HomeMy WebLinkAboutDorothy Pefferle Email with Attachments - 4.191
Machelle Hill
From:Bill Nary
Sent:Wednesday, April 19, 2017 2:28 PM
To:Dorothy Pefferle
Cc:clerk
Subject:RE: H-2017-0007 - Brian Porter, Applicant
Thank you for providing your concerns. They will be part of the record for this application. As I told you
yesterday, the Mayor and City Council cannot address your concerns except at the public hearing so they are
unable to respond to your email other than to tell you that they received it. All your points will be addressed
by the staff, the Commission, and the City Council at the appropriate time.
Bill Nary | City Attorney & Risk Manager
City of Meridian | City Attorney’s Office
33 E. Broadway Ave., Meridian, Idaho 83642
Phone: | 208-898-5506
Built for Business, Designed for Living
All e-mail messages sent to or received by City of Meridian e-mail accounts are subject to the Idaho law,
in regards to both release and retention, and may be released upon request, unless exempt from disclosure by law.
From: Dorothy Pefferle [mailto:dp23485@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2017 2:00 PM
To: Tammy de Weerd; Bill Nary; Keith Bird; Anne Little Roberts; Genesis Milam; Joe Borton; Luke Cavener; Trevor
Palmer; clerk
Subject: Fwd: H-2017-0007 - Brian Porter, Applicant
Bill Nary, City Attorney, Mayor, City Council, City Clerk
I am requesting the Planning and Zoning Commission vote NO on Rezone of 12.38 acres
from R-4 to R-40 and NO on any and all rezoning requests or Conditional Use Permits in this
matter for the following reasons:
1. I contacted the planning department and looked at zoning maps prior to purchasing my home
in 2005. This parcel was designated R-4 Office. I was told by planning department there would
be somewhere between 8 and 12 office buildings. That information is included in much
information on the City of Meridian’s website. To me that is a Contract between the City and
me when I purchased. If City approves the requests Applicant is making, I consider that a
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breach of contract City had with Owners of Kelly Creek. (Unlike some owners, I was aware
there would be apartments where Selway is located, as when I checked with the City prior to
purchase, I was given that information. I do not oppose a reasonable amount of rental units in a
residential community.)
2. Who is the City protecting – one developer who wants to change the zoning and all of the
legal agreements the City has regarding this property – or the 372 Kelly Creek homeowners, as
well as residents of many surrounding communities who will be negatively impacted by this
arbitrary change of zoning and Conditional Use Permits? I would have never purchased my home
had I known rental units were even being considered for the property at 2780 W. McMillan
Road. Changing the facts after we purchase is not fair or honest.
3. This project, if approved goes against the City of Meridian’s own Comprehensive Plan, as
posted online.
The Comprehensive Plan States:
Citizens affirmed that the goals, objective, and action items contained in this plan are based on
seven KEY COMMUNITY VALUES: Obviously 80+ rental units at this location accomplish none
of these goals, but would be just the opposite.
Goals are:
1. Manage growth to achieve high-quality development. (Self-storage facility and 80+ units),
two very dissimilar types of development on a single piece of property - not high quality
development.) This developer says the proposed townhome units are exceptional quality. While
the artistic drawings submitted are tastefully done, I have looked at pictures of a couple of
their actual similar projects online, and they are high density, and bear no resemblance to the
artistic drawings.
2. Enhance Meridian’s quality of life for all current and future residents. While the self-
storage units may fulfill a need for some of the community, the 80 plus rental units would have a
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negative effect on much of Northwest Meridian. While ACHD is of the opinion the roadways
could handle this development, many not only Kelly Creek, but surrounding communities do not
agree. It would make no sense to have over 250 rental units (likely between 500 and 750
occupants) using Apgar onto Goddard as the main access to the units. As occupants exit units,
turning right takes them to a stop sign at corner of McMillan and W. Goddard Creek. This is a
very dangerous intersection when turning left, as most do. It is poorly designed, and one needs
to pull way out almost into the intersectio n to see around the utility boxes in order to watch for
oncoming traffic. Our community had ACHD out to review the safety of that intersection, and
they feel it is proper; many in our community feel it is just a matter of time until a tragic
accident occurs there. Many many occupants of Selway avoid that dangerous intersection, and
shoot across Apgar, run the stop sign at Apgar and Wild Goose near Kelly Creek Park (another
poorly designed intersection) and speed past the 57 homes on Apgar to Linder where there is a
light. Adding another 80 rental units that use these two access points would be a serious
detriment to the surrounding communities, those who frequent Kelly Creek Park and devastating
to the 57 homes on Apgar, 7 homes on Green Knoll, 7 homes on Pond Stone, 13 homes on Chimney
Peak, 5 homes on Ballinger – or nearly 90 homeowners. Just because on paper a roadway
appears to be adequate, common sense and safety issues should also be considered. One owner
who lives on the corner of Apgar and Wild Goose has a lovely front porch, and has stated he will
count as many as 30 cars running that stop sign within a short period of time. I see it
frequently. A dangerous situation, and adding 80 more rental units using Apgar as access point
is not acceptable from a public safety standpoint.
3. New growth should finance public service expansion.
This project does nothing to accomplish this goal.
