Hamstrung City Council approves apartment development despite congestion concerns

For six hours, the Meridian City Council fielded objections from residents to a proposed apartment complex on McMillan Road, a two-lane road that carries traffic from homes, restaurants, stores and schools.

Council members said they were sympathetic. But they approved the 14-building, 235-apartment complex anyway.

Back in 2008, the Meridian City Council annexed 16.6 acres on McMillan, near its intersection with Ten Mile Road. Over the next 14 years, hundreds of homes, two schools and dozens of businesses appeared along McMillian, causing traffic congestion and concern among residents and commuters.

In 2010, Meridian City Council approved an agreement for the property that authorized development at a density of 15 living units per acre, according to the initial application.

So when neighbors urged the council at its Nov. 15 meeting to reject the development, council members said: Our hands are tied.

2008 City Council allowed the project ‘for better or worse’

Alpha Development, a company made up of Ball Ventures, of Idaho Falls; Dburban Communities, of Salt Lake City; and Wadsworth Development Group, of Draper, Utah, is expected to build the 235-apartment project on the north side of McMillan between San Vito Way and Vicenza Way, near the northwest corner of Ten Mile and McMillan.

Meridian’s Planning and Zoning Commission in September denied the project after hearing concern from residents who live in the area about traffic and school overcrowding. But Alpha Development appealed to the City Council, which had to make the ultimate decision.

The proposal met the conditions the 2010 council set. As a result, the council legally had to approve the proposed a 235-apartment project called Bridgetower Multifamily, despite dozens of residents testifying that the neighborhood could not support another 200-plus residents.

“In annexations, the city has a lot more leeway to determine whether or not this is a good fit for the city,” said Bill Nary, Meridian city attorney, by phone. “In this case, this project was already annexed and already has entitlements to do certain things and to build at a certain level of density.”

Bridgetower was dedicated as a mixed-use area in 2008, but it had never developed. The property is still subject to the density allowed in 2008, which includes a 235-apartment complex, “for better or for worse,” City Councilman Joe Borton said.

Residents worry about traffic, school crowding

Most of the area residents who testified at the meeting were concerned about traffic congestion.

“The traffic situation on McMillan, west of Ten Mile is already severely overburdened and evidenced by current traffic volumes and congestion,” said William Clark. “In nonpeak afternoon hours, a car passes through the San Vito Way and McMillan Road intersection every 4.29 seconds.”

Lisha Elam, a real estate agent and Meridian resident, said she was concerned as the mother of a 15-year-old daughter who goes to Owyhee High School. The school is located near McMillan and McDermott roads.

McMillan is a “vital road,” with just one lane going in each direction as it serves the high school and an elementary school, Elam said.

“I’ve never seen anything like that,” she said.

At the end of public testimony, most of the council members said they wished they could oppose the project because of the traffic and school overcrowding concerns.

“I just can’t deny what I can see with my own eyes: McMillan Road is beyond capacity,” said Councilwoman Liz Strader. She first said that she would vote no on the project “on principal” but later said with no legal ground to stand on, she would have to vote yes.

Other council members echoed her concerns. Then they passed the application unanimously.

What will Bridgetower look like?

Bridgetower would be made up of 14 buildings. Thirteen would have two stories.

A three-story building is planned near the intersection of McMillan and Vicenza Way. The larger building would be located on the perimeter of the project, said Bill Parsons, Meridian planner, during a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Thursday, Sept. 1.

The apartments would consist of 26 studios, 131 one-bedrooms, 52 two-bedrooms and 26 three-bedrooms.

The project has six acres of open space, which exceeds the city’s requirement for apartment buildings, Parsons said. Alpha Development also added more parking spaces than required, 362.

This story was originally published November 27, 2022 at 4:00 AM.

Rachel Spacek

Idaho Statesman

Rachel Spacek is a former reporter covering Meridian, Eagle, Star and Canyon city and county governments for the Idaho Statesman.