HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-09-26 Natalie Purcell
Charlene Way
From:Brian Whitlock
Sent:Tuesday, September 24, 2024 2:14 PM
To:Natalie Purcell
Cc:City Clerk
Subject:Re: Say No to more High Density housing
Natalie -
Thank you for your email and sharing your concerns.
I am forwarding your comments to the City Clerk to include them as part of the public record. As you may
know, once an application has been submitted to the City, we are precluded from having private
conversations or commenting on the matter until it is before the full Council.
Thank you again for your input.
Sincerely,
Brian Whitlock, District 1
Meridian City Council
From: Natalie Purcell <nataliewixom@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2024 9:43 AM
To: Brian Whitlock; Liz Strader; Doug Taylor; John Overton; Luke Cavener; Anne Little Roberts
Subject: Say No to more High Density housing
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
This is what you are turning our city into.
Say no to more high density housing
Thanks,
1
Charlene Way
From:Liz Strader
Sent:Thursday, September 26, 2024 6:36 PM
To:Natalie Purcell; City Clerk; Luke Cavener
Subject:Re: Put Meridian First
Dear Natalie,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts regarding the recent approval of The District at Ten Mile. I understand
your concerns about the impact of this development on our community. I would like to further explain my
comments on Tuesday.
It's important to note that this property was already annexed and zoned for development. In my opinion, if
the project hadn’t been approved, it’s likely that other developments would have simply proceeded in a
piecemeal fashion, potentially limiting our ability to address broader issues. My fear would have been
development that did not include a comprehensive approach to achieving the arterial roadways'
completion. The best opportunity for meaningful change in alignment with our Ten Mile area plan was during
the annexation process. I have shared some frustration, that the City Council has not as a body
prioritized updating the Ten Mile plan. However, I have to respect my colleagues recent past decisions on that
and determined on Tuesday that it would not be appropriate to hold this particular developer to a strict
adherance to the plan, when we just approved developments that deviate from that plan recently.
The extension of Highway 16 is underway, which should help alleviate traffic in the area. Additionally, we will
have a chance to review the residential component of this development as it progresses, and I have a strong
view that it’s preferable to locate such developments near the interstate rather than dispersed throughout the
city.
Please know that I do not accept financial contributions for my campaign from developers. My goal is to make
informed decisions that benefit our community and support local jobs and economic growth in this corridor.
I appreciate your engagement and will continue to advocate for the best interests of Meridian residents.
While I know that this response is not the one you are looking for, I wanted to express my appreciation for
your involvement in the process.
Liz
Liz Strader | City Councilwoman
City of Meridian | City Council Office
33 E. Broadway Ave., Meridian, Idaho 83642
Phone: | 208-546-9501
City Council District Information Link
1
From: Natalie Purcell <nataliewixom@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2024 3:18:55 PM
To: Brian Whitlock; Liz Strader; Doug Taylor; John Overton; Anne Little Roberts; Clerks Comment
Cc: Karla Ehlers; Luke Cavener
Subject: Put Meridian First
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
This past Tuesday, we witnessed how the needs of developers have taken precedence over the well-being of Meridian’s
residents. There were 21 emails sent, along with multiple in person citizens expressing their concerns about the impact
this development would have on their lives. And not one concern was answered. Concerns that they have about their
city. We couldn’t offer one answer to the main concerns to those directly impacted.
The developer spent over eight hours bulldozing through their wants and complaining about the challenges of
bureaucracy, claiming it’s “really hard to work with certain departments” and refusing to comply with a full traffic study
because they fear unfavorable results. In contrast, the citizens of Meridian had a combined mere 15 minutes to voice
their concerns, which the city council did not respond to.
A clear solution was available: waiting for a proper traffic report or for the completion of Highway 16 to alleviate
pressure on Ten Mile. Instead, we were left with vague hopes that traffic might someday improve with future projects.
As Councilman Doug Taylor stated, there has not been a comprehensive impact overview of the area. Each project has
been evaluated in isolation rather than as part of a larger picture, leaving us without an understanding of the
consequences for our schools, roads, and parks.
"Will this work" was the question of the night and it was answered with wishful hopes, no clear evidence or answers
that what is done is not going to severely and negatively impact this area of town.
We needed to know the impact that is going to have on our parks, our schools, and our rated F roadways before we
allow even more to be built up. We owed that to our city. To prioritize and safeguard our city. Not the prioritizing of the
needs and wants of the developers or a plan dreamed up by a mayor 17 years ago. We need to be looking at today.
The fact that we allowed this without being able to answer any of those questions is baffling. And continues to show
that the needs and wants of the developers are going to supersede the citizens every time with this city council.
Sincerely,
Natalie Wixom Purcell
2
Charlene Way
From:Natalie Purcell <nataliewixom@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, September 26, 2024 3:19 PM
To:Brian Whitlock; Liz Strader; Doug Taylor; John Overton; Anne Little Roberts; Clerks
Comment
Cc:Karla Ehlers; Luke Cavener
Subject:Put Meridian First
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
This past Tuesday, we witnessed how the needs of developers have taken precedence over the well-being of Meridian’s
residents. There were 21 emails sent, along with multiple in person citizens expressing their concerns about the impact
this development would have on their lives. And not one concern was answered. Concerns that they have about their
city. We couldn’t offer one answer to the main concerns to those directly impacted.
The developer spent over eight hours bulldozing through their wants and complaining about the challenges of
bureaucracy, claiming it’s “really hard to work with certain departments” and refusing to comply with a full traffic study
because they fear unfavorable results. In contrast, the citizens of Meridian had a combined mere 15 minutes to voice
their concerns, which the city council did not respond to.
A clear solution was available: waiting for a proper traffic report or for the completion of Highway 16 to alleviate
pressure on Ten Mile. Instead, we were left with vague hopes that traffic might someday improve with future projects.
As Councilman Doug Taylor stated, there has not been a comprehensive impact overview of the area. Each project has
been evaluated in isolation rather than as part of a larger picture, leaving us without an understanding of the
consequences for our schools, roads, and parks.
"Will this work" was the question of the night and it was answered with wishful hopes, no clear evidence or answers
that what is done is not going to severely and negatively impact this area of town.
We needed to know the impact that is going to have on our parks, our schools, and our rated F roadways before we
allow even more to be built up. We owed that to our city. To prioritize and safeguard our city. Not the prioritizing of the
needs and wants of the developers or a plan dreamed up by a mayor 17 years ago. We need to be looking at today.
The fact that we allowed this without being able to answer any of those questions is baffling. And continues to show
that the needs and wants of the developers are going to supersede the citizens every time with this city council.
Sincerely,
Natalie Wixom Purcell
1