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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-11-01 Anna Stowe1 Charlene Way From:Anna Stowe <anna@bridgemail.com> Sent:Friday, November 01, 2019 9:25 AM To:Meridian City Clerk; planning@meridian.org Subject:DevCo Delano Project Attachments:updatedcouncilleteer.docx Thank-you in advance for distributing my letter to the proper individuals on the City Council, our Honorable Mayor, and Planning and Zoning Commission. Anna Stowe To the Honorable Mayor Tammy de Weerd, To the City of Meridian City Council members, and Meridian Planning and Zoning Commission: I am writing in regards to DevCO Development and the Delano Project. I took a drive to Centerpointe where the MAXX development and Brickyard development is. At the end of Centerpointe Road, there was a red and white gate. It had a sign that stated: "This Road to be extended in the Future." I took a drive again over there yesterday, and saw the developer. I asked him how many units were in the MAXX Development. He told me there was 243 three-bedroom units. He said he was getting ready to permit a twenty-plex building which would have one-bedroom and two- bedroom units available for rent. He then told me the road at Centerpointe was going to open to Jasmine Lane because a development was being planned. I drove to the end of Centerpointe Road, where the project starts, and there was a sign that informed about a July 18, 2019 Planning and Zoning meeting being held at 6:00p.m, at the Meridian City Hall. It was for Annexation and Zoning for the Delano Neighborhood from RUT in ADA County to R-15 and R-40 zoning district and a preliminary plat approval consisting of 85 single home family residential lots and 96 multi-family apartments on approximately 15.2 acres. The application was by DevCo Development, LLC. (For the Delano Project.) So my mind is now wondering, after several meetings, that if DevCo purchased the property that includes Jasmine Lane, and will join Centerpointe, which will provide two exits from his development, why is he applying and saying he needs access to the Alpine Pointe Subdivision? There are two stub roads but they were only made stub roads at the request of Meridian Planning and Zoning Commission because the property was previously considered landlocked. The property was not intended to be a neighborhood but only RUT. Now that is possibly becoming R-15 and R-40, and reminding that the land is not landlocked, there is simply no reason for DevCo to need or require assess to Dashwood or any other road into Alpine Pointe. Once again, I am pointing out that the property now owned by DevCo, where he is applying for rezoning, is assessible by Jasmine Lane onto Eagle Road, and will be assessible from Centerpointe onto to Eagle Road and South onto Ustick. This appears to be sufficient exit and entry to his development. In fact, if the Centerpointe Road is opened to the North as it is stated it will be, traffic from the 266 units being built by MAXX, as well as traffic from the adjacent subdivision, the shopping mall, and DevCo would have access to use our neighborhood, Alpine Pointe. Traffic could move through our neighborhood as a short cut to gain access to McMillan, Locust Grove, and Eagle Road. Traffic is thick already on all three of these roads and please know there is no ideas what the impact will be once the developments are completed. I wonder why does Alpine Pointe has to be the sacrificial residential community for a big developer? Concerns/Devco rezoning Stowe page 2 DevCo has hired an attorney to discuss rights and not consider the rights of the current homeowners and taxpayers of Alpine Pointe. In fact, he has failed to listen to other options and states he wants access to Alpine Pointe. It sure feels as though big money is stomping on the rights and current lifestyle of residents in Meridian, specifically in this case, those who live in Alpine Pointe. Perhaps if the developer continues to insist, he needs access to our neighborhood then a community with similar priced homes, and similar architecture, and land minimums should be considered. There are people who would love to buy a nice home, in our area, and not just rent an apartment. It could be acceptable for him to build cul-de-sac to prevent traffic from any shopping centers, restaurants, or high-density residential, specifically coming from the South or Centerpointe as well as any other proposed high-density complex. Centerpointe Way, which is entry to the MAXX Development, curves around and exits between Hobby Lobby and the new Big Al’s Car Wash, which is across Eagle Road to Baldcypress. There are multi-family units built there, more planned, and around the corner, near Kleiner Park, new multi- family units are being built as well. Across Eagle off Wainwright, towards Records, there is a plot of land for a future high-density project. This is way too many. At this time, to access the gas station or businesses across Eagle Road any of the aforementioned projects have to turn onto Eagle Road either South or North and then flip a U-turn at an intersection. Given that the 263 units have not be completed, nor are the projects across Eagle Road, it is unpredictable to know or understand the added danger to Eagle Road. This is prior to DevCo, Delano even being considered. It would seem that If the developers creating the high-density complexes would help the City of Meridian to create a four-way stoplight between Centerpointe West across to Baldcypress there would be a safer path