2022-10-01 Mark Nero
Charlene Way
From:Mark Nero <2fiftyr@gmail.com>
Sent:Saturday, October 1, 2022 9:07 AM
To:City Clerk; Mark Nero
Subject:Klein Huis at Victory and Meridian - H-2022-0051 - Oppose Approval
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
I’m submitting these comments to express my opposition to the development project
proposed. For a second time in two years, Ball Ventures has asked the City of Meridian to
approve the development of a large, high density multi-family rental complex at the corner of
SW corner Meridian and Victory Rd. With a few exceptions, this new proposal is the same as it
was in 2020. In August of 2020 the City of Meridian DECLINED Ball Ventures proposal for
multi-family rental units. There were several good reasons for that, including significant public
outcry. When comparing proposals many of the issues raised in 2020 still exist within the new
plan.
In 2020 the developer was asking for a FLUM change from MDR to MDHR. The City of
Meridian had just come off completing a comprehensive review and update of the FLUM. That
change request was just one of the many reasons the City of Meridian declined approval. In
this second proposal, Ball Ventures is proposing a plan that looks designed to circumvent the
intended use of the land and to push through a high density, multi-family rental complex.
Ball Ventures knows the City of Meridian will not approve a FLUM change to MHDR, so they
have intentionally maximized the units by limiting the density to 8 units per acre, thus 16.8
acres multiplied by 8 results in 134 units. It is no coincidence that the proposal is for 134 units.
When reviewing the City of Meridian land use designation cut sheets for the FLUM it is both
obvious and reasonable to conclude that any high density, multi-family, townhomes,
condominiums, and apartments are intended to be developed in MHDR and HDR. HDR
language specifically states “multi-family” in the designation. On the other end of the
spectrum, LDR and MDR designations are for 1-3 and 3-8 units per acre and clearly are
intended for single-family homes. Given the land use criteria as set forth in the FLUM, it
appears obvious that this property is the wrong place for the 134 high density, multi-family
units proposed
Beyond the issue of land use designations, there are many other concerns and issues raised by
other agencies as well the City of Meridian staff with regards to transitions, consistency, and
connectivity as detailed in the Comprehensive Plan and Unified Code. Many of the same issue
brought forth in 2020 are still being raised with this new proposal. It would seem as if the Ball
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Ventures and the current developer are ignoring the continued feedback and assuming that
the City of Meridian will pass this regardless. I hope they are wrong!
Perhaps Ball Ventures made a poor decision or assumption in purchasing this land and is now
trying to recover by proposing a plan to achieve a needed ROI. Those decisions however
should not be resolved on the backs of all the residents in surrounding neighborhoods which
are nearly all LDR and MDR areas. Those neighbors moved to this community knowing what
the surrounding land use plan was and it did not include future high density rental units
I’ll conclude with this final thought. The precedence of approving a plan like this in Meridian
would be devastating. How long before other property owners and developers who have
already purchased land or plan to for new single-family homes would realize that land
designated as MDR on the FLUM now has the options for high density rentals. That would
present a new financial opportunity for what is certain to be a better ROI.
I humbly ask the those in the Planning and Development Division as well as members of the
City of Meridian Planning Committee to consider the impact to our surrounding neighbors and
deny approval of this current proposal
Regards,
Mark Nero
3050 S. Denali Way
Meridian Idaho
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