HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-07-31 Kirsten Heersink
Charlene Way
From:Kirsten Heersink <keersink@gmail.com>
Sent:Thursday, July 31, 2025 8:22 AM
To:Clerks Comment; citycouncil; Mayor Office Feedback
Subject:OPPOSED: Ten Mile In-N-Out Location
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
Dear Meridian City Council,
I am writing to respectfully urge you to oppose In-N-Out’s appeal to build at the corner of Ten Mile and
Lost Rapids. I appreciate your time and consideration on behalf of your constituents.
As a five-year homeowner in the Bainbridge community (on the eastern side) I experience firsthand the
daily traffic realities of this intersection. As a working mother who commutes to daycare and my office
most weekdays, I know how congested this area becomes during peak hours. I’m grateful for the traffic
light at this intersection, but it is already under significant pressure.
Our family also uses this intersection for bike rides with our 4-year-old daughter to access local parks,
restaurants, and the library. Adding a high-traffic drive-thru in this specific location poses real safety and
quality-of-life concerns for families like mine.
Here are a few specific concerns:
Traffic Backups: Turns into Costco or onto Lost Rapids already cause significant congestion. The
medians are short, and the space between this intersection and Ten Mile/Chinden is limited.
Without careful planning, this will become a severe bottleneck, especially as growth continues.
Inadequate Site Study: In-N-Out conducted its traffic study in December, which does not
accurately represent typical traffic volumes during most of the year. This flawed timing fails to
capture the true impact a drive-thru of this scale would have on local roads.
Better Alternatives Exist: Just five minutes away, there are appropriate commercial lots available
near Chinden and Linder that offer more space and better traffic flow. That area would be far
better suited for a business like In-N-Out and still serve the community effectively.
Existing Locations: Even 1.5 years after opening, the In-N-Out at The Village still requires
extensive management of its drive-thru lane, which spills into a large designated holding area.
That location works because of its careful planning and distance from major intersections. These
are conditions that simply don’t exist at Ten Mile and Lost Rapids.
Meridian is a thriving, growing city, and I’m proud to live here. But smart growth requires thoughtful
decisions. We can support new businesses without compromising traffic flow, neighborhood safety, and
the daily lives of families who live nearby.
Please oppose this appeal. Let’s work together to ensure Meridian grows in a way that’s balanced and
benefits both residents and businesses.
1
Sincerely,
Kirsten Heersink
3473 W Ladle Rapids St
Bainbridge Resident, Meridian
2
Charlene Way
From:Josha Iverson
Sent:Thursday, July 31, 2025 8:37 AM
To:Kirsten Heersink
Cc:Clerks Comment; citycouncil; Mayor Office Feedback
Subject:RE: OPPOSED: Ten Mile In-N-Out Location
Good morning Kristen,
Thank you for reaching out and sharing your thoughts about the proposed project. Your email has been
received by our office. As you may be aware, the City does not determine which food service or business
locates at a property, the City regulates the land use of various properties while businesses decide to
locate at given sites or areas based on market conditions.
Because this project is part of an open application, the Mayor and City Council members are prohibited
from commenting outside of the public hearing. We take public feedback seriously and want you to know
that we have received your email and have read your comments.
Your email has been received by our City Clerk and included in the public record. We invite you to check
the City’s website, meridiancity.org for any upcoming public hearing notices and additional information
regarding the development.
Thank you,
Josha Iverson| Executive Assistant
City of Meridian | Mayor’s Office
33 E. Broadway Ave., Meridian, Idaho 83642
Phone: (208) 489-0529
Built for Business, Designed for Living
All e-mail messages sent to or received by City of Meridian e-mail accounts are subject to the Idaho law,
in regards to both release and retention, and may be released upon request, unless exempt from disclosure by law
From: Charlene Way <cway@meridiancity.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2025 8:25 AM
To: Kirsten Heersink <keersink@gmail.com>; Clerks Comment <comment@meridiancity.org>; citycouncil
<citycouncil@meridiancity.org>; Mayor Office Feedback <MayorOfficeFeedback@meridiancity.org>
Subject: RE: OPPOSED: Ten Mile In-N-Out Location
Kristen:
Thank you for your comments. They have been made available in the project folder for review.
To access Public Hearing Notice Information, find online at: https://apps.meridiancity.org/phnotices/
1
To access Public Hearing Process Information, find online at
https://meridiancity.org/government/public-meeting-information/
Have a wonderful day,
Charlene
Charlene Way, Assistant City Clerk (Remote Fridays)
City Clerk Office| City of Meridian
33 E. Broadway Ave., Meridian, Idaho 83642
Phone: 208.888.4433|Email: cway@meridiancity.org
All e-mail messages sent to or received by City of Meridian e-mail accounts are subject to the Idaho law,
in regards to both release and retention, and may be released upon request, unless exempt from disclosure by law.
From: Kirsten Heersink <keersink@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2025 8:22 AM
To: Clerks Comment <comment@meridiancity.org>; citycouncil <citycouncil@meridiancity.org>; Mayor Office Feedback
<MayorOfficeFeedback@meridiancity.org>
Subject: OPPOSED: Ten Mile In-N-Out Location
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
Dear Meridian City Council,
I am writing to respectfully urge you to oppose In-N-Out’s appeal to build at the corner of Ten Mile and
Lost Rapids. I appreciate your time and consideration on behalf of your constituents.
As a five-year homeowner in the Bainbridge community (on the eastern side) I experience firsthand the
daily traffic realities of this intersection. As a working mother who commutes to daycare and my office
most weekdays, I know how congested this area becomes during peak hours. I’m grateful for the traffic
light at this intersection, but it is already under significant pressure.
Our family also uses this intersection for bike rides with our 4-year-old daughter to access local parks,
restaurants, and the library. Adding a high-traffic drive-thru in this specific location poses real safety and
quality-of-life concerns for families like mine.
Here are a few specific concerns:
Traffic Backups: Turns into Costco or onto Lost Rapids already cause significant congestion. The
medians are short, and the space between this intersection and Ten Mile/Chinden is limited.
Without careful planning, this will become a severe bottleneck, especially as growth continues.
2
Inadequate Site Study: In-N-Out conducted its traffic study in December, which does not
accurately represent typical traffic volumes during most of the year. This flawed timing fails to
capture the true impact a drive-thru of this scale would have on local roads.
Better Alternatives Exist: Just five minutes away, there are appropriate commercial lots available
near Chinden and Linder that offer more space and better traffic flow. That area would be far
better suited for a business like In-N-Out and still serve the community effectively.
Existing Locations: Even 1.5 years after opening, the In-N-Out at The Village still requires
extensive management of its drive-thru lane, which spills into a large designated holding area.
That location works because of its careful planning and distance from major intersections. These
are conditions that simply don’t exist at Ten Mile and Lost Rapids.
Meridian is a thriving, growing city, and I’m proud to live here. But smart growth requires thoughtful
decisions. We can support new businesses without compromising traffic flow, neighborhood safety, and
the daily lives of families who live nearby.
Please oppose this appeal. Let’s work together to ensure Meridian grows in a way that’s balanced and
benefits both residents and businesses.
Sincerely,
Kirsten Heersink
3473 W Ladle Rapids St
Bainbridge Resident, Meridian
3