Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-11-19 Glenna Newby LetterGlenna Newby 1710 Bentley Dr. Meridian, ID 83642 November 13, 2019 Meridian City Council Meridian City Hall 33 E. Broadway Ave. Meridian, ID 83642 Dear Meridian City Council, CI VEr) NOV 19 2019 CITY OF MERIDIAN MAYOR'S OFFICE write concerning a vote you will take to adopt the New Meridian Comprehensive Plan on November 19th. Specifically, my concern lies in the Future Land Use Map proposal surrounding the Locust Grove Heights Neighborhood, also known as the Magic Bridge Area of the proposal. My husband and I have followed closely the various phases of the Comprehensive Plan Revisions. We were made aware of pending changes concerning our residence future zoning at the February 12, 2019 Public Hearing. We did our homework and studied out what this could mean for our home, family and neighborhood. We visited with some of you personally, as well as friends who work in City Planning to learn what we can about this proposal change. We have visited with Brian McClure of the City, and Mitra Mehta -Cooper of the County to learn and understand more of the what and why this is being proposed, We sent letters and comments to the Steering Committee prior to their consultations during the summer. We expressed our strong feelings against proposing future land use changes to this area. We attended and represented through public comment, the better part of our subdivision at the October 17th Planning and Zoning Meeting. We had over 30 homes represented there. We have met with representatives from Senator Crapo's office to learn more about what the "Opportunity Zone" designation means that has recently been placed on our area as well. We have run the mile to communicate our feelings about this issue to the City. However, we continue to feel that our voice does not matter. I plead with you to consider the comments and concerns of many from my neighborhood. I am a life-long resident of Meridian. I grew up in a large family of seven children. I attended Meridian Schools. I worked for local Meridian businesses throughout my high school and college years. I now work as an educator in the Meridian (West Ada) School District and have done so for 20 years. I served as Miss Meridian in 1994 and ran for Miss Idaho the following year. I love Meridian! My husband and I are currently raising a family of four sons. We advocate for the incredible life-style to be found in Meridian. I continue to live in the home where I was raised. I purchased the family home in 2004. My husband and I treasure the quality of life we find here. It disturbs me greatly to discover that the qualities I most value about my hometown are being threatened by Meridian City Government, making reckless decisions above long-time residents to invite over -powering growth to take precedent. The Proposed Future Land Use Zoning Changes in the Magic Bridge area (zone 12) of the Proposed Future Land Use Map will ultimately destroy a wonderful neighborhood that has served the City of Meridian for nearly 50 years. We as a neighborhood do not want these changes to occur. Early on in the Comprehensive Plan Proposals, there was extensive talk of putting a road through our neighborhood to connect Locust Grove with the Wells Street area. The potential to invite and set the area up for developers to move in and buy out homeowners is not desired. In fact, it has deeply affected me as we hope this to be our "forever" home. Currently, our neighborhood is zoned "County". We are not technically part of the City of Meridian. Yes, I'm a resident of Meridian, but do not live within city limits. This means I do not even have the right to vote for those who serve in Meridian City government. Yet, City Government currently holds the power to alter the designation of my property, bringing about severe life -changing results. In the City Comprehensive Plan Presentation given on October 17th, it was stated that Meridian City's current goal is to completely urbanize the City limits. Our neighborhood lies in an "Area of Impact". I clearly understand that there is growth going on, but, why can't protection be given to areas such as mine to allow a variety of living options for families who want more open space and larger lots? Boise has neighborhood within their city limits that contain larger acre and half acre lots. Why can't Meridian? The pros to such neighborhoods involve not just larger lots for raising families, raising small animals, and raising gardens. My neighborhood is unique. There are multiple generational homeowners who have passed properties down from one generation to another. No amount of money can replace the historical value of my home. Four generations have lived and contributed to it. Nothing can replace that. I'm not alone in owning such a property in this subdivision. There are others with similar stories. This neighborhood still houses original homeowners who build the home in the 1970's, when they were just beginning their families and careers. We have long-time residents who have worked among the community, contributing years of service to building Meridian into what it is today. We have currently working and