Diane RysselChris Johnson
From: Tammy de Weerd
Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2018 8:12 AM
To: Diane
Cc: mayortammy; citycouncil; C.Jay Coles; Chris Johnson
Subject: RE: It's Almost Turkey Time!
Dear Diane,
Thank you for taking time to share your thoughts and comments with your local elected leaders. As your Mayor, I
appreciate hearing what is on your mind and heart. I know your City Council members appreciate you weighing in as
well and sharing your opinion on the issues that they will be making decisions on.
Because this project is part of an open application, our City Council members are prohibited from commenting
outside the public hearing. We take public feedback seriously and want you to know that we have received your
email and have read your comments.
Your email has been forwarded to our City Clerk and will be included in the public record. We'd encourage you to
check our website, meridiancity.org, for information regarding the public hearing process and invite you to attend
the hearing(s) on this issue.
If you have questions about the process feel free to reach out to my office at 208-489-0529 or our Planning staff can
get you the answers regarding our process. Their number is 208-884-5533.
My best,
Mayor Tammy
Mayor Tammy de Weerd
City of Meridian
33 E. Broadway Ave., Meridian, Idaho 83642
Phone: 208-489-05291 Fax: 208-884-8119
From: Diane [mailto:deryssel@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, November 05, 2018 6:03 PM
To: mayortammy
Subject: It's Almost Turkey Time!
Dear Mayor de Weerd,
I am a homeowner in the city of Meridian, residing in the Crossfield subdivision, adjacent to the Summertown
subdivision, which is under consideration for a projected 272 unit, four story apartment complex with 500 parking
spaces. While I have offered testimony at the past two city council meetings concerning construction of this
complex, and have looked forward to offering additional testimony, I am presently out-of-state, and unable to
attend the November 7th meeting. However, my concerns remain significant regarding this project for this
location. During the last council meeting addressing this proposal in May of this year, you Madam Mayor, along
with other council members also expressed similar reservations regarding location for this particular project.
Growth and progress are essential to thriving cities, and I am not opposed to development that includes diverse
and inclusive structures. However, it has been expressed by myself along with numerous neighbors in the
Crossfield subdivision, thoughtful growth is essential for building collaborative and robust communities. The
issues remain with regard to inserting high density into a primarily single family environment, particularly without
an adequate infrastructure of roadways, outlets, schools, services, etc. During my previous testimony, I posed
the question to each council member, "Just because you can, does that mean you should?" Additionally, I asked
if each member would be comfortable with that kind of structure in their neighborhood? No one, aside from the
developer, affirmed that they would be comfortable with high density right next door.
I understand that managing the kind of explosive growth in the City of Meridian, and the surrounding Treasure
Valley is no easy task. I empathize with you, and the burden you bear with decision making, all the while
projecting for the future. As a homeowner, and your constituent, I ask that you again imagine yourself in the
situation we in Crossfield are facing, and if this would be okay in your neighborhood? There are apartment areas
that have been well planned, and situate separately from developed communities that have been designed
primarily for single family housing. The complexes situated across from the Boise Co-op in Meridian seems to be
a good example.
Though out-of-state at the moment, I plan to watch the city council meeting online, and urge you to carefully
consider the voices of your constituents. Reasonable and healthy growth will benefit us all.
Sincerely,
Diane Ryssel