HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-11-14 Greg Whipple
Charlene Way
From:Greg Whipple <gregwhip23@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, November 14, 2022 10:50 AM
To:Clerks Comment
Subject:Reject the Bridgetower Multi-Family CUP CR-2022-0006 application
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
Hello,
My name is Greg Whipple, and I recently moved from the Paramount subdivision in Meridian to Bridgetower West in
June of this year. We have loved Meridian, and lived down the street from Prelude apartments in Paramount while they
were being built. We think that apartments and affordable housing are great things when executed correctly. This
development, at this time, would be a very poor decision for the City of Meridian due to the following reasons:
1. Traffic & road safety concerns
2. Already overcrowded schools in the area
3. This is not affordable housing
Let me begin by reiterating that I believe apartments and affordable housing are great things when executed correctly.
Alpha Development Corp is trying to argue that residents are just against apartments. As mentioned, I lived in
Paramount when the Prelude apartments were built, and that was executed greatly. I am not against apartments, I'm
against apartments that are poorly planned, reliant on data from several years ago, and begin their cost at over $2000
for a one bedroom apartment.
When looking at the traffic & road safety concerns, Ten Mile has become disastrously overcrowded. The Mayor & City
Council need to only look at the tragic fatal accident of a young high schooler walking his bike across the crosswalk on
his way to Meridian High School only to be hit and killed. Does the Mayor & City Council think that adding 375 cars (250
units x 1.5 cars per unit) to Ten Mile is going to decrease the safety concerns on Ten Mile? Further, when the Planning
and Zoning Commission denied this project, one of the key reasons was because they were given traffic data from 2017.
Since 2017, Ada County and the City of Meridian have consistently been the fastest growing areas in the country. Due to
this, the traffic data from even five years ago could not be more inaccurate in depicting what actually is happening on
the surrounding roads (Ten Mile & McMillan). If McMillan was 4 lanes with a turn signal and a bike lane in this area like
Ustick is or like Ten Mile is, then this would be a great idea. It isn't though. These apartments would lead to extended
delays at stoplights, but, more importantly, safety concerns. With the current boundaries, parents have to bring their
children across McMillan to attend Pleasant View Elementary. This is dangerous as it is right now, let alone after you add
375 cars. In addition, high school students are currently driving from as far away as Settlers Park to attend Owyhee High
School. Adding this amount of cars to an already exacerbated problem given Meridian's growth would lead to even
greater safety concerns with the amount of accidents sure to increase. These apartments need to be deprioritized so
that the correct infrastructure needs can be addressed prior to adding more people.
I have a 7 year old 1st grader at Pleasant View Elementary School. His current class size is 29. That's 29 for his one
individual first grade class. There are four 1st grade classes at Pleasant View. West Ada School District has acknowledged
and sent memos to the Mayor & City Council that Pleasant View Elementary School is operating over capacity. This
problem is not as simple as re-districting or changing boundaries because all of the schools in Meridian are
overcrowded. All of the schools in Meridian are understaffed. In my opinion, there shouldn't be a single new
development approved until the school situation is discussed at a City Council meeting. Why are we not having
discussions about adding the 2-3 new elementary schools and 1-2 new middle schools that are needed in the City of
Meridian? There is already four new subdivisions that either need completing or haven't started that would all feed
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more children to Pleasant View Elementary. The last thing that is needed is adding a large apartment complex to the
continued, out of control problem that is already taking place in our schools.
Lastly, Alpha Development Corp is pushing the agenda that the City of Meridian needs more affordable housing. That is
absolutely true. The City does need more affordable housing. The problem is that this complex is not affordable housing.
The starting rent for the smallest option on their plans is $2000 per month. That is higher than most people in the City of
Meridian pay for their mortgages. The majority of the units - the townhomes, the multiple bedroom apartments, etc. -
will have rent prices exceeding $2500-$3000 per month. In order to afford that, an individual would need to make
$72,000 in take home pay, after taxes and social security, in order to only pay 50% of their income towards their
housing. Does that sound like affordable housing to the Mayor & City Council?
As I've stated several times, I'm all for apartments. I started my family while living in apartments in Ogden, UT. I started
my career living in a townhome in Meridian closer to Settlers Park nine years ago. I needed affordable housing in order
to get to where I am today. These apartments aren't what is needed to give people the jump start they need. These
apartments are not what is needed at this point in time. Once the infrastructure for roads is in place, and the
overcrowded schools are taken care of then let's talk about this. I'll show up to the ribbon cutting and groundbreaking
ceremony to do it myself! For right now, the Mayor & City Council need to agree with the Planning and Zoning
Commission, and deny this application.
Thank you for your consideration.
Greg Whipple
Concerned Resident
4021 W Milano St.
Meridian, ID 83646
208-440-9515
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