2020-08-17 Bryce Gardiner
Charlene Way
From:Bryce Gardiner <bryce.gardiner@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, August 17, 2020 3:53 PM
To:Sonya Allen; planninginquiries; City Clerk
Subject:Zoning at Victory and Meridian Rd.
Hello Meridian City Council & Planning and Zoning.
I have been a resident of Strada Bellissima Subdivision for nearly 11 years, which sits North of a proposed development
for high capacity housing, at the South West corner of Meridian Rd and Victory Rd.
I would like to voice my strong opposition to any zoning to accommodate a high density housing plan right next to my
high end property. There are several reasons for my strong opposition to the high density housing development being
proposed.
I strongly believe you have a duty to listen and make decisions based on our (the residents most affected) feedback,
whose lives and quality of lives your decisions will impact forever.
The location does not meet Meridian’s documented expectations of what services exist in an area to be
considered for high density development. ie. “ where high levels of urban services are
provided.” There are no jobs, no shopping, no transit services, no parks and the schools are at
or over capacity
Schools Overcapacity: 8/4/20 Agency Comments – West Ada: West Ada School District reports
that Mary McPherson Elementary , Victory Middle School and Meridian High School are all operating at
or above capacity. “ New residents cannot be assured of attending the neighborhood school….” West
Ada School district will need land and passage of a bond issue in order to meet additional school
capacity. Developers are not contributing any of their gains for the improvement of the limited schools
situation, thus deteriorating the quality of education for all, due to overcrowding. Thus zoning is so
vitally important for this specific area.
Victory Road Congestion: Agency Comments - ACHD Draft evaluation of project states that there
are 1410 units across seven subdivisions currently under development in the vicinity of Victory and
Meridian intersection. Victory Road can sustain 279 vehicles per hour. Average daily traffic count for
Victory was 3398 in Jan 2020 and ACHD estimates 1,259 trips per day from the proposed Victory
Apartments. ACHD notes there is no transit service available to serve this site.
Access Point Congestion: Proposed development will have 380 parking spaces. There is only one
access to and from the proposed subdivision. That access 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. There is no turn lane on Victory and, according to ACHD, no room to widen
Victory due to the Ridenbaugh canal. Traffic during peak hours already backs up from the traffic light
too close to the S-curve ¼ mile West. This amount of traffic is not able to exit the area within one traffic
light cycle.
Increase in Traffic Accidents: The number of traffic accidents at Victory and Meridian Roads has
increased significantly over the last three years. Due to the increased traffic volumes and congestion in
the area during high traffic hours of the day - primarily driven by overdevelopment, like high density
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housing. Which rapidly cripples the current infrastructure beyond what the current infrastructure can
handle, making it unsafe!
PROPERTY VALUES: Meridian Comprehensive Plan policy promises to make decisions, including
land use restrictions and conditions of approval that do not violate private property rights and to
Preserve private property rights and values by enforcing regulations that will prevent and mitigate
against incompatible and detrimental neighboring uses. . The surrounding area consists of high
dollar ($500K+) single family homes in Strada Bellissima, Bear Creek, Timberline, Jocelyn and
Observation Point subdivisions. High Density development would be detrimental to our and our
neighbor’s private property value and our quality of life.
ALTERNATIVE: The property should be zoned to promote development like Strada Bellissima which is zoned
L-O (office) or C-G (light commercial) with R-4 transition to R8. This will address every issue above and allow
for measured development and maintain quality of life and safety of the children, families, and residents in this
area.
Thanks for listening to our concerns, and thanks for making decisions that are going to be sound for the community, and
not degrade the community.
Thanks,
Bryce Gardiner
Meridian City Resident
Strada Bellissima Subdivision.
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