retired residents. They are educators, city public works officials such as police officers, paramedics, and fire fighters. We house military servicemen, small business owners, and medical and mental health professionals. We know one another, watch out for one another, and care deeply about the future of this area. Please listen to and consider the families who live and call Meridian home. We do not wish to see our subdivision fall into the demise of developers just to satisfy the mouth of a growing city. We are established and rooted. Enabling such changes will perpetuate greater problems to the City. If such changes are adopted there will surely be increase in crime. The safety of homes, children and families will be jeopardized. Financial hardships and property devaluation will ensue. We wish to remain Low Density housing. We wish to keep our neighborhood intact as it currently is. If safety for our neighborhood is the concern, please consider constructing an alternate emergency access on the east end of the neighborhood between Wells and Mustang Streets, as was recently done between Magic View and Autumn Way in the Greenhill neighborhood just north of us. Concern for future services, as mentioned by Brian McClure in the Planning and Zoning meeting on October 17th, did not make sense or seem a logical response to why this rezoning proposal is being made. If we need to bring services to our neighborhood from the City at some point in the future, we will figure out how to do that. As you review and make a decision about this, I hope you consider "humanity" first. Respect the people who are here, prior to those who wish to develop commerce. Don't let money dominate souls. Development is good when it is responsible. We aren't against growth, just growth that diminishes the livelihood of people. Don't be reckless with lives. Please be what you say you are; "Family centered." Meridian is a great because of its rural history and strong family ethic. Growth is occurring at such a rapid rate due to the fact that people want to leave urban communities to find what I enjoy in my home; space, privacy, safety, economic balance, peace, and quiet. Meridian can continue to offer low- density rural properties. As city government, you can protect existing, and provide for these areas. There is plenty of open land that has never been developed. My neighborhood does not want this change. We do not deserve to be targeted this way. Please consider the impact of this zoning change on the Future Land Use Map in the Magic Bridge area. Leave us as we are, low-density rural. T ank you, Laa �Jenna Newby Locust View Heights Resident — 48 Years Below see talk points given at the October 17th Planning and Zoning meeting, and our letter to the Steering Committee in August. Planning and Zoning Meeting Talk Points: Rural Open Spaces. 1. Because of our current zoning designation we are able to enjoy wide open spaces that are nearly impossible to find 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. 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". 5. There is a demand for large lot properties like those in our area. Homes rarely go on the market in this subdivision, and when they do they sell quickly. Two in the past three years have sold within 24 hours and ensued a bidding war because of the value found in properties of this type. Financial Impact We know that if the proposed zoning designation is adopted, the integrity of our neighborhood will be deeply compromised. 1. As an example of what homeowners will face we will use our own property as an example. We are aware of the current resale value of our home as we had it appraised within the past year. If I were to sell our home at fair market value and purchase a new home at the identical price within the City of Meridian, monthly home costs would double what we're currently paying. City taxes, HOA fees, higher interest rates and variable differences in my one-time home -owner exemption would double what the current mortgage payment. As a parent who is at the height of raising four children, this type of financial burden would cripple the goals we have. We need the City and the County to protect our homes and neighborhood as they are. 2. Our subdivision houses a large number of retired educators, military servicemen, medical professionals, public works officials, and small business owners who are now on fixed incomes. Many 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. This kind of financial burden would be stifling. 3. Changes proposed in the New Comprehensive Plan by the City Staff will lower property values and discourage natural home sales that would otherwise occur. 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 a valued level of privacy and safety. It allows children to play in our yards, and families to enjoy bike rides and walks throughout the subdivision. 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. Horse -back riders are also found in our neighborhood regularly. 2. Understanding that safety may be a concern for the City and County in this situation, we are willing to suggest an emergency access easement only, consistent with the recent construction of such that was constructed between Greenhill Estates and Magic View Drive just east of Woodbridge Subdivision. 