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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEMAILS - 18-00701 & 18-00711 - 547 E 7th N - Rezone to MDR2Tawnya Grover From: Deborah Lovejoy Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2019 11:23 AM To: Tawnya Grover Subject: FW: Letter for planning and zoning committee Here's another. Thanks, Deborah Lovejoy Rexburg City Clerk 35 N 1" E Rexburg, ID 83440 Phone: (208) 372-2101 Fax: (877) 397-8137 From: Susan Clark [mailto:susanc70@gmaii.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2019 8:03 AM To: Deborah Lovejoy Subject: Letter for planning and zoning committee JAN 1 4 2019 I 1/14/19 May Concern, Whom it My name is Susan Clark and I live at 679 W. Stonebridge St. in the Stonebridge Subdivision. I am writing regarding the rezoning of the Grover Subdivision. I am concerned with the proposal to rezone the area from Commercial & Open Space to Low -Moderate Density Residential or Medium Density Residential 2. I am aware of the growth within the city and that open fields cannot always remain open fields. However, I want to make some requests and concerns known that my neighbors and I have discussed. Our neighborhood has already experienced the development of the northeast parcel of the Grover subdivision with the building of the Carlow Senior Apartments. My house sits up against this apartment complex and there are some things that have negatively affected myself and my family. The building is up against our back fence with only a small walkway between the fence and the apartment building. Our view from our back windows and yard changed from a beautiful field and sunset to a building with second story balconies that look directly into our backyard and windows. This has resulted in a loss of privacy for us. (See attached picture). I believe that these changes have decreased our property value. I don't want this same thing to happen to other neighbors as more apartment buildings may be added. As a neighborhood, we have discussed these issues and would prefer a transition in zoning with the lowest structure density located on the east side of the Grover subdivision providing a buffer zone between the existing single-family homes and possible multi -unit apartment complexes. This would prevent the possibility of N apartments located on a second floor or higher overlooking current residents' private backyards and maintain current property values. We are also concerned with increased traffic in the area both during and after construction. 7`h North is a narrow 2 lane road that is not set up for heavy traffic. As more and more apartments are built along this road, it will become congested. The Stonebridge Neighborhood currently only has two entrances/exits, both of which are connected to 7th North. Accessing 7th North is the only way in and out of our neighborhood. This would affect us in an emergency and would affect emergency vehicles accessing our neighborhood. The intersection of 7`h North and 2"d East is a big problem. It is already difficult to turn left onto 2"d East from 7th North, even without more traffic. And as Basic American Potato grows, there will be more traffic, including big trucks, coming from the opposite side. It will be a dangerous intersection. We request that a traffic light be installed at the intersection of 7th North and 2"d East before large construction vehicles arrive on the two-lane road. We are aware that laws exist limiting the number of traffic lights on a state highway as well as the distance between them. To resolve these issues, we propose that the redundant stop light in front of the former Wal-Mart location (Mountain River) be relocated to the 7`h North and 2"d East intersection. Again, as a neighborhood we are not opposed to continued development of the Grover Subdivision. However, we recognize that decisions concerning this land parcel will set a precedence for zoning in our area. We hope our voices will be heard so that we can come to a mutually beneficial compromise between the land developer, city, and residents already owning homes in the area. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Susan Clark 679 Stonebridge St Rexburg ID. 83440 208-313-1421 Susanc70na gmail.com Tawnya Grover From: Sent: To: Subject: Here's this one. Deborah Lovejoy Rexburg City Clerk 35N1"E Rexburg, ID 83440 Phone: (208) 372-2 101 Fax: (877) 397-8137 Deborah Lovejoy Tuesday, January 15, 2019 11:22 AM Tawnya Grover FW: Statement for Zoning Meeting Thursday, January 17, 2019 From: Gary R. Chapman [mailto:grchapman.geo@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, January 14, 2019 9:59 PM To: Deborah Lovejoy Subject: Statement for Zoning Meeting Thursday, January 17, 2019 DJAN 1 4 2019 CITY OF REQ BURG Dear Deborah Lovejoy, I plan on making a statement at the upcoming zoning meeting on Thursday, January 17, 2019. Can I sign up now to speak or do I need to do that just before the meeting? If I need to sign up before the meeting, what time would you recommend I arrive to reserve time to speak? For your convenience, I have included an outline of the statement I plan on making. Sincerely, Gary R Chapman 674 Tanglewood Dr, Rexburg, Idaho 1. 1 am Gary Chapman and I live at 674 Tanglewood Dr in the Stonebridge sub -development 2. 