HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-10-17 Barbara ValdezOctober 16, 2019
Madam Mayor and Councilpersons
Planning and Zoning Commissioners
My name is Barbara Valdez, living at 2220 E. Continental Drive in Meridian for 47 years, 27 years of
which I taught as an adjunct at BSU to support three children, whose father, a Vietnam Veteran, had left
us to live in Japan, though not before he planted some thirteen trees on our acreage. I am counting on
the accrued value of my home and land to carry me and my disabled son through our lifetimes and to
be able to pass on this landscape to someone else for similar lifestyle and enhancement. I am
surrounded by other retirees and their families who have such an investment and expectation. I am
unable to perceive an overriding social benefit to the community from converting this land to
commercial development, especially when the land and lifestyle already embodies in microcosm the
themes of premier, evolving, livable, vibrant, and connected.
'Rather than destroy our subdivision (now or later with commercial, development), consider an imaginative
transformation that,could involve use:of a grant to upgrade ;(one does exist), a demonstration site for solarlpower or
new septic technology, landscaping bids (in the works) including plantings which def use !freeway noise. This "premier"
collaboration of business with 50 -year old established properties would be designed to "evolve" that which has
already proven to be "livable," iquietly "vibrant," and "connected". within itself by its sense of community and by a -
history of contributing to key educational, work, and service pursuits outside its boundaries. We want our:children an,
others to benefit from the accomplishments which have converted bare farmland into a perennial, active and humane
neighborhood. We want to keep our homes in their�present context and enhance them for others as ifa laboratory fo
innovation rather than commercial displacement.
4 � � 14 ell