HomeMy WebLinkAboutKelly Creek HOA - 5.18May 18, 2017
City Council Members
City of Meridian
Meridian, ID
Re: H-2017-0007 – Brian Porter Application – Goddard Creek
Upcoming Hearing – May 23, 2017 – Written Testimony
Dear City Council Members:
The Kelly Creek community applauded the thoroughness of the Planning and Zoning
Commission when they carefully evaluated Brian Porter’s Application, and made the decision to
recommend the entire project be denied based upon density, that it is the wrong project for this
particular location, and that it does not comply with the Locsha Falls Development Agreement
(AZ-02-010).
This letter is being submitted as written testimony on behalf of the 372 Kelly Creek Subdivision
homeowners, nearly all of whom strongly oppose the approval of this Application for the following
reasons:
1. The Locsha Falls planned unit development was presented before the City Council in 2002.
The proposal was to build 856 single family homes, 171 multiple family dwellings, 11 office
buildings, 1 commercial building, 1 city park, 1 private park, and 1 future fire station. The City
Council at that time approved the plan and the parties entered into a development
agreement that was approved on December 17, 2002.
2. On January 2, 2003 the City of Meridian and Owners of said property signed and had recorded
the Locsha Falls Development Agreement which also states there will be 856 single family
homes, 171 multiple family dwellings, 11 office buildings, 1 commercial building, 1 city park, 1
private park, and 1 future fire station.
3. At the time said property was annexed into the City, the owners of the property and the City
executed an Agreement that this site would be set aside for 11 office buildings. Purchasers
of homes in Kelly Creek and Locsha Falls made the decision to purchase their homes based
upon this legal binding Agreement. Had it been a possibility said property could ever contain
multi-family dwellings many would have not purchased in Kelly Creek. 250 multi-family
dwellings using one private road as access is not acceptable, nor is the increase in density and
traffic more units would add.
4. Kelly Creek Subdivision CC&Rs, dated May 20, 2004, (of which all Owners were made aware,
and agreed to abide by prior to purchasing their homes) - Article 1.3 states: Notice of Later
Phases of Kelly Creek Subdivision: Notice is hereby given to all Owners of Kelly Creek
Subdivision that some later phases of Kelly Creek Subdivision are intended to be developed,
and may be developed as some form of commercial, office, retail, or other related business
uses. THERE IS NO MENTION OF A POSSIBILITY OF MULTI FAMILY UNITS. Owners purchased
their homes with the assurance there would be no more than 171 multi-family units in the
Kelly Creek Subdivision single family residential community.
5. A number of the subdivisions surrounding Kelly Creek have office buildings included as part of
their planned development – (Bridgetower, Paramount, Locsha Falls on the north side, Cedar
Springs North, etc.) The office buildings enhance the subdivision in that they are attractive,
the traffic is staggered and often light, plus having businesses close by improves the
walkability of the community. If this application were to be approved, Kelly Creek would have
nearly 40 percent rental units within our immediate community, thus making our subdivision
less desirable than the surrounding subdivisions that have office included. Traffic problems on
W. Apgar Creek are now problematic, and a number of the 60 plus homeowners on Apgar and
surrounding streets have expressed that if this Application were to be approved, they would
have no choice other than to sell their homes, due to safety concerns for their children as a
result of additional traffic on Apgar. Much of the traffic from Selway Apartments is funneled
through our subdivision onto Apgar Creek.
6. School concerns have been addressed in other written testimony submitted separately, and
submitted as part of written testimony to Planning and Zoning Commission. We request you
read written testimony submitted to Planning and Zoning Commission. Our schools are over
capacity.
7. In Mayor Tammy’s recent comments to Business Insider, also included in an Idaho Statesman
article on May 16, the Mayor stated bringing services closer to where people are living will
help ease traffic congestion, which is a major problem in Meridian. By adhering to the
guidelines outlined in the Locsha Falls Development Agreement, and building office buildings,
services could be brought closer to many homes which would help alleviate some traffic
congestion. More rental units would do the opposite. There are many, many multi-family
units planned for Meridian. They are not a good fit for this location. Owners have long
anticipated office, and with the growth in Meridian, many feel the time is right for
development of office buildings on this property.
We urge you to uphold the Locsha Falls Development Agreement, and follow the
recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and deny this Application.
Thank you for your time and careful consideration, for putting the quality of life concerns of our
owners and our immediate community as well as the City of Meridian in general, before the desired
monetary gains of a developer who has no interest in the well-being of Meridian or our mostly single
family residential community.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors
Kelly Creek HOA