2020-07-07 Nancy Everard
Charlene Way
From:Nancy Everard <sneverard@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, July 07, 2020 2:13 PM
To:City Clerk
Cc:Dave Jacobs; polancokathy@ymail.com; thedemings2@yahoo.com;
steve.everard@gmail.com; brennablack@sbcglobal.net
Subject:Application - Modern Craftsman at Black Cat CUP, MDA, PS, RZ H-2020-0022
Comments for July 9, 2020 Hearing
City Clerk
City of Meridian
Regarding: Application - Modern Craftsman at Black Cat CUP, MDA, PS, RZ H-2020-0022
Comments for July 9, 2020 Hearing
Below please find our concerns with the proposed construction of the Modern Craftsmen Multi-family Rental project and associated request for
zoning changes.
The City of Meridian has made a commitment to a smart growth initiative to ensure our city grows to be a thriving community providing a
balance of living, business and recreation while being good stewards of a growing population in the Treasure Valley. The following are aspects
of Smart Growth and our concerns of how this commitment will not be fulfilled by the Modern Craftsmen development as proposed.
Preserve Open Space, Natural Resources, and Environment
The city of Meridian has made a commitment of 4 acres of developed public park land per 1000 residents. Meridian as a whole has not met
this threshold. It falls short of this commitment even with no residential additions. While there are areas within city limits for which amenities are
available and pathways provide connectivity, the northwest section of Meridian in which the proposed development is located is one of the most
disconnected and absent of public open and park space within city limits. Online maps show no property owned by the city which would ensure
this need and commitment will be filled in our area in the near future. Recent approval and development already underway (Fairbourne
Subdivision) adjacent to the proposed complex will add approximately 175 households. As proposed, the Modern Craftsman would add an
additional 195 households. At the current Meridian median household size of 2.96, these two expansions alone equal 1,095. Where is the
additional 4 acres of park and open space for these additions? With open space and public park land that already falls significantly below the
commitment of 4 acres per 1,000 residents, ANY additional residential units of ANY type should not move forward in this segment of the city
until land and resources to fulfill the commitment to existing households is met. The northwest area of Meridian is not the only available land.
Land exists within the “bubbles” where public amenities are present. Any residential development/growth that does go forward should be
focused in these areas, while delaying any further residential construction in areas with low or no access until the acquisition and development
of open space, parks, and public recreation amenities is complete. This concern also relates to the smart growth commitment to enhance
quality of life and creation of livable communities referenced below. We want/need public open space, parks and recreation access from our
NW Meridian communities. While the Modern Craftsmen development may be revised to meet the open space requirements within the
perimeter of the project, it does not address the public open space concern.
Promote Alternative Transportation:
Meridian in general is severely lacking in public transportation. NW meridian is the furthest removed from what little public transportation exists.
NW Meridian is also furthest removed from high density employment areas. Placing a 195 unit apartment complex at this location is poor
transportation planning as it provides no future public transportation options and requires a vehicle for adult household members. It goes
directly against a commitment to promote alternative transportation. Until transportation alternatives are at least proposed for the NW area of
Meridian, a more appropriate location for an apartment complex in keeping with this smart growth commitment would be along the I-84 corridor
and or areas within walking distance or along existing city transportation lines within higher employment opportunity areas of the city. We
suggest efforts be made to at least develop and connect NW Meridian to safe bike transportation routes and the Boise Greenbelt before
increasing residential units in this portion of the city. A committed effort should also be made to bringing future public transportation options to
NW Meridian before development makes doing so impossible.
Create a Range of Housing Opportunities:
Opportunity for entry level home ownership should be available in every community. Developing rental properties in absence of these
opportunities, particularly in a rising real estate market leads to individuals that will never be able to buy a home. Construction of a “high end”
apartment complex will not create a range of housing opportunities. A more appropriate means of filling this aspect of smart growth would be a
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mixed condominium development that consists of units held for leasing by the developer, properties for owner occupied purchase, and non-
owner occupied investment units. NW Meridian does not have low maintenance small square footage properties available for purchase. 1-3
bedroom homes with a square footage under 1500 would allow affordable home ownership opportunity for young single professionals, young
families, and for empty nesters that truly want to downsize. Units designated as non-owner occupied for lease would bring income to the city,
investment opportunity, and rental homes for those that home ownership is not desired or currently within means. A development of this type
would meet a variety of housing needs while enabling first time or retirement home purchaser opportunity. It would build a diverse community
that the proposed rental property will not achieve.
Promote Economic Development/Create Livable Communities/Enhance Quality of Life:
The land at the intersection of Black Cat and Chinden are designated is Community Commercial. This designation is appropriate and absolutely
needed to meet the smart growth commitments of promoting economic development, creating livable communities, and enhance quality of life.
Any change in zoning reducing the acreage of community commercial should be absolutely avoided. The walk score for our community is low.
While Spurwing has wonderful paths and connectivity within our development, we have little to no connection to community businesses outside
of our sub division. We need/want restaurants, coffee shops, local shops, services that we can support and enjoy without having to get into our
car and drive. Removing land that can facilitate that and replacing with additional residential units as the Modern Craftsman developer has
requested means more traffic exiting our neighborhood to drive to businesses we could otherwise enjoy with a short walk. The proposed plan
creates connectivity only for the Modern Craftsman residents and takes away the potential for a community commercial development that
integrates with and meets the needs of the existing Spurwing Heights development as well as the Fairbourne development currently underway.
This need can not be fulfilled with the requested reduction of the currently zoned 7 acres to less than 1.
In a perfect world, we would love to have a high walk score with the ability to enjoy community businesses, have transportation choices,
employment opportunity, connection to neighboring communities, open space and recreation readily available. We understand that perfect
world may not be possible. But we would like to see effort being made to uphold the commitment to smart growth. We would like all decisions to
be held to this commitment. We would like unmet needs to be fulfilled before issuing approval for development which is an additional burden
that limits the ability to do so. We ask that the request for zoning change with reduction of community commercial be denied and that concerns
above are addressed before permits to begin any construction of the Modern Craftsman complex are released.
Thank you for your consideration of our comments and concerns in your decision process.
Steven and Nancy Everard
Brenna Black
Lawson and Jamie Deming
David P. Jacobs
Kathy Polanco
Sent from my iPad
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