HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-05-28 Julie Langlois
Chris Johnson
From:Julie Langlois <julie@rustler.farm>
Sent:Friday, May 28, 2021 6:40 AM
To:Treg Bernt; Joe Borton; Liz Strader; Luke Cavener; Jessica Perreault; Brad Hoaglun
Cc:City Clerk
Subject:Letter to City Council re UDC Open Space & Amenities
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Meridian City Council:
I had the honor of being on the Meridian Open Space and Amenities Workgroup and while I believe the new draft
is truly an improvement, I would like to communicate my concerns.
1. The workgroup was heavily weighted towards developers.
The development community was represented by Brighton, Devco, The Land Group and Engineering
Solutions. Residents (with no city affiliations) were represented by myself and Sally Reynolds. As a result, I believe
that the final draft of UDC changes favors developers over what the residents have overwhelming communicated in
the Comprehensive Plan. As an advocate for residents, my voice was drowned out and little to none of the points I
brought up made it to the final draft. Situations such as this do not engender participation by residents.
In September of 2018 Caleb told the Idaho Press that, “...after the new comprehensive plan is completed, city
officials hope to begin working with residents to discuss aspects of the UDC that might need to be changed.”
If by “residents” he meant two, then that is technically correct, but clearly not what was implied by the statement.
In December 2019 in the final hearing for the Comp Plan Councilman Borton stated, “…the intention isn’t for us to
draw a map and color things, it’s to try and be quiet and see what the community tells us.”
UDC changes with long term impact should be scrutinized by a workgroup weighted towards citizens, not by those
who stand to make a profit from them.
2. Stakeholders have made it clear that they want more open space and quality in developments; as a city we
should demand both of developers.
The sliding scale rations open space by a resident's property dimensions. If someone lives in R-2 zoning then their
minimum open space requirement will be 10%. This ignores Meridian’s greater overall vision for its future. The
Comp Plan states as directives:
To preserve, protect, and provide open space for recreation, conservation, and aesthetics. (4.05.01F)
Support beautiful and high quality development that reinforces neighborhood character and sustainability.
(5.01.02)
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Preserve prime farmland within the Area of City Impact to maintain rural character and provide
opportunities for local produce and continued farming operations. (4.05.03)
Evaluate development proposals based on consistency with the vision as well as physical, social, economic,
environmental and aesthetic criteria. (3.01.01D)
Open space should be determined by its ability to enhance the overall city, increase its livability and add to or
retain the aesthetic beauty of Meridian, not rationed out by lot sizes.
And again in December 2019 in the final hearing for the Comp Plan Councilman Borton stated, “I can say to the
public in particular that I think we hear you. I know I hear you. And some of the overriding principles which were
louder now than ever before, is the concept of acknowledging, recognizing and in protecting rural heritage and
agricultural principles.”
From 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. (3-10)
More emphasis needs to be placed on the ecological value of retained open spaces and should not only be limited
to social/human spaces. Open spaces have ecological value such as cooling the air, wildlife habitat, wildlife
corridors, wetlands, cleaning the air, carbon sequestration, etc. An ecologically valuable space may not even be
accessible to humans.
How do the proposed UDC changes “strengthen Meridian’s historic and community character” or emphasize
environmental stewardship and the importance of parks and open spaces?
Developers met privately with Planning to make their voices heard on these changes to the UDC, why not extend
the same privilege to a group of residents concerned with Meridian's future?
I respectfully urge you to hear the continued requests by residents to retain and protect the inherent value of
Meridian's unique and beautiful open spaces. Our code needs to be written for the city we want 30 to 50 years
from now. Please do not be in a rush to sign off on a code that does not fully embrace the great city of Meridian’s
vision of the future.
Julie Langlois
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