HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-08-13 Karen Shuck and Erik MacDonald
Charlene Way
From:Karen Shuck <kareneshuck@outlook.com>
Sent:Wednesday, August 13, 2025 1:13 PM
To:Clerks Comment; citycouncil; Mayor Office Feedback
Cc:'Erik - email (eamacdon@hotmail.com)'
Subject:VOTE NO: In-N-Out Burger on Chinden / Ten Mile Corner in Meridian
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
Dear Members of the Meridian City Council,
In addition to the points made in our letter below, we ask that you consider the following points as well:
1. Whatever establishment lands on that corner will literally define the Bainbridge neighborhood. Other
Meridian neighborhoods are defined by their beautifully landscaped entrances, resplendent with
gorgeous signage, trees, bushes, flowers, and yes – even WATERFALLS. Those lovely entrances
create an elevated experience and vibe as you come into the neighborhood, which sets the tone for the
entire neighborhood. Upon entry, residents and visitors can sense the area’s upscale feeling, natural
beauty, and luxurious homes.
2. An In-N-Out Burger joint (or any drive-through fast food chain) on that corner would send the wrong
message about the residential community. It would absolutely defy the original Bainbridge vision of a
peaceful, quiet, upper echelon residential neighborhood.
3. Other Meridian neighborhoods that have a restaurant near the entrance area typically have a sit-down
restaurant rather than a drive-through fast food chain. A more elegant type of restaurant (such as Land
Ocean or Crave) would be far more appropriate for that location. Even a sit-down “pub” type of
restaurant would still be far better than In-N-Out. Such restaurants would not ruin the Bainbridge
community brand and entrance area. A high-quality establishment with nice landscaping would be
welcome, desired and valued by the Bainbridge community who would be its patrons.
4. There are already several fast food, drive-through, and fast casual restaurants on that corner –
including Burger King, Café Rio, Slim Chickens, Firehouse Subs, and Dutch Brothers Coffee, along
with Costco and other commercial businesses. The traffic and parking situation is already a congested
nightmare. The LAST THING this corner needs is ANOTHER fast-food drive-thru restaurant! However,
this area would benefit from having a sit-down restaurant in that spot that offers an elevated dining
experience, a beautiful building and nice landscaping. Such a restaurant would add a “normal” amount
of traffic vs. the insane traffic that surrounds every In-N-Out Burger.
We will say it one more time: Whatever establishment lands on that corner will literally define the Bainbridge
neighborhood. We must stay strong and protect the original plan and vision for Bainbridge. The residents’
quality of life, property values, and enjoyment of the area are at stake.
Thank You.
Erik MacDonald & Karen Shuck
4102 W. Wolf Rapids Street
Meridian, ID 83646
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From: Erik MacDonald
Sent: Tuesday, August 5, 2025 3:17 PM
To: Subject: VOTE NO: In-N-Out Burger on Chinden-Ten Mile
Meridian City Council
33 E Broadway Ave
Meridian, ID 83642
Dear Members of the Meridian City Council,
I am writing to you in regards to the proposed In-N-Out Burger on the corner of Lost Rapids & Ten Mile in
Meridian. My wife and I just moved to the Bainbridge neighborhood a few months ago from Denver, CO. Our
search for a home was focused on finding a quiet, peaceful neighborhood for our retirement, which we found in
the Bainbridge community. We certainly did not want to be near an area with late-night eateries, especially
those that bring excessive traffic and noise into the neighborhood, along with late-night patrons and partiers.
We are very familiar with the traffic, congestion, noise, and late-night issues that come with every In-N-Out
Burger restaurant. There are 9 locations in the Denver metro area, yet NONE of those are located near or in a
residential neighborhood. The city councils of Denver, Arvada, Aurora, Castle Rock, Lakewood, Lone Tree,
and Thornton understood the impact an In-N-Out would have created if placed near a residential
neighborhood, thus they approved commercial locations away from residential areas.
An In-N-Out restaurant located on the corner of the Bainbridge neighborhood would have these impacts:
Extreme excess traffic would intensify the already congested corner of Chinden, Ten Mile, and Lost
Rapids, including the main entrance into the Bainbridge subdivision (Lost Rapids Street). Our
understanding is that an actual traffic study was NOT conducted during regular business
days/nights/weekends during a typical month (not the slowest time of the year/start of December), and
taking into account the already-present traffic congestion on that corner due to Costco, etc.
Proposed location is inside a residential neighborhood, just steps away from the Cadence 55+
community and the Olivia residential complex, and a short walk from the Bainbridge single family
houses.
The In-N-Out would be open late at night causing late-night car traffic and deliveries that would be
heard throughout the community, causing noise nuisance and sleep issues. The Treasure Valley has a
large number of loud mufflered cars/trucks and motorcycles which would frequent the In-and-Out
restaurant especially later at night.
The location would attract late-night crowds where a certain percentage are coming from bars,
restaurants, and parties that serve alcohol.
Ten Mile and Chinden are already incredibly congested, due to Costco and other new establishments,
so adding an In-N-Out Burger would seriously amplify the congestion. Adding an In-N-Out in the same
lot as Costco would cause a traffic congestion and noise disaster with increased late night vehicle noise
and potential crime issues in a neighborhood setting.
This would also amplify the traffic and congestion on Linder as patrons from Eagle would be driving
down Linder to frequent the only In-N-Out Burger near them (as they currently do with Costco until the
8pm closing/6pm closing on weekends).
Together, all of these issues would ruin the Bainbridge neighborhood and destroy the tranquility. For
those unable to move, their quality of life would be forever impacted in very unpleasant ways.
We are vehemently opposed to having an establishment like In-N-Out Burger located anywhere near or in the
Bainbridge residential neighborhood. In all other cities we’ve studied, In-N-Out Burger is approved for
commercial zones only that are located away from residential areas.
We thank you greatly for your consideration,
Erik MacDonald & Karen Shuck
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4102 W. Wolf Rapids Street
Meridian, ID 83646
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