HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC - Public Testimony Lani Wageman 11-201
Charlene Way
From:Morgan Andrus
Sent:Monday, November 20, 2017 4:36 PM
To:C.Jay Coles; Charlene Way
Subject:FW: Opposition to East Ridge Development H-2017-0129
From: Lani Wageman [ mailto:lani@ltunes.com ]
Sent: Monday, November 20, 2017 4:28 PM
To: Anne Little Roberts; Genesis Milam; Joe Borton; Keith Bird; Luke Cavener; Ty Palmer; mayortammy
Cc: Lani Wageman
Subject: Opposition to East Ridge Development H-2017-0129
Dear Major and Councilmembers,
I am writing about my concerns about the East Ridge Development that is going in off Lake Hazel and Eagle
Road.
My husband and I moved to Blackrock 4 years ago, prior to Sky Mesa, White Bark and Century Farms
subdivisions. We thought we were moving to an area of spacious lots and rural neighbors. In the 4 years the
roads and schools have become very congested. They exit from Taconic to Eagle Road was not thought out
very thoroughly. It is very difficult to exit, with the oncoming traffic from Century Farms using the same center
divide turn lane. It is taking longer and longer to exit Blackrock and Sky Mesa with all the traffic. A lot of this
traffic is due to land and home construction vehicles. There are still many homes under construction in
Blackrock, White Bark, Sky Mesa and Century Farm. Sometimes the roads within the neighborhoods are
completely blocked by large trucks pouring cement, delivering lumber, etc, causing drivers to backup and try to
find another way. This was extremely bad last winter, when the roads were essentially down to single lanes and
the construction vehicles were parked in the middle of the roads.
I hate to see R8 and R15 continue to be built in a rural area that the infrastructure hasn't kept up with. Streets
and schools are overcrowded. If apartments go in, then you most likely will have people who are transient, and
crime will go up, not to mention graffiti and more trash. My husband and I walk up and down Taconic picking
up litter that, I'm guessing, is from construction workers. Mostly soda cans, cigarette packs, fast food wrappers,
and construction debris.
We moved to San Jose, CA in the 1970's, and at that time it was similar to Ada County...lots of orchards and
farm land. Now it is a big city and has become crime ridden, lots of trash and graffiti and it is ugly. The traffic
is gridlocked, even on neighborhood streets, where people are trying to find shortcuts. The city can't expand the
streets because they can't afford to purchase the property needed. The city can't afford to pay it's police and fire
force, so crime has skyrocketed.
My husband was born and raised in Boise. I worked for Zilog Semiconductor in Nampa for 23 years. It pains
us to see the developments going up so fast and the schools and roads lagging behind. We can see parallels
between what happened to San Jose and what is happening to Meridian. We hope that the Meridian City
Council will SLOW down and really consider the future, and keep us as one of the best cities in the United
States.
2
As far as East Ridge Development is concerned, the developer did not listen to the Major and some council
members concerning the possibility of R2 and R4 lots throughout. They are still hoping for R15 on the
rim. We were hoping they would come up with a development more like Spurwing. There is still a need for
neighborhoods with larger lots. I feel we are being forced to accept their development, as P&Z approved their
plans, yet again.
I can only hope that you will consider all the land and home construction that may go through Blackrock. If the
traffic barrier at the end of Cyanite was allowed to remain until whatever East Ridge development is approved,
that would be a relief. Please consider this option and have DevCo use Lake Hazel until they near
completion. If the barrier comes down, we know that many construction vehicles will use Taconic and Cyanite
regardless of what is mandated.
The Blackrock neighborhood is still dealing with orange/brown city drinking water. East Ridge does not have
irrigation water rights, so the entire development will be on city water. I am not sure if this will help the quality
and pressure of the city water, but I am very concerned.
Many of the residents from neighboring developments will be attending the next City Council meeting. I hope
you consider my points concerning EastRidge Development.
Sincerely,
Michael & Lani Wageman
5662 S Graphite Way,
Meridian, ID