HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter from Robert & Clare Trerise
12/15/2006
Meridian City Council
City Clerk's Office
33 E. Idaho Ave.
Meridian, Idaho 83642
RECEIVED
DEe 1 8 2006
City of Meridian
City Clerk Office
Dear Mayor and City Council Members,
We attended the public hearing regarding the Spurwing Patio Homes Subdivision
(application AZ 06-043) this Tuesday, and were very disappointed in the process.
Following closure of the public hearing, the Council decided to pursue dual
zoning for this subdivision, and asked Mr. Jock Hewitt, the Developer, whether or
not this would be something that he could support. He was given an opportunity
to respond to that request, but those of us who were opposed to the Plan were
not. The council then approved the dual zoning without a recommendation to
return the Plan to the Planning and Zoning Commission for their further review.
That commission had recommended deniill of the Plan based in large part on
inputs they received from the existing Spurwing neighbors. There still remain
several issues for those of us living in Spurwing' and it is unclear to us whether or
not we will be provided another opportunity to register these concerns. So we
are presenting you with this letter for your consideration.
1.) We are still very concerned about the number of units being placed in this
approximate 20 acre parcel. We worry that this new development will not
only potentially destroy our neighborhood environment, but also
significantly devalue our property over time.
With the change to dual zoning, the total number is 65 units, and the
density of those units is particularly high in the Middle and Western area of
the parcel, where adjoining-wall units (duplexes) are being planned. Not
only will the absolute number of units create significant traffic and related
safety issues for the area, but the design is very inconsistent with the
existing "spacious" look and feel of the Spurwing neighborhood. While we
appreciate that the dual zoning was proposed as a compromise to provide
one row of housing on R-4 zoning as a transition from our estate, acre lots
to those townhouses, it will still result in the western and middle portion of
the new development being extremely crowded and "crammed together" ....
with little 'green space' (except the surrounding' golf course)'. This is highly
inconsistent with :what already exists in SpUlwing;'
We have lived in such a neighborhood (with townhouses and stand-alone
homes) and have found that conditions deteriorate over time when people
living that close together begin to park their vehicles outside their garages,
when guests visit, when garbage cans are set out for pickup, and when
people maintain their homes and landscaping in inconsistent ways. We
moved from that neighborhood (Westview Subdivision) to Spurwing last
year to avoid such crowded and deteriorating conditions. We invested
significantly in a home with one full acre so that we would be able to live in
a more open and spacious environment.
2.) While we understand the mixed expectations that were shared by
homeowners with regard to "what was promised" when they purchased
their homes in Spurwing, we do believe there is a very heavy thread of
consistency in both number and quality of patio homes that were
expected. And 65 homes, of the nature presented, is "a long way off".
We moved in only one year ago and were told by several existing home~
owners and realtors that we could expect 40 to 45 patio homes behind our
property which borders on the patio home development. We were also
told that those units would be "upscale and luxury" in nature, not 1500
square foot duplexes. We recognize there is little in writing to substantiate
the discrepancy in expectation, but we believe that the magnitude of the
difference is significant, and we also believe that the lower number of units
and the high quality of those units were clearly implied in promise after
promise to those who bought in Spurwing. Such verbal commitments,
even if only "implied" should be met to some degree.
3.) We appreciate the plan to build a privacy wall between the existing homes
and the new patio home area, and we hope that wall will be in place prior
to the start of construction on the patio homes. Since this wall will border
our property and will be highly visible to all of us on the south side of
Balata Ct., we would like to have some input into its design. The stamped
concrete wall presented at the hearing seemed to be very cold and harsh-
looking relative to the natural environment we currently enjoy. It would be
good if a more natural, warm looking wall (perhaps combining some
natural ingredients with concrete) could be designed to provide a more
aesthetic look to the privacy barrier.
4.) Finally, when the first plan was developed for the patio homes, it had in it
a number of water features and green areas. Most of those were taken
out as the homes and duplexes were crowded into the space available. If,
as stated, one of the goals for this development is to enhance the golf
course and Spurwing area, then some of these items should be put back
into the plan (perhaps fountains, ponds, small parks, etc.)
In closing, we would like to acknowledge that we did know of this development at
the time of purchasing our home, and we do support it conceptually. We would
simply like to assure that it is done in a way that will be compatible with the
existing neighborhood and will optimize value to all who are involved (existing
neighbors, the Spurwing Country Club, and the developer).
One alternative that would go a long way toward this goal would be to run the R-
4 zoning all the way around the patio home development so that the western
edge would also be R4 zoned, with a minimum lot size of about 10,000 ft2. This
would leave only the interior parcel (western center of the development) with
adjoining-wall units and would get the total number of units to 60 or fewer, thus
alleviating some of the traffic and safety concerns. It would also present a more
spacious look and feel- especially to the golf course side along the third fairway.
It would eliminate some of our concerns cited in number 1) above, and it would
bring the plan closer to the expectations that were set with existing homeowners
when they bought their properties.
We appreciate your consideration.
Sincerely,
~
Robert and Clare Trerise
3011 W. Salata Ct.
Meridian, Idaho 83646
208-376-8498