HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-05-05 Kenzie Ward
Charlene Way
From:Kenzie Ward <kenzie.m.ward@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, May 04, 2020 5:00 PM
To:City Clerk; Sonya Allen
Subject:File number: H-2020-0012
Dear City of Meridian Planning and Zoning Department,
As immediate neighbors to the proposed Cedarbrook Subdivision application, the residents of Rock Ranch
Estates would like to share our concerns regarding several aspects of this application. While we appreciate
that Toll Brothers has held neighborhood meetings, we feel our concerns have not been properly met and
would like to see changes made to the proposed plan to more appropriately align with the objectives and
actions in the Comprehensive Plan.
Buffer & Transition
First and foremost, as stated on pg 3-10 in the Evolving Community section of the Comp Plan, “Developments
need to respect agricultural heritage and resources, recognize view sheds and open spaces, and maintain or
improve the overall atmosphere of the area.” Our area of southwest Meridian is beautiful and rural with wide-
open spaces and an amazing view shed of the Boise Range, composed of residents who love their space and
privacy. This application respects none of the above, and definitely does not maintain or improve the overall
atmosphere of this area or protect our rural neighborhood identity, as described in Action 5.01.02E, “Support
and protect the identity of existing residential neighborhoods.”
The proposed application also fails to address Action 3.07.01A, “Require all new development to create a site
design compatible with surrounding uses through buffering, screening, transitional densities, and other
best site design practices.” We have asked Toll Brothers for proper transition and buffers at every
neighborhood meeting, however this plan still lacks either. This plan has no buffer, landscaping or trees
between our property lines and the proposed project’s vinyl fence. We ask that the plat be amended to provide
an adequate buffer by including a minimum 5 foot berm planted with trees and shrubs between our properties
and the fence line to hide rooflines and minimize the impact on our view shed. The proposed fence should be
built on the bottom of the Cedarbrook side of the berm with zero rear access from any new property in order to
respect our privacy, one of the many reasons why we choose to raise our families in the country.
This application is also the perfect scenario to implement the proposed 1 acre lot transition between dense
new developments and our existing rural 5-10 acre properties that was almost adopted into the Comp Plan.
Although we appreciate the larger lots bordering our properties, the proposed ⅓ acre lots are not enough. At a
very minimum, we would like to see all lots neighboring the existing properties to be a minimum of ½-1 acre to
help decrease the disturbance to our rural lifestyles, as well as minimize the inevitable negative impact on our
current property values if this application is approved.
We’d also like to see setbacks along Linder road be wide enough that when Linder is expanded in the future to
support increased traffic, that there will still be enough green space and landscaping to keep the rural feel of
this area. If properly planned with that in mind, the impact to the landscaping will be minimized in the future.
Infrastructure
As stated in the Comp Plan section 3-3, “Meridian aims to guide growth in a way that efficiently expands
infrastructure and services to support sustainable growth patterns. Targeting the right development and
growing responsibly - in the right locations with the right services - is the foundation of the Evolving
Community Vision.”
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One of the many reasons we feel this application is not exhibiting responsible growth is noted in the initial pre-
application meeting on 1/16 which states, “Sewer will require significant infrastructure to be built...re: temp lift
station...May not be able to recommend approval of this project due to serviceability reasons (timing
and location of site).” This proposal for annexation is on the fringe of Meridian’s AOCI and will require miles
of infrastructure to be built and maintained in order to provide sewer services, which is absolutely not an
efficient way to expand the City’s infrastructure.
According to page 7 of the application, the number of homes already approved/pending approval in this
immediate area is 1053. If each family has a minimum of 2 cars, that’s already over 2100 cars, which does not
include the 330 families/660 cars that approval of this application would add. These 2 lane, 4-way stop country
roads are absolutely inadequate to service the 3,334 trips generated by adding this development alone
(ACHD’s Draft Report), especially when this section of Linder is not planned for improvements until 2031-
2035!
In addition to traffic concerns, schools in this area are struggling to find capacity for the children who are
already here. In these economically uncertain times, funding for new schools is very likely to be postponed,
increasing the imminent overcrowding due to the lack of schools and rapid growth rate. All of these negative
impacts of growth on traffic, schools, parks, neighborhood identities, etc. will be exacerbated with adding yet
another subdivision. These effects need to be thoughtfully considered prior to approving any more growth in
this area (3.01.01A).
Outward progression of growth absolutely needs to be minimized by “discouraging fringe area development”
(4.05.03B). This application for annexation is the epitome of sprawling into the country when there are many
areas that are better suited for this type of development closer to city limits that would place less of a financial
burden on the City to provide quality services. Therefore, we feel this is not the right time or the right place to
be annexing 330 more houses on the outskirts of urban development.
As concerned neighboring residents, we feel this application should NOT be approved as presented as it goes
against so many of the objectives and actions in the Comp Plan, as only a few examples were outlined above.
As always, we appreciate your dedication to our City that we love, and all of the time you invest in keeping
Meridian a place in which we are proud to live. When reviewing this application, we ask you to carefully
consider: is this development in the best of our City and our neighborhood?
We thank you for your time and consideration of our concerns and look forward to hearing your
recommendations on this application.
Sincerely,
Scott & Kenzie Ward
Rock Ranch Estates
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