HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-07-16 Mark Purcell
Charlene Way
From:Mark Purcell <mnpurcell29@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, July 16, 2024 11:03 AM
To:Clerks Comment; planninginquiries; citycouncil
Subject:Please Consider the Negative Impacts from The Gateway at Ten Mile
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Meridian Planning and Zoning Commission,
I write to you as a lifelong resident of the Treasure Valley, I love my hometown and am very concerned and invested in
its long term future. Over the past few years I have become more and more discouraged by the lack of vision the
Meridian City Council and other planning groups have shown in the impacts resulting from the rapid and
unchecked growth of housing projects within the city without a subsequent increase in the required infrastructure for
the population increase. I have particular concern and have personally witnessed the strain the resulting growth has
caused on our schools and their limited resources. I understand the importance of providing affordable housing, and am
not against growth, but growth has to be coupled with a plan to proactively build the required infrastructure for such
growth (roads, emergency services and especially schools). It seems that the main concern of the city council is to
approve every housing request and appease developers in the name of economic growth in order to continue to have
their financial support for future re-election efforts. Please, consider the feedback you are receiving from your
constituents and not only your financial backers. The Gateway at Ten Mile CANNOT BE APPROVED. This will only
exacerbate existing infrastructure problems (traffic, overcrowded schools, overcrowded parks) and ultimately decrease
the quality of living for all citizens. Please, find ways to proactively plan for future growth by building schools, roads and
other infrastructure to handle this growth before it occurs.
I can tell you that my own children are facing the impacts from an overcrowded elementary school, their classrooms are
overflowing, I have spoken directly to staff and teachers at the school who are already struggling to maintain a quality
educational environment and are extremely concerned with the continued growth in the area with no plan for
additional schools in the area.
Despite my love for my hometown, I can tell you that this growth is adversely impacting our quality of life. I know we
are not alone in this opinion because I hear similar concerns from our friends and family in the area. I cannot honestly
recommend the area to others anymore knowing that this continued growth is going to make school overcrowding
worse, it will make traffic worse, and the areas and parks where I grew up are so overcrowded we can no longer enjoy
them.
I think the most disappointing part of this for me is that the Meridian City Council members seem to value the profits for
developers more than the quality of life for its own constituents and citizens. How did we get here? I am losing faith in
our politicians, I am losing faith that they care about anything other than being re-elected.
Please do NOT APPROVE The Gateway at Ten Mile until adequate plans for parks, traffic, and new schools are
established to accommodate the increased capacity. Our existing schools cannot sustain the burden imposed by the
current pace of development. You represent the citizens of Meridian, not the developers and not Trevor Gasser.
Please help.
Thank you.
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Mark Purcell
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