4. Prevent school overcrowding and enhance education services.
Allowing the 80 plus units would be 100 percent in the opposite direction of this goal, and these
units must not be allowed, as two or our schools are over capacity. Rocky Mountain High School
has a capacity of 1800 students, and presently has 2312 students enrolled. They are in the
process of bringing in two more portable classrooms. Sawtooth has a capacity of 1000,
students, and has a present enrollment of 1080 students. Willow Creek is a newer school
and school with a capacity of 650 students and an enrollment of 593 students. In Mr. Yochum’s
letter as part of public record in this matter, he states new students may not be able to attend
their neighborhood schools, and may need to be bussed. The school district is estimating the
proposed 80 units would add 66 students to our neighborhood schools, two of which are already
over capacity. This is not good for Meridian as a whole, as busing is expensive and it is in the
best interest of all of Meridian if students can attend schools located in their
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neighborhood. The proposed 80 units should be located in an area where there are new schools
planned and busing would not be necessary.
Homeowners prefer to purchase in a neighborhood where schools are not
overcrowded. Approving this project could negatively affect homeowner prices in
neighborhoods within these school boundaries.
5. Expand commercial and industrial development.
This project does nothing to accomplish this goal.
6. Improve Transportation.
This project does nothing to accomplish this goal.
7. Protect Meridian’s Self-Identity
This project does nothing to accomplish this goal.
It would do the opposite.
If this project were to be approved, the ratio of single family homes to rental units
would be approximately 60 percent single family homes to 40 percent rental units. That ratio is
too high, and approving this project would violate the trust homeowners and taxpayers have in
their Mayor, City Council, and Planning and Zoning Commission members.
Independent studies have confirmed, and community realtors that are in the front lines of
marketing our properties have stated, that single family homes located close to rental multi-
family units experience reduced resale prices and lowered appreciation rates compared to single
family homes located further away from apartment complexes.
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Mr. Yochum, in his letter stating 66 students would be added to our schools, if this
project were approved, also stated: The safety of our students is our first and foremost
priority. With this in hand, we ask that you encourage your developer to provide safe walkways,
bike paths, and pedestrian access for our students. When Locsha Falls Subdivision was
approved, Willow Creek School was not yet built, and the developer was not required to provide
a walkway on the west side of Goddard Creek/Long Lake, thus students needed to cross the
very dangerous roundabout near Horse Loop, where a child was struck by a vehicle a few years
ago and lost his life. The child happened to be living in Selway Apartments. A homeowner
approached Kelly Creek HOA requesting we look into having a walkway built, as the roundabout
is too dangerous for children to cross. Kelly Creek HOA approached Locsha Falls HOA, and also
contacted ACHD. Both boards met with several departments of City of Meridian, and all stated
there was no money available, nor was the project suitable for any grants, so it needed to be
self-funded. Kelly Creek and Locsha Falls board reached out to Selway Apartments to share
cost, as there are many children who reside in Selway who would benefit from the new
walkway. While the local manager of Selway was very supportive, as she was manager there
when the little boy lost his life, after several attempts to reach Selway corporate office, finally
a two word reply was received: Not interested.
The point of this is owners of rental units in a for-profit business, and are interested
only in the bottom line, and have no interest in the community. It is natural and healthy for
many residents of a community to feel they are part of the community. Selway residents
(nothing wrong with it, I would do the same if I lived there) come to our events, use our private
park and our many acres of common areas etc. As more persons use parks and common
areas, playground equipment, more maintenance is necessary. Because we have between 12 and
15 acres of common area, much of it in grass, nearly 400 trees, a very large private park with
playground, our landscaping costs are many thousands of dollars per year. About half of our
owners are retirees, some on fixed incomes. This year it became necessary to raise dues to
meet our expenses, in part because of self-funding the walkway to Willow Creek School. In the
end Kelly Creek paid $7,500, Locsha Falls a bit more, and ACHD contributed between $5,000
and $6,000. Selway paid $0 thus their investors are getting a 'free ride' at community
expense.
In Brian Porter’s Application he touts that the apartments are a good fit for the
neighborhood, as they are close to the three schools (two over capacity) close to Kelly Creek
Park (private park paid for by Kelly Creek owners, free to investors of proposed rental
units). It was reported that developer stated at March 16, 2017 Hearing (for which we cannot
find anyone who received Notice) and at the December community meeting (where only one
member of the community was present) that developer’s intention was to ‘knock down’ the
center island and water feature at the Goddard Entrance to Kelly Creek and make it into a
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parking lot. Kelly Creek spent $20,000 renovating our center island water feature and
landscaping a few year ago, and our community is very proud of it, along with our flowers. Many
in our Kelly Creek, after hearing developer’s statement were angered, as it demonstrates a
complete lack of respect for our community.
While I know the City has to consider any reasonable project that is submitted, I urge
you to reject this one in the best interest of our beautiful City of Meridian and its residents. I
understand the owner of the parcel has every right to develop the land; however, please be
patient and wait for a project to come along that will be an asset to our community and all of
Meridian. We purchased our homes knowing offices would be there, and businesses become a
viable part of the community. Our neighborhood participates in National Night Out, and it is a
large event. To keep costs down, many of the local businesses (75 last year) donate wonderful
items for our raffle (Homestead Grill donated and cooked for us last year), the local nail salons,
dental offices, UPS Store, many many business that are a part of our community generously
support us. Please do not approve this development, but wait for a project whose intentions
would be to become part of and share a responsibility in our community. NO MORE RENTAL
UNITS. ANY APPLICATION APPROVED FOR THIS PARCEL OF LAND MUST HAVE PRIMARY
ACCESS FROM MC MILLAN.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Dorothy Pefferle
2613 W. Cedar Grove Street