HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-01-04 George and Pam Hoxsey
Charlene Way
From:George Hoxsey <gphoxsey@yahoo.com>
Sent:Monday, January 3, 2022 10:39 PM
To:City Clerk
Subject:Proposed Centerville Sub Testimony
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
Mayor Simison & Members of the Meridian City Council,
I am writing to you today to oppose the proposed Centerville development on the corner of Amity Rd & Hillsdale Ave.
I am not anit-development, anti-growth, or anti-change, but feel very strongly that this is not the right time to approve
further development in the South Meridian area until such time that critical infrastructure needs are at least planned, if not
in place. This includes road improvements, reduction of emergency response times in the area, and most importantly,
and the most challenging to resolve, available public school capacity to educate the children of South Meridian.
With regards to roadway improvements & traffic, the initial application for the proposed Centerville Subdivision was
completed based on Amity Road traffic count data from 2018. Due to COVID, updated traffic counts were not completed,
and rather an estimate was made with regards to the impact of the ongoing growth in the area relative to increases in
traffic. As has been previously testified to, it is my opinion, and the opinion of many others in the immediate
neighborhood, that these traffic growth estimates greatly underestimate the actual impact the growth in the area has had,
and will continue to have, on traffic. Fully acknowledging this is an opinion (none of us are traffic engineers and COVID is
still altering traffic in a way that would make traffic predictions extremely difficult) I would submit that the people that live in
immediate area to the proposed development, and drive the roads that will be most impacted by this development, namely
Amity Road and Hillsdale Ave, are actually the most qualified residents to make this determination.
Secondly, with regard to roadway improvements & traffic, I would like to call your attention to the lack of traffic count data
for Hillsdale Ave. I am unsure how conclusions were reached about the need, or not, for dedicated left hand turn lanes
into the proposed development when heading South on Hillsdale Ave. I am particularly concerned about the entrance
closest to the Hillsdale Ave/Amity Road intersection, as I believe an entrance to the community & businesses at this
location, will cause congestion on Hillsdale Ave that will back up into the Hillsdale Ave/Amity Road intersection. Ideally,
the bulk of traffic would be kept on Amity Road in order to reduce congestion on Hillsdale Ave which serves a St Luke’s
Clinic, the YMCA, Hillsdale Elementary, Hillsdale Park, Hillsdale Creek, Century Farm, Rockhampton, as well as other
businesses and ongoing residential development in the area.
My ask with regards to roadway improvements & traffic would be that the traffic impact study be redone with the latest
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traffic counts obtained on Amity Road on Dec 8 2021 and that further steps be taken to understand the impact the
proposed development will have on traffic on Hillsdale Ave, up to and including a traffic count as well as specific analysis
of the two proposed entrances off of Hillsdale Ave. The results and recommendations of the new traffic impact studies
then need to align, from a timing & funding perspective, with the widening of Amity Road as well as be used to inform any
needed changes with regards to access to the proposed development off of Hillsdale Ave.
With regards to emergency response times, this is certainly one of the more fundamental expectations from the current
residents of South Meridian. The response times are of course somewhat tied to roadway improvements and traffic as
noted above, but also just simply impacted by proximity to a fire station as well as staffing of fire stations vs. volume of
calls. I am aware of the newly planned fire station off of Lake Hazel just West of Eagle Road but it is unclear to me if this
is fully funded and it is unclear to me whether, given the incredible amount of growth in that immediate area, including the
new large Brighton development, Pinnacle, whether the opening of this fire station will fully address the response time
issues in the area.
My ask with regards to emergency response times would be that, at a minimum the newly proposed Fire Station on Lake
Hazel, just West of Eagle Road, be fully funded with a planned completion date prior to occupancy of the first residence
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within the proposed Centerville Sub. From a bigger picture perspective, I think it is perfectly reasonable for the citizens of
Meridian to expect a plan regarding how emergency response services will be able to keep up with the growth in Meridian,
and not just maintain status quo, but reduce response times, working towards their own stated goal.
With regards to school capacity, South Meridian is in immediate need of a new Elementary, Middle, and High
School. While we might have very limited Elementary School capacity in the region at this moment, this will quickly be
filled up simply based on the planned & ongoing (already approved) building occurring in the area. We are already over
capacity from a Middle and High School perspective and it will only get worse each and every year until new capacity is
brought online. It has been mentioned that a charter school, namely Gem Prep, will be opening next fall in order to
provide some additional school capacity in the area but Gem Prep is admission by lottery, and a newly implemented
weighted lottery, does not treat all families equally. Additionally, not all families want a Gem Prep Charter School
experience for their kids, and not all kids are suited for a Gem Prep Charter School experience. For these reasons, I think
it is incorrect to say that the current school capacity constraints in South Meridian will be resolved, or even helped, in any
meaningful way, with the opening of a Gem Prep Charter School.
