HomeMy WebLinkAboutARTICLE - Wadholm, Rick - 347 S 4th W - Rezone from HBD to HDRBare Street and Surrounding
Neighbors
Make it a "Good Fit"
Home Owner's Opposing Zone Change
at 347 South Fourth West from Highway
Business District to High Density
Residential
Make it a "Good Fit"
Introduction
We are opposed to the zone change recommended by the Planning and Zoning board for the
properties around 347 South Fourth West. The properties are proposed for a 42 apartment
complex. We are opposed for the following reasons:
• The neighborhood makeup would change.
• A privacy problem would arise.
• Increase traffic would be detrimental to the neighborhood
Neighborhood Makeup
The neighborhood makeup would change. The neighborhood is primarily made up of single-
family residential homes. We purchased our homes in this area seeking a peaceful and quiet
neighborhood. Not only will the high density increase the probability of disturbing the peace,
but will also increase the neighborhood noise that this proposed apartment complex would
create. The citizens in this neighborhood want to keep the zoning unchanged to keep the
current way of life.
Figure 1 Bare Street Residential Housing
Privacy Issue
The proposed housing units are two and one half stories tall, higher than anything else in the
neighborhood. The neighborhood is made up of homes that are one story or one and a half
stories high. The proposed housing unit would be built adjacent to the backyards of these
homes. This causes a privacy problem for all residents adjacent to this complex. What used
to be private backyards now becomes open viewing for anyone in the upper -story dwellings
of the complex. Even a privacy fence would not insure privacy to these residential homes.
Refer to Figure 1 for an example of the one-story dwellings.
Traffic Issues
The traffic the proposed 42 family housing unit would create would be detrimental
to the neighborhood.
Two days were spent logging the traffic flow on Fourth South and also on Fourth West. We
recognize this was only two days, but feel the flow of traffic for the 11 hours (7:00 a.m, to
6:00 p.m.) was indicative of the usual flow of traffic in the area. A count of 329 vehicles was
noted on Saturday, June 15th on Fourth West. Fourth South had a number of 5,019 vehicles
on the same day. The vehicle count for Friday, June 21st was 326 for Fourth West, while
Fourth South had a figure of 6,893. Please note: BYU-Idaho was not in full session when
these counts were taken.
The amount of parking spaces for a housing unit of that size would be approximately 61. This
would increase the traffic on Fourth West significantly. See Figure 2 showing increase. These
estimates assumed that the possible cars in the proposed housing addition will only leave and
return once in a day. The reality would probably be higher.
500
400
300
200
100
451
448
329 122
326
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V p
June 15 June 21
Figure 2. Increase of Traffic Chart
The increased traffic would be a hazard to walking children
Elementary school children in this area walk to Kennedy Elementary School. The streets on
Fourth West do not have sidewalks! There is only curb and gutter on the East side of the road
due to the canal on the West side of the road. This in and of itself is a hazard, but with more
traffic this would increase the chances of an accident occurring.
Increased Traffic in the Neighborhood
We took a survey of the residents on Bare Street. This is the question we asked: During the
morning hours, would you turn right or left on Fourth West to go to BYU-Idaho? (Drivers
turning right from Bare Street north onto Fourth West would travel through the surrounding
residential area and through Third South or continuing on Fourth West. Drivers turning left
from Bare Street south onto Fourth West would turn left onto Fourth South crossing the flow
of traffic.) Twelve out of 15 drivers surveyed said that they would travel through the
neighborhood to avoid the traffic on Fourth South.
Figure 3 Intersection of Fourth West and Fourth South
Conclusion
In light of the above information, we hope the City Council will make a decision that is a
`good fit' for our community and neighborhood: In the spirit of compromise and with the
understanding that the community needs more family housing, we would like to note that we
would not be opposed to the said properties being zoned at Medium Density. We feel the area
could facilitate an increase of that size. Please see the petition turned into the Planning and
Zoning Board noting this.
"At Rexburg City Hall our goal is to improve the community. We serve the citizens by
striving to understand their needs and by responding with quality work." -Quote found on
plaque at City Hall
Thank you for your consideration on this important matter