HomeMy WebLinkAboutKathi Baumgartner - 3.20Kathi Baumgartner
2310 E. Lake Hazel Road
Meridian, ID 83642
March 20, 2017
Mayor de Weerd and Members of City Council
City of Meridian
33 E. Broadway Ave.
Meridian, Idaho 83642
Re: Opposed to Proposed East Ridge Estates Subdivision H-2016-0137
Dear Mayor de Weerd and Members of City Council:
My family and I live to the west of the proposed East Ridge Estate Subdivision and I am
opposed to the development as proposed. I urge City Council to protect the continuity with
the established homes along the South Rim by rejecting this request for R-8 zoning and
stipulating that any future development on this South Rim shall have lots ranging from one-
half acre to 1 -acre, ensuring compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood.
Despite the conclusions drawn in the Staff Report, the development as approved by
Planning and Zoning fails to meet the Comprehensive Plan policies and goals in the
following manner:
1. "Support a variety of residential categories for the purpose of providing the City with
a range of affordable housing opportunities." (3.07.01E)
o The proposed single-family detached dwellings are just like so many other
subdivisions in the area and thereby fail "to offer variety of housing types
within the City" as reported by Staff in the Staff Report.
o The City is missing out on a perfect opportunity to offer estate lots that will
attract higher end homes to balance the large number of entry level and
middle range homes available in Meridian.
b The City needs a more balanced community with a variety of residential
categories of homes for long-term value and strength of community.
Mayor de Weerd and Members of City Council
March 20, 2017
Page 2
2. "Permit new development only where urban services can be reasonably provided at
the time of final approval and development is contiguous to the City." (3.01.01F)
o City water is not available.
o Available sewer is only able to support 16 homes on a "temporary service until
additional capacity is provided."
b Approval of the project should be delayed until such services are available.
3. "Support infill of vacant lots in substantially developed, single-family areas at
densities similar to surrounding development. (3.07.021)
Average Lot Size
o This proposed development: 7,500 sq ft
o Homes on the North boundary: 25,000 sq ft
o Homes on the East boundary: 87,000 sq ft
o Homes on the South boundary: 5 acres and 10 acres
o Home on the West boundary: 10 acres
b The lot sizes in this proposed development are completely inconsistent with the
immediately adjacent home sites on all four sides of the proposed development.
4. "One important consideration in zoning, is the transition from existing adjacent
zoning designation."
Note: This information is a summary of the Comprehensive Plan designation and Unified Development Code standards. Please see those documents for complete information. Allowed
zoning densities do not always directly correlate with target land use densities. One important consideration for toning, is the transition from exisfingadjacent zoning designations.
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. Questions? Contact lite Planning Division at 33 E Broadway Ave, Suite 102, Meridian ID 83642 or 208.884.5533
o Existing adjacent zoning designations are:
■ North - R-4 with 25,000 sq ft average lot sizes
■ East - RUT with estate homes on 2+ acre lots
■ West - RUT with an estate home on 10 acres
■ South - RUT with an estate home on 10 acres, and another home on
5 acres
b The proposed R -S zoning in this proposed development is completely
inconsistent with the immediately adjacent zoning designations.
Mayor de Weerd and Members of City Council
March 20, 2017
Page 3
5. "Require new urban density subdivision which abut or are proximal to existing low
density residential land uses to provide landscaped screening or transitional
densities with larger, more comparable lot sizes to buffer the interface between
urban level densities and rural residential densities." (3.05.02F)
o This proposed development:
o Homes on the North boundary:
o Homes on the East boundary:
o Homes on the South boundary:
o Home on the West boundary:
Average Lot Size
7,500 sq ft
25,000 sq ft
87,000 sq ft
5 acres and 10 acres
10 acres
b This development fails to provide "larger, more comparable lot sizes to
buffer the interface."
While not opposed to development on this parcel of land, 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 South Meridian Rim is a
tremendous asset to the City of Meridian, but only if the City Council recognizes it as such
and takes immediate action to preserve the integrity of the established pattern of estate
lots along the Rim rather than approving an all -too -typical higher density subdivision as
proposed. The City of Meridian needs to offer a balance of the types of homes to ensure
the strength and longevity of the community, and the South Meridian Rim has and should
continue to be that area of South Meridian reserved for lots no smaller than % acre and
preferably up to 1 acre. I urge you as our elected City Council Members to protect the
continuity with the established homes along the South Meridian Rim by rejecting this
request for R-8 zoning and stipulate that any future development on this South Meridian
Rim shall have lots ranging from one-half acre to 1 -acre, ensuring compatibility with the
surrounding neighborhood just like the City Comprehensive Plan specifies on page 21 with
respect to the North Meridian Rim.
The City of Meridian has set precedence in the Comprehensive Plan to preserve the Rim
property for lot sizes of one-half acre to 1 -acre, ensuring compatibility with existing
development. This precedence should be applied to the South Meridian Rim as well as the
North Rim. The South Meridian Rim is just as valuable to the City of Meridian as the North
Rim, and I urge you to afford the neighbors on the South Rim the same consideration
granted the North Meridian Rim by requiring new development along the South Rim to
Mayor de Weerd and Members of City Council
March 20, 2017
Page 4
"have lots ranging from one-half acre to 1—acre, ensuring compatibility" with the
surrounding neighborhood.
To protect the existing home owners and our community on the South Meridian Rim, I am
respectfully requesting that you:
• Deny the developer's request for R-8 zoning, and
• Require the developer to offer % acre, 4 acre and lacre lots like Blackrock instead of
the currently proposed lot sizes of 7,500 square feet on average.
Thank you for your consideration and I am hopeful that you will require significant changes
to lot sizes of this development before you approve this plan.
Sincerely,
C_.
Kathi Baumgartner...,