Letters to the editor: COVID-19, Trappers Island, dams

Thank you

We want to send our thanks to all of the stores and employees who probably went home with sore feet and backs. You remained cheerful and kind through several very hectic and challenging days and probably more to come. We appreciate your restocking of items whenever they were available and you gave us confidence that more was to arrive. A special shout out to the cashiers at Winco on Meridian Road. Your cheerfulness and humor soothed the long wait in lines. When we were finally next, we were greeted with, “So sorry for the wait.” But it was well worth it!

Judy Bitler, Meridian

Gun sales

In Ireland, social networks are forming online, linking victims of the Coronavirus with the thousands who have volunteered to help them. In America, gun sales are up.

Patrick Harren, McCall

Trappers Island

Regarding the article about the Trappers Island Project, Boise residents, including my family, have spoken in opposition to the project because a condominium and retail structure this large will have a substantial negative impact on the area.

Boise City Planning and Zoning Commission is charged with the responsibility of enforcing our zoning laws, and the current zoning ordinance allows three-story buildings in this area. However, this project was granted an “exception” for six stories, 304 units, and 455 parking spaces. The members of the public who testified against the height of the project were uniformly opposed to it because of its density, volume, traffic impact and adverse effect on the greenbelt and beautiful Kathryn Albertson Park. The construction of a six-story condominium project for 304 units will generate massive amounts of traffic on the dead-ended street Americana Terrace and will further congest Americana Boulevard. ACHD said in its report on this project that a traffic light would be needed at Americana Terrace and Americana Boulevard but cannot be added because of the proximity of other traffic lights. If the condominium project was constructed at three stories with a reduced number of units, the traffic congestion would be substantially less and would be in conformity with the neighboring buildings of only three stories.

Because the buildings are too large for the site and the zone in which it is classified, the developer has proposed building an emergency access bridge into the Kathryn Albertson Park for vehicles. Members of the public have opposed this access because at the time that Mr. and Mrs. Albertson donated the park to the city of Boise, the city agreed in the deed to the park that it would never under any circumstances use the park for any other purpose than as a walk-through public park. The park was created to be a serene nature park with walking paths, not part of a large condominium development. Some of Boise’s greatest assets are its parks, and they should be protected.

Jamie Jo Scott, Boise

Dams

The Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement completely disregards the mission of Governor Little’s Salmon Work Group. The mission of the work group is to develop policy recommendations for Governor Little through a collaborative, consensus driven, public process to restore abundant, sustainable, and well distributed populations of salmon and steelhead in Idaho for present and future generations, while recognizing diverse interests throughout the State. The Environmental Impact Statement does not evaluate Snake River Specific Alternatives. The Columbia River System Operations Agencies should be directed to develop and evaluate Snake River specific Alternatives. I urge our Idaho elected officials to direct these Agencies to modify the Environmental Impact Statement alternatives such that abundant, sustainable, and well distributed populations of salmon and steelhead will be restored and exist in Idaho for present and future generations.

Don Vernon, Middleton