HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-09-01 Annette Haenszel
Charlene Way
From:Annette Haenszel <abhaenszel@comcast.net>
Sent:Monday, September 1, 2025 7:35 PM
To:Clerks Comment; citycouncil
Cc:Brian Haenszel
Subject:VOTE NO: In-N-Out Burger
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
As homeowners within the BainBridge neighborhood, the purpose of this email is to
request Meridian City Council vote “No” on the proposed location of In-N-Out Burger
near the Meridian Costco location at Ten Mile Road and W Lost Rapids Dr.
We attended the first Meridian City Council Planning & Zoning Committee meeting in April
2025. What we witnessed during that meeting was an overwhelming percent of attendees
were opposed. It was stated by City Council that this was the largest turnout ever for one
item at a public hearing meeting. Residents of all age groups were in attendance. This
should tell the City Council how opposed residents are to this location. We are not opposed
to In-N-Out, just this poor choice of location.
One of the primary concerns is the added traffic strain to the
intersection of Ten Mile Road and W. Lost Rapids Dr which would
result from the addition of In-N-Out operating from the proposed
location. In-N-Out paid for and provided a minimal traffic study, of which they used a
California company to complete the work, and it was for a timeframe in December which was
not representative of the Spring, Summer, and Fall activities in that area. They claim they
want to be a “good neighbor”, and if that were the case, we believe they would have hired a
local company, familiar with the location and the exponential growth that has occurred in
recent years, and that which is planned for the future. Further, at that meeting, we learned
that the most recent traffic study done by Ada County Highway Department was 8 years ago
in 2017. It was surprising to learn that ACHD was not in attendance at that meeting to hear
firsthand the concerns of the community. Immediately to the south of the proposed
location, the Adero sub-division is about to be built out. This will further increase traffic on an
already crowded stretch of Ten Mile Road.
I can personally speak to the danger of the intersection at Ten Mile and Lost
Rapids. Earlier this year, returning home from a walk to and around Heroes Park, I waited at
the intersection for the crosswalk light to change. Once I got the “walk” signal, two steps into
the crosswalk I was so close to getting hit by a car that was running the red light. I have no
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idea why the driver was distracted and not heeding the red traffic light. However, I can tell
you that using the intersection countless times the past 6 years, as both a driver and
pedestrian, there is often a significant backup for a left turn. Allowing an In-And-Out location
at the proposed location will further exacerbate the congestion, and while In-And-Out can
claim it will be only temporary, how is it that they have a crystal ball to know this? For Costco
shoppers and shoppers of the current existing businesses (many of which already have drive-
thru operations), significant increased traffic flow contributing to even more congestion at
the entrances and exits is anticipated to be persistent, and not simply a ‘honeymoon
phase’. This would be especially prevalent at the immediate site which is only an access
road to Costco and Olivia apartment homes. There are no traffic lights at that access road,
and visibility is minimized with the landscaping median currently in place.
None of the 3 current In-N-Out Idaho locations are within a residential neighborhood. I’m
told by my friends that have moved here from California, that In-N-Out locations are not in
areas that border residential neighbors. Certainly, there are many other, non-residential
areas in northwest Meridian that would have better access and not impact immediate
neighborhoods.
We respectfully ask you to vote against this proposed location for In-N-Out Burger in our
neighborhood.
Regards,
Brian and Annette Haenszel
4192 W. Sunny Cove St.
Meridian ID
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