HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-09-26 Mike and Malissa Bernard
Charlene Way
From:Mike and Malissa Bernard <MMBERNARD1@msn.com>
Sent:Tuesday, September 26, 2023 12:19 PM
To:Clerks Comment
Subject:For attachment to the Windrow Sub Public Comments
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
Dear Mayor Simison and the City of Meridian City Council,
In reference to the Windrow project, the ACHD Master Street Map is showing a future mid-mile collector, tenta?vely in
light blue, design to be determined. Here you have a design, and I think we should tap the brakes a bit. I would strongly
recommend in the future with this and other plats before the City that we ask developers and Planning (both ACHD and
Ci?es) to go that extra mile and design internal collector-type roads into every plat, especially ones such as this that
occupies a large por?on of City annexed space. This is necessary as we grow to mi?gate conflicts, especially regarding
the traffic before us as the City grows. There was plenty of ?me and opportunity in this plat, as well as the many plats
before you, to think of the issues that will come to pass.
For example, when Brundage Subdivision to the north and others finally get underway and therefore connect to this
project, the traffic will follow the path of least resistance internally, and this forces a lot of traffic upon local roads
designed to LOCAL ROAD specifici?es within ACHD Technical Specifica?ons, and without the intended Collector System
developed at this ?me traffic will find a way, as it is ACHD’s wish to connect in such a way to relieve the arterial roads. If
we are to relieve the arterial roads of traffic, then we need to approach our square miles appropriately via design
internally and not just be endless and inappropriate strings of local roads to local street specs.
With this sort of acreage and 252 units, a traffic load from this project alone (2000 trips) and the traffic connec?ng to
other neighborhoods in the future may cause Windrow roads to far exceed the 2000 max trips associated with a local
road maximum design capacity, and that would deem the road a failure as designed.
I would strongly recommend that this prac?ce of local roads built to local road specs only on a huge acreage to be a
thing of the past, as it is a flagrant failure that we see in many of our exis?ng roads throughout the Valley as it stands. It
is irresponsible to con?nue to do so, and it will only create frustra?on, areas of conflict and concern, increased incidents
of speeding and cut-through.
I can cite failures. The Woodbridge neighborhood carrying collector traffic via local roads designed at technical local
road specs yet ac?ng as a collector in every way with front facing full-on housing. Same with Alpine Pointe, Champion
Park, Se?lers Bridge, the infamous issues of the Lost Rapids area near Costco and parks, Gondola Dr., Tuscany’s choppy
carriage of traffic to mid-mile points and quarter-mile points with front-on housing, Whitebark Sub to Sky Mesa’s
heavier traffic on roads with full front-facing housing, and the very same with a lot of subdivisions throughout Meridian.
Though not deemed full-bird MSM approved COLLECTOR ROADS in larger subdivisions we should plan according and
have some roads carry the traffic appropriately at the quarter mile marks along the square block, with appropriate street
widths, no parking on the sides of the road, proper buffers, and no front-on housing to reduce conflicts, and I am sure
our emergency services, fire departments, law enforcement, school busses, waste management, and delivery services
would appreciate be?er internal traffic control and safer, efficient internal road designs.
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The sugges?on illustra?on of traffic pa?ern below would break up the block faces of long streets as well but would
require a second bridge. A rejig of some of the homes’ placement to collector specifica?ons (no front on housing) is a
safer and more efficient neighborhood.
Generally, I would also suggest a clean up in Code. Lastly, incorporate a strong development agreement with this and
any other applica?on before you, and a permit evalua?on and approval process with appropriate checks and balances.
Thank you,
Malissa Bernard
4025 N Dashwood Pl
Meridian ID 83646
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