HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment - CC 5-7-14 - Ten Mile CenterMay 6, 2014
Meridian City Council
33 E. Broadway
Meridian, ID 83642
Re: AZ-14-001—Ten Mile Center
Dear Councilmembers:
First and foremost I want to express my opposition to this project. I object to both the zoning
that is being planned and the connection to the project through the Primrose Subdivision.
It almost appears that the City of Meridian is in competition with Boise. Boise was the main hub
in the Treasure Valley. It has a large downtown metro area. Meridian has a small downtown but
is growing through urban sprawl. Most people that live in Meridian did so because it was less
urban and had a sense of community. When I moved here 18 years ago it also had a better
education system than Boise. The residents that live in the Primrose Subdivision moved there
for the rural lifestyle.
This plan will completely alter the lifestyle in the Primrose Subdivision. We will have a
monstrous commercial and urban area right at our doorsteps. I have found over the years that
these different plans for growth seem to foster a lack of critical thinking about the
consequences and the impact it will have on the community. The planning also does not seem
to hear or accept input from the people of the community. The applicant, Treasure Valley
Investments, LLC, stated at the P&Z Meeting on March 20'h that this project has the potential of
being the largest commercial hub between Salt Lake City, UT, and Portland, OR. Was that
supposed to be a selling point? That is the last thing we want in our backyards, especially being
that we are a rural community.
Here are a couple of examples of there being a deficiency in planning.
1. The Eagle Road and Fairview Ave. has statistically been the most dangerous intersection
in the valley. The traffic congestion is terrible along the whole corridor. The new plan to
fix that was to build The Village at that intersection and create more traffic. With poorly
timed traffic signals the congestion is worse.
2. Closer to home was the building of the Peregrine Elementary School. The traffic impact
was totally miscalculated. A majority of children that live close enough to be in the
walking zone do not walk. Their parents drop them off and pick them up. I can't get out
of my driveway when school is starting or ending. The traffic was so bad, in fact, that the
outbound traffic had to be rerouted to go around the block and exit out on Verbena Dr.
The school now effects the entire subdivision.
What impact I believe will happen from the Ten Mile Center Project as proposed.
Education
With the TN -R there will be an excess of students that will be flooded into the Meridian School
District creating an overcrowding situation. Idaho already ranks 2nd from the bottom nationally
in education according to studies. No one seems to be addressing how to fix that. Adding more
students will just exacerbate the problem.
Safety
With the proposed access through the Primrose Subdivision to the Ten Mile Center traffic will
increase drastically on Waltman St., Verbena Dr., and Lilac St. Residents from the east side of
Linder will shortcut through to whatever retail establishments end up in the Ten Mile Center as
well as using it to access the Ten Mile interchange. All this traffic will go in front of the
Peregrine Elementary School. This is an accident waiting to happen.
Crime
The Primrose Subdivision has been a relatively isolated community. It has been quiet with no
criminal activity. The addition of vehicle trips and high density housing so close by will inevitably
change that for the worse. This will be compounded by opening up access on Waltman and Lilac
as through streets.
Economy
The plan as shown is very vague. It does not stipulate exactly what is going in and where. I have
been led to believe that there will be large retail stores being part of this project. We were told
to think "The Village." I'm sorry, but I think The Village is an eyesore. It does not fit with what
Meridian has been. I also wonder how many shopping areas are needed in this city. Everything
that gets built gives people another place to spend money. There is no emphasis on places
where people can make money. Retail jobs are all low paying positions. We need companies
that offer a decent wage scale.
In summary, I understand that this property was going to develop. I am opposed to how it is
being handled and how it appears that the city is going through the motions of hearing our
concerns but that the wheels are already in motion for it to go as presented. The people do not
appreciate being patronized and led to believe that they actually have a voice in the decision
making process when they in essence have no voice. You have elected positions and you can
show your sincerity in actually hearing what we have to say and giving it serious consideration
before rendering you decision.
Thank you.
Richard and Sandra Telliho
1885 Waltman Street
Meridian, ID 83642
Good Evening, May 6, 2014
My name is Christine Lambing. We reside at 860 Lilac St. in the Primrose
Subdivision on the corner of Waltman & Lilac. This neighborhood is comprised of
acre lots with single family dwellings, outbuildings, livestock, horses, farm animals
and irrigation, room for children and grandchildren to safely play. We have wells
that provide the best water. We bought this property because of the rural
qualities, as did our neighbors. An acre of land with a home is not cheap, and for
us, a lifetime investment.
