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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPZ - Public Testimony by Don and Denise Dallas - 12.3DECEMBER 2 2016 Tammy deWeerd, Mayor City of Meridian 33 E. Broadway Avenue, suite 300 Meridian, Idaho 83642 Re: Proposed Firenze Plaza at the corner of South Eagle and Amity Roads Application H-2016-0102 Mayor deWeerd, My wife and I have been residents of Tuscany development for over 11 years, and we are excited about a commercial development being built on the corner of South Eagle and Amity Roads, with all the wonderful opportunities that it will bring. We ARE VERY concerned about the developer and ACHD wanting to extend four existing Tuscany subdivision streets (which are not collector roads) into and thru the Commercial Plaza, as a way of solving a traffic problem on South Eagle Road and Amity Road. By doing so it not only allows residents of Tuscany to drive into Firenze Plaza, but also residents of several existing and all future subdivisions to the west and northwest of Tuscany to cut thru Tuscany to get to the Firenze Plaza. It also allows traffic on South Eagle Road and Amity Road to flow thru the Plaza and thru Tuscany on its way to the subdivision to the west and northwest of Tuscany. All of this is going to put ALL OF OUR CHILDREN at risk. THIS increase of traffic on the four existing residential streets will only cause a decrease in the property values of the homes on those streets which will cause a ripple effect on the property values of all the homes in the Tuscany Development. One of the reasons we built a home in Tuscany over 11 years ago is that it was laid out and planned as an outstanding family friendly subdivision with the strong potential for increase in property values. We would like to see it stay that way. I was born and raised in Boise Idaho over 65 years ago and have always been very proud of the Boise Meridian area, that is why I have remained here . I can tell you all about GROWTH and the increase in traffic it brings. I remember when the 5 mile and Overland roads intersection had three big corn fields on three corners, and a small mom and pop convenience store on the northeast corner that closed at 8 pm, and look AT IT TODAY. At the rate that this valley is growing and the fact that you have a new grade school and YMCA, with plans for a library and Aquatic center to the south, along with several new subdivisions that are just beginning to be built, and YOU know there will be many more to come, the Eagle Road and Amity Road intersection is going to be very busy. The city of Meridian and Ada County has a golden opportunity to SEE THAT that intersection and THE FIRENZE PLAZA development is an example of what smart growth and intelligent planning with outstanding architecture can create, setting an example for the rest of the County. OR IT CAN LET GREED AND STUPIDITY change it into an intersection and development that is an eye sore. PLEASE LETS DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!! That is why we along with the other residents in the Tuscany development are asking YOU, our Mayor, to see that THE CITY COUNCIL and the CITY PLANNINGAND ZONING require the developer to change the layout of the plat where the four existing streets in Tuscany are NOT extended into the FIRENZE PLAZA and the adjoining proposed residential development, protecting the LIVES AND SAFTY OF OUR CHILDREN, and the property values of our homes. And also push ACHD to require that Eagle Road be widened and improved before the plaza is built, rather than later. The reason we ask this is that south Eagle Road is already so busy that in the mornings we have a very hard time making left turns on to Eagle Road from Rome and Zaldia because of the roundabout at the intersection of S Eagle Road and Amity Road. This current traffic rate is only going to increase in the next few years. It just does not make any sense to allow a developer to come in and develop a commercial site and make millions of dollars, while ACHD has to scramble to come up with the money to do road improvements several years later, that are caused by the development and the increase in traffic it causes. It is like putting the cart before the horse. We all know that the FIRENZE PLAZA is going to draw a lot of traffic from the time it first opens. So why not build the roads to it first. And if that means that the developer has to help pay for it so be it. This is something that is required in other states. This is an indication to the residents of Tuscany that the current land owners and the developer are trying to force this through at the expense of the city, county, and all of the home owners in a two square mile radius. We look at what you were able to do with the ten mile overpass and how great that is today, and now it is ready for development up and down South Ten Mile. I would hope we can do the same with South Eagle Road. Mayor de Weerd, we would like to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to express our concerns with this proposed project Sincerely Don & Denise Dallas