2020-08-11 MIke Lange
Charlene Way
From:Sonya Allen
Sent:Tuesday, August 11, 2020 10:38 AM
To:Adrienne Weatherly; Charlene Way; Chris Johnson
Subject:FW: Skybreak Subdivision concerns and questions
From: Mike Lange <mikeglange@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2020 9:41 PM
To: Sonya Allen <sallen@meridiancity.org>
Subject: Skybreak Subdivision concerns and questions
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
Dear Ms. Allen,
My wife Stephanie spoke with your briefly on the phone last week regarding the proposed Skybreak subdivision off
Eagle near Lake Hazel. I appreciate this opportunity to both ask some questions and share some concerns that I would
like to ensure are considered in this process. At this point we have had a group meeting with a representative of the
developer as well as an individual meeting. Early on we were given the impression that it would be an iterative process
with the developer to find good compromise solutions, but the developer has not communicated since. Last week we
saw an article in the Statesman detailing the plan and the filing, and as far as we can tell, it reflects very little change
based on any community feedback from the Vantage Pointe adjoining homeowners. I sent a note to Laren Bailey, the
developer’s rep, but he is not responding – which unfortunately has me reaching out to the city planners to try an
understand the best way to have the interests of adjoining homeowners heard.
Some concerns we have with the plan as proposed:
Very poor transitions: I would like to better understand how planning is considering transitions to existing
properties. Vantage Point is 1+ acre estate lots, and the proposed plan intends to use a road to create a “buffer”
between our lots and what will be considerably smaller homes with very small yards. We would like to see a
much more intentional transition with appropriately sized lots and homes (no less than a 2:1 ratio) and see the
neighborhood transition more gradually to the higher densities. (Currently the plan calls for less than half the
Vantage Point homes to be bordered by ½ acre lots, even though the developer calls this out as a concession)
This seems critical to protect the value, relative privacy, and overall aesthetic of the area.
Much higher than surrounding density: While the overall density falls in medium, the developer seems to be
compensating for large rim lots with much smaller lots in the center of the neighborhood and directly behind my
home. This is a far more compact footprint than neighborhoods like Century Farm have. While the product is
targeted at retirees, there are no planned restrictions that would be legally binding. The scale of homes
between Vantage Pointe and this section of Skybreak would be dramatic – with only a road separating them.
Road layout: the current plan calls for “T” intersections in the exact center of the back yard of the first two lots
in Vantage Pointe. This means not only would the only buffer be pavement, but also that we would have
headlights coming directly into the back of our homes and yards, where bedrooms, family rooms, etc. are
situated. We are also concerned with the streetlamps that are normally placed at intersections, and the
considerable light pollution that would create into the back of our homes and living spaces.
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Open Space: Skybreak feels very limited on open space compared to many of the newer developments in our
area, and it is my perception that they are trying to count the ridge between the development and Boise Ranch
toward their open space, which is generally not that usable, and far away from the majority of the homes (and
behind a gate in this case)
I know there is ongoing conversations with the city and area residents about the development of the Southern
Rim. While I know Meridian is challenged with explosive growth, and as planners you are doing your best to keep up
with the demand, I would also encourage you to consider lower density and estate lots along the ridge (and blending
into Vantage Pointe). We have great examples of these types of neighborhood (Sky Mesa, East Ridge, the Keep). I
would suggest that there is a prestige that such a master plan can bring to a community (I think of the prestige Eagle has
had for 20 years with neighborhoods like Banbury, Spurwing, etc.) As we move away from the bench and closer to the
main road, there is still ample room for medium density development.
Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share my thoughts. While I understand and support the growth in the valley
(we have fully expected this land to develop for years), we would also like to see it happen in a way the blends the areas
nicely, and protects the significant investments we have made in our homes.
If you are willing, I would appreciate a call (no more than 30 minutes) to better understand the “norms” of these types
of developments, and to better understand both overall plans for the Southern Rim, what the city looks for in
transitions, and most importantly the best way to be involved and be properly represented in this process. The
developers definitely use a heavy hand (often using phrases like “we are sorry, but this is what the city wants”) and it is
frustrating to feel like you really have no say in what happens on the other side of your fence…
Thank you for your time, and I appreciate your advice on the best way to proceed.
Sincerely,
Mike Lange
3690 E Vantage Pointe Ln.
Meridian ID, 83642
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