Given WASD policy/practice/stated way working regarding seeking bond approval for new schools (asking every 2 or 3
years based on need), the earliest we could see a school bond approved would be 2022. Given recent election results, I
think approval of such a bond is far from a guarantee, but thinking positively, if the bond were to get approved in 2022, I
think it’s realistic to expect that one new school (either Elementary, Middle, or High School) would be ready for enrollment
for the Fall of 2024. Being aggressive, and putting another bond measure on the ballot in 2024, and assuming that it is
once again approved, the next school could be ready for enrollment in the Fall of 2026. Again, being aggressive and
putting another bond measure on the ballot in 2026, and again assuming that it is once again approved, that third and final
school could be brought online and ready for enrollment by Fall of 2028.
With that most aggressive and optimistic forward looking view of addressing our school over capacity issues in South
Meridian, we are at best 6+ years away from addressing our current over capacity issues. By the time we get to 2028, at
our current growth rate, how full will those new schools be? How many more new schools will we need by 2028? I don’t
have the data to answer that question, but WASD should, and this data needs to be made available to the Mayor and City
Council so you can make the most informed decision possible.
My ask with regards to school capacity in South Meridian is that the proposed Centerville Sub is not approved until such
time that the WASD can show adequate Elementary, Middle, and High School capacity that aligns with the completion
timeline of the proposed development. Fundamentally, the question “where are all these kids going to go to school” must
be answered, with a robust plan that includes a funding source(s). This plan needs to take into account all previously
approved developments so that a complete picture of school capacity requirements is clearly understood.
Additionally, I want to offer my thoughts on a couple of comments that were made at the initial City Council meeting for
this proposed development. First, there was some concerns expressed about what a denial for this proposed
development would mean for future applicants. Does a “no” on Centerville mean a stop for development/growth in
Meridian, or maybe just in South Meridian? While I understand the question/concern, not all developments are equal and
while I certainly do not support the proposed Centerville Sub on its current timeline and as proposed, I do still support
other responsible development in Meridian in areas that are better prepared to support such development with regards to
roadways, school capacity, emergency response times, etc. I recall a recent denial for a development on the Southwest
corner of Victory and Locust Grove. I agree with this City Council decision, as it was just not the right fit for the area and
that specific piece of land but that denial did not signal an end to development in the area and I’d suggest that a denial of
the proposed Centerville Sub would also not signal an end to development/growth in the area. However, in light of where
we are as a city, specifically in South Meridian and specifically with the concerns expressed above, this is not the right
time to approve more residential development on this scale. Lastly, a recent City Council decision was made to deny a
rezoning request to increase density within part of the Brighton Pinnacle development, and again I align with and thank
you for this decision as it is not the right time to be increasing density of already approved developments.
Secondly, at the prior City Council meeting to consider this proposed development, it was made clear that there was some
level of concern regarding the time and money spent by the developer to get to this point. I would argue that
consideration for the developer’s time and money should not be of concern to the City Council. I would argue that this is a
cost of doing business. I would argue that the current investment of time and money made by the developer is not lost,
but simply their return on that investment would be delayed if the proposal is denied. I would also argue that much of the
time spent by the developer could have been saved if they had been more willing to listen to initial neighborhood feedback
provided in June of 2020. I would also argue that not every development needs to maximize the allowable density, which
seems to always be the focus. I fully understand the benefit this has for the developer, but it comes at the expense of all
the surrounding current citizens of Meridian. If thought were truly given to what is best for Meridian, and not what is best
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for the developer, the proposal for this piece of land would look quite different and it would have a delayed timeline that
aligns with critical infrastructure needs in South Meridian.
I am proud to be a resident of Meridian. I have three children currently enrolled in the WASD that will all be directly
impacted by your decision. I am not anti-development, anti-growth, or anti-change. My concerns are not rooted in
NIMBYism. I actually find it very exciting to be a part of a growing community that so many people want to be a part of. I
simply want the growth to happen in a responsible, sustainable, balanced way with a close eye being kept on whether or
not critical infrastructure is in place to support the current residents, as well as the many new residents we will be
welcoming into our community in the near future.
I respect and appreciate the effort each and every one of you have put forth to review this, and other important matters,
brought before the City Council. Once again, I ask that the proposed Centerville Sub be denied until such time that critical
community infrastructure issues such as traffic, emergency response times, and K-12 school capacity can be addressed
as detailed above.
Thank you for your time.
George & Pam Hoxsey
4184 E Rockhampton St
Meridian ID 83642
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