2020-08-17 Karen Brewer
Charlene Way
From:Sonya Allen
Sent:Monday, August 17, 2020 8:14 AM
To:karenb@chipool.com
Cc:planninginquiries; Adrienne Weatherly; Charlene Way; Chris Johnson
Subject:FW: Victory Apartments - Rezoning to R15
Importance:High
Karen,
We’ve received your letter of testimony for Victory Apartments.
The City Clerk will include it in the public record as testimony for this project.
Thanks,
Sonya
From: Karen Brewer <karenb@chipool.com>
Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2020 4:09 PM
To: Sonya Allen <sallen@meridiancity.org>; planninginquiries <planning@meridiancity.org>; City Clerk
<CityClerk@meridiancity.org>
Subject: Victory Apartments - Rezoning to R15
Importance: High
To City Clerk. Please forward to Meridian Planning and Zoning Commissioners/Staff, Meridian City Council and add to the public
comment.
RE: Victory Apartments CPAM, AZ H-2020-0065
My husband and I live on the five acres immediately west of the property being considered for rezoning to R15. We have lived there
for 22 years.
We are opposed to the R15 zoning . We are opposed because:
This location for high density zoning does not meet Meridian’s Comprehensive Plan because the proposed area 1) is not
located “..where high levels of urban services are provided….” . 2) is not located “…around or near… employment areas to provide
convenient access to services and jobs for residents. “
School Capacity: Mary McPherson Elementary , Victory Middle School and Meridian High School are all operating at or above
capacity. West Ada states, “ New residents cannot be assured of attending the neighborhood school….” West Ada also states that it
would need land and a bond issue to meet the additional capacity.
Traffic congestion: ACHD notes that there are 1410 units across seven subdivisions currently under development in the vicinity of
Victory and Meridian intersection. ACHD estimates 1,259 trips per day from the proposed Victory Apartments; the development will
have 380 parking spaces. The only access to and from proposed subdivision is directly across from Strada Bellissima and only 621ft
from the intersection of Victory and Meridian Roads. The Strada Bellissima entrance is also a school bus stop. Traffic during school
and peak hours already backs up from the traffic light to close to the S-curve on Victory ¼ mile West. There is no transit service
available to serve this site.
Preserve Private Property Values: Meridian Comprehensive Plan promises(3.05.01C) to “Preserve private property rights and values
by enforcing regulations that will prevent and mitigate against incompatible and detrimental neighboring uses.” R15 development
would NOT preserve the quality of life and property values of our property or the residents in Meridian Heights on W Rockford
Street. We and our Meridian Heights neighbors purchased our property for the mountain views. R15 would eliminate that valuable
amenity. R15 would be detrimental to the neighboring property.
1
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE MERIDIAN CITY TO REVISIT:
We have always been under the impression, based on what we have been told, that the development on the Southwest corner of
Victory and Meridian Roads would be similar to Strada Bellissima. That it would be C-G with R-4 transition. That the C-G would allow
for local restaurants, coffee shops, other small businesses that would serve the local communities through walking paths and
aesthetically inviting corridors. Such a development would meet Meridian Comprehensive Plan ( 3.07.02B) “ Locate smaller-scale
neighborhood-serving commercial and office use clusters so they complement and provide convenient access from nearby residential
areas, limiting access to arterial roadways and multimodal corridors”.
The property in question is unique in that it has irrigation corridors on both the North and South boundaries. The Ridenbaugh canal to
the North has a nice, unique, wandering curve that Victory Road follows. Both waterways are home to over two dozen documented
migrating birds, most of which are on the Protected Migratory Bird List of 2020 (list below). Meridian’s commitment to Livable
Communities and Stewardship would (4.04.02B) “ Preserve existing public rights-of-way and other easements for future pathways and
accessways, particularly along…. waterway or irrigation corridors” . It would (4.04.02C) “Continue partnerships with area irrigation
districts to continue to expand pathway system along existing waterways.“ By developing with improved riparian areas around these
two water corridors and including walking paths, Meridian would provide a GREAT amenity to the surrounding subdivisions and unique
place for destination shopping.
If Meridian would consider a C-G with R-4 zoning, we would look forward to discussing with Meridian and the developer how our 5 acre
property could be used to enhance the uniqueness of a boutique shopping area and its connectivity to Kentucky Ridge, Timberline,
Jocelyn Park, Strada Bellissima, Bear Creek subdivisions and all other residents in the area.
This is a development we feel would increase property values in the area and increase the quality of life for residents. We sincerely
request that Meridian will seriously consider this type of zoning/development instead of R15.
Regards,
Karen Schmidt
355 W Victory Rd
Meridian, ID 83642
Migratory Birds that live or use the property is question.
* = protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA),
https://www.fws.gov/birds/management/managed-species/migratory-bird-treaty-act-protected-species.php
Red Tail Hawks*
Cooper Hawks*
American Kestrel*
Western Screech Owl*
Great Blue Heron*
California Quail
Canada Goose*
Mallard
Mourning Dove*
Northern Flicker*
Killdeer
Red Winged Backbird *
American Gold Finch*
Hummingbirds*
Downy Woodpecker*
Western Tanager*
Barn Swallow*
Belted King Fisher*
American Robin*
Black-billed Magpie *
American Crow*
Numerous finches, sparrows, wrens, nuthatches*
Tiger Swallowtail butterflies
2
Charlene Way
From:Karen Brewer <karenb@chipool.com>
Sent:Sunday, August 16, 2020 4:09 PM
To:Sonya Allen; planninginquiries; City Clerk
Subject:Victory Apartments - Rezoning to R15
Importance:High
To City Clerk. Please forward to Meridian Planning and Zoning Commissioners/Staff, Meridian City Council and add to the public
comment.
RE: Victory Apartments CPAM, AZ H-2020-0065
My husband and I live on the five acres immediately west of the property being considered for rezoning to R15. We have lived there
for 22 years.
We are opposed to the R15 zoning . We are opposed because:
This location for high density zoning does not meet Meridian’s Comprehensive Plan because the proposed area 1) is not
located “..where high levels of urban services are provided….” . 2) is not located “…around or near… employment areas to provide
convenient access to services and jobs for residents. “
School Capacity: Mary McPherson Elementary , Victory Middle School and Meridian High School are all operating at or above
capacity. West Ada states, “ New residents cannot be assured of attending the neighborhood school….” West Ada also states that it
would need land and a bond issue to meet the additional capacity.
Traffic congestion: ACHD notes that there are 1410 units across seven subdivisions currently under development in the vicinity of
Victory and Meridian intersection. ACHD estimates 1,259 trips per day from the proposed Victory Apartments; the development will
have 380 parking spaces. The only access to and from proposed subdivision is directly across from Strada Bellissima and only 621ft
from the intersection of Victory and Meridian Roads. The Strada Bellissima entrance is also a school bus stop. Traffic during school
and peak hours already backs up from the traffic light to close to the S-curve on Victory ¼ mile West. There is no transit service
available to serve this site.
Preserve Private Property Values: Meridian Comprehensive Plan promises(3.05.01C) to “Preserve private property rights and values
by enforcing regulations that will prevent and mitigate against incompatible and detrimental neighboring uses.” R15 development
would NOT preserve the quality of life and property values of our property or the residents in Meridian Heights on W Rockford
Street. We and our Meridian Heights neighbors purchased our property for the mountain views. R15 would eliminate that valuable
amenity. R15 would be detrimental to the neighboring property.
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE MERIDIAN CITY TO REVISIT:
We have always been under the impression, based on what we have been told, that the development on the Southwest corner of
Victory and Meridian Roads would be similar to Strada Bellissima. That it would be C-G with R-4 transition. That the C-G would allow
for local restaurants, coffee shops, other small businesses that would serve the local communities through walking paths and
aesthetically inviting corridors. Such a development would meet Meridian Comprehensive Plan ( 3.07.02B) “ Locate smaller-scale
neighborhood-serving commercial and office use clusters so they complement and provide convenient access from nearby residential
areas, limiting access to arterial roadways and multimodal corridors”.
The property in question is unique in that it has irrigation corridors on both the North and South boundaries. The Ridenbaugh canal to
the North has a nice, unique, wandering curve that Victory Road follows. Both waterways are home to over two dozen documented
migrating birds, most of which are on the Protected Migratory Bird List of 2020 (list below). Meridian’s commitment to Livable
Communities and Stewardship would (4.04.02B) “ Preserve existing public rights-of-way and other easements for future pathways and
accessways, particularly along…. waterway or irrigation corridors” . It would (4.04.02C) “Continue partnerships with area irrigation
districts to continue to expand pathway system along existing waterways.“ By developing with improved riparian areas around these
two water corridors and including walking paths, Meridian would provide a GREAT amenity to the surrounding subdivisions and unique
place for destination shopping.
If Meridian would consider a C-G with R-4 zoning, we would look forward to discussing with Meridian and the developer how our 5 acre
property could be used to enhance the uniqueness of a boutique shopping area and its connectivity to Kentucky Ridge, Timberline,
Jocelyn Park, Strada Bellissima, Bear Creek subdivisions and all other residents in the area.
1
This is a development we feel would increase property values in the area and increase the quality of life for residents. We sincerely
request that Meridian will seriously consider this type of zoning/development instead of R15.
Regards,
Karen Schmidt
355 W Victory Rd
Meridian, ID 83642
Migratory Birds that live or use the property is question.
* = protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA),
https://www.fws.gov/birds/management/managed-species/migratory-bird-treaty-act-protected-species.php
Red Tail Hawks*
Cooper Hawks*
American Kestrel*
Western Screech Owl*
Great Blue Heron*
California Quail
Canada Goose*
Mallard
Mourning Dove*
Northern Flicker*
Killdeer
Red Winged Backbird *
American Gold Finch*
Hummingbirds*
Downy Woodpecker*
Western Tanager*
Barn Swallow*
Belted King Fisher*
American Robin*
Black-billed Magpie *
American Crow*
Numerous finches, sparrows, wrens, nuthatches*
Tiger Swallowtail butterflies
2