Letter from Michelle GeorgeSharon Smith
From: Will Berg
Sent: Friday, June 29, 2007 1:04 PM
To: Sharon Smith; Tara Green
Subject: FW: Opposition to the Valley Shepherd rezone.
-----Original Message-----
From: Peggy Gardner
Sent: Friday, June 29, 2007 9:34 AM
To: 'mgeorge@mail.mybearcreek.com'
Cc: Wi11 Berg
Subject: RE: Opposition to the Valley Shepherd rezone.
Ms. George,
Your email has been received. We appreciate receiving your viewpoint on this issue.
Peggy
Administrative Secretary to
Mayor Tammy de Weerd
City of Meridian
Phone 884-2468 ext. 204
-----Original Message-----
From: Michelle George [mailto:mgeorge@mail.mybearcreek.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2007 9:28 PM
To: Peggy Gardner
Cc: Joe Borton; Keith Bird; David Zaremba; Charlie Rountree
Subject: Opposition to the Valley Shepherd rezone.
Opposition to Applications RZ 07-012 - Valley Shepherd for Rezone and AZ 07-009 -
Queensland Acres for Annexation and Zoning.
As a taxpayer, voter and resident of Bear Creek located adjacent to the proposed
developments identified above I oppose the Queensland & Valley Shepherd applications for
rezone for the following reasons:
1. CG Commercial Zone is a significant impact on the livability of our neighborhood and
is incompatible with low density residential.
A. Traffic - Residual traffic into Bear Creek off Alaska Avenue & direct traffic
access through Belissima Strada will create congestion and unsafe streets for pedestrian
use. Belissima Strada will receive the most significant impacts with traffic utilizing
Alfini Way to access Victory Roads lighted intersection. Is it fair to homeowners who
purchased their home in a low to medium density subdivision to suffer the consequences of
poor planning, after the fact?
A 2006 study by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance advised that this type of zoning and
related stores/developments (the stares in this type of zoning are known as Big-Box
Stores) generate over 10,000 vehicle trips/day. The amount of traffic is directly related
to the size of these stores. The larger the store, the larger the geographic area from
which it pulls customers and thus the higher the traffic counts. A 200,D00 s.f. store
typically generates more than 10,000 car trips on weekdays and more on Saturdays.
The kinds of businesses that often spring up near big-box retailers - fast-food outlets,
gas stations, and convenience stores - also produce large volumes of traffic.
Traffic and noise depress property values in nearby neighborhoods. More traffic increases
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the cost of local government services, such as road maintenance, and police.
B. Land Use/Zoning
The land use of the Queensland Acres is currently R-1, one home per acre. The request for
rezone to Commercial CG would essentially jump 4 zones, with no transitional zone
established between the Commercial CG and the residential low density. Valley Shepherd
was rezone from Public/Quasi Public to R-8 (8 homes per acre). Again to allow a rezone
would jump zones as well.
Any commercial rezones should limit the size of stores, and support smaller neighborhood-
type retail businesses which would have far less impacts overall and would significantly
decrease traffic.
B. Visual Pollution - Commercial CG zoning allows structures with a maximum of 65'
walls which blocks residential views, shades yards, has a minimal buffer of 25' with very
limited planting creating a visual blight that is unacceptable.
C. Noise Pollution - Commercial CG zoning allows businesses that create extensive
noise which is not compatible with low density residential housing. Deliveries at all
hours of the day, back up alarms, lighting, loud speakers, drive through facilities, etc.
create noise that is incompatible with residential areas.
D. Devalues Property - CG zoning will significantly devalue properties that abut it
or are visually connected to it. Homeowners purchased their properties fully expecting
that their elected officials and City Planners would give careful thought and
consideration to adjacent land uses & appropriately zone lands to reflect their own
guidance found in the June 2006 Meridian Comprehensive Plan on page 106__ The guidance
states: "Redevelopment of this type of area is to be guided by the intensity of the
existing use, the underlying zoning of the property, the surrounding land uses, the
location of the property, and transportation issues associated with the proposed
development of the property."
2. Lowe's Home Improvement Center Example (currently under construction off Overland Road
on Bear Creek's North Boundary) (See attached photos)
The Lowe's building is a good example of CG Commercial zoning, that is literally being
built right in our back yards and is totally incompatible with low and medium density
residential. Lowe's is located on Bear Creek's north boundary and creates intolerable
visual and noise pollution, traffic conditions, and property devaluation.
The prior use of the area that abuts Bear Creek's north boundary was agriculture. Corn
fields, and hay pastures are a far cry from 40' walls, traffic, noise from delivery
vehicles, and parking lot lighting.
How would you, the members of the Council, and the Planning & Zoning Commission like to
have a building in their back yard that is elevated 6' above the grade of the property
fence and has walls that tower so far above our residences they block the sun. Not a
pretty sight!
In summary, as a resident of Bear Creek I am very concerned about Queensland Acres &
Valley Shepherd proposed rezones and request that you and the Council give careful
consideration to the issues surrounding this and do not approve the application for a
rezone to Commercial CG.
Please give serious consideration to these issues in your decision making process.
Sincerely,
Michelle George
2597 S Beartooth Way
Meridian ID 83642
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cc: Joe Borton, Michael Rohm
President, City Council
Chairman, Meridian Planning & Zoning
Keith Bird
David Moe
City Council Member
Meridian Planning & Zoning Member
Charlie Rountree
Wendy Newton Huckabay
City Council Member
Meridian Planning & Zoning Member
David Zaremba
Steve Szddoway
City Council Member
Meridian Planning & Zoning Member
Keith Borup
Meridian Planning & Zoning Member
Michelle George
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