HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-05-07 Hayden Halpin (3)
From: Hayden Halpin <halpinhayden@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 7, 2026 11:49 AM
To: Lucas Cavener <lcavener@meridiancity.org>
Subject: Regarding meeting tonight
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Mayor and Council Members,
My name is Hayden Halpin, and I live in northwest Meridian near the Ten Mile, Star Road, Ustick,
and Chinden corridor.
I am not here to oppose growth. I am here to ask for responsible growth. Our community needs
growth that does not outpace roads, schools, services, and the quality of life current residents
bought into.
Meridian has already grown dramatically. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Meridian grew from
117,635 residents in 2020 to approximately 139,740 by 2024. That is roughly 22,000 additional
residents in only four years. Our area is already absorbing that growth.
West Ada is already showing the strain. The district recently approved boundary changes affecting
574 students, and Pleasant View Elementary has reached capacity, uses a portable classroom,
and has no further room to expand. That is not theoretical overcrowding. That is happening now.
Our roads are also already behind the growth. ACHD is widening Ustick from Ten Mile to Linder to
improve traffic flow and safety, with construction impacts continuing into late 2026. That tells us
the infrastructure is already trying to catch up, not that it is ready for hundreds more homes.
On top of that, the District at Ten Mile is already adding about 1,800 residential units along with
major retail, hotels, restaurants, and commercial traffic. Before approving another 800 homes, the
city should require a clear infrastructure impact analysis that includes schools, traffic, public
safety, utilities, and existing residential property values.
My own home has dropped from approximately $734,000 to $668,000 since I purchased it. That is
about a $66,000 loss. I understand markets fluctuate, but adding large amounts of housing supply
without adequate infrastructure can further weaken resale demand and damage the value of
homes residents already invested in.
We are also lacking basic community amenities in this part of Meridian. Families in northwest
Meridian are still driving roughly 6 to 9 miles to reach a movie theater, while everyday shopping and
services are concentrated into limited corridors. Adding rooftops without proportional services
creates congestion, not community.
I respectfully ask the Council to pause or deny this project until the developer and city can show,
with data, that schools, roads, traffic flow, public safety, and community services can support it. At
minimum, approval should be conditioned on infrastructure being completed first, not years after
residents are already living with the consequences.
Thank you.
Sent from my iPhone