2022-09-04 David Palumbo
Charlene Way
From:Charlene Way
Sent:Tuesday, September 6, 2022 8:11 AM
To:David Palumbo; Clerks Comment
Subject:RE: Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council Public Hearing Comments
David:
Thank you for your comments. They will be provided in each of the projects that you referenced.
To receive information for new project hearings that are being scheduled, you can sign up by going
to, “meridiancity.org” and scrolling down to near the bottom of the page which looks like the screen
shot below.
Click on Subscription Services and follow the instructions. This will provide you with an email of any
new projects and a link to which you can follow to all information on the upcoming project. Anyone
can sign up to receive this information.
Have a great day,
Charlene
Charlene Way, Assistant City Clerk (Working remote on Thursdays and Fridays)
City Clerk Office| City of Meridian
33 E. Broadway Ave., Meridian, Idaho 83642
Phone: 208.888.4433|Email: cway@meridiancity.org
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From: David Palumbo <davidepalumbo2013@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 4, 2022 8:50 PM
To: Clerks Comment <comment@meridiancity.org>; planninginquiries <planning@meridiancity.org>; City Clerk
<CityClerk@meridiancity.org>; Kent Goldthorpe <kgoldthorpe@achdidaho.org>
Subject: Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council Public Hearing Comments
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
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AMITY ROAD BETWEEN CLOVERDALE ROAD AND EAGLE ROAD
AMITY ROAD AND LINDER ROAD
09/04/2022
Re: H-2022-0020 Tessera Ranch
TECC-2022-0002 Hill'sCounty Farm
TECC-2022-0001 Brundage Estates
H-2022-0036 Lavender Place
H-2022-0060-Shops at Victory
SHP-2022-0008 Torino Locust Grove
H-2022-0051 Klein Huis
H-2022-0050 Allure Subdivision
Amity Road between Cloverdale Road and Eagle Road must be expanded to three lanes in the short
term and four lanes for long term traffic demand due to the very robust development occurring for
several miles around this subject area. This road expansion must occur prior to any further
development on Amity Road between Cloverdale Road and Meridian Road.
It is very disappointing that the City of Meridian and ACHD allowed Idaho Power to place large metal
power poles along the south side of Amity Road, which cause the expansion of the Amity Road lanes to
be very restricted. An example of poor planning for the future.
It is very disappointing that the City of Meridian and ACHD allowed the Extra Storage buildings to be
built so close to the center line of Amity Road. This will make expansion of the Amity Road lanes
more difficult. An example of horrible planning for the future.
It is very disappointing that current construction on the south side of Amity Road in the subject area is
occurring so to close to center line to allow for future lane expansion. An example of dreadful planning
for the future.
Please make the adjustments on future construction development on the south side of Amity Road in
the subject area to allow Amity Road to be expanded on the south side. The primary element of this
request is the roundabout at Amity Road/Eagle Road will not be concentric on the east side vs. west
side. I find it difficult to understand how and why road planners and the City of Meridian did not plan
this situation better.
Please request the developers of residential and commercial projects along Amity Road pay for
widening of Amity Road. Again, your responsibility is to the auto drivers for miles around the subject
area to plan an effect road system. Allowing more development in this area will create congestion that
you will be blamed for the lack of proper analysis of future needs.
These project extremely impacts residents and commercial owners beyond the 500 feet City of
Meridian written notice policy/code. To the best of my knowledge, you have not mailed written
invitations to all residents extremely impacted beyond the 500 feet as required in Idaho Code, Title 67;
State Government and State Affairs, Chapter 65, Local Land Use Planning. Notices in the newspaper or
road side signs do not meet the Idaho Code requirement for written meeting notices of Chapter 65. It is
obvious this 500 foot notice mailing requirement is designed to reduce public comments and response
to developers and political subdivisions. Also, the requireing only two weeks for sign posting before a
public hearing is extremely limiting to effective communication to the public.
