HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter from Jim Flecker
RECEIVED
JUN ..'.6 200(1:
Main Points for Meridian Ci Council
(06/06/06) .
Jim Flecker
538 S. Thomwood Way
Meridian, ID 83642
208-888.2466
City of Meridian
City Clerk Office
1. Woodbridge residents are mainly concerned with the traffic that will be
going through the aNL Y route to Locust Grove (a residential neighborhood)
- Woodbridge happens to be a nice little shortcut between Eagle &
Locust Grove
- The Locust Grove Overpass is not open yet
- When it does we will turn this neighborhood road into a maj or
artery right through Woodbridge
- That creates a major safety concern (kids playing)
- Conger had a traffic study done and ACHD approved it
. The conclusion was most cars will want to use
Eagle
- Problem. They met with ACHD a couple days before
the P&Z meeting and we were not notified
(I had previously met with ACHD on this issue
and am quite disturbed about a "private" meeting)
. I have my own conclusion
. I maintain that the study is invalid. Because:
. Their conclusions are based on NOW not what is sure to be!
- For example: Most people may want to use Eagle
but not when all they see is stopped taillights
(electricity and traffic will always take the path of
least resistance)
. Many will head for Locust Grove & when the overpass
is opened can you imagine what that will do?
- Point is: Maybe there are some factors we don't
know about but we had no opportunity to challenge the
study. And P&Z and here is not the forum to do so.
- Just plain common sense tells us that office traffic patterns would be
far more desirable than residential
- During peak times office is coming while residents are going
. Night and weekend traffic would be much less
2. It needs to be pointed out that we didn't just say no to Conger's plan
- In fact we tried quite hard to fmd an acceptable solution
- I personally met wi ACHD, lID, City Planners, etc.
- One thing became very clear - There is no traffic solution
(earlier actions could have done it but it's too late now)!
- The biggest problem is that this development is too dense
because of the traffic (Woodbridge has 279 residences on 80
acres this would put 100 more 11 acres - a huge increase)
- 5 per acre might be reasonable but not 9
3. The Treasure Valley in general has a sloppy growth history
- They make good plans but change them at every whim
- Eagle Road traffic is a great example
- It was supposed to be limited access but look what
happened?
a) Allowed many changes to the plan and now we have
an "unfixable problem"
b) Eagle 184 to Franklin is now the busiest section in
the state of Idaho
4. I ask you; Are we now going to do this kind of thing again?
. We have a good comprehensive plan that the Woodbridge residents
are happy with
- Many bought knowing that offices were going to be there
(not residential) and that was important to them.
- Now you want to change the plan and put in high density (almost 9
per acre while Woodbridge is 3.5 per acre)
- And there are no parks or open spaces so I guess they are expected
to use Woodbridge's facilities?
~ This all begs a question: "If it ain't broke why are we fixing it"?
- Having said all that, I would like to say this:
- I feel Conger did, and will do, a good job
. They have done most things right
(Dave & Scott always available and meetings with Woodbridge)
- It's still too dense but, if it has to be, Conger is a good choice
- I also have empathy for the owners - they are literally being forced
off their property because of taxes!
NOW let's consider the future:
- How about the "domino effect"? There are several more partials yet to be
developed.
- Are we to expect more comp plan changes?
. Once more at the whim of the next developer?
- NickellDime a little at a time. Each sounds ok but in the
end we get an unflXable mess (Remember Eagle Road).
- Keep in mind that the current Comp Plan is a good one and
Woodbridge residents like it.
- I'm disgusted too with the almost cart blanc approval of developments
(especially with Ada County Commissioners) . Also with the high property
taxes we now enjoy.)
~ I'm not alone, the primary election removed one Commissioner and the
other 2 better be looking over their shoUlder!
- So should all of our local leaders.
- Impact fees need to be hugely increased. The land costs have gone
out of sight. Large impact fees can easily be absorbed. I think we
should not worry about sellers who can only make 400 instead of 500
per cent profit!
- Property taxes are beyond ridiculous but I think we all already know
that!
Thank you for listening, I will take any questions.