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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGeoffrey M. WardleSPINK BIB UTTER -. ATTORNEYS AT LAW GEOFFREY M. WARDLE 208.388.3321 GWARDLE@SPI N KB UTLER.CO M Vin Entail (cihiclerk@meridiaiicihl. oil) December 14, 2018 City of Meridian Mayor and City Council Members 33 East Broadway Avenue, Suite 300 Meridian, ID 83642 RE: Linder Village File No: H-2017-0088 CPAM, AZ, PP, VAR Dear Mayor and City Council Members, I regularly appear before you on behalf of a variety of clients on land use matters in the City of Meridian. I write this letter as a resident of Meridian and as a resident of Paramount to support the revised application for Linder Village. Invariably residential development comes first, then the commercial development to support it follows. In light of the significant residential development in North Meridian, the area is still underserved by the type of commercial development necessary to support it. WinCo and the other proposed commercial development in Linder Village, is necessary and appropriate. When my wife and I decided to build a home in Paramount it was because we knew and recognized that commercial development would be coming to the intersection of Chinden and Linder. I had previously represented Lynx Development when ACHD had widened Linder and I had worked with one of my partners on the original Eagle Marketplace transaction. We appreciate the changes that the applicant has made to their plan to address the concerns that have previously been articulated. We recognize that there has been already stated about this project. As you consider the application and as you act on it, I would raise two points: 1. Comprehensive Plans are not Zoning Ordinances. The requested zoning by the applicant is neither inappropriate nor unreasonable. Comprehensive plans guide land use MICHAEL T. SPINK JOANN C. BUTLER T. HETHE CLARK GEOFFREY M. WARDLE TARA MARTENS MILLER 251 E FRONT ST • SUITE 200 • PO BOX 639 • BOISE. IDAHO 83701 • 208.388.1000 • FAX 208.388.1001 • SPINKBUTLER.COM December 14, 2018 City of Meridian Mayor and City Council Members Page 2 decisions, they are not, however, zoning ordinances. The requested zoning is in accordance with the comprehensive plan. The manner in which the comprehensive plan has been invoked by some demonstrates a lack of understanding of the role of such plans, the role of the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Local Land Use Planning Act, and Idaho jurisprudence. 2. Connectivity between Paramount and Linder Village is imperative. Contrary to the arguments asserted by some residents of Paramount, connectivity to and through Paramount will benefit primarily the residents of Paramount. Vehicular and pedestrian connectivity are important elements of the project and should be encouraged, not discouraged. Based upon past experience with these types of projects and development best practices, traffic between Linder Village and Paramount will be primarily generated by residents of Paramount. Limiting connectivity will only worsen traffic on Chinden. This traffic is not "cut through traffic', it is neighborhood traffic generated by the residents of Paramount and their immediate neighbors. Acquiescing to project opponents on the issue of connectivity will have long lasting and permanent negative consequences. Paramount's internal stub -streets and collectors were all designed to facilitate this type of connectivity and such planning and investment should not be ignored. Providing connectivity from day one is appropriate and necessary. Cities should always err on the side of too many connections between neighborhoods and the commercial projects serving them. To do otherwise, unnecessarily forces local traffic onto the arterial system. We ask that you support this Application and approve it as recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Sincer' 1 , Geoffrey M. Wardle Cc: Ken Howell Craig Slocum Kristin Edvalson Wardle