1 understand the need for Rexburg to growth a. However, growth needs to be measured and fit a master plan b. Traffic and other safety issues must be addressed concurrently with growth L The increase of commercial development North of town (Walmart et. Al.) has already made the intersection of 7th North and 2nd East very hazardous. There are several times during the day that a safe left turn onto 2nd East is nearly impossible. ii. As Basic American expands and the increase of semi -truck traffic this will bring, will make a bad traffic situation much worse. 3. It is my understanding the funding for a light at 7`^ North and 2"d East is only partially secured. Since the traffic situation is already tenuous, I feel the current situation must be resolved (meaning all funding secured, state and City approvals obtained, and construction scheduled) before any zoning changes are approved or at the very least before permits for construction are approved. 4. Another related concern is the current state of maintenance of 7t6 North East. The surface is very uneven, and the road aprons are poorly defined and maintained. The road in its present condition cannot handle the current traffic flow. The changes that would result with these zoning proposals will make this even worse. Again, I feel the current situation is unacceptable so it but be improved before we add to the problem. JAN 1 4 2019 January 12, 2019 CITY OF REXBURG To Whom It May Concern: My wife, Pamela, and I live at 663 Stonebridge. We are purchasing this home from the estate of my mother, Maxine Adair. Immediately west of our home is a senior living apartment building, Carlow. As I look out my dining room window this winter afternoon I see 12 windows, 5 balconies and 5 porches which look directly into my yard and into the windows on the west side of my home, with the closest no more than 60 feet from our windows. The 5 balconies look directly down on our deck, some just 50 feet away from the deck. In contrast, Maxine enjoyed a wonderful view of the western sunset each evening. She could see as far as the mountain ranges to the west of Rexburg until Carlow was built. Maxine, even at age 88, was very concerned about the zoning of the land west of her. She attended meetings in which she spoke of her worries that a moderate density development would impact her enjoyment of her home, and would eventually reduce the market value of her home. At the time one of the City workers warned Maxine that she should not fight the new zoning proposal, as the alternative would be the parking lot lights of a new and larger WalMart shopping center. She gave up her efforts to fight the zoning change. As the building went up she became more and more concerned about her loss of privacy. She kept her windows shuttered on the west side when Carlow was finished. Maxine passed away in March. After much deliberation my wife and I determined to purchase her home from her estate. We were, and we are, very concerned ourselves with the proximity of the apartments behind us. We feel uncomfortable on our back deck as we eat or rest with so many windows and balconies overlooking us. We feel exposed when we have our window blinds open on that side of the home. Now, may I point out that we have never felt that anyone in the apartments has been looking in our windows. The fact is that I have actually watched a woman walk out on her second floor balcony, see us on our deck, and comment that she was sorry to be disturbing us as she turned and went back inside her apartment. We know and like the Carlow residents. Our concern has nothing to do with them. "Why did we buy this home?" you might ask. For one reason, we are attracted to the idea of being able to live in this home without having to use stairs. Principally, however, we did not feel we could sell this home to another party unless we could first do something about the privacy issue. We are talking with landscaping companies about the kinds of trees we might plant to give a degree of privacy. Our backyard is small from our deck to our west property line, so a large number of trees planted along our west fence line will shrink the back yard considerably. A new fence would need to be 15 feet high! What an eyesore that would be. We still are not sure what we will do, but we will have to do something to provide privacy. Why did the City permit the building of a two-story apartment structure less than 60 feet from our home, and 25 feet from our property line? Why was there not a wide "buffer" area required between single-family homes and an apartment building, giving both apartment residents and homeowners a modicum of privacy? As we attempted to establish a fair purchase price for this home, we had a uniform residential appraisal done by a licensed appraiser. His report includes this sentence: "Location adjustment indicated for subject (home) based on proximity to multi -family property development to the immediate rear and west of the subject." Just as Maxine feared, the view is gone, the privacy is gone, and her property value was significantly reduced. Next go around we'll take the WalMart parking lot lights. As you consider zoning and subsequent building permits for the property west of the Stonebridge Subdivision, please give consideration to privacy issues that affect current and future homeowners. Sincerely, Richard B. Adair and Pamela Adair 663 Stonebridge Rexburg, ID 83440 208-569-4117 208-313-1630 This picture was taken from the back door of our home at 663 Stonebridge. The edge of our deck as shown is just 50 feet from the Carlow balconies. This picture does not adequately portray how Carlow towers over our yard. You really need to stand on our deck to get the true picture.