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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter from Michael HuebschmannPage 1 of 2 Tara Green From: Bill Parsons Sent: Monday, September 29, 2008 7:47 AM To: Machelle Hill; Tara Green; Jaycee Holman Subject: FW: Comments on proposed annexation and development of Oak Creek subdivision Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Green Written comments for the Oak Creek Project scheduled for the Oct. 7 CC hearing. Thanks, Bill Parsons Associate City Planner Meridian Planning Department 660 East Watertower Lane Suite 202 Meridian, Idaho 83642 PHONE: (208) 884-5533 FAX: (208) 888-6854 parsonsb@meridiancity.org From: Barbara Shiffer Sent: Monday, September 29, 2008 7:42 AM To: Bill Parsons Subject: FW: Comments on proposed annexation and development of Oak Creek subdivision Sa~~a S~ From: MHuebschmann [mailto:MHuebschmann@cableone.net] Sent: Sunday, September 28, 2008 9:48 PM To: Barbara Shiffer Subject: Comments on proposed annexation and development of Oak Creek subdivision Dear Planning and Zoning members: Since I will not be able to attend the 7 October meeting, please accept my comments in this form instead. I am not in favor of annexing and allowing the development of the proposed Oak Creek subdivision (north and west of the intersection of Black Cat and McMillan Rds) for the following reasons: • Doing so would be yet another instance in which development is undertaken before the necessary infrastructure improvements have been made. A recent phone conversation with one of the planners led me to understand that there are no sewer and/or water lines in the area; nor does the city's Comprehensive Plan currently make provision for such improvements. Unless the developer is prepared to underwrite the costs of those upgrades, Meridian's residents should not be expected to pickup the tab -especially given the current state of the economy. • The public notice sign indicates the developer is seeking permission to erect an initial group of 118 single-family homes on 31 acres. As you know, that number of homes will likely add approximately 200 car trips per day to a road designed to handle infrequent farm-to-market traffic. As the development progresses 10/3/2008 Page 2 of 2 to encompass the entire 640+ acres, the traffic load will increase geometrically. • The logic of allowing development to occur before the rest of the infrastructure has been upgraded is highly suspect. For example, widening roads only after the new subdivision has been occupied inconveniences the local residents. It also socializes the burden of necessary improvements by transferring the associated costs from the developer (who rightfully should be required to make those improvements as a part of doing business) to the taxpayers at large. I.e., postponing road and other improvements provides an indirect subsidy to the developer and a direct burden to the tax base. • I and a substantial number of individuals use that stretch of McMillan Rd for bicycling, as there are few trails in Meridian of any significant length or roads with either bike lanes or reasonable traffic volumes. Allowing the Oak Creek subdivision to be developed will reduce the amount of comparatively safe road available to bicyclists and increase the probability of vehicle-bicycle accidents. If - by failing to annex the land in question -the project will be cancelled, my preference would be to reject the annexation request. However, if the project will proceed regardless of the decision on annexation, then I would support annexation so the city can maintain some control over the development's execution. But in that case I would also recommend that the city require the developer to add bike lanes on both sides of McMillan between Ten Mile and Can-Ada (or at least Star) Roads so contact between vehicles and bicycles can be minimized. Thank you for entering my comments into the public record. I am available to discuss this topic at greater length if desired. Regards, Michael Huebschmann 2328 W. Whitelaw Dr. Meridian, ID 83646 B: 208.495.3240 H: 208.884.2603 MikeHuebschmann@juno.com MHuebschmannCa~CableOne.net 10/3/2008 Page 1 of 2 Tara Green From: Barbara Shiffer Sent: Monday, September 29, 2008 7:42 AM To: Machelle Hill; Tara Green Subject: FW: Comments on proposed annexation and development of Oak Creek subdivision Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Green ~a S~~ From: MHuebschmann [mailto:MHuebschmann@cableone.net] Sent: Sunday, September 28, 2008 9:48 PM To: Barbara Shiffer Subject: Comments on proposed annexation and development of Oak Creek subdivision Dear Planning and Zoning members: Since I will not be able to attend the 7 October meeting, please accept my comments in this form instead. I am not in favor of annexing and allowing the development of the proposed Oak Creek subdivision (north and west of the intersection of Black Cat and McMillan Rds) for the following reasons: • Doing so would be yet another instance in which development is undertaken before the necessary infrastructure improvements have been made. A recent phone conversation with one of the planners led me to understand that there are no sewer and/or water lines in the area; nor does the city's Comprehensive Plan currently make provision for such improvements. Unless the developer is prepared to underwrite the costs of those upgrades, Meridian's residents should not be expected to pickup the tab -especially given the current state of the economy. • The public notice sign indicates the developer is seeking permission to erect an initial group of 118 single-family homes on 31 acres. As you know, that number of homes will likely add approximately 200 car trips per day to a road designed to handle infrequent farm-to-market traffic. As the development progresses to encompass the entire 640+ acres, the traffic load will increase geometrically. • The logic of allowing development to occur before the rest of the infrastructure has been upgraded is highly suspect. For example, widening roads only after the new subdivision has been occupied inconveniences the local residents. It also socializes the burden of necessary improvements by transferring the associated costs from the developer (who rightfully should be required to make those improvements as a part of doing business) to the taxpayers at large. I.e., postponing road and other improvements provides an indirect subsidy to the developer and a direct burden to the tax base. • I and a substantial number of individuals use that stretch of McMillan Rd for bicycling, as there are few trails in Meridian of any significant length or roads with either bike lanes or reasonable traffic volumes. Allowing the Oak Creek subdivision to be developed will reduce the amount of comparatively safe road available to bicyclists and increase the probability of vehicle-bicycle accidents. If - by failing to annex the land in question -the project will be cancelled, my preference would be to reject the annexation request. However, if the project will proceed regardless of the decision on annexation, then I would support annexation so the city can maintain some control over the development's execution. But in that case I would also recommend that the city require the developer to add bike lanes on both sides of McMillan between Ten Mile and Can-Ada (or 10/3/2008 Page 2 of 2 at least Star) Roads so contact between vehicles and bicycles can be minimized. Thank you for entering my comments into the public record. I am available to discuss this topic at greater length if desired. Regards, Michael Huebschmann 2328 W. Whitelaw Dr. Meridian, ID 83646 B: 208.495.3240 H: 208.884.2603 MikeHuebschmann@,juno.com MHuebschmann ar7CableOne.net 10/3/2008