Letter by Kristen ThompsonKRISTEN R. THOMPSON, ESQ.
3165 S. SAVIA PLACE
MERIDIAN, ID 83642
kri steriruth2na,aol. com
November 8, 2012
Jaycee L. Holman, City Clerk
City of Meridian
33 E. Broadway Avenue
Meridian, ID 83642
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CITY CLERK5 OF+ ICE
Re: Meridian Planning & Zoning Commission Public Hearing 11/15/12
Applications: AZ 12-012 by SDN, LLC for Annexation & Zoning and
PP 12-015 for Preliminary Plat approval for Tradewinds Subdivision
Dear Ms. Holman:
I am in receipt of a Notice of Hearing from the City of Meridian regarding applications
AZ 12-012 and PP 12-015 requesting annexation and zoning for 10.42 acres of land to the R-8
zoning district and preliminary plat approval consisting of 39 building lots and 3 common /
other lots on 9.11 acres of land in a proposed R-8 zoning district. This is for a subdivision
known as Tradewinds Subdivision to be generally located on the southeast corner of E. Victory
Road and S. Locust Grove Road. These applications are made by SDN, LLC and are scheduled
for hearing on November 15, 2012 at 7:00 o'clock p.m. This letter will serve as my formal
comment to the applications for annexation and zoning and preliminary plat approval since I will
be unavailable to testify on the 15th.
I own a residence directly across E. Victory Road from the proposed subdivision. I
oppose approval of annexation and zoning and oppose approval of the preliminary plat based on
the following:
1. The proposed 39 building lots on the set acreage far exceeds what will not put an
unreasonable burden on traffic and services in this area. Currently the intersection of E.
Victory and S. Locust Grove is highly trafficked and the addition of this number of
residential lots would exacerbate the problem significantly.
Recently, ACRD converted the intersection from a 4-way stop to a traffic light which has
assisted in metering the traffic through the intersection. However, the traffic on that
corner is very dense and would not accommodate the additional burden.
Jaycee L. Holman, City Clerk
City of Meridian
November 8, 2012
Page 2
2. The property in question is close to a creek that runs on the south end of the property.
This creek is utilized by wildlife, migrating birds, and other species. This would
necessitate approval of any construction in the area of the creek by the Idaho Department
of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and potentially if federal funding is involved in roads,
public facilities, or the like, compliance with the NEPA guidelines. Further, care must be
taken to comply with other state and federal environmental requirements such as the
Federal Clean Water Act during any construction phase should this subdivision be
approved.
3. Upon review of the plat for the subdivision as posted online, there appears to be only one
(1) ingress/egress for the subdivision or some sort of entrance/exit in what appears to be a
park area. Given the traffic congestion on E. Victory where this ingress/egress appears to
be located, the ability for fire apparatus and emergency vehicles to enter the subdivision
would be severely limited. This is a concern because the area is already densely
populated with Tuscany subdivision on one side and Sageland Subdivision on the other.
What assurances is there that there is proper entry for fire and emergency vehicles if this
subdivision is approved?
4. My final concern is with the proposed funding of a 39 unit subdivision and the likely
hood that it will be completed and the lots and homes sold. Currently in Meridian and
Ada County there exists numerous subdivisions that are unfinished with vacant houses
and subdivision that are platted and approve that have not yet even been developed.
What assurances does this developer give and what financial data is available to insure
that they will properly completed this subdivision including all of the required public
services should the subdivision be approved?
Thank you for addressing these issues.
KRT/rlj