/7, with delivery trucks, workers, lights, etc. non-stop. Another concern is internal traffic
through our subdivision as shoppers would be able to cut through our streets to avoid congestion on
Chinden and Linder. What about overcrowding? The developer's proposal eliminates current Plan
requirements for pedestrian walkways, adequate buffer zones and setbacks from homes. And,
finally, what is the impact on home values, especially for those homes closest to the shopping
center? Would some Paramount homeowners decide to live somewhere else, contributing to an
oversupply of homes for sale?
Mayor de Weerd, we urge you and the Meridian City Council to deny the zoning changes requested
by the Linder Village developers to maintain the City's Comprehensive Plan for smart growth and
ensure the high quality of life that Meridian's citizens now enjoy.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jeanne Ambrosio
--
693 E. Dreyfuss Lane
Meridian, ID 83646
208.350.8098
jeanne031259@gmail.com