HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC-11-30 Easy Jet Letter Linda FraiseBarbara Shiffer
From: Linda Fraise <BG1000L@cableone.net>
Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2015 9:20 PM
To: clerk
Cc: bg1000L@cableone.net
Subject: Easy Jet Subdivision Application RZ 15-012, PP 15-016, CUP 15-017
To the City of Meridian Clerk:
I respectfully request that you include the following statement regarding the Easy Jet Subdivision
Application referenced above with the packets you prepare for the Planning & Zoning Commissioners in
advance of the public hearing on Thursday, September 3, 2015:
• I am the owner of a home located at 2656 S. Flame Avenue, Meridian, Idaho in the Sutherland
Downs Subdivision. My home and subdivision connect to Easy Jet via Nephrite.
• I protest and oppose the City of Meridian Planning and Zoning Commission approving the
rezoning of the land located at Easy Jet and Eagle Road from R-4 to R-15, as well as plans for
building multifamily apartments and commercial properties as submitted by J.U.B. Engineering
on the following basis:
✓ For the project as proposed to meet R-15 requirements of maximum density not to exceed 15 units
per acre, the residential portion of the project should be built with no more than 62.28 units, not 76
units as proposed.
✓ The density formula utilized by J.U.B. Engineering combines both the separate acreage of L -O and
that of R-15 to determine the density of the R-15 development, in violation of Section 11-7-4, C-3.
✓ Per the Comprehensive Plan documents, "density can only be changed one step"; not R-4 to a
capacity of R-40 (low to high).
✓ There is no buffer between the abutting agricultural zone and the existing developed zone district of
R-4 to the requested zone of R-15. There is also no buffer or transition area proposed between the
apartment units and the subdivisions already in existence.
✓ The development as proposed is characteristic of a High Density zone. Such projects are to be
"strategically located next to public transportation, community services, and not negatively affect
property values." The closest bus stop is a mile away. Silverstone Library is 1 mile away.
✓ The application does not include a proposed building height on the Residential Project Summary
portion of the application. It must be requested as a condition, that the building height be no higher
than 2 stories which is consistent with the current character of the community. The project as
proposed does not meet the standards of 11-4-3-27 A-2 which is to "create quality buildings and
designs for multifamily development that enhance the visual character of the community". Adding
multifamily three story buildings to the existing neighborhood, which is surrounded by one and two
story homes and commercial buildings, does not enhance the visual character of the
community. The visual character of a community is one of the defining determinants for home
purchase, thereby exposing every homeowner in adjacent subdivisions to loss of property value due
to visual impact alone. Condition Uses I 1-5B-6 states that "the design, construction, operation and
maintenance will be compatible with other uses in the general neighborhood and with the existing or
intended character of the general vicinity and that such use will not adversely change the essential
character of the same area."
✓ Easy Jet is currently categorized as a "local road" which has different setback requirements than a
road necessary to support the complex as proposed. In addition, Easy Jet has not been subject to a
traffic impact statement as the threshold for such a study has been determined
unnecessary. However, the increased traffic impact at 10 trips per day per household on 76 units
equates to 760 trips per day, compounded with traffic from existing and proposed additional
commercial buildings. Easy Jet runs between Eagle Road and ends at Tristram prior to Muir Woods
subdivision, abutting Cloverdale Road. At peak traffic times, the light at Easy Jet and Eagle Road is
congested funneling traffic down Eagle Road to the I-84 on ramp. There is no light at Cloverdale
and Muir Ridge. There is only one exit proposed onto Easy Jet from the development. Unless a
light is created at the Cloverdale and Muir Ridge intersection, there is already significant difficulty
accessing Cloverdale Road during peak morning and afternoon hours for existing homeowners, not
to mention accommodating 760 more trips per day. It would seem imperative to request a traffic
assessment given that Cloverdale is a two lane road and would not sustain the access needed by
individuals not wanting to turn left out of that one access/exit from the apartment complex, as those
individuals by default turn right onto Easy Jet and travel through Sutherland Farms and Muir Woods
to Cloverdale Road.
✓ The garages as drawn on the submitted plans do not meet the local street setback requirement of 20
feet and the rear property line setback of 12 feet as stated in Table 11-2A-7. The plans submitted to
the Planning and Zoning Commission do not have measurements and indicate the rear setback as
equal to the southern property line.
✓ The parking provided is inadequate to allow for potential occupancy of residents and their vehicles
and any guest vehicle. The neighborhood and commercial spaces will have to accommodate the
overflow because Easy Jet is a No Parking street. If the density is lowered to 1 bedroom units at 1-
1/2 parking spaces per unit, the parking issue would be mitigated but not solved.
✓ Each of the proposed apartment complexes can be sold to different entities, creating a situation
whereby the deterioration of one complex could negatively affect the maintenance of other
complexes. It would be inherently difficult to govern the common areas and open space should
disagreements arise, given the likelihood of differing management styles. As a result, there would
be no cohesive management and maintenance of the project.
✓ The application submitted by J.U.B. Engineering cites the acreage of open space as 1.81
acres. Within the residential portion of their application, they included the open space percentage of
the non-residential (L -O portion) of the development. Section 11-4-2-27, B-4 states that "for the
purposes of this section vehicular circulation areas, parking areas and private usable open space shall
not be considered common open space".
✓ There is a privately owned and maintained park within Sutherland Downs Subdivision (as well as
Sutherland Farms subdivision located on Easy Jet/Jeblar) both of which could be used by residents
from the proposed project. There are liability and safety concerns to the owners of the parks, in
addition to concerns of increased crime, trash and vandalism from additional use by non-residents
who have no vested interest in the maintenance and upkeep of these areas. These well maintained
parks are sustained by fees from existing home owners. The developer offers no remedy to policing
use of these spaces by individuals who do not pay nor care to maintain and upgrade these areas. By
their very nature, apartment units encourage temporary residents.
✓ Despite examples given by the developer of other apartment units and resultant demographics, the
number of children going to grade school and junior high school, walking one mile to the nearest
school bus stop would necessitate safe pedestrian crosswalks. None exist at present.
✓ There is no provision on the plans for a property management office and maintenance storage area
for multifamily developments that exceed 20 dwelling units as stated in Section 11-4-3-27, B -7a and
b.
✓ The Meridian apartment market is potentially over saturated with currently approved, permitted and
constructed multifamily dwellings. There are approximately 854 units currently within a 3 mile
radius.
Thank you for forwarding and including the above statements to the Meridian Planning and Zoning
Commissioners prior to the Public Hearing on September 3, 2015. I recognize the owner's right to develop his
property. I respectfully request that the project be conditioned to address the issues arising from inconsistent
application and interpretation of city code by the developer. A development of single family homes, patio
homes, town homes, condominiums of no higher than two stories would maintain the essential character of our
subdivisions and create a sense of community which in the long run would benefit the City of Meridian and all
its citizens.
Linda L. Fraise
2656 S. Flame Avenue
Meridian, Idaho 83642
208-863-3847