HomeMy WebLinkAboutBrian Bartley 2024_09_17Brian Bartley
4618 Gap Creek Ave
Caldwell, Idaho 83607
Caldwell Planning and Zoning Commission
205 S. 6th Ave
Caldwell, Idaho 83605
September 17, 2024
Dear Caldwell Planning and Zoning Commission:
My name is Brian Bartley, and I live in Caldwell, in the Cumberland Estates subdivision which
sits Southeast of the Soterra Project. I have multiple concerns regarding this project.
When this project was originally approved it was described and platted as a subdivision of homes
equal or similar in size and value as to the homes in Cumberland Estates. The current Median
home value in Cumberland Estates is $625,000 (as per Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
Silverhawk Realty). Now the developer of the Soterra Project, no longer wants single residence
homes, but wants to change this project into multiplex apartments, an apartment city if you will,
decreasing the property value of the homes in the Cumberland Estates and surrounding
subdivisions.
East Pineville St is slated to run from Cumberland Estates into this new Soterra Project, being
one of only two entry and exit points for Soterra, the other being via Ustick & Kimball Ave. The
amount of traffic that will be pushed into Cumberland Estates is going to be astronomical and
will be a detriment to the residents of Cumberland. There are multiple families with small
children and special needs children who live on Gap Creek Ave. that will be greatly impacted by
allowing that large of an apartment complex with hundreds of cars traveling back and forth daily
through Cumberland Estates. Gap Creek Ave is going to become a major throughfare of traffic
for people avoiding Ustick/Kimball and this is ultimately going to destroy the value, family
friendly and quiet nature that Cumberland Estates is known for.
There are already multiple apartment complexes in this area currently under construction, or
recently completed. Apartments on the Northeast corner of Ustick Road and 10th Avenue butting
up to a small family-owned Veterinary office. Town home rentals, currently under construction
on the West side of 10th Avenue North of Ustick Road. There is the apartment complex under
construction next to Heritage Community Charter School and the YMCA on Ustick & Indiana, as
well as the Silver Creek Apartment Complex across the street from Heritage Charter School on
Ustick. Another mega, multiplex apartment complex is not what is needing on this side of
Caldwell.
There is a lack of commercial infrastructure on this side of Caldwell. We currently only have one
gas station (Maverick) and one grocery store (Walmart Neighborhood Market), both located on
the South-East corner of Ustick road and 10th Avenue. The addition of multiplex, multifamily
apartments is only going to add additional strain on these establishments. There is a lack of
amenities on this side of Caldwell. We need commercial, not more apartments.
All of these new rental properties are located within the Caldwell School District, which is
already overwhelmed with the number of students in the district. The School District recently
had to rezone the entire district, close one elementary school due to funding issues, and is
currently looking to relocate one high school due to infrastructure issues. How will the Caldwell
School District be able to accommodate the influx of new students to the district? Class sizes are
already well above standard and underfunded.
This area of Caldwell needs to have more commercial establishments and infrastructure, not just
add more apartments. The Planning and Zoning Department must stop allowing developers to
have their way with Caldwell at the expense of the residents of Caldwell. This is not the first
time that a developer has submitted a plan to the city that was approved, and then later submitted
changes to that plan and given blanket approval. The Toll Brothers Project, Pradera subdivision
on 10th Avenue South of Cumberland Estates submitted a request to raise the height of the homes
in their subdivision after construction has already begun and was approved. Please stop allowing
developers to submit a plan they feel the community will be okay with and then at the last minute
after work on the approved project has already begun, to drastically change the plan for the
project knowing that the Planning and Zoning Department, City Council and the Mayor will
approve the changes against what the residents of Caldwell want in the area.
We understand that the growth of Caldwell is important, but not at the expense and detriment of
other subdivisions in the area, which is going to happen to Cumberland Estates with the amount
of multiplex multifamily apartments and the added traffic. Caldwell is not an apartment first city,
lets fill the current empty apartment complexes and homes that are sitting empty before just
approving the next multiplex, multifamily complex. Caldwell needs to build commercial
establishments that can meet the needs of its residents before just continuing to build apartments
on every corner.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Brian Bartley