HomeMy WebLinkAboutPZ - Public Testimony by David Kearns with Attachment - 12.61
Machelle Hill
From:David Kearns <davidgkearns@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, December 06, 2016 1:46 PM
To:mayortammy; citycouncil
Cc:Robin Kearns; Dave Kearns; clerk; Caleb Hood
Subject:Comments on Eagle and Amity Proposed Project - Zoning and Traffic Safety
Attachments:2016-12-05 City Of Meridian re Firenze Plaza Comments.pdf
Mayor de Weerd and City Council Members:
The attached letter is to provide comments and serious safety concerns regarding the proposed project:
Firenze Plaza CPAM, AZ, PP H-2016-0102
Extension of Mount Etna Drive
I also plan to attend the Dec 15 Planning and Zoning meeting to provide testimony. Please let me know if there
is anything else I should know or do to help with this cause.
Feel to contact me if you have questions or comments.
Regards,
David Kearns
2654 E Mount Etna Drive
Meridian, ID 83642
(208) 859-8063
December 5, 2016
Mayor Tammy de Weerd and Meridian City Council
33 E. Broadway Avenue
Meridian, ID 83642
RE: Firenze Plaza Proposed Development
Dear Mayor de Weerd and Members of the City Council:
We are writing to express our support and serious concerns regarding the proposed development,
Firenze Plaza, on the northwest corner of Eagle and Amity Road. This is currently scheduled to be
discussed at the December 15 Planning & Zoning meeting.
When our family purchased our home in the Tuscany neighborhood we believed, according to the
developers of Tuscany and the City of Meridian comprehensive plan, that our home was in the last
phase for our neighborhood, and that the agricultural land to the east of us was planned as low density
residential (less than 3 per acre as shown on the 2016 version of the Future Land Use Map). Since
learning of the Firenze Plaza development we, along with our neighbors, have experienced significant
anxiety. Most agree there are no things more precious than one's homes and the loved ones who live
there with us.
We understand that growth is destined to occur. Many of us see some benefit to having a nice grocery
store and dining nearby. However, we have very serious concerns about some of the possible negative
impacts of the development. As an Idaho native and graduate of Meridian High School, I have seen how
very fast growth can affect the community. We are fearful for our son and the other children in the
neighborhood from the impacts of increased density and the resulting traffic. I have watched the Eagle
Road corridor north of 1-84 very rapidly evolve into a daily traffic nightmare. If you ask anyone in the
Treasure Valley, "What area to avoid for traffic?" the answer is always Eagle Road.
Because we are aware and accept that development is going to occur, it is our strong desire to ensure it
is done in a manner that is best for our community. We have a myriad of concerns about how this
proposed development will impact the already busy Eagie and Amity Road. There are already long lines
of traffic and significant difficulties safely getting out of our neighborhood many hours of the day. And
there is an underestimated potential for traffic to use Montague and Zaldia in order to avoid the
congestion on Eagle and Amity.
Below are summaries of our two biggest concerns with the development, 1) the potential for multi-
family housing, and mostly, 2) the safety of our children from the traffic with Mount Etna connecting
through the new development directly to Eagle Road.
As stated near the top of the letter, we purchased our horse believing that development in the lot to the
east would consist of single family homes. By allowing multi -family housing, not only is there a strong
potential of a negative impact on our quality of life and property values nearby, but this extra density
will add to an already congested corridor, and cause the south portion of Eagle Road to resemble the
terrible congestion regularly seen on Eagle Road north of the interstate. Increased density may be
beneficial in some situations, but not here.
For my family and neighbors, our biggest, number one, absolute major concern has must be to reject the
proposal for Mount Etna Drive to continue past Montague, through the new development, directly to
Eagle Road. Our street is already a well -traveled route connecting the west portion of Tuscany. DaVinci
turns into Montague and provides a direct and unimpeded access with nothing to slow or deter traffic.
Almost all of the houses have a several kids who regularly play out front and cross the street. We
already struggle with people from other parts of our neighborhood driving too fast on our street. Sadly,
it is common for drivers to forget they are in a residential area once they have left their immediate area.
We have reviewed the original Kittleson & Associates traffic study and the recent addendum. We do not
accept the revision which estimates only another 25 Average Daily Trips (ADTs) on Mount Etna. The
study fails to recognize that many residents in our large neighborhood who normally use Zaldia would
use Mount Etna instead. Tuscany was planned and constructed with collector streets, such as Zaldia,
Rome and Palermo. Mount Etna was not planned as a connector street. Neither was Taormina to the
south. We have driveways and sidewalks facing the street. The installation or placement of stop signs or
traffic calming devices will not suffice.
The solutions to our top concerns are simple. First, zone the residential portion of the development for
sin le family homes only, at no greater than 8 residential units per acre. Ensure this is included in the
development agreement. This is to minimize the effects of density and the future population growth in
this part of Ada County. Second, construct a sidewalk and fence alone the east side of Montague
between Tuscany and the development. Allow, at most only a pedestrian walk way at Mount Etna
and Montague between the Tuscany neighborhood and the new section of Mount Etna. If any vehicle
connection from the proposed development to Tuscany is required, please minimize the number of
connections and impacts. Any connection must be done in a manner that is inconvenient and
unappealing for all but the few cars from Tuscany traveling to the commercial portion, and not to be a
collector to move traffic between local streets and arterials.
Your serious consideration is appreciated. Our community and the safety of our children are too
important. Please contact us if you have any questions or we can be of assistance in coming to a
solution that works for everyone.
Sinc a Regards,
David G Kearns
(208) 859-8063
davidgkearns@gmaii.com
2564 E Mount Etna Drive
Meridian, ID 83642
cc: C. Caleb Hood, City of Meridian Planning Division
Tamara Thompson, The Land Group
Robin J Kearns
(208) 484-7912
robinikearns@smail.com