HomeMy WebLinkAboutPZ - Public Comments by Joanne St. CharlesJune 8, 2016
RE: Bancroft Square Subdivision Application (File # H-2016-0055)
Dear Commissioners,
Our home is within 300 feet of the proposed project. We hope to see the approval of the conditional
use modification and rezoning request made for the Bancroft Square Subdivisions, as long as a couple
details are worked out first.
First, we request that the Bancroft Square development be required to meet the 10% open space and
amenity requirements. The application letter proposes that this not be required due to the proximity to
two parks in the area. Those two parks are not public. They are private and are paid for by residents of
the two different subdivisions that own and maintain them. As such neither of these parks would
automatically be available to Bancroft Square residents.
An amenity as part of Bancroft square is important to provide a gathering place for families in the
subdivision to meet and foster relationships between neighbors. It would inappropriate and unfair to
future residents to count the privately owned property of a separate HOA/subdivision in meeting the
requirements of Bancroft Square.
If any open space or amenity exceptions are to be granted based on the proximity to either of these
parks, we ask that those exceptions are not promised until after full final acceptance into the HOA
owning that park. This “full and final acceptance” should include gaining the percent majority required
for the HOA to include/adopt Bancroft, working out what fair HOA dues are for Bancroft Square
residents, and having documented specifically what Architectural Guidelines of the HOA Bancroft Square
will and will not be required to meet.
We do understand that this property is designated as Mixed Use Community per the City of Meridian
Comprehensive plan. We believe that the proposed development is a much better fit for this strip of
land for the following reasons.
1) Easy Jet is the entrance to Sutherland Farms and is key to the look and feel of the subdivision.
The denser R-8 single family homes of Bancroft will provide a transition between Easy Jet and
future developments to the south.
2) This property has no direct access to Eagle Rd. The most direct access to Eagle Rd requires
making a left from this property. For this reason, the volume of traffic generated by a higher
density development plan (such as the apartment plan proposed for this property last year)
creates concerns that are not easily resolved.
3) As compared to apartment buildings, the development proposed will not have the negative
impacts on the use and enjoyment of the properties on Nephrite.
Sincerely,
Joanne St Charles and Robert Nelson
3482 E Yesternight St, Meridian ID 83642