I utilize Amity Road west from Five Mile Road often. I was pleased to experience the resurfacing of
Amity Road between Locust Grove and Meridian Road. One element of this work is that a right turn
lane (north bound) was not included at the Amity/Meridian intersection? The time it took to complete
the resurfacing would have been ample to complete that right turn lane and satisfy a important need and
satisfy auto drivers (your constituents), especially during commute times. Oh, maybe it was the fact
that pedestrian and auto signal poles were inappropriately placed on the northeast corner to allow for
the right turn lane addition. If this is an Idaho Department of Transportation issue; do they not
communicate with you before they complete any work on roads that impacts the citizens of Ada
County? I have witnessed autos putting two right side tires onto dirt while passing me on the right to
make a right turn (going north) onto Meridian Road from Amity Road (going west) at 11:30 am!
There was discussion regarding the current water situation in Ada County. There are wells going dry
with residents of Ada County. Comments made stated Suez/Veolia Water is able to provide water to the
subject areas when development occurs. NO one asked where and how Suez/Veolia is obtaining the
water to support future real estate development. The tenor of the comments regarding residents with
dry wells appeared to be very insensitive to their plight. Whether a well goes dry within or without the
Ada County should be the concern of all governmental decision makers. Additionally, a significant
part of Ada County that is not within city boundries is subject to city “areas of impact.” In my 42 years
of residency on W. Highlander Road, I have never ever been ask to comment regarding the codes, laws,
rules, et al. relating to “areas of impact.” My previous communication requested a subsurface water
study to develop the necessary intelligence for decision makers to make accurate decisions with
wisdom.
There were comments made regarding the retention of water within developed land. The purpose of
this retention was to recharge the aquafer. I believe this is incorrect. The primary purpose of water
retention on development sites to to keep toxins, etc. from migrating on to other properties or into the
storm drain system to the wastewater treatment plant(s) and/or Boise River. I suspect recharging the
area aquafers requires a large amount of water over a period of years. My understanding is Ada
County's aquafer supply begins in Eastern Idaho and flows along the Snake River. I would seek a
better understanding of this situation from you and the previously requested would greatly benefit
everyone.
I have witnessed personally in previously held public hearing by the City of Boise and Ada County.
Each item on the agenda calls for City Planning Department comments for ten minutes; the
owner/developer/representative to comment for ten minutes; public testimony for three minues each;
and rebuttal by the owner/developer/representative for five minues. The commissioners have the
opportunity to question each during their respective presentation or following all the testimony. The
public is not given an opportunity to rebutt the rebuttal or clarify any of the comments made by any and
all the participants in the public hearing. Therefore, unwise decisions could be made with inaccurate
and incorrect information and data. I know there is an appeal process; however, this is completed in
writing without face to face testimony. This is a glaring deficiency in the process. Is this a similar
situation in the City of Meridian?
It is imperative that each member of any decision making council, P & Z Commission etc. recuse
themselves from voting on any annexation or real estate development if they have benefited in any way
from contributed monies directly or indirectly sourced through the election or other modivating action.
This would also include real estate developers, contractors, suppliers and any real estate association,
lobbiest, etc. Personal relationships should also be considered as an element of this paragraph. A review
of recently approved projects and future real estate/annexation decisions should be held to insure
“transparency” is a meaningful motivation for responsible decision making.
ACHD....been kneecapped by the City, developers, etc. through the court system to properly complete
their responsibility to provide adequate transportation routes before the existing road system is
expanded to satisfy the people they serve....the residents of all the County....ACHD must be given the
responsibility and authority to provide the adequate infrastructure BEFORE all the commercial and
residential developments are approved and constructed. Otherwise, the resultant disaster and chaos
will be caused by you.
Southwest Ada County Alliance: The City of Meridian should seriously consider including this
organization for communicating city activities that directly impact citizens and businesses beyond the
City's eastern boundry south of I-84.
Thank you and Peace,
David E. Palumbo
11240 W. Highlander Road
Boise, Idaho 83709
208-440-1736