HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-04-16 Jonathan Walker
Charlene Way
From:Jonathan Walker <Jonathanwalker39@proton.me>
Sent:Tuesday, April 15, 2025 8:12 PM
To:Clerks Comment
Subject:In-N-Out CUP
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
To members of the planning and zoning board,
My name is Jonathan Walker, and I currently live at 4102 W Silver River St and have lived here since 2019. I am
writing to object to the approval of a conditional use permit for the In-N-Out fast food restaurant that has been
submitted for Ten Mile and Lost Rapids . I am sure you have reviewed many compelling arguments against the
approval of this permit for a plethora of reasons to include increased traffic, noise, and safety hazards to the
surrounding community. Although I agree with these arguments, I am writing this letter to bring attention to what in
my opinion is an incomplete and unacceptable traffic study. The first time I read through this traffic study I believed
that it was a draft or that a supplement would be provided due to the lack of appropriate data and due diligence. I
have listed below several of the issues I have found concerning about this report.
1.) Incorrect application of industry specific methodology for creating on site development operations (To
include drive through queuing)
On page 22 of the traffic analysis report, the applicant has proposed a drive thru capacity of 29 vehicles with an
overflow capacity of 50 vehicles. The study suggests that it is standard industry practice to utilize historical queuing
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traffic when determining driving thru capacity and clearly states on page 22 “The 85 percentile is the design
standard typically used in the traffic engineering profession for evaluations of on-site development operations such
as parking and drive through queuing.”
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On table 7 (pg.25) The Survey table clearly shows that the 85 percentile is 44 vehicles for Saturday during the
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dinner period (5-8pm). The peak observation, referred to as the 95 percentile, was observed as 46 vehicles for this
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period. The study does not reference the 85 percentile in its recommendations, and instead focuses on the 95
percentile as a marker for overflow capacity, which allows them to propose 29 vehicles for standard capacity. I
believe this is completely inappropriate, and a reasonable person that could reach the conclusion that a steady flow
of vehicles in the mid 40’s range should be anticipated during the dinnertime hours on Saturdays.
2:) Insufficient collection of relevant data/Lack of historical occurrences necessary to create assumptions
about future capacity.
Table 7 (pg.25) is used as a significant data point for determination of likely drive through queue lengths at the new
Meridian In-N-Out restaurant. Reading the report about the survey used to create table 7, a prudent person may be
led to believe that significant data had been collected to justify future assumptions about drive through lengths.
Upon further examination, a reviewer may be surprised to learn that the study only surveyed the location for two
days, one week day and one Saturday. I do not believe this an acceptable amount of data collection to come to any
meaningful conclusions. Furthermore, the weekday and weekend day’s surveyed were December 5, 2024 and
December 7, 2024. These were not ideal weather, holidays, or long weekends when the largest traffic surges could
be expected.
3.) Lack of labeling and context for data/ Insufficient information.
Table 6 (pg 24) is the other data table used for purposes of determining queue length. This table fails to describe
how many occurrences were observed, how they were recorded, and at what time periods they were surveyed.
They do not list times for dinner time business and could have all been recorded at 10am. The reader is not
provided with this information, so I do not believe they cannot make reasonable assumptions from this data.
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4.)Unsupported statements regarding future traffic.
On page 22-23 of the traffic report, an argument is made that the Ten Mile/Lost Rapids location will likely be less
busy than the current In-N-Out location at 3520 Fairview in Meridian, due to difference in the roadways. I do not
believe the report sufficiently notes that the Ten Mile location would be at the connecting intersection of two major
roadways, Ten Mile and Chinden Rd. Furthermore, no traffic study was conducted to determine the difference in
daily motorist traffic at these two locations, so it cannot be determined which intersection will receive more traffic.
The applicant had ample time to collect this information, but did not, so I do not believe it should be included for
consideration in this matter.
Citizens of the City of Meridian have worked with their elected local officials and prominent members of the Meridian
business community to develop a Unified municipal code that is fair to citizens and businesses alike. Anytime a
departure is considered from existing code, it must be thoroughly scrutinized and assessed with the highest priority
of care. If the city of Meridian regularly departs from established code without proper due diligence it will sow distrust
among residents and create hesitance among future business investors. I believe Conditional Use Permit for In-N-
Out (CUP H-2024-0058) should be denied. They have failed to conduct necessary due diligence at the basic level,
and the citizens of Meridian overwhelmingly do not want this project to move forward.
I am not a traffic study expert and the above information is my opinion on what I have read and understood
as a concerned citizen living in the neighborhood.
Thanks for your time, have a great week.
Jonathan Walker
4102 W Silver River St.
Sent with Proton Mail secure email.
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