HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-08-29 Wray M. Scott III
Chris Johnson
From:Wray Scott III <wrayscottiii@gmail.com>
Sent:Friday, August 29, 2025 9:12 AM
To:Clerks Comment
Subject:H-2025-0012 Touchmark MDA, PUD, RZ
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
Dear Mayor Simison and Meridian City Council Members:
My wife and I first arrived at Touchmark Meadow Lake Village (TMLV) on November 30, 2004. We
were there to visit my parents who had just moved in on October 1, 2004. As we entered the facility
through the second roundabout, we were greeted with a beautiful green space, pond, and golf
course. The rest of the community consisted of approximately 40 cottages and open space of dirt and
weeds. We made our way to a cottage my parents were renting until their cottage was completed in
February of 2005.
As we visited, my father explained that TMLV was going to develop the hundred plus acres into a
senior living (55+) community. Some of the senior cottages would be separate from the TMLV
campus and would not share the TMLV amenities. The remaining area would be developed into
commercial property along Franklin Road and the area between the TMLV campus and St. Luke’s
hospital. Unfortunately, my parents never got to see the campus fully developed as it is today.
My wife and I moved to TMLV in March 2012 to take care of my father. When he passed away, we
inherited his cottage as my mother had passed in 2005. I believe we are the only second-generation
Touchmark residents. When we signed our contract, it was with the understanding that the hundred
plus acres would be developed as the age-restricted (55+) community originally proposed to the City
of Meridian in 2000. To this day, that plan hangs on the wall in the TMLV main office.
My wife and I have had a 20 year plus history with Touchmark. Most of the time, the experience has
been very pleasant. We love the beauty of our campus. We actively engage with other residents in
many activities where we can share our interests and talents with each other. The local staff
members are incredibly caring and helpful. While not happy with every action taken by Touchmark, I
remind myself, and other residents, that if we didn't think TMLV was the best place to live, we
wouldn’t be here. However, for the past few years, things have not been as pleasant mostly because
Touchmark corporate seems less interested in current residents and more focused on developing for
the future. Corporate made a number of changes that were not popular with the residents. If a
resident spoke up and told them how they felt, or asked questions, often they were told it is
Touchmark property and they can make any changes they choose regardless of residents’ input or
approval.
It seems clear that Touchmark wants to increase revenue by converting the golf course into Villas
regardless of residents’ desires or concerns. Touchmark has commented that the cost of the golf
course is not justified by the number of golfers that use that amenity. What Touchmark fails to realize
is that ALL the residents enjoy the golf course, and residents pay for it as part of their monthly service
fees. I haven’t heard any complaints from non-golfers about the cost of the golf course. If Touchmark
repurposes the golf course, will they share the savings by reducing the service fees?
1
At the present time, TMLV is at full capacity (approximately 500 people). It is difficult to get a
reservation for dinner or transportation to the doctor or get a spot on the bus for a desired field trip.
Our present multipurpose room, where we hold community meetings as well as other activities,
accommodates only100 people. Adding additional cottages and Villas (30 to 40 people) would make
a very bad situation unbearable. Please do not grant Touchmark the option of adding additional
people to our TMLV campus.
In October 2024, when Touchmark first told the residents about exploring these options for
development, it was the day a Neighborhood Meeting was to be held. There were immediate
concerns expressed by residents regarding privacy and security, the golf course, and more. There
was little information given and when residents asked where the meeting was being held, we were
advised that our attendance was not necessary as residents are not the property owners and not
considered “neighbors.” Furthermore, comments that residents had would be presented for us by
Touchmark. At a meeting in February 2025, residents were told that since the submittal deadlines had
been missed, another Neighborhood Meeting had to be scheduled. But everything for the land
development was still the same and it was just administrative paperwork, there was no need for
residents to attend. Touchmark would represent them. And, residents heard the same things when it
came to the Planning and Zoning Commission Hearing scheduled for July 17, 2025 – we were
assured that careful notes for resident concerns had been taken and would be presented.
Unfortunately, that was not the case. Touchmark did not present or incorporate our concerns, as
evidenced by the responses you are receiving.
I respectfully request that the Meridian City Council send this package back to Planning and Zoning
for additional work and hearings where the TMLV residents can have proper consideration of the
many concerns that exist in the current proposal. I have mentioned a few, but there are more that
time here does not allow me to adequately address (viz non-aged restricted multifamily housing,
building heights changing the community from what residents were presented and bought into, etc.).
Residents have come together to clearly state that we want our Meadow Lake Village campus, with
its golf course, pond, and green space areas all to remain as is and ensure that the existing TMLV
senior living community (i.e. private streets, walkways, amenities, and green space, etc.) will be
preserved for the current senior residents of TMLV and not open to the public (see photos below).
We recognize Touchmark is a business and they beautifully developed this campus to be, and still is,
our home. Let them develop the remaining undeveloped property within its own boundaries and using
its own amenities and green space – kindly leave our home, the developed and completed portion
alone.
Respectfully submitted for your consideration,
Wray M. Scott III, TMLV Resident
893 S Hallenback Ln
Meridian, Idaho 83642
PERIMETER OF TMLV PROPERTY:
2
GOLF CLUB HOUSE:
TMLV ENTRANCE:
3
4