HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-05-02 Celest Fox
Charlene Way
From:CELESTE FOX <wifeoffox@msn.com>
Sent:Friday, May 2, 2025 11:31 AM
To:Clerks Comment
Subject:Latitude Forty Three Subdivision H-2024-0059
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
Dear Members of the Meridian City Council,
I am a Woodbridge resident, 582 S Woodhaven Ave, and will directly back up to the proposed Latitude 43
subdivision.
I have been supportive of the proposed Latitude 43 subdivision after viewing the documents online, meeting
with the builder, & touring two of Pacific Style homes near Chinden & Star Road. These houses reflect the
builder's statements about the intent to build quality homes close to the front property line to allow for larger
back yards. This would allow for a greater setback enhancing the livability of Woodhaven's adjacent houses. At
the neighborhood meeting, we asked for the proposed setback to Woodhaven's houses. The developer passed
the question to the builder, Ryan Stigar, who stated the houses would be 26' or more from the property line.
He further indicated that the lot sizes would definitely accommodate that setback on the east side and the
placement of their houses allows for a larger back yard. I also feel confident that Pacific Lifestyle Homes would
handle drainage issues that are a big concern for those of us that downslope from their property. We talked
about this at length and I was shown how drainage was handled on the Star Road properties.
This is my biggest concern. This project includes two separate companies. Pacific Style Homes has a contract
to buy the land and build after passing final approval. However, with economy issues and other unknowns, it is
not part of this approval agreement. If after approval the builder does not go through with purchasing the
property, the owner can put any type of house on this property with two-story houses, 12 feet from
Woodhaven's property line, all along our back fence. He does not have to go before you to get approval as
long as he meets the minimum code and Woodbridge would not be part of any discussion. After several letters
from Woodbridge, the P&Z Commission asked for assurances of at least a 20' setback next to Woodhaven to
be put into the development agreement. The developer refused.
The council has for 20 years listened to Woodbridge's concerns about projects that would greatly impact us,
some negatively, some a good fit for this area. I have lived here since I built my home in early 2004. While a
major concern is traffic, the council has been thoughtful about how a project would fit in this space. We have
always been able to see the entire project before deciding whether to support it or not. In this case, we
cannot. The prospective builder appears to build quality homes that would blend well with our neighborhood
but there is a huge unknown here. If builders change, Woodbridge has no guarantee that homes backing up to
us would not impact us negatively. We could have a block of two-story homes, 10' apart, 12' from our fence
which is not an adequate buffer to Woodhaven, many of which are single story. This development is
considered similar to Woodbridge with R8 zoning. I have a small back yard & the main living part of my back
yard is 27'.
Woodbridge homeowners were expecting small medical offices next to us per information we received when
purchasing our homes. That kind of development would result in much less traffic problems through our
neighborhood than a housing development and we have supported developments that appeared to fit this
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area well. As you well know, traffic is a huge issue for us. Transportation in & out of here is broken. We know
this residential project will cause more traffic through Woodbridge. But many of us are really tired of fighting
like we have had to for 20 years. I personally am resigned to having a residential development, but am relying
on you, the city Council, to provide us some guarantees in the Development Agreement that would prevent a
development going in that would negatively affect Woodbridge, particularly the transition between
Woodhaven & Latitude 43 homes. I am asking for a setback of at least 20' from our property line, not including
a patio cover to be part of the development agreement. Twenty feet is not that that much of a setback. Many
of us have owned our homes for a long time & Woodbridge is a beautiful neighborhood to live in. I am asking
the council to give us some reassurance that our quality of life will continue with some space to enjoy our back
yards.
Thank you for your consideration
Celeste Fox
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