After concern over access and conflicts of interest, Boise council cancels site visit
The Boise City Council will not visit the controversial site of a proposed Foothills subdivision after all.
The council had voted Nov. 19 to visit the parcel in question so members could see the land in question before deciding whether to approve 30 new homes for the Eyrie Terraces subdivision. The development, by Boise developer Colin Connell, would be near his existing development, Eyrie Canyon, near Quail Hollow Golf Course.
The project would effectively level a ridge in the Foothills by cutting and filling hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of soil. Neighbors told the Planning and Zoning Commission in September that they worried about potential settling as a result of that movement as well as fire hazard.
Council member Scot Ludwig suggested the visit in November, saying it would make things “a lot more clear.” On Wednesday, he reversed course and asked that the visit be canceled.
He said it would be difficult to get to the parcel because of its location, the prospect of poor weather, and the difficulty of recording an open meeting there.
“We got extremely concerned of course of someone getting hurt,” Ludwig said.
The Central Foothills Neighborhood Association had asked the council to reconsider the visit. In a letter, it cited concerns like those Ludwig mentioned and said Ludwig appeared to have a conflict of interest.
Ludwig, a lawyer, has done legal work for the landowner, Kipp Bedard, a former Micron Inc. executive. Ludwig said he would derive no financial benefit from the council’s decision on the land.
He then recused himself from the Eyrie decision because he said he wanted to avoid the perception of a conflict.
Tim Breuer, a member of the Central Foothills Neighborhood Association, said he was happy the city took the neighborhood’s concerns into consideration.
“We’re pleased that Councilman Ludwig saw the best foot forward in this process,” he told the Statesman by phone. “I think they made the best decision. The field trip was a big cause for concern for us, but now we’re preparing for the next hearing.”
Council Member Holli Woodings proposed keeping a public hearing on Dec. 10, when both the site visit and hearing had been scheduled, to avoid delay. Council President Pro Tem Elaine Clegg agreed, saying she wanted Eyrie Terraces to be considered before newly elected council members are sworn in Jan. 7, since they would need time to get up to speed on the case.
Neither Mayor David Bieter nor Mayor-elect Lauren McLean attended Wednesday’s meeting. Bieter, who lost to McLean in Tuesday’s runoff election, was out of the office, his spokesman said. McLean left town Wednesday to take part in a Harvard University seminar for newly elected mayors.
“Next week, we’ll get you a decision,” Clegg told the audience, “nd then we can all have a great Christmas.”
The hearing will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, at Boise City Hall, 150 N. Capitol Blvd.
This story was originally published December 4, 2019 at 3:59 PM.
.jpg)