HomeMy WebLinkAboutPZ - Public Testimony by Jim Harris - 6/211
Machelle Hill
From:Jim Harris <jim.harris.1949@gmail.com> on behalf of Jim Harris <jimh@hbc-boise.org>
Sent:Tuesday, June 21, 2016 2:16 PM
To:clerk
Subject:RE: Bancroft Square, Eagle & Easy Jet
June 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.
2
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