Public TestimonyTo all interested persons:
Our home is on the south end of N. Sharon Ave, intersecting at the right-angle turn
of Spearfish, which is one short block from the proposed development. Our
primary concerns, are that as it now stands, and historically, there exists unsafe
traffic conditions, especially with regard to the safety of schoolchildren. We have
witnessed multiple incidents in which automobiles have very nearly stuck children
who are in the street, or crossing the street. The turn from Spearfish onto North
Sharon is a blind turn, thus, creating a hazard, as well as vehicles traveling at a
speed that is unsafe for the conditions. Many months ago, we sent a detailed letter
to the principal of Ustick Elementary School, as well as sending a copy to the
Meridian Police Department. A short while after sending the letters, the Red
Feather area near our home was provided with traffic control signs, which we
believe are somewhat helpful, however, the placement of the signage does not
address the problem that exist on and about N. Sharon Ave, which accesses the
school. A seemingly inordinate volume of speeding traffic continues to pose a
salient hazard.
Our position is that more adequate methods to assure the safety of the children be
designed and implemented. Those could include signage informing motorists that
this is a school zone, speed-bump structures, and other such measures. While the
very effective control light system that is in place on Ustick Road is effective, the
back side of the school's pickup and drop-off area remains relatively unsafe at
ingress and egress. The additional traffic load of the proposed residential
development will clearly cause a significant, emerging problem with regard to
vehicular traffic hazards. Community development and growth at the expense of
potential human death or injury seem to be morally objectionable, at the least, as
well as lacking rational aforethought. We appeal to the sensibilities of the City of
Meridian in this very critical matter, and ask that all possible remedies to the
problem be explored and implemented, in the name of prudence and caution.
To close, we also oppose the proposed development due to the density load
increase, and because we have been informed that those residents will have access
to the already user saturated open, grassy areas, which are inadequate to
accommodate the present residents.
James and Roseanna Selle
2831 North Sharon Avenue
Meridian, ID 83646
629-0120