HomeMy WebLinkAboutRex & Marla Young LetterMeridian City Council
City of Meridian
RE: Proposed Tuscany Lakes Subdivision
Dear Mayor and Council Members:
June 1, 2002
RECEIVED
JUN - ffi
.Of Meridian
Clerk Office
Our name is Rex & Maria Young, 2950 E. Victory Road, Meridian, Idaho. We have
lived on our property for over 31 years. To the North of our property, Thousand
Springs, Thousand Springs Village, and Woodhaven Subdivisions have been developed.
Now we are again considering Tuscany Lakes Subdivision. Our property is located
across the road (North) from the proposed subdivision and the exit onto Victory Road is
across from our driveway where our mailbox is currently located.
We have few objections to the proposed development but are very concerned about the
exit from the subdivision onto Victory Road. The proposed exit is across from our East
boundary, and when our privacy shrubs are removed sometime in the future (for widening
Victory Road), the vehicle lights of those making a left turn onto Victory Road will flash
onto our front windows. (Copies of Photos attached) Vehicles making a right turn, will
flash their lights onto the front windows of Jim and Mary Allen who live to the East of
us. This will not only be very annoying but also will adversely impact our quality of life.
To remedy this problem for us, we are suggesting that the exit road be moved to the West
to align with Brandys Jewel which is the exit road from Thousand Springs Subdivision.
This recommendation is the same that was submitted over one year ago when this
subdivision was considered. Attached is a copy of an ACHD letter dated June 1, 2001,
addressed to Steve Siddoway addressing that proposal. In their letter they indicate the
alignment with Brandys Jewel is acceptable.
To improve the safety of that intersection, shaving the top of the hill slightly would
greatly improve line of sight and is something that should have been done before the
intersection was installed. In ACHD's letter, they say the grade cannot be reduced in
that location because of a high pressure gas line that cannot be relocated. In mid April,
met with a Intermountain Gas Company Western Region Engineering Department
representative and discussed this issue. Their comment was "If ACHD approves road
change, then all utilities will adjust utility depths in accordance with approved plans."
In the ACHD letter they indicate "In no case would I allow a school crossing at the
Thousand Springs access location, it would need to be at the crest of the hill, at the
currently proposed intersection or at Eagle." Currently the crest of the hill is about 30-40
feet East of the East sidewalk at Brandys Jewel. If the hill is shaved slightly that would
make the crossing at the actual intersection.
This same proposal was presented to ACHD at their hearing for Tuscany Lakes in early
May. While they were sympathetic to our situation, they believed that the presently
proposed location was safer than the alignment with Brandys Jewel; however they did not
even consider making improvements by shaving the hill to improve line of sight. We
agree, the Brandys Jewel intersection as now constructed is not a safe intersection. At the
time it was approved by ACHD, they should have required that the hill to the East be
shaved offto improve line of sight and safety of the intersection. Now is a prime
opportunity to fix the existing problem.
We recommend the following:
1) The North exit from the subdivision be moved to the West and aligned with Brandys
Jewel which is the South exit from Thousand Springs Subdivision.
2) The crest of the hill be shaved off to improve line of sight and safety for that
intersection.
3) A school crossing be included at that same location.
4) A traffic light be installed to improve safety of school children, other pedestrians, and
vehicular traffic at that location.
Thanks for your consideration.
2950 E. Victory Rd
Meridian, ID 83642
Meridian, ID 83642
Ada County Highway District
Judy Peavey. Derr, President
Dave Bivens, 1st Vice President
Sherry R. Huber, 2nd Vice President
Susan S. Eastlake, Commissioner
David E. Wynkoop, Commissioner
318 East 37th Street
Garden City ID 83714-6499
Phone (208) 387-6100
FAX (208) 387-6391
E-mail: tellus{~ACHD.ada.id, us
June 1,2001
Steve Siddoway
City of Meddian
660 E. Watertower Lane, Suite 202
Meridian, ID 83642
Re: Tuscany Lakes Subdivision
Dear Steve,
On April 11,2001, I provided you with a letter stating that the proposed location of Tuscany Way, off
of Victory Road, conforms to ACriD policy. I also included in that letter that Joe Rosenlund, an
ACriD traffic engineer determined that to be the best location.
Kent Brown approached me again with concerns from the Planning & Zoning Commission. Last
week I met with Mr. Rosenlund, Mr. Brown, and a resident who lives on the north side of Victory
Road who has concerns about vehicle lights shining on to his home.
It has come to my attention that a suggestion has been made to re-align Tuscany Way with the
main entrance to Thousand Springs Subdivision. According to Mr. Rosenlund, that intersection
grade "barely" meets our standards, but that the grade cannot be reduced in that location because
of a high pressure gas line that cannot be relocated.
Mr. Rosenlund again went out and evaluated the site distance problems that currently exist on
Victory Road and offered the following comments:
· I would rather have the street intersect Victory where it is presently proposed.
The alignment with the Thousand Springs access is acceptable but marginal.
· In no case would I allow a school crossing at the Thousand Spring access location, it would
need to be at the crest of the hill, at the currently proposed intersection or at Eagle.
· Should the City of Meddian require the applicant to align Tuscany Way with the Thousand
Springs entrance, this item will have to be re-heard by the ACHD Commission for review and
approval.
Should you have any questions or comments, please contact me at 387-6170. If I am not available,
please call Joe Rosenlund at 387-6140.
Sincerely,
Christy Richardson
Principal Development Analyst
cc:
Project file
Kent Brown, Briggs Engineering