2020-10-13 Lori Smith Matt and Lori Smith
3652 E Vantage Pointe Lane
Meridian, ID 83642
October 12,2020
City Clerk
City of Meridian
33 E. Broadway Avenue, Suite 104
Meridian, ID 83642
cityclerk@meridiancity.org
Attention: Planning and Zoning Commission
Subject: Skybreak PP,AZ H-2020-0079
Members of the Planning and Zoning Commission:
Thank you for your consideration and attention to the information provided to you in
strong opposition to the Skybreak development.
We own one of the many lots that abuts up to the development on the south side of
the project. We have met in person with Laren Bailey, of the Conger Group,where we
described to him our opposition to the size of the development (353 single-family lots
and 40 common lots for a total of 407 lots on 79.9 acres) and the immediate negative
impact the development will have on our quality of life, here in rural Meridian.
The developer is proposing an inadequate transition to our community of 16 "CEO
Type Housing" units in the Vantage Pointe Subdivision. In round numbers, our lots
per acre are .64 lots per acre as compared to 4.5 lots per acre for the Skybreak
development. This development is 7 X's more dense than our adjoining
neighborhood. Please visualize this in your mind or come visit our actual
neighborhood to see for yourself the impact this huge development will have on our
way of life. The traffic, the overcrowded schools, the night sky impacts, the
dislocation of all kinds of wildlife, and the intrusion to our daily life especially with the
layout of the roads in the development.
O Commissioners,please reject and require the redesign of this development to better fit
the surrounding neighborhoods and quality of life.
Meridian's Comp Plan contains the following regarding transitions between existing
and new development:
Guidance noted on page 3-10 is for areas that"transition between existing rural
residential and urban properties. Developments need to respect agricultural heritage and
resources,recognize view sheds and open spaces,and maintain or improve the overall
atmosphere of the area."
The action statement on page 3-22 is to `Require all new development to create a site
design compatible with surrounding uses through buffering,screening, transitional densities,
and other best site design practices."
The action statement on page 5-2 is to "Support and protect the identity of existing
residential neighborhoods."
The development's design on the rim above the Boise Ranch Golf Course is the only
area in the development that provides adequate transition to a community like ours.
We have requested, of Mr. Bailey, the lots along the border of the Vantage Pointe
Subdivision be at least 1/2 acre in size and single story homes, similar to the
developer's description of their high-end lots or "CEO Type Housing" on large rim
view lots,to minimize the impact on our quality of life.
O Commissioners,please consider requiring the developer to re-design for minimum lot
sizes,single story homes and roadways along the southern property border with Vantage
Pointe Subdivision to meet the Comp Plan requirements for transition areas.
Over-55 Community-The proposed plan touts Adult-living, although they have
proposed so many "family" friendly amenities. The gated "over-55" community is not
deed restricted to over age 55 ownership. This appears to be a marketing ploy to get
around the grossly over crowded schools that this development would continue to
negatively impact. See Exhibit J, Pg 18 of PZ-Narrative.
The non-gated/gated "over 55" has 46 units and is designed to have streets running
from north to south, perpendicular to the back of two of the homes in Vantage Pointe
Subdivision. The impact of this to us personally will be to have car lights shine directly
into our kitchen and main living space on a daily basis. There are 21 homes designed
along these streets that will impact us directly. As described in Exhibit K, page 18 of
PZ-Narrative or the Parking Plan,we could have as many as 4 cars per unit or 84 cars
shining lights into our living room and kitchen.
O Commissioners,please reject this proposed development as an `over-55"development
unless and until the lots are deed restricted to that effect. Additionally,reject the design of
the "over-55"community lots that allow for,as many as,84 cars to shine headlights directly
into our living space.
In summary,we have seen three increasingly larger developments proposed on the
nearly 80 acres to the north of us. We understand that development is upon all of
Idaho. As citizens of Idaho and as leaders of the Meridian area,you must consider the
quality of life that we have enjoyed for generations and to take action to protect this
quality of life while meeting the pressures of growth.
O Commissioners,please reject this grossly and inadequately designed development and
take into consideration the design and type of surrounding neighborhoods of Vantage Pointe
Subdivision, The Keep,and Sky Mesa,for examples of how to properly allow for required
transitions to long established neighborhoods on the South Rim of Meridian.
Thank you for your consideration and your leadership in this planning process.
Additionally, we support the comments from our neighbors of the Vantage Pointe
Subdivision.
Sincerely yours,
Matt and Lori Smith