MERIDIAN, Idaho — Neighbors near a proposed development in north Meridian are raising concerns about whether first responders could reach the area during an emergency.
The proposed Brighton development project, Ibaia — previously known as Basque Ranch — would bring almost 500 homes to roughly 266 acres north of the SpurWing subdivision.
Steve and Nancy Everard, who live near the proposed site, say traffic is already a challenge in the area, particularly near Black Cat Road and Jayker Road during busy times.
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Steve Everard told Idaho News 6 that the main access runs right through their backyard.
"When it is an issue where if emergency services needed to get in to somebody that needed medical attention, they had an instance where there was a call that they came into the church and they were stuck in traffic. And that is a, that is really a concern," said Nancy Everard.
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Doug Hastings, a neighbor who also lives nearby, recalled emergency vehicles struggling through traffic in the area, saying, "at a heavy traffic time, the fire truck was at a dead stop."
In documents submitted during the review process, Meridian Fire raised concerns about the project's proposed access routes, saying the current plans may not provide reliable emergency access if roads become congested or blocked.
The department requires an emergency access route through Duck Alley — something Steve Everard agreed with.
"Come out here on a Sunday and look at Jayker and Black Cat, and there's no way you can get through there," Everard said.
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City officials say no final approvals have been granted, and the development cannot move forward unless those issues are resolved through the review process.
Nancy Everard said the community's concerns are not rooted in opposition to growth.
"We're not against development of that land. We knew when we purchased our home that it was going to be developed... So it's not the development, it's the manner in which it is being developed."
Idaho News 6 reached out to Brighton Development and Meridian Fire for additional comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.
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