Brighton Corp 1.16
12601 W. Explorer Drive Suite 200 Boise, Idaho 83713
www.brightoncorp.com p. 208-378-4000 f. 208-377-8962
January 16, 2018
Mayor and City Council
City of Meridian
RE: Linder Village Application
Although we generally refrain from commenting on the development applications of others, we are
occasionally dragged into the conversation by representations made in public hearings or at other stages
in the process. Unfortunately, such is the case with the Linder Village application. I was made aware
that Senator Chuck Winder, in testimony to the City Council, made certain representations regarding
Brighton interactions that do not reflect reality. In particular, Mr. Winder stated:
“Brighton Corporation has, over the time period, basically been unwilling because of the negative
impact it would have on their Fox Run access, to allow a major connection as the primary access.
That is why the signal (on Chinden) is necessary.”
Let me first state that I have a lot of respect for Mr. Winder, but this statement simply isn’t true. Over a
period of several months, perhaps over a year, Mr. Winder contacted me on at least 3 occasions asking
if we could get together to discuss the Linder Village proposal and access to Fox Run. Each time I said of
course and even suggested times that I would be available. Mr. Winder said he would get back to me to
set up a time but he never did.
On June 26, 2017, Erika Bowen of ITD met with me in my office to ascertain whether the concept of the
backage road from Linder to Fox Run could be implemented, with the cooperation and participation of
ACHD, in order to avoid an additional signal on Chinden. I assured Erika that we were willing to do so. On
June 30, the staffs of ITD, ACHD, Meridian City and Brighton met to go over the details on how this
would be implemented through Brighton’s property. ITD, ACHD and Meridian City staffs all support the
backage road. Unfortunately, it appears to us that this developer has no interest in implementing the
backage road into their plan in any effective manner.
Both ITD and ACHD staffs, along with the North Meridian Plan, strongly support backage roads and
traffic signals at the half mile only. To date, Meridian City has held firm to that same policy. Mr. Winder
suggests that the Fox Run signal violates the half-mile policy but that is splitting hairs. ITD required that
we align our Paramount access to Chinden with the existing Fox Run on the north side of Chinden
because it was an existing intersection very near the half-mile. They also required that the access be
signalized. In order to accomplish the ITD requirement, we were required to purchase an additional 5
acres to the west.
Mr. Winder cast another sideways aspersion at Brighton by stating that, “It’s quite interesting that it
(Costco) ended up on a Brighton piece of property.” I won’t dignify that comment other than to state
that we never once contacted Costco - they came to us - and it didn’t have anything to do with the
reasons Mr. Winder suggested.
Having thus been dragged into the conversation, I’ll state our position clearly. If a proper backage road
is proposed, which has been contemplated in the North Meridian Plan and supported by ITD, ACHD and
Meridian City staff, Brighton will cooperate with ACHD and ITD according to their proposals to
participate. If a proper backage road is not proposed, we see no benefit in linking the projects as this
developer has shown. Again, the developer has made no follow up efforts to discuss connection types
or locations with us.
Furthermore, we are opposed to the additional signal on Chinden. It is in violation of the North
Meridian Plan and ITD policy. When Winston Moore developed the Kohls and Brighton developed the
Lowes at Eagle and Ustick, both tenants requested a signal at the mutual access point on Eagle Road and
stated that if they didn’t get that signal that they would likely have to look elsewhere. ITD and Meridian
City declined to grant the signal. Instead, we worked with ACHD to create the backage road system and
signals on Ustick Road and both centers were developed. The Ustick Marketplace backage road,
Records Ave., now extends all the way to Fairview and serves The Village.
Nothing in this letter should be construed as opposition to Winco or the development of the property in
general. We believe this can be an important addition to the City if done properly but feel that it is
important to correct the record before the Council makes a decision on this application.
Sincerely,
David Turnbull
Brighton Corporation