This Boise neighborhood has 5-acre lots and cattle. Residents criticize proposed homes
Some people living near the proposed Whitepine subdivision have lots big enough for them to grow grapes, keep bees or even have cows.
They also might have new neighbors soon.
The Boise City Council heard a proposal Tuesday from Jim Conger of Acme LLC for the new neighborhood. Whitepine would be located off Goldenrod Avenue, southwest of the intersection of West McMillan and North Cloverdale roads. The subdivision would have 18 homes and two common lots on 5 acres.
Some neighbors have lots that size for just one house. And they weren’t happy with the proposed lots in the Whitepine neighborhood, whose minimum width would be just 50 feet. The houses also would be smaller than some of the older ones in the neighborhood.
“All other lots in the connecting neighborhoods are at a minimum 50% larger,” Tami Hurd, who lives near the proposed subdivision, testified. “That is not compatible.”
Several people who testified said they understood that Boise is growing, but Whitepine was irresponsible growth. Some who spoke were almost in tears.
Rod Brooks, who also lives near the proposed subdivision, said he worried the new houses would lead to more traffic and crime. He said he felt the development would come at the cost of the neighborhood’s charm.
“I don’t believe the new neighbors will feel like a part of this unique community,” Brooks said. “The street will lose its distinctive rural appeal.”
When asked, he told Councilmember Lisa Sánchez that he was worried the houses could become rentals. He said that he had to work three jobs to buy his home 28 years ago and didn’t want to “see it all for nothing.”
Other people spoke about safety and compatibility, but neighbors came back several times to the size of the lots. JoyAnn Collett, who said she owns 5 acres and has Scottish Highland cattle on her property, described them as “too tiny.”
“Any time you have a row of 50-foot lots, you have no control over what’s done,” she told the council. “We’ve seen those in other areas in Boise. They are too tiny for the area that we have. And every subdivision that is actually adjoining this has huge, beautiful homes.”
That prompted City Council President Elaine Clegg to ask her if part of the issue was that Collett didn’t want smaller homes near her. Collett said there are smaller homes in nearby developments, and it is the design of the development she takes issue with.
After the public hearing, Clegg moved to approve the development. Sánchez said she would vote yes. She talked about her past experience with home ownership and how a smaller house was what she was able to afford. Now a renter, she said that renting didn’t inherently mean not being involved in the community, citing herself and neighbors as examples.
“It’s going to be OK,” she said to the audience of about two dozen people.
City Council President Pro Tem Holli Woodings also started talking about the reasons she would vote to approve the project when a crowd of people got up and started leaving the council chambers. Several people shouted that the council wasn’t listening to them.
But they returned to their seats at the request of Mayor Lauren McLean.
Woodings went on to say that the proposed houses might be smaller than ones in the area right now but could serve as great places for people who couldn’t afford to own a home elsewhere in Boise.
After some conversation, Clegg proposed adding conditions to the project that would have to be completed before the project could receive final approval. Those conditions require the developer to come back to the council with plans for trees already existing on the land and for landscaping and fences more compatible with the existing neighborhood.
The council approved the project unanimously with those conditions, with the exception of Councilmember T.J. Thomson, who recused himself from the vote, because the proposed development is near where he lives.
It was not immediately clear when revised subdivision plans would come before the council for final approval.
This story was originally published January 14, 2020 at 10:49 PM.
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