This brings me to the points I wish to address. Not everyone wants all of the
Meridian area to grow at the rate it is and has been of late. We are a rural area in
Ada County that is being encroached upon by the city.
We all know growth is inevitable and it has been made very clear to us this
development is going to happen regardless. We are however, vehemently
opposed to the way it is happening and to the multitude of serious negative
impacts it is going to have on our way of life. Including, but by no means limited
to, loss of well water, crime ( which we currently have very little of), traffic and
road issues, overcrowding of Peregrine Elementary school, and the loss of some
of our property so someone else can make more money.
I am also seriously insulted by the complete lack of regard we as a neighborhood
have been shown to date. The "going through the motions" if you will...
The proposed zoning adjacent to the Primrose Subdivision is, in our opinion,
unacceptable. You want to mix a residency plan that is too high in density with
our existing low density neighborhood. We have yet to be presented with clear
intent as to the actual number of dwellings proposed but have been given
ambiguous responses instead, all indicating an altogether "too high" density
plan. We have heard the planning "phrases" repeatedly yet we fail to see to
correlation on the planning map. On your web site I found the following:
Compatibility: The appearance of different land uses, development contexts, or
building types existing together in harmony, without conflict with respect to site,
architecture, and landscape design.
Response: There is no harmony in the proposed TN -R & TN -C adjacent to the
Primrose Subdivision.
Getting what you want: (From handout )
Please keep in mind that you may not be able to do EXACTLY what you have
intended. We know this can be frustrating, but we will get you as close as possible
working within City codes and policies. If you help us to understand your needs,
we can be pretty creative with brainstorming workable solutions.
Response: We feel there is no consideration being given to the residents of the
Primrose Subdivision and our neighbors.
And these abbreviated from the Design Manual Compliance: Residential design
guidelines:
See attached/highlighted:
The list and guidelines go on... where's the compliance???
We are requesting the property under review for development, adjacent to the
Primrose Subdivision be designated R-1 to better keep in line with our long-
standing and existing neighborhood.
We are opposed to the current proposal of TN -C and/or TN -R for said property.
Thank you,
ristine Lambing
Planning Department
DESIGN REVIEW
Design Manual Compliance
Project name: File 4h
Applicant/agent:
1.0 Site Character
0
Objective:
To encourage attractive, livable residential developments and neighborhoods that are integrated and compatible
with adjacent uses.
Y
N
N/A
Design Guidelines'
Comments2
Staff
E-1.1.3.1. Residential developments should establish
appropriate orientations to surrounding uses...
E-1.1.3.1.1. Develop a concept plan to demonstrate
compatibility with adjacent uses and the...
E-1.1.3.1.2. Where appropriate, coordinate with
adjacent uses, including single project phases, to...
E-1.1.3.1.3. Avoid piecemeal and fragmented
development that detracts from the establishment of...
E-1.1.3.1.4. Residential developments should create a
pleasant, comfortable, and safe place to live that is..
E-1.1.3.2. Residential developments are encouraged to
provide a mix of housing types to promote...
E-1.1.3.2.1. Where appropriate, use this mix to provide
transitions in scale between higher -density and...
E-1.1.3.3. Anticipate the addition of future transit
systems to the transportation network and plan for...
E-1.1.3.3.1. Coordinate routes, placement of facilities,
and infrastructure improvements with the...
E-1.1.3.4 s Where appropriate, incorporate and enhance
significant natural features as site amenities and/or....
E-1.1.3.5. Appropriately address the critical issues of
site layout that influence a compatible and integrated...
I See corresponding item in the Design Manual for full tett.
2 Insert comments or explanations relevant to the projects compliance or rron-compliance.
3 Incorporating this guideline iiia), help offset rton-compliance ivith other guidelines.
33 E. Broadway Ave. ® Meridian, Idaho 83642
Phone: (208) 884-5533 e Facsimile: (208) 888-6854 ® Website: www.meridiancity.org
12/4/08)
developments off major roadways, including... Y , g.....
E-1.2.3.1.1. Provide vehicular access from secondary
roadways for sites adjacent to major roadways...