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. Safety concerns are high in regard to natural crime that would occur in such a case. Newby's Response to Steering Committee—July 20, 2019: Response to the City Comprehensive Plan 2019 The existing Comprehensive Plan currently shows our neighborhood zoned as Low Density Residential. We are happy with that designation. We desire that this designation not be changed on the City's maps. We ask that the City protect us from any modification that would change this designation as it would compromise our chosen lifestyle. This lifestyle includes: large property lots, quiet neighborhood streets, local traffic only, irrigation rights, large gardens, space for animals, quiet neighborhood setting, continued private well and septic rights, rural atmosphere. There are several original homeowners living within this neighborhood who built the home in the early 1970's when there was nothing but farm land and dirt roads. These families continue to live here and have done so for nearly 50 years. The longevity of these homeowners within the neighborhood speaks loudly to the quality of life people enjoy pertaining to the aforementioned qualities of this neighborhood. Other families have moved in since for the same reasons. We desperately wish to maintain and preserve this quality of life. We understand that change happens. Seeing first-hand the city grow around our neighborhood, we have accepted and embraced that. It does not have to compromise the integrity of our neighborhood and the reasons why we each moved here. Since the City of Meridian claims to be a family centric city, and to protect the lifestyles our families have chosen in this subdivision, we ask that the City implement the following to protect our families and neighborhood in order of priority: t. FIRST PREFERENCE IS NO ROAD. Our first preference is to have no additional roads constructed within our subdivision. This neighborhood enjoys "local traffic" only based on the original design of the subdivision. Homeowners specifically chose to purchase property in this neighborhood for the unique qualities that this low-density, large acre lot subdivision provides. Additional traffic of any kind will compromise the quality of life, bring additional noise, crime, and ultimate destruction to a key factor that families value. 2. EMERGENCY STUB ROAD. To meet the fire code for a neighborhood of our size, we submit that a stub - road be constructed to create an entrance for emergency vehicles only. This would be located on the east side of the neighborhood nearest Wells Street. This road would be identical to the stub -road currently being constructed that will connect Greenhill Estates with Magic View Road. This road will be paved, 20 feet wide, have a padlocked gate allowing access to emergency vehicles only, and not give access to through traffic. 3. ONLY LOCAL STREETS. Do not allow collector roads or other heavily traveled roadways through our neighborhood. It destroys the family friendly atmosphere. If a road were to be constructed to the east of the neighborhood, the traffic must be slow, including appropriate stop signs and speed bumps where necessary. 4. ONLY ALLOW LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ZONING. Our family friendly neighborhood has large gardens, home shops, and animals to raise. Please protect our chosen way of life in Locust View Heights. We do not wish to change the current residential zoning. 5. DO NOT ALLOW OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS TO DECIDE HOW WE SHOULD LIVE. We know Woodbridge neighborhood would like us to take all the excessive traffic flow from their neighborhood into ours. We know that Greenhill Estates Subdivision was first approached to alleviate traffic from Woodbridge by creating a through street connecting Magic View Road to Franklin Road through Greenhill Estates. As that plan failed, Locust View Heights is now being approached to shoulder the burden of alleviating the traffic flow. Woodbridge homeowners were well aware that traffic would be coming through it when they bought their homes. Conversely, people in our neighborhood specifically purchased their homes here as we knew this was a neighborhood with no "through" streets. It would be a safe and comfortable place allowing our children and families to freely play and enjoy a quiet lifestyle. Perhaps a stop light could be constructed at the intersection of Woodbridge and Locust Grove to help manage traffic exiting Woodbridge onto Locust Grove Road. Additionally, the Magic View business area has a number of options for navigating traffic through that area giving access to other main traffic arteries. 6. LONGEVITY. The Locust View Heights Subdivision is a 50•year old neighborhood this year. We are a solid representation of the lifestyle this neighborhood was designed to enjoy. Many of the homeowners have lived here for decades. We wish to continue living here, enjoying the rural lifestyle we currently have. We trust the City of Meridian to protect our neighborhood rights as previously stated. 00 N Nj N-