HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-11-26 John Rinehimer1
Charlene Way
From:Josha Iverson
Sent:Tuesday, November 26, 2019 4:40 PM
To:Charlene Way
Subject:FW: carolrinehimer@yahoo.com; Chood@meridiancity.org; bmcclure@meridiancity.org;
I just received this email. I am not sure if it is too late to submit to you so I am forwarding it.
Josha Iverson| Administrative Assistant
City of Meridian | Mayor’s Office
33 E. Broadway Ave., Meridian, Idaho 83642
Phone: (208) 489-0529 |Fax: (208) 884-8119
Built for Business, Designed for Living
All e-mail messages sent to or received by City of Meridian e-mail accounts are subject to the Idaho law,
in regards to both release and retention, and may be released upon request, unless exempt from disclosure by law
From: John Rinehimer <johnrinehimer@yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2019 4:36 PM
To: mayortammy <mayortammy@meridiancity.org>; alittleroberst@meridiancity.org; Joe Borton
<jborton@meridiancity.org>; Ty Palmer <typalmer@meridiancity.org>; Treg Bernt <tbernt@meridiancity.org>; Luke
Cavener <lcavener@meridiancity.org>; Bill Parsons <bparsons@meridiancity.org>
Subject: carolrinehimer@yahoo.com; Chood@meridiancity.org; bmcclure@meridiancity.org;
To: City of Meridian Council Members
Re: Keeping Rural/Very Low density designation for Stetson Estates
My name is John Rinehimer and own 5 acres of property at 4182 S Rustler Lane. I was not able to
attend last week’s Council meeting in person, which is why I am writing. I did however listen in online
and I want to thank the Council for making that capability available via YouTube.
I’m writing to express my strong desire to reclassify our subdivision, Stetson Estates, and our
neighbors to the south, Rock Ranch, as RURAL/VERY LOW DENSITY designation. These properties
are made up of 5, 10 and larger acreage parcels. If anyone has not driven down Rustler Lane, I urge
you to do so immediately, so each of you can see first hand the community of agricultural properties
within that area. It is unique and helps give Meridian its charm.
I am also writing to respectfully request that the 112 acres of farm land, currently owned by Larry
Will iams and adjacent to our property, be given a rural designation or at least a cap of no more than 1
dwelling unit per 1-3 acres. This is desperately needed to allow a proper transition from our
subdivision to any proposed development on those 112 acres. As my wife, Carol, stated in last
week’s Council meeting, we are building our forever dream home on Rustler. It will be a ~6,100 sq ft
home and well exceed $1M in investment. Classifying that 112 acres as medium density allows the
builder to put 3- 8 dwelling units per acre. Any builder will opt for 8 houses per acre to maximize
revenue and profits. Imagine if you owned 5 pristine acres with one home on it and having it back to
a dozen or so cookie-cutter homes. This is not an appropriate transition and devalues our property.
2
Today there is a shortage of 1+ acre lots in Meridian. To get larger parcels you must go to Eagle,
which is why we moved to Eagle 20+ years ago. However, because of the way Eagle is being
managed, we have made the decision to move. In talking to realtors, there is a great need for larger
parcels in Meridian. Respectfully, why wouldn’t the Council want to create multiple, larger-acreage
communities to help address this demand? It doesn’t mean we have to abandon the more dense,
affordable housing options. It simply means we need to create a balance. I understand the desire to
add services to all the new subdivisions and you need higher density to make it work, but what is
wrong with landowners putting in their own wells and septic systems where it makes sense? We are
currently on septic here in Eagle and it works perfectly fine. For our Meridian home under
construction we also installed a well and septic system with the City’s approval, and we anticipate it to
service our needs for decades to come.
Lastly, I would also like to request that the Council reconsider its overall, perceived need to make
thousands of new homes available to those moving into our community. We welcome people to our
community, both local and from out of state, however, existing residents should not be negatively
impacted. Existing residents do not want to see Meridian into another “any town USA”. We do NOT
want to be another “Los Angeles” per se. I respectfully ask to please keep our rural heritage intact.
Thanks for hearing me and I am confident the Council will make the right decision for their existing
residents. Please forward to anyone I may have inadvertently overlooked.
Regards,
John Rinehimer
3042 S Stonington Ave
Eagle, ID 83616
(208) 867-2294