HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter from Marieann ChristmanPage 1 of 4
Tara Green
From: C. Caleb Hood
Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2008 2:00 PM
To: Clerks
Subject: FW: [BULK] Red Box/Mcdonalds
Importance: Low
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Green
You'll probably get this from other too..
From: marieann54@msn.com [mailto:marieann54@msn.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2008 1:38 PM
To: Tammy de Weerd
Cc: roundtrec@meridiancity.org; David Zaremba; Joe Gorton; Keith Bird; Bill Nary; BCHoaglun@meridiancity.org;
Anna Canning; Matthew Ellsworth; Bill Parsons; Peter Friedman; C. Caleb Hood
Subject: [BULK] Red Box/Mcdonalds
Importance: Low
Dear Mayor Tammy de Weerd,
Councilman Charlie Roundtree, David Zaremba, doe Borton, Keith Bird,
Brad Hoaglum,
City Attorney Bill Nary, Planning Director Anna Canning, Assoc.City
Planner Matt Ellsworth
Comp. Planning Mgr. Pete Friedman, Current Plan Mgr. Caleb Hood &
Assoc. City Planner Bill Parsons....did I leave anyone out, if so
my appologize
"SO WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL OF APPROVING THE ADDITION OF A LITTLE
OL RED BOX
VENDING MACHINE AT THE MCDONALDS SITE AT 10 MILE & CHERRY
ANYWAY"?
As this Community, City of Meridian & McDonalds is already aware, the
McDonalds approval
project "AT THIS UNSUITABLE LOCATION", has been a very sore subject
for MANY neighbors.
It has also been a spotlight of poor communication within the Mayors
office, City planning dept.,
the Council & highly impacted neighbors of Park Side Creek. I am one of
those neighbors
directly behind the McDonalds & I can speak with approval for many of
my adjoining neighbors.
9/19/2008
Page 2 of 4
Unfortunately we have been put in the position of saying, "McDonalds at
this said site is a
done deal". We can no longer argue it should not be there...because it IS
there. We already
are well aware that the developer himself stated in the open hearing 3
years ago that THIS
location was NOT suitable for (in his words) an "Obnoxious McDonalds"!
There was a reason
why he publically stated this at the hearing before Council &
Community. He was experienced
enough to know it was a VERY inappropriate site for this high profile fast
food restaurant due
to the access & traffic issues, as well as the site relationship with many of
the Park Side Creek
homeowners, known as a very family oriented subdivision, partly due to
the internal elementary
School, & park.
This all came out when it was TOO late!! The footings were in, the
plumbing, electrical etc were
all in place etc BEFORE we, as the adjoining neighbors were aware it was
a McDonalds. We
were ALL still in the mind set it was the original bank & small strip mall
that was being constructed.
So, we as a Community, neighborhood & more importantly...the adjoining
homes were NEVER
given our legal right to speak our minds in approving this site for A
McDonalds.
This brings us to date with the request for approval by McDonalds for a
"Red Box" video vending
machine at this site. I felt it was important to reflect on the history of
McDonalds obtaining
approval for this site, as it is relative to their request.
I will start by reciting the City of Meridians "Mission Statement"...."To be
a caring Community
that promotes itself as a premier place to live, work & raise a family"
The approval for this McDonalds had a large negative impact for all
families that reside anywhere
close to this McDonalds & those families that shop & children that walk to
Albertson's due to the
increase traffic etc. But more importantly, it is for the neighbors that live
next to & a street or 2
behind the site. I will try to be direct with the matter at hand.
9/19/2008
Page 3 of 4
One of our concerns, among the many was the traffic & noise. When I say
"we", it refers to the
previous underlined group. We can NO longer EVER sleep IN on a day off,
or morning of choice.
We all get a wake up call around 6:00-7:30AM, that best describes a
"LOUD SERIES OF CANNONS
BEING SHOT OFF", when the trash dump trucks pick up MD trash with
their big trucks, grabbing
on to the large metal trash bins & dumping the trash & all the noise that
goes with the driving,
compacting etc. It is a SAD but a true fact that we as families, kids etc.
can no longer enjoy a little
extra sleep in our OWN homes any longer. This sound is heard ,far
reaching beyond the adjoining homes.
So, now MD's want to add a RED BOX!! We heard in the last hearing the
amount of traffic those little
convenient but annoying boxes can produce. MD admitted they had to add
a second box because this
Albertsons location was one of the best in the Sate. I personally have
seen as many as 30 adults, children
& teens standing around, talking laughing & waiting for their turn at the
box.
WE do NOT feel that this location of MD should have a box, for the same
reason we & Council did not
approve a Albertsons mini gas mart at this parking lot. This site cannot
handle the traffic, it is too
small. There are 2 Red Boxes at Albertson's, so where does this
community benefit by adding one
at the MD site? If we need another, let them locate it at Albertsons, which
can handle the traffic &
people congestion better. Buuuuut, MD wants one!! Well, then if they
wanted one, they should have
allowed the planning for one on the inside as the other locations have it.
lust because THEY want it,
WHY SHOULD US NEIGHBORS ALREADY SUFFERING THE NOISE ISSUES,
HAVE TO LOSE MORE OF
OUR PEACE, SO MD CAN GET THEiR WAY & HAVE A BOX. We, as the
neighbors will be the ones to
suffer yet again, the impact of this addition in literally OUR backyards if
they locate the box outside
where they want it. If they cannot put it inside, then we as a neighbors &
the Council whose "Mission"
to protect & promote our family lives, should simply say..NO! No, is easy
9/19/2008
Page 4 of 4
when it comes to an unjustified
request. But...MD wants it to add traffic to sell more food...NOT at the
expense of the families &
children alike near-by!! They simply assumed they could put one outside,
as they never planned one
for insde. That was their mistake & we do not want to pay for it. We are
already paying for having
them there.
If MD puts the box where they want it, with the amount of traffic we have
witnessed at Albertson's, we feel
it will also pose a traffic danger. Teens are the ones using them late at
night, as I have personally witnessed.
What happens when Winter comes & it is too cold to stand in line? One
teen will stand in line while another
will keep their car idling for heat & they will trade off. Then they will be
yelling back & forth to communicate,
that is what teens do.
So, we will not only not be able to sleep in, due to the trash noise, but if
Council approves this box, our children
will not be able to get to sleep early for school, due to the added late
night noise & traffic that the proposed
box location will subject us too. So WE are asking Council to say NO to
this box at ANY outside location,
because it does NOT benefit the Community & adds additional harm to the
near by children & families.
We need the Major & Council prove that their Mission statement means
something, & to vote the Red Box
out, if MD, cannot locate it inside their building.
Thank you for your time & attention in reading this lengthy email!!
Marieann Christman
3440 West Elm Creek
Meridian, Idaho 83642
850-9900
9/19/2008