2024-05-06 Carol Rinehimer
Please submit my following testimony as a resident of Stetson Estates/Pointing Dog
Subdivision.
May 6, 2024
To: Meridian City Council
From: Carol Rinehimer, 4182 S Rustler Lane, Meridian
Subject: Proposed Burnside Ridge Estates (PP H-2023-0055)
The one square mile of land located between Ten Mile Rd / Linder Rd / Victory / Amity
consists of established estate homes that are from 5 to 10-acre parcels. Even adjacent
subdivisions to the North and Northeast of the proposed location of Burnside Subdivision
are one to 10-acre lots. As noted by property lines on the 03/07/2024 Burnside Ridge
“Vicinity Map”, you can see the surrounding area has established acreage homes that will
remain true to their size. Also, even though not directly adjoining proposed Burnside
Ridge, to the south, there are a half dozen other estate homes with the same acreage that
are fully developed that will be impacted in the future of the “Proposed Zoning”.
In the 2023 Burnside Ridge “Staff Report” the proposed 121.31 acres has a current zone
listing of “Rural Residential/Agricultural”. This maintains the current format of the
adjacent properties as described above. The “Proposed Zoning” of R-2, R-4, and R-8 does
not maintain or even support a reasonable transition. Suggesting building 2.51 or greater
dwelling units adjacent to 5 and 10-acre parcels reduces the quality of life, privacy, and the
value of our homes.
The plan proposed for Burnside Ridge is 263 single-family detached units that directly
impact approximately 25 properties, homes, agriculture, ecosystem displacement, and
reduction of assets produced to the local economy. In this area, many of the homes have
chosen to maintain a rural lifestyle that consists of cattle raising, agricultural farming, and
homesteading. With the ½ mile from Rustler LN/PL to Linder, we ask that the city of
Meridian take into heavy consideration a greater conservative transition of homes.
Stetson Estate/Pointing Dog is divided into two sections, a Public Road as indicated with
Rustler Place, and a Private Road, transitioning at Rustler Lane. It has been proposed that a
collector road, east/west from Burnside to Ten Mile, be placed going directly through the
private road through developed properties. This possible overreach by the city, and by
dismissing the concerns of the current residents of Stetson Estates/Pointing Dog, the City
and Council are not upholding the voice of the people who you are representing. ACHD
estimated increase 2,513 trips per day once it is built out, and this is not acceptable
infrastructure for a Private Road.
We understand that progress happens, but at what cost for the established families and
ecosystem that are in the surrounding area? Even proposed road “Improvements” for
Victory and Linder Roads are not slated for approximately 16 years from today, 2036-
2040, resulting in poor infrastructure and reduced quality of life due to the demand.
It would be in the best interest of the current City Council to refer to the August 9, 2022,
“City of Meridian Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, Final Decision, and Order”. The
council 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.”
That was just one reason for the past City Council's denial.
This one square mile of land is an opportunity for the city to utilize the needs of
individuals who desire to have a larger area to call their own. There are a few areas in
Meridian that have the desire and draw of individuals like our neighboring city, Eagle.
Banbury, Castlebury, Castlebury East & West, Spurwing, Two Rivers, and Island Wood have
catered to an acre and above homes. Why not allow this area the same opportunity?
We kindly ask the City of Meridian and the Council to provide a better transition plan.
Specifically, we request no less than 1 acre-sized homes to be placed along existing
properties and reduce the zoning to R-1 and to a maximum of R-4 along Linder Road to
have the appropriate transition into the current subdivision, Edgehill, on the Southeast
area of Linder and Victory Rd that is zoned as R-4.
The current infrastructure, schools, lift stations, and roads surrounding the proposed
subdivision are not ready to sustain the influx of additional residential homes. If the
zoning increase is approved, it will result in lower quality of life, displaced agriculture and
ecosystem loss.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Carol Rinehimer