to cross Eagle Road. The light could slow down traffic, reduce accidents, and again, make Eagle Road safer. The financial beneficiaries, (Developers), of all the current projects build off of the Eagle area could help in the cost rather than the cost become a future expense of homeowners and taxpayers. If DevCO, MAXX, and other developers are not responsible for the traffic increase from their high-density projects, then I don’t think it is beneficial for Meridian to continue to allow high density communities in this area or zoning changes, especially from RUT to R-15 and R-40. Concerns/Devco rezoning Stowe page 3 I have laid in bed and thought about what developers are doing and also remembering the words of one City Council member. She stated the council wanted high density development because of the amount of people moving here. Big cities have reacted to growth without total concern for their current residents. Many people are moving to Idaho because of what has happened to their states and communities. I want to emphasize that if our City Council members allow DevCo, (the Goliath with money to have attorneys), take Dashwood and any other road into Alpine Pointe, then the City Council is allowing DevCo to make Alpine Pointe part of his project, and let those who live in our neighborhood hear the City say our way of life, our neighborhood, is not part of what makes Meridian such a wonderful place to live. It can be envisioned, due to current traffic on Eagle Road, future changes to Eagle Road will have to happen, and if developers are not held required to help, the future changes will be at the expense of its citizens. I would urge the City Council to be totally aware of the mistakes made by other States and the impact to its residents, taxes, and safety. I also want to express concern that while developers are asking to change zoning, the properties that are near and connected, are being impacted not only by traffic, but also the safety is reduced. Adding so many people assess to drive through our neighborhood, as a shortcut, will have people racing through a neighborhood which has twenty miles an hour speed limit. It is beginning to happen already. In addition, how can we know, as a neighborhood, what cars should or shouldn't be driving around? We have common areas, that HOA maintains. Are you saying our common areas will now have to be assessible to thousands who don’t live in our neighborhood? Many community members, from several neighborhoods, wonder where all the new children in this area, due to the high-density developments, are going to enter school? Our school in the area is already overcrowded. The developers will make big money and leave the additions to the school, teachers, and additional road maintenance to the residents. I remember hearing that P and Z Commissioner Mr. Reid Olsen brought up the overcrowding of schools at the P and Z meeting on July 18, 2019. Reid Olsen is a former West Ada School Board member. As a member of Next Door reading daily entries people are talking about the new developments, how horrible the traffic is, accidents on Eagle, and this is without the addition of new projects. Other comments are made about why this is being allowed. Concerns/Devco rezoning Stowe page 4 When talking with others it is often discuss the fact that people in other states can sell their homes at high prices, and then come to Idaho and outbid, pay premiums, or overpay to purchase homes. First-time buyers, middle, and lower income families are having difficulty finding affordable homes to buy or places to live. They end up renting a small apartment that is overpriced. It is discussed that the new projects being built are in no way affordable for the average income family who want to have more in life besides making a rent payment. The small high-density apartment, they pay high rent for, leaves no savings either. I previously read an article stating that Meridian is facing more people living in their cars. They have good jobs but rent is so high especially in areas close to where they might work. If this continues the homeless community will continue to grow, residents of our community will be forced to move to other towns, and cost of living in Idaho will sky rocket. Homelessness will become the financial responsibility of the residents in Ada County. One fact for it, too many out of state people moving in, appraisals going up, high density overpriced apartments, and homeowners facing property taxes being too high. An elderly person, who owns their home, may be taxed to the curb. How can this be the new reality for Meridian? It might be time to put the brakes on and really look at having more planned communities rather than rezoning and overbuilding. People come to Idaho because of our way of life. However, all the high-density building is creating more of what many have left behind. I also want to remind the City Council that members in our neighborhood, and adjacent neighborhoods have previously attended meeting in regards to DevCo. We are not in favor of allowing DevCo to rezone and then access Alpine Pointe. When most of us have attended the prior meetings, the have been rescheduled at the request of DevCo in regards to Delano. At one meeting, he was also previously told no by the City Council. Yet he keeps trying to rezone and access Alpine Pointe. There is also no clear sign anywhere posted by the developer allowing communities to know exactly when the next meeting is. Respectfully, Anna Stowe, Resident of Alpine Pointe November 1, 2019