Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutOaklund, Dennis & Marilyn - Letter of Opposition_Springhouse Townes_06.09.25June 9,2025 City of Caldwell Mayor and City Council Planning & Zoning Commission RE: SPRINGHOUSE TOWNES SUBDIVISION, ANNEXATION & PUD PARCEL NO. R32756010 CASE NO. ANN25-000002, PUD25-000002, SPP25-000003 Honorable Mayor Wagoner, City Council and P & Z Commissioners, We are writing to express our total opposition to the proposed Springhouse Townes subdivision on Midway Road. While we realize that the owner of this property has every right to develop it, this particular development plan is in no way compatible to the surrounding neighborhoods. In her letter of February 4th, 2025, to the Mayor, Council and Planning and Zoning Commissioners Ms. Constantikes of Riley Planning Services representing the developer Triple Dot Construction, painted a very rosy, but inaccurate picture of what this development would actually entail and specifically the effect it would have on the surrounding neighbors, especially on the north boundary line. The subdivision directly adjacent to the proposed development consists of single-story custom homes on one half to one and a half acre lots. The proposal calls for two thirty- foot-tall buildings (requiring a variance to height restrictions) to be built only 12 feet from the property line (requiring a variance to setback restrictions), These buildings are 200 and 168 feet long respectively with 7 townhomes in the first and 6 in the second. Additionally, in the spaces not occupied by these imposing monoliths, the developer proposes a playground, half basketball court and a gathering/picnic area. All this directly adjacent to two large pre-existing properties in a rural residential setting. The planner proposes a 6-foot vinyl fence to separate these properties. This will do nothing to mitigate the loss of privacy, noise and disturbance that this many households and gathering areas will have on the neighboring properties. Even an 8-foot-tall concrete wall would not suffice, although it would be an improvement. She goes on to mention the large diagonal section of the property as part of some sort of landscaped idyllic regional pathway. There is no regional pathway. There is a dirt road that runs from Homedale Road to the control gates for the Elijah Drain and Notus Canal #2. It does not connect with Midway Road. The purpose of this road is to provide access for the ditch rider to the control gates and for maintenance of these waterways. In fact, the entire diagonal section of that property is only accessible via that road from Homedale Road. Unless they intend to build a bridge over Notus Canal #2 that portion of the property is inaccessible to them and shouldn’t even be allowed to figure into their total acreage if they are counting it into their allowed density figures. Ms. Constantikes has continuously touted these homes as individual parcels to be sold to individual buyers. Triple Dot has built this exact same project elsewhere in Caldwell and they were sold as a block to two individual out of state owners. If they had to find individual buyers for these 77 units, I’m sure they would never even have been proposed, let alone built. So, let’s just call it what it is. It’s an apartment complex with all the noise, disturbance, constant turnover and questionable long-term maintenance that accompanies one. Architecture: Unattractive from the front and downright ugly from the rear which will be facing the adjacent properties. The roofline features odd broken profiles that require a height variance for approval. Sadly, without that ugly roofline you're left with nothing but a huge rectangular box completely devoid of features especially in the back which will receive none of the brick or board and batten siding. From the rear it will look like a WW2 era military barracks. Even more so that the buildings on 10th and Ustick that are already derisively referred to as “The Barracks”. Ground level Patios: Maybe 6X6 ft. Only on the north property line. That puts people just 6 feet from that proposed 6 ft vinyl fence that is supposed to “provide a buffer” for the northern neighbors. Worst case scenario (but entirely feasible) is a holiday weekend with 13 separate families in their backyards. Some barbequing, most playing music (all different of course), all making noise. Now if we add to that the playground, the basketball court and the community picnic area full of the people from the smaller units that have no yard, the noise becomes unbearable. Oh, and let's not forget the illegal 4TH of July fireworks that will inevitably come flying over the fences from those same 13 backyards and community areas. The plan has inadequate parking for residents and guests. That was discussed at length at the P & Z meeting. What we didn't hear mentioned was the apparent fact that in order to try to show adequate parking for the larger units they require a variance in the setback in the rear from 15” to 12” so they can claim there is room in the driveway to park a car. Another direct effect on the northern properties. Ms. Constantikes repeatedly touts the restraint they are showing in not building the property out to the maximum density allowed in the comprehensive plan. The reality is they are trying to cram as many units on a small property as they possibly can as proven by their inability to provide adequate parking and amenities. If one subtracts the large diagonal area that encompasses the Elijah Drain and the Notus Canal #2 we wonder how many actual buildable acres that leaves? Many additional factors such as increased traffic on Midway Road and the impact of additional rental properties with the accompanying influx of children on the Vallivue School District have been discussed before and surely bear serious consideration. We don’t want to run the risk of making this so long you will discard it without reading it, but we just can’t emphasize enough how completely incompatible with the surrounding neighborhood this project is. We would hate for our concerns to be dismissed as just another case of Not In My Back Yard , but in this case this atrocity is literally in our backyards. Our subdivision is small but that shouldn't mean we have less rights and consideration than a large developer. Thank you for your consideration, Dennis & Marilyn Oaklund 16925 Jerica Ct. Caldwell, ID 83607 P.S.: We had hoped and planned to attend the meeting scheduled for June 16th but were notified that the date had been changed to July 7th. We will be out of town during this period so this will have to suffice as our testimony. I am curious who requested this change and why. My cynical self thinks perhaps it was requested by Ms. Constantikes in hopes there would be fewer people in town on a holiday weekend to testify in opposition.