HomeMy WebLinkAboutPZ - Public Testimony by Tim and Tiffini Cluff - 12.21
Machelle Hill
From:Tim and Tiffini Cluff <tim@cluff-family.com>
Sent:Friday, December 02, 2016 4:43 PM
To:Joshua Beach; Machelle Hill; kgoldthorpe@achdidaho.org
Subject:Proposed development at Eagle Rd and Amity Rd
I am writing to you as a concerned homeowner from the Tuscany subdivision. I have lived in my home since July 2010 and have
watched this area grow. I was initially very excited at the idea of a grocery store being built so close to my home. The more I have
thought about this development the more concerned I have become as to the impact it will have on my neighborhood and traffic on
Eagle Rd.
First of all, my neighborhood. I live off of Burgo Rd which is proposed as an access point to the new section of homes and to the
shopping center. We have a lot of kids that play in the neighborhood and that walk or ride bikes to and from the elementary school.
Also, the High School and Middle School busses pick up and drop kids off at the intersection of Zaldia and Eagle Rd. At certain times
of the day, there are a lot of children walking along these roads. There is no doubt that if Burgo Rd extends into the shopping center,
there will be increased traffic and risk to all the of kids walking along Burgo and Zaldia Road s. This doesn't even address the concerns
of many Tuscany residents about connecting Montague to the shopping center via Mt Etna. Montague is another route taken by many
kids to and from school and busses. Increased traffic along these roads is increased r isk to hundreds of kids. I don't understand why the
shopping center would need to connect in with a residential neighborhood. Most shopping centers have access roads along the back of
the parking lot for truck deliveries. Beyond that, access is limited to entrances to the parking lot from major roadways. If proper access
is not available without extra roads connecting into residential areas than a development of this nature is not appropriate.
My other concern is with traffic on Eagle Road. It is a commonly held opinion that traffic on Eagle Road is a mess. When I first
moved to Meridian, I could travel north on Eagle Road to Fairview in about 10 minutes. Now, just six and a half years later, it often
takes me 10 minutes to get to the intersection of Eagle and Overland. As I was leaving for work a couple of weeks ago, I took a
picture (I have attached both pictures)of what the intersection of Eagle Rd and Zaldia looked like at 7:30am. Cars were backed up
along Eagle Rd. from Victory to Amity. I had at least four cars in front of me waiting to turn left onto Eagle. This is pretty typical at
this time of the day and it isn't much better at 8:00am. Keep in mind that busses are picking up Middle Schoolers and High Schools at
this same intersection. This situatio n is only going to get worse as the housing developments currently under construction get built out.
Add a grocery store and commercial properties to this equation and the traffic will be at a standstill.
The City of Meridian and ACHD need to take a hard look at just what an impact all of the development is having on the ability of
residents to get around. We have been honored to be named one of the best cities in America. We need to make sure that doesn't
change by short sighted development that cripples our ability to get to the places we need to. Or development that increases
neighborhood traffic, putting children at risk.
Please take this feedback into consideration with the proposed development on Eagle Rd and Amity. The surrounding neighborhood
needs a barrier between them and commercial property. The traffic issues on Eagle Rd need to be addressed before adding any more
traffic to the equation.
Sincerely,
Tiffini Cluff
2920 E Fratello St
Meridian, ID 83642
208-866-0277
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