2020-03-18 Stephanie Martin
Chris Johnson
From:Stephanie Martin <stephanie_n_martin@yahoo.com>
Sent:Wednesday, March 18, 2020 11:13 PM
To:City Clerk
Subject:City of Meridian Public Hearing Notice for Lost Rapids Apartments (H-2019-0146) -
Comments from a Resident
Dear Meridian City Clerk,
As a homeowner in the Bainbridge community, I’d like to voice my concerns regarding the pending Lost Rapids Apartment
application. I would assume you have received several similar testimonies with concerns over this from residents in the
area and if not, I hope you not take advantage of this meeting’s timing with the COVID-19 interruptions. I believe
significant attendance at the meeting was planned for those that oppose the apartments which obviously cannot happen
now. Several public forum debates have occurred between residents in the past months as the realization of the
apartments planned was highlighted with an overwhelming desire for changes.
I will speak only of my specific concerns now. I appreciate that we need housing options for residents both now and in the
future and not everyone has home ownership in mind. I do not fully oppose the apartments but wish the plans to be
amended to reduce the overall volume, either by lowering the total stories to 2 instead of 3 or considering townhomes
instead. Townhomes were the understood plan for almost all of Bainbridge residents upon purchase of their home and
although this was unofficial information, it has taken many residents by surprise that we now have apartments in the
works. And I think no one is fooled by the argument for affordable housing because the monthly rent of these pending
apartments is highly likely to be unreasonable for someone looking for lower cost housing.
Adding 101 apartments in a small area that is surrounded by 99% single family homes creates both an unbalanced traffic
increase from a high density population but also a stark contrast in property valuation and neighborhood
cohesiveness. Homeowners tend to take greater pride in their property, have increased community involvement and
respect their surroundings to a greater extent that the transient nature of renters. Obviously these are generalizations and
not true of all people but city administration should well know of the complications that arise around apartment complex in
a very consistent manner including increased crime reports, parking issues, and conflict. Adding that to an area that is
primarily detached homes is not a wise decision. My neighbor has witnessed drug selling and other unwanted activities at
the local park and we are fearful of what adding apartments will do on top of what we are already seeing. Residents want
to feel safe to walk around their neighboorhood and be in the park, even at night, without concerns coming from nefarious
activies.
Please also take great consideration for the burden on the Ten Mile/Chinden intersection which will explode with traffic
with the incoming Costco and other businesses. Lost Rapids Drive and Ten Mile will not support this volume without great
frustration to residents. This road is already a thoroughfair for those cutting the corner between Ten Mile and Chinden,
going at incredible speed and endangering residents. Consider each apartment, with 2 cars each, making trips to work
and back at a minimum every day…this is 400 trips out of the single entrance to the apartments, down Lost Rapids, and
on to Ten Mile at a bare minimum every single day. Parking is rarely ample enough to support residents and visitors in
apartment complexes leading to parking issues and other creative uses of space that is not respected.
Do not discount the added stress on the school district with additional kids as well. Based on plans, it appears emergency
vehicles may also have a hard time reaching this area in a timely manner and having sufficient access due to the limited
entrance points.
Finally, at an aesthetic level, having 3 story apartment buildings towering over all other buildings in the area is a stark
contrast to the surroundings. I don’t want to see the apartments as a beacon for the Bainbridge neighborhood and would
rather they blend in with their surroundings. Providing additional housing, and a sound buffer between the Costco is a
great idea but adding 101 apartments does not feel like the right solution for this area. Please consider this plea as
Meridian residents are continually more vocal about carefully planned growth and the perceived lack of thoughful
planning. Let's work toward listening to residents of this community and making sure everyone feels that their opinions
matter.
1
Thank you for your time,
Stephanie Martin
2