E-1.2.3.1.2. Limit street connections on arterial
roadways to strategic locations, such as residential...
E-1.2.3.2. Residential developments should establish
an appropriate street network, roadway system, or...
E-1.2.3.2.1. Provide safe and attractive connections
within and between developments and adjoining...
E-1.2.3.2.2. Residential developments should connect
with adjacent existing or planned developments and...
E-1.2.3.2.3. Coordinate and design connections to
adjacent residential and non-residential...
E-1.2.3.2.4. Residential development entryways should
align across primary roadways to form controlled...
E-1.2.3.2.5.3 Attractive well-designed and integrated
entryways that express is sense of arrival are...
E-1.2.3.2.6. Integrate pedestrian routes with site
circulation patterns that converge on development...
E-1.2.3.2.7. Incorporate and coordinate connections
through buffers and other barriers that would...
E-1.2.3.3. Plan for access and connectivity to future
transit facilities, including, but not limited to...
E-1.2.3.3.1. Coordinate with the appropriate agencies
and organizations to ensure successful integration of...
E-1.2.3.3.2.3 Provide appropriate pedestrian
connections from adjacent use, common spaces, and...
2 See corresponding item in the Design Mannal for full text.
z Insert comments or explanations relevant to the projects compliance or norr-compliar:ce.
3 Inco'porating this guideline may help offset non-compliance With other guidelines.
33 E. Broadway Ave. ® Meridian, Idaho 83642
Phone: (208) 884-5533 0 Facsimile: (208) 888-6854 0 Website: www.meridiancity.org
Meridian City Council
Annexation and Zoning Meeting:
R-8, 13.23 Acres
TN -C, 14.34 Acres
TN -R, 11.76 Acres
C-6 81.35 Acres
Good Evening City Council Members:
f
May 6, 2014
F: a x.
I want to thank you for this opportunity to express my concerns/issues. My name is Stephen Davenport. I have
lived at 915 Lilac Street, Meridian, Idaho for 36 years, longer than most currently living in the Primrose Subdivision
and on Lilac Street. Lilac Street runs North and South and presently, is under consideration as an access route to
the Ten Mile Interchange.
I have witnessed much development and/or changes over the years. I remember when most of the land around
the Prim Rose Subdivision was farmland and is now slowly being redeveloped. Land east of Linder Road was the
first to be developed. Residents in this new area wanted to open upper Waltman Road, which was a dead end, as
an access to Meridian Road and the 1-5 Freeway. Residents living on Upper Waltman objected to the idea fearing
excessive traffic would impact negatively and border on "Encroachment." They petitioned the City not to "honor"
this request. The City responded positively and upper Waltman remains a dead-end and closed to East Linder
residents. Needless to say, Upper Waltman Property owners were pleased with the City's decision, one of whom is
a close friend of mine.
Now it is my understanding a similar situation is occurring with the development of the Ten Mile Center. If the
plan goes through it will allow residents East of Linder access through the Primrose subdivision to reach the Ten
Mile Interchange. In my opinion, to redirect existing traffic through Lower Waltman, Verbena and Lilac Streets will
create an excess. This is an encroachment and will impact negatively. Are the 60+ residents of the Primrose
subdivision any less deserving that the ten residences domiciled on Upper Waltman Street? (I repeat)
Widening Verbena and Lilac Streets will, naturally create excess traffic and in my opinion pose a problem for
bicyclist as well as neighbors who enjoy taking long walks though these streets. Except for Peregrine Elementary,
There are no sidewalks. Widening Lilac Street will also interfere with existing 'private wells', not to mention the
large irrigation ditch running east and west and paralleling Verbena.
I am not opposed to the Development but I am opposed to the Zoning changes, namely TN -C and TN -R. It makes
more sense, however, not to redirect traffic through the Subdivision but to continue utilizing Linder and Franklin
Roads as an access to the Ten Mile Interchange Linder and Franklin Roads are not impacted negatively. I would
encourage the Council to follow the City's Future Land Use Plan and keep the 30.4 acres a Medium Density
Residential area to reduce traffic on Lilac and Waltman.
In conclusion, I hope Meridian City Council members, this evening, will listen carefully to these property owners in
attendance and do what is best in the interest of "fairness." Please, do not let this meeting become an exercise in
futility or placation. Our time is valuable, too.
Thank You
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