Ilene Proudfoot 11-171
Charlene Way
From:Ilene P <ilene.proudfoot@gmail.com>
Sent:Friday, November 17, 2017 12:38 PM
To:clerk
Subject:Linder Village
Dear City Council Members,
I am writing as a concerned resident of Meridian regarding the Linder Village development. I welcome
responsible city development and understand Meridian is a growing city and preserving green space and fields
is not always possible as developers want to maximize profits in developing such spaces. I have lived in
Meridian for nine years and my father grew up on a dairy farm outside Emmett, Idaho. He always reminisces
about summer jobs helping farm on the very land that I live on today.
Nine years ago, when we bought our home in Meridian, we were told that the fields at the corner of Linder and
Chinden were zoned for small business use or single family homes. We trusted in that zoning. In fact, prior to
our arriving, our neighbors told us that Home Depot proposed to build in that field but was denied thanks to
concerned citizens and the city council holding firm to the zoning that was already in place. That helped me
place trust that both the city and citizens would work together to ensure that the field didn't turn into a giant
parking lot.
Now we are facing the Linder Development that would do exactly what so many of us believed could not
happen by turning much of the corner of Linder and Chinden into another parking lot and effectively making
Chinden Road even more of the parking lot than it already is today. We try to avoid having to use Chinden
Road because it is a joke trying to efficiently get through the traffic lights on Ten Mile, Linder, Fox Run,
Meridian, and Locust Grove. What is supposed to be a highway is the slowest route of all to access Eagle Road.
Adding another light on Bergman Road would just add to the congestion and frustration that is Chinden Road.
I am also concerned about adding another grocery store to the area. We have Fred Meyer, War-Mart, and, from
what I hear, Costco, all within a few miles of each other. Why in the heck do we need yet another giant
supermarket and its accompanying ugly block building, giant parking lot, loading zones, and traffic? I do not
want another grocery store. More importantly the residents here do not need another grocery store. It's
ridiculous that such a project is even being proposed. We do not need a glut of grocery stores.
Another concern I have is the Linder Village development roads having access to the Paramount subdivision. I
do not like this plan as we already battle with residents taking turns too quickly with children at play. To add
more traffic cutting through our neighborhood will only increase the danger to children in a subdivision th at has
many young children playing in their front yards and walking to and from school. To think that residents and
patrons will not use the side streets to cut through our neighborhood is naive. Everyone will do their damnedest
to avoid entering the traffic catastrophe of Chinden Road. People will be cutting through Paramount to get to
Meridian and McMillan Roads and Rocky Mountain High School.
I thought I would reach out to let you know how I feel as a resident who will be directly impacted by the Linder
Village development (and in my opinion, the exterior elevations are just plain ugly-- the proposed colors and
brick/stone/tile/stucco used on the buildings is tacky and will be dated once they are built). This is my first time
reaching out to my local government and I hope you understand that I have deep concerns not only for my
home's value but for the quality of life for myself and my children. In a perfect world, the city council would be
able to use the field to house a new library and park but I unde rstand that sounds ridiculous. But the city council
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approving yet another big box grocery store directly across from another big box grocery store and within a
couple of miles of two other large grocery stores? That plan is equally ridiculous.
I appreciate your attention to this matter and strongly urge you to deny the proposed Linder Village plans.
Sincerely,
Ilene Proudfoot