HomeMy WebLinkAboutJean Brobeck Vance - 3.27Mrs. Jean E. Brobeck Vance
5370 S Locust Grove Rd
Meridian, ID 83642
March 27, 2017
Mayor Tammy deWeerd and Members of City Council
City of Meridian
33 E Broadway Avenue
Meridian, ID 83642
RE: Opposition to East Ridge Estates Subdivision
Dear Mayor deWeerd and Members of City Council
I am a senior citizen and an Idaho resident since 1949. My late husband and I built our home on
5 acres on the South Rim of Meridian in 1972, where we raised our two daughters through their
school years and graduation from Meridian High School. I love living in Idaho and have always
said that our Meridian home is a bit like "heaven on earth".
Through the years I've watched our city grow from less than 2000 people to where we are today,
while still retaining the special feel of an "All American rural hometown". Over the past few
years, I've become concerned over the "Public Hearing" notices popping up all over our farm
lands. Even more recently, I've noticed many more areas even in and around the 2 to 10 acre
"ranchettes" being packed with small starter homes. I'm definitely not anti -growth, but I'm
growing more and more concerned that we are not trying to maintain what we all value in our
special town — a safe, family friendly, rural atmosphere with amenities nearby. Houses packed
together on small lots often lead to becoming rentals and neglected properties. I shudder to think
of this being Meridian's future!
I recently became aware of the proposed East Ridge Estates subdivision just one-half mile east of
my home. I am not opposed to development of this parcel of land, but I am adamantly opposed
to the excessive number of homes proposed and the negative impact such density will impose on
the surrounding neighbors and the community as a whole. The scenic rim that runs South of
Meridian is one of the best assets of the City of Meridian, much like the scenic rim on the North
side of town. However, I'm concerned that this development, as proposed, is not appropriate for
the rim and will have a devastating impact on the value of homes all along the South Rim.
The City of Meridian has acknowledged the value of rim property and has established a
precedence for development along the rim property by calling out the North Rim in the
Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan rightly requires development within a 1/4 mile of
the rim to be preserved for one-half acre and 1 acre lots. This precedence needs to be applied to
the South Rim as well. The City of Meridian needs to act now, before the integrity of the rim is
lost, and impose the same development restrictions on the South Rim as it has on the North Rim.
Placing homes on small lots of less than one-half acre is inconsistent with the existing homes
immediately surrounding the proposed development, but more importantly it is inconsistent with
the homes along the rim from Locust Grove to Cloverdale and fails to maximize the value the
South Rim offers the City of Meridian and our community.
The South Rim offers breathtaking views and offers a tremendous value to the City of Meridian.
Please don't miss the opportunity before you to protect this City asset and preserve the integrity
of the South Rim community for generations to come.
To protect the existing home owners and our community, I am respectfully requesting that you
deny approval until you can thoughtfully consider how to best develop the scenic South Rim
with estate lots that are consistent with the neighboring homes.
Sincerely,
Jean E. Brobeck Vance