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Home My WebLink About2020-06-23 Nick Eller Charlene Way From:Chris Johnson Sent:Wednesday, June 24, 2020 8:23 AM To:Charlene Way Subject:Fwd: Tanner Creek Subdivision CUP, MDA, PP, RZ H-2020-0024 Begin forwarded message: From: Robert Simison <rsimison@meridiancity.org> Date: June 24, 2020 at 8:17:37 AM MDT To: Nick Eller <eller.nick@gmail.com> Cc: Chris Johnson <cjohnson@meridiancity.org> Subject: RE: Tanner Creek Subdivision CUP, MDA, PP, RZ H-2020-0024 Mr. Eller, Per the conversation last evening, your email will be included in the public record for the hearing. Mayor Robert Simison City of Meridian 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: Nick Eller <eller.nick@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2020 8:17 AM To: Robert Simison <rsimison@meridiancity.org>; Liz Strader <lstrader@meridiancity.org>; Joe Borton <jborton@meridiancity.org>; Brad Hoaglun <bhoaglun@meridiancity.org>; Treg Bernt <tbernt@meridiancity.org>; Jessica Perreault <jperreault@meridiancity.org>; Luke Cavener <lcavener@meridiancity.org>; Nick Eller <eller.nicK@gmail.com> Subject: Tanner Creek Subdivision CUP, MDA, PP, RZ H-2020-0024 To the Meridian City Council, My name is Nick Eller, and I live at 851 W Honker Dr. in Meridian. I'm writing to you ahead of tonight's City Council hearing for the Tanner Creek Subdivision CUP, MDA, PP, RZ H-2020-0024 application. This application was denied in 2019 by the City Council for various reasons. One , was because the City was in the middle of updating its Comprehensive Plan and felt it was beneficial to wait and see how it may change the future for this development and area. This area is, and always has been designated for Mixed Use. . . something that this development is NOT. 1 The City of Meridian KNOWS how important this area could be to the City as a whole. The intrinsic value of this area is worth more than the land, taxes, and permit fees at face value. We could have something great here but the creativity and consideration for what Meridian stands for, is lost. There are a lot of changes coming to this area, and oftentimes it is tough to comprehend, but the one thing that the City has always valued and strived for is: Community, Safety, and Thriving Businesses. When you look at this development, do you see these values? The last thing Meridian needs is another high density housing and apartment development . . . We need more good paying jobs and services in this area of Meridian. By approving this application, we could be stuck between a “rock and a hard place” and get this development, but close the door on the commercial development on the corner because we can’t handle the traffic. I have testified “for” or “against” on other developments and have shared the idea that the answer isn’t always “make the roads wider and we will solve all of our traffic problems” . . . the answer is to bring services closer to the residents so travel times and distances are greatly reduced. With the connection to Ruddy Dr. to Waltman Ln. it will connect nearly 700 existing homes in the Mallard Landing and Blue Horizon subdivision, along with this 400 unit development, that’s nearly 1,100 homes that will now be driving down a 2 lane, underdeveloped road. Let’s remember that the developer is only planning on improving his portion in front of his property. Waltman Ln. is just one step above from an alleyway. There is also a large newer apartment complex to the north that will also be able to connect to Waltman Ln. . . . bypassing the light at Corporate Dr . . . and lastly, the most impactful, yet most important to the City of Meridian, the proposed commercial development right on the corner of Waltman and Meridian Rd. Currently Hawkins Development is planning for a mixed-use \\ retail \\ office development which could add another tens of thousands of trips per day to Meridian Rd. & Waltman Ln. intersection. Are you as a member of the City of Meridian City Council willing to risk having to put the much-needed services on hold (Commercial Development on the Corner), create another traffic nightmare, and shy away from the Comprehensive Plan, just so we can have more apartments? The decision you make tonight WILL change how people travel through Meridian, the decision you make tonight may even save someone's life. If you are leaning towards approving this application, we ask that you make the connection to Ruddy Dr. a, “Emergency Access” only for now. I understand that the City believes in interconnectivity, but sometimes interconnectivity can also have dire consequences. In the future, we could consider making the connection to Ruddy Dr. for ALL traffic once the commercial development from Hawkins is complete, which is anticipated to widen Waltman Ln. and add sidewalks and bike lanes. This would also allow ACHD to fully understand the impact of ALL connected developments, not just this application. The developer has also previously stated that this development was intended to bring “affordable housing” to Meridian. Historically, low-end apartment complexes situated next to the freeway tend to create “slums”\\run-down neighborhoods, resulting in more crime, vandalism, theft, etc. That is definitely NOT what we want at the “gateway to the City”. I have also not seen where the developer has provided the CC&Rs or HOA to prevent this development from “falling apart” over time. There has been increased graffiti activities in this area since the new apartments were built to the north off Corporate Dr. I want you to ask yourself, what does this development add to the City’s values in terms of Community or Public Safety? Is this the development we want to represent us at the most influential entrance to the downtown Meridian corridor? Please do not let the City of Meridian be known for its poor planning and traffic problems . . . we have a chance to do this right. By doing this right, the City can be better situated to achieve its goal to be “the West’s premier community in which to live, work and raise a family.” 2 We ask that you please deny this application and wait until additional improvements are made, again, at the Meridian Rd. & Waltman Ln. intersection and ALL of the Waltman Ln. improvements including but not limited to sidewalks, bike lanes, etc. before any type of high density residential development is even considered for this area. Stick with the Comprehensive Plan! Once again, if you feel that you must Approve this application, please make Ruddy Dr. an "Emergency Access Only" for now until all road improvements are made, commercial development complete, and new ACHD traffic study is completed. We would all rather have some type of residential development in our backyards than a commercial development, don't get us wrong. 3 Sincerely, Nick Eller 4 To help protect your privacy, Virus-free. www.avast.com Microsoft Office prevented 5