Michael and Linda Arnold - 7.24Michael S. Arnold
972 West Bacall St.
Meridian, ID 83646
Office of the City Clerk RE: Application H-2017-0088
33 E. Broadway Ave. Lynx/DMG Real Estate
Meridian, ID 8364 Partners
ATTN: Ms. C.Jay Coles
Dear Ms. Coles:
Please accept this letter as our formal request that the Planning & Zoning Commission deny
Application H-2017-9988 submitted by Lynx/DMG Real Estate Partners to change the future
land use map designation on 62.04 acres of land from Mixed Use-Community (MU-C) to
Mixed Use-Regional (MU-R); Annexation and Zoning of 81.02 acres of land from RUT Zoning
District in Ada County to the C-G Zoning District (62.04) acres and the R-8 Zoning District
(18.98 acres) in the City; Preliminary Plat approval consisting of 14 commercial building lots
for Linder Village located at 1225 W. Chinden Blvd, and variances to UDC 11-3H-4B.2 for two
accesses via W. Chinden Blvd./SH 20-26. While we fully understand that this property will be
developed, we strongly believe the Planning and Zoning Commission should require this
development to fully comply with the current Designations and Zoning Districts outlined in the
Meridian Comprehensive Plan as reflected on the current future land use map. The basis for
our position is as follows.
1. The immediate areas surrounding the intersection of Linder and Chinden contain a large
number of Middle Class and Upper Middle Class Single Family Communities, including
FoxTail Estates, Paramount, Lochsa Falls, Castlebury, Saguaro Canyon, SpurWing,
Bridgetower, and others. The Commercial establishments within this area are fully consistent
with the Mixed Use Community (MU-C) Designation currently established in the
Comprehensive Plan and all supporting infrastructure has been developed to support a Mixed
Use Community commercial demand. To introduce, at this late date, a Mixed Use Regional
commercial demand in this community, and at this intersection, would place unrealistic
demands and pressures on the existing infrastructure.
The application states that the basis for the requested amendment to the Comprehensive
Plan and future land use map from Mixed Use Community to Mixed Use Regional is that large
Commercial Development has been approved and constructed at the other three corners of
this intersection, and that Chinden and Linder Road is a major arterial intersection. We
counter that it appears that all Commercial Development that has been approved in the North
West and South West corners of this intersection, the only property within the jurisdiction of
the Meridian Planning and Zoning Commission, is consistent with the current Mixed Use
Community Designation. The one commercial establishment not consistent with this
Designation is the Fred Meyer store located on the North East Corner. It is outside of the
Meridian Planning and Zoning Commission jurisdiction, and was approved by the City of
Eagle, a separate and distinct Public entity.
While the intersection of Chinden and Linder is a major arterial intersection, it was never
envisioned to be a Regional Shopping Destination with all of the increased vehicular traffic
which a CG zoning would bring. A CC zoning would by it’s very nature, result in more
controlled traffic growth at the intersection and within the boundaries of the communities
which surround the proposed development.
2. Further review of the future land use map shows that there is land currently designated for
Mixed Use Regional Development just a few short miles west of the current location on
Chinden Road at the southwest corner of Chinden and Black Cat.
We can see no reason to entertain a very significant amendment to the Comprehensive Plan
and the future land use map, which will have such significant detrimental impacts to the
residents in the immediate surrounding area as, a) significantly increased traffic not only on
those driving on Chinden and Linder Road, but also those residing in the Paramount
community (where four additional access routes to the commercial development are
proposed), b) the noise of a 24 hour a day WinCo store and a “Major Retailer” caused by
delivery trucks, workers, shoppers, lights, traffic, etc.), c) overcrowding, as the current
proposal does not appear to provide the extent of buffer between the residential development
and the commercial establishments reflected in the Comprehensive Plan. When the current
Plan and FLUM already provide the means for such development which has already
undergone rigorous vetting which the Comprehensive Plan undergoes throughout it’s
development.
3. My wife and I undertook extensive planning and analysis when we were seeking a location
to retire. We chose Meridian because it has benefitted from sound community planning and
development. When seeking a home, we looked carefully at the Comprehensive Plan and
FLUM to anticipate what may happen in the future. We chose our current home, and made a
substantial financial investment, confident that the property adjacent to us would be
developed using the Mixed Use Community Standards outlined in the Comprehensive Plan.
These a but a few of the reasons that we oppose this application, and respectfully request
that the Planning & Zoning Commission deny this application.
Sincerely,
Michael S. & and Linda S. Arnold