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Developer withdraws request to remove Pine Avenue cross‑access after safety concerns from neighbors
Summary
After neighbors and council raised pedestrian and traffic-safety concerns near Meridian High, the property owner at 1725 W. Pine withdrew a request to remove an eastern cross-access requirement; council accepted the withdrawal and encouraged the applicant to work with neighbors and staff on a full development proposal.
The owner of 1725 West Pine asked the City Council to modify a development agreement to remove an eastern cross‑access stub, but after public testimony about heavy traffic near Meridian High and a prolonged council discussion, the applicant withdrew the request and will return with a development proposal.
Staff had recommended denial of the DA modification, citing the Unified Development Code sections requiring cross access to aid circulation and citing roughly 18 reported accidents near the site. "We still found that the removal of this condition is premature," staff said in the staff report.
Applicant William Velo told council he supports the city's long-term connectivity goals and that his proposed modification "does not increase any access points here"; he argued the eastern stub is unlikely to produce a direct, code-compliant connection to Linder Road without speculative parcel consolidation. Neighbors, including Julian Ashcraftoft, described frequent traffic congestion and safety risks: "In the mornings, you can't make a left‑hand turn to head towards Meridian High...it is really a nightmare," Ashcraftoft said.
After council members expressed reluctance to remove cross-access language in advance of a coordinated redevelopment plan, Velo formally withdrew the modification application. Council voted to accept the withdrawal; staff advised the applicant to pursue a future development application with neighbor coordination and, if possible, written support from adjacent property owners.
The withdrawal preserves the existing development agreement condition requiring east–west cross access for the property until a future development proposal provides a full circulation plan.
