2024-05-05 John Rinehimer
Charlene Way
From:John Rinehimer <johnrinehimer@yahoo.com>
Sent:Sunday, May 5, 2024 9:10 PM
To:City Clerk
Subject:Testimony for Burnside Ridge Estates AZ, PP H-2023-0055
External Sender - Please use caution with links or attachments.
May 5, 2024
To: Meridian City Council
From: John Rinehimer, 4182 S Rustler Lane
Subject: Burnside Ridge Estates AZ, PP H-2023-0055.
I am writing to make publicly known my comments, concerns and opinions with the proposed Burnside Ridge Subdivision.
The main concerns I have are summarized as follows:
1) Poor transition between Stetson Estates + Pointing Dog Subdivisions, and the proposed Burnside Ridge Estates
Subdivision
2) Increase in overcrowding of schools
3) Lack of road infrastructure to support the increased traffic
4) Decrease in value of larger, existing estate homes on Rustler Place and Rustler Lane
5) Threat of private property rights being violated
1) TRANSITION
Stetson Estates and Pointing Dog Subdivisions are made up of large, 5- and 10-acre parcels. Both are well-
established subdivisions with all but one parcel has been built upon. Today this area is zoned as Rural Urban
Transition (RUT). It is NOT zoned as Low Density as suggested in the Future Land Use Map (FLUM). The Burnside
Ridge Estates is also zoned as RUT, but if annexed, could be zoned as medium density, which means 3-8 dwelling
units per acre. Knowing Stetson/PD are existing, it puts into question why the City would allow a medium density zone
next to a RUT designation. There needs to be a much better transition plan. Stacking R2 next to the subdivisions is
not an adequate transition. Sister community, Eagle, has many planned subdivisions that have require 1 acre plus
parcels. These are highly desirable to live in, not just for the reputation but the willingness to protect and uphold rural
communities. In fact, my wife and I used to live in the Banbury Subdivision on the NW corner of Eagle Road and
Chinden Blvd. Whenever a home came on the market, it was quickly swallowed up by a buyer wanting to expand
families, agricultural planning, etc... Unfortunately, Meridian does not have many planned communities like this. This
is an opportunity for the Council to rethink and rezone the southern rim area to be more what people want. We want to
increase the value of the City of Meridian, not lessen it by attracting low-value, low-income households.
1
2) OVERCROWDED SCHOOLS
According to the Aug 9, 2022, “City of Meridian Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, Final Decision, and Order”, part
of the reason the Council denied the first Burnside Ridge Estates proposal was due to the burden it would put on the
school infrastructure. In section A.6., the document indicated “that the annexation and residential subdivision would
result in approximately 157 school-age children, which would adversely impact the West Ada School District's ability
to deliver education services, particularly at Victory Middle School, which (2022) operating at 99.6 percent of full
capacity and will be operating at 100 percent of full capacity upon completion of other residential subdivisions
,
previously approved for development in the relevant attendance area.”. What has changed between Aug 92022
and today that would solve this? If little or nothing, I urge the Council to delay the Burnside Ridge project until this
is sufficiently addressed. We owe it to our youth to provide them the best educational services and extracurricular
value of a safe, American life.
3) TRAFFIC
Since Aug 9, 2022, traffic on Victory, Linder and Ten Mile has only worsened. This has happened independently of
the Burnside Ridge Estates subdivision. The roundabout at the intersection of Ten Mile and Victory has certainly
helped move traffic, but the overall volume in the area has climbed steadily and it will only get worse. Much of the
traffic from the Burnside Ridge Estates development would burden the Linder/Victory intersection, which today is a
small, two-lane road with a 4 way stop sign managing traffic. According to page 6 of the April 4, 2024 Staff Report, “A
Traffic Impact Study (TIS) was completed for this development in 2021 which estimates 2,513 vehicle trips per day;
255 vehicle tripos per hour in the PM peak hour”. This will absolutely exacerbate the traffic problem at that interaction.
According to page 3 of that same Staff Report, “The intersection of Victory Road and Linder Road is listed in the CIP
to re reconstructed as a single roundabout between 2036-2040”. That means the intersection wouldn’t get upgraded
for at least 10-14 years from now. Additionally, Linder, between Overland and Amity, wouldn’t be upgraded from at 2
lane farm road to a 3-lane road for a least 10-14 years as well. I strongly urge the Council to solve the traffic problems
and infrastructure before any new subdivision is approved. Perhaps the developer would pay for these roads so that
the road upgrades would move up in the timetable?
4) DECREASED HOME VALUE
We live in one of the established 5-acre parcels on the east side Rustler Lane. We butt up against the farm property
that is adjacent to Burnside Ridge Estates to the south. My wife and neighbors all feel strongly that approving an
endless sea of dense homes in this area will adversely affect the value of our homes. We truly value the open
spaces. We want open spaces. Others want open spaces. Although this area hasn’t been developed yet, what the
Council allows for Burnside will ultimately set a precedence for this property. Once the land has begun development, it
will forever change the open-space landscape. We would like to see fewer homes that have higher value than more
homes that are less value.
5) ENCROACHMENT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY
Rustler, which runs through the Stetson Estates and Pointing Dog Subdivisions, is actually two streets in line with
each other. The first ¼ mile from Victory Road heading south is called Rustler Place, a public road. Halfway down
Rustler begins Rustler Lane, which is a PRIVATE road. ACHD is requiring there be a collector road between Burnside
and Stetson, and is proposing it invade private land. This is an unnecessary overreach and I and others do not
consent. We ask ACHD and the City to respect our private property.
Thank you for allowing me to provide input. Let me know if there are questions. Unfortunately, I am not able to attend
th
the hearing in person on May 7.
John Rinehimer
johnrinehimer@yahoo.com
(208) 867-2294
2