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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-10-17 Ryan NewbyCity Planning and Zoning Meeting Talk Points October 17, 2019 Name: Ryan Newby Address: 1710 Bentley Dr., Meridian I am opposed to the Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map re -zoning of area 12 in the Locust View Subdivision. Although I don't represent the neighborhood in its entirety, I do represent the views of many neighborhood residents that are consistent with my own. With your permission may I ask those present who have asked me to represent their views to stand. SLIDE 1 Locust View Heights is a quintessential rural Meridian Neighborhood. It was designed and built to provide homes for families who wish to enjoy wide open spaces to grow gardens, raise livestock and enjoy the quality of life Meridian, Idaho has to offer. We are currently county zoned R-1 Low Density Rural one -acre properties. We wish to remain in this zoning designation. SLIDE 2 The Comprehensive Plan proposal presents changes to this zoning designation that we as residents oppose. (refer to current zoning on the left, and proposed zoning on the right) 173 Rural Open Spaces. 1. Because of our current zoning designation we are able to enjoy wide open spaces that are nearly impossible to find anymore in our rapidly growing community. 2. The wide open spaces and mature landscape of our homes provide a natural greenbelt between the freeway and other residential areas in our mile block. 3. it provides space for growing families to enjoy the outdoors, teach and experience a rural work ethic, and allow a natural habitat to flourish. SLIDE 4 4. Quoting Mitra Mehta -Cooper, the current Ada County Community and Regional County Planner and Strategic Planning Manager who spoke in the Meridian City Council Meeting on September 17t", she said "We need wide open spaces to provide quality of life. They are safe for families and they provide housing options that are less than a half hour away from all. Providing natural, rural locations among this growth is challenging, but much needed." Our neighborhood is hopeful to continue this vision by keeping our neighborhood intact "as -is". Optional - piece about 3 corners Ranch neighborhood 5. We applaud the City of Meridian for supporting this idea by approving the neighborhood development of "I"I roo Corners Punch". This development captures the essence of this wide-open ,porn need. It is located on the south -oast corner of Locust Grove and Chinden Blvd. It supports a new phase corning in 20,20 that includes a 31 acre development with 45 horde sites where the average lot size ranges from a half to one acre in sire. This begs the question, why our neighborhood with similar lot sizes is being compromised it) its low-density rural designation, when clearly the City is approving and now looking to create such neighborhood developments? Wo risk that the County and the City of Meridian to protect our current "R- 9 " low density rural ,coning designation as it currently is. SLIDE 5 Financial Impact We believe that if the proposed zoning designation is adopted, the integrity of our neighborhood will be compromised. As properties are eventually sold, the current quality of life will diminish. 1. My wife and I have lived in our home for 17 years. Prior to our ownership it was the childhood home of my wife's family; the Wynn Christensen Family. It has been their family home since it was purchased in 1971. My wife and I plan on this being our "last" home. We love the quality of life this property provides. If these zoning changes are adopted it seems clear that we will likely be driven out one property at a time by developers. &017 41: 2. Because I recently had an appraisal done of my home, I know the re -sale value of my home. If I were to try to replace my home at a different location at an identical selling price, acreage, and square footage, my monthly home costs would more than double what I'm currently paying. My wife and I have run the scenario many times. City taxes, HOA fees, higher interest rates and variable differences in my one-time home -owner exemption would double what my current mortgage payment is. Not to mention how difficult it is to find a property like to ours close to town. As a parent who is at the height of raising four children, this type of financial burden would cripple the goals we have to send our sons to college and on missions for our church. These as goals and desires we have been planning for years. We ask the City of the County to protect our homes and our neighborhood as they are. SLIDE 7 3. With regard to some neighbors I am speaking for tonight, our subdivision houses a large number of retirees such as educators, military servicemen, medical field personnel, and hard-working citizens who are now on fixed incomes. Some of whom have had their home paid off for years. They save throughout the year just to pay property tax annually. The medium going rate for a one bed room apartment in Meridian would be 75% of the total monthly income some of these residents receive. To lose their home and place this kind of financial burden would cripple them financially. The inconsistency in which the re -zoning has been done is not fair to all. Some areas are zoned commercial, others mixed use office, and others medium density residential. The financial implications of slowing selling off properties would devastate the current integrity of the neighborhood and would financially burden good citizens of our subdivision who enjoy living the lifestyle want to live. We ask the City and the County to protect our homes and neighborhood as they are. Safety: 1. One of the many redeeming qualities of our neighborhood, and one that we all enjoy, is that it does not contain a collector or a connector "through" road. This allows us the level of privacy and safety that we each value. It allows our children to play in our yards, enjoy bike rides and walks throughout the subdivision. Many residents of the adjacent Woodbridge neighborhood are regularly found exercising and enjoying the peaceful rural atmosphere of our neighborhood as well. The streets provide excellent biking, jogging and walking venues. One can often find a resident taking a leisurely horseback ride or walking the dog. SLIDE 9 2. Understanding that safety may be a concern for the City and County in this situation, we are willing to allow an emergency access easement only, consistent with the recent construction of such that was placed between Greenhill Estates and Magic View Drive just east of Woodbridge Subdivision. SLIDE 10 3. The construction of a collector or connector road is not something we wish to invite into our neighborhood. There are multi -generational families living within our subdivision. Grandchildren are often found walking to grandparent's homes, and safety concerns are high with regard to the safety of families and children were such to be constructed. Not to mention the induction of greater crime that would be a natural consequence of allowing such access to our neighborhood. SLIDE 11 In closing, be aware that members of our neighborhood went to great length to make public comment on the phase 2 proposals that the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee put out earlier this year. Public Comment was closed on August 5th, at which time the Steering Committee reviewed the received comments. They proposed to remove all changes from our neighborhood based on the comments received. It was noted that Locust View Heights "Packed the House" at the February hearing. There is a clear concern about changes being proposed to our neighborhood. In light of this, last week we discovered that regardless of this proposal from the Steering Committee, the City Planning Committee reinstated the zoning changes as can be currently seen on the Future Land Use Proposal map. We as residents of the Locust View Heights desire our current County low-density "R-1 " rural zoning to remain intact "as is". We ask the City and County to grant our request and the Steering Committee's recommendation to leave our community as it currently is, with no changes. Furthermore, we ask, as City of Meridian Claims, to continue to provide and protect our neighborhood as a "Family Centered Community".