HomeMy WebLinkAboutPZ - Public Comments by James HarrisJune 21, 2016
RE: Bancroft Square Subdivision Application (File # H-2016-0055)
Dear Commissioners,
We received notice of this request because our home is within 300 feet
of the proposed project. We urge you to approve the conditional use
modification and re-zoning request made for the Bancroft Square
Subdivisions, and please take into account a misrepresentation in the
request concerning access to “two parks in the area.”
As noted by others of our neighbors 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 be available to Bancroft Square residents unless they
become dues-paying members of both HOA’s which own and maintain. It
would inappropriate and unfair to future residents to count the
privately owned property of a separate HOA 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 final acceptance into the HOA owning that park.
This "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.
An earlier application for developing this property was denied following
strong opposition from Sutherland Downs and Sutherland Farm residents
over density, access and traffic issues, and we appreciate the city of
Meridian listening to our concerns. We believe that the proposed
Bancroft Square development is a much better fit for this land for
several reasons.
1) Easy Jet is the entrance to Sutherland Farm and Sutherland Downs
and is key to the look and feel of our 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 turn 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, but Bancroft
Square is a much more desirable addition to the neighborhood than
apartments and commercial uses.
3) As compared to apartment buildings, the development proposed will
not have the negative impacts on the use and enjoyment of the adjacent
properties on Nephrite.
Finally, we have been told that P&Z Staff is recommending apartments or
other higher density homes as well as Office Buildings along Eagle Road
instead of the single family homes being proposed by Bancroft Square. If
that is accurate it is insulting to have intelligently opposed such a
plan, had our concerns heard and honored, and then have the City of
Meridian recommend ignoring those concerns of its residents. Please
approve Bancroft Square with the necessary open space requirements.
Sincerely,
James J. Harris
Marsha A. Harris
3506 E Yesternight St, Meridian ID 83642