HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter from Patricia Younger; • a
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June 2, 2008
City of Meridian
Attn: Jaycee Holman, City Clerk
33 E. Idaho Ave.
Meridian, ID 83642
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JUN 0 4 2008
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RE: Meridian Library District Parking Lot Expansion
RZ-08-002
Rezone of 0.58 of an acre from R-4 (Medium Low-Density Residential) to L-O
(Limited Office)
Notes for Planning and Zoning Commissioners and City Council
Meridian Library patrons need more parking. More and more often, patrons visit the
Library and find that there is no place to park. They aze finding alternative parking in
neighborhoods and walking on Cherry Lane, often with small children.
When the properties at 1727 N. Leisure Lane and 1250 W. Cherry Lane were put up for
sale more than one year ago, the Board decided to purchase them to expand the parking
lot. At the time, it sounded like a simple solution to a serious problem. However, it's
been one year and nothing has been accomplished.
After the purchase was complete, it was discovered that the 1727 N. Leisure Lane
property includes the entire width of Leisure Lane. It was also discovered that ACHD
owns an awkward eight foot strip on the east side of 1250 W. Cherry Lane. Further
discussions with the City and ACHD revealed that those two entities were working
together to force the Library District to improve Leisure Lane to the level of public street
and then give it to one or the other of them. Caleb Hood went so far as to say that the
City would withhold zoning and permits for the parking lot as a"haminer" to force the
Library District to make the improvements at a cost of approximately $200,000 and then
gift the property at a cost of approximately $100,000. The Library District feels that
doing that would not be good stewardship of the taxpayer's money. $300,000 represents
ten years of adult book expenditures for the Library.
There is a staff report from Meridian City Planning that states on page 5 that "the
improvement and dedication shall occur prior to approval of the Certificate of Zoning
1326 WEST CHERRY LANE • 1vIERIDIAN, IDAHO 83643
208.885.4451 Fa~ 208.884.0745
www.mld.org
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Compliance for the parking lot expansion." Even though the other demands are
unreasonable, this one is tlle most unreasonable of all. They know that the horneowners
of Leisure Lane are facing a water and sewer issue that will involve road disturbance on
the Lane. If the Library was to improve the Lane to the level of public street now, it
would probably have to be cut up for either the sewer or the water project or both. Doing
it separately from the parking lot would be much more expensive and there would
probably be street damage during the later construction of the parking lot. Even if the
Library was considering making the improvements and then giving the street away, they
would be foolish to make them prior to construction of the parking lot and the sewer and
water improvements.
The report says that "if the improvement and dedication of Leisure Lane on this property
does not occur, staff believes there will be a negative impact on the adjacent neighbors."
The Library District feels that the new parking lot would be a positive impact on the
adjacent neighbors. The adjacent neighbors have not expressed an interest in making
Leisure Lane a public street, in fact they have expressed quite the opposite; they want it
to remain a private lane.
Patrons of the Meridian Library District need more parking. The property has been
purchased. The property has been surveyed; the engineering has been done; and the
plans have been drawn with plenty of trees and landscaping. The City is holding the
project hostage i~n order to force the District to pay for improvements on the private lane,
make it a public street, and then hand it over to them free of charge. The Library District
is asking you to consider an alternative plan.
Patricia Younger
Library Director, Meridian Library District