"The Cliffs will be affordable, accessible"

Reader's view published in the Idaho Statesman Aug. 2, 2006

The Foothills are a special place. While they are home to relatively few, they command significant interest when it comes to land use. After all, local wildlife frequent the area and many recreationists pursue their passions there. The Foothills are part of our identity.

This may explain why some local residents so staunchly oppose the idea of more people making the area their future home, but I believe there's an unspoken and more probable reason for the criticism surrounding development of a portion of the Foothills.

Generally speaking, the Foothills are one of the most exclusive areas of Boise, which likely explains why people living there are so vehement about protecting "their" turf. They apparently see no contradiction in living in the Foothills while at the same time insisting no one else be allowed to live there. There's another word for it - NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard).

The Cliffs will offer people the choice to have a much shorter commute to work. Those of you who choose to live there will be surrounded by a variety of recreational activities and within viewing distance of wildlife. The surroundings and view at The Cliffs are magnificent and the geographic diversity is exceptional. It will also be affordable, welcoming people from all walks of life to call The Cliffs "home."

Skyline takes pride in having developed more than 5,000 Treasure Valley home sites over the past 40 years. Our opponents would have you believe we are something we are not. As a local, home-grown company, we are prepared to unite our commitment to this valley and attainable housing with the strongest environmental and conservation ethics.

Skyline believes developers should provide more than just homes. In fact, we think we have a duty to give back to the community by using our projects to preserve, protect and improve the important values of the land. In contrast, many of our opponents support carving up the Foothills into 40-acre estates. Forty-acre lots are neither environmentally nor socially responsible. However, this kind of poorly planned and ill-advised development would certainly continue the exclusivity associated with living in the Foothills.

Additionally, the Foothills are a popular place for countless recreational activities. So, in addition to homes, a neighborhood shopping center, schools and parks, Skyline is designing The Cliffs to extend local recreational trail systems throughout the development that would expand the Ridge to Rivers trail system. This represents our commitment to ensuring that Ada County residents have a place to enjoy the natural beauty of the area forever.

A visit to www.thecliffsidaho.com explains how The Cliffs will be the most environmentally sensitive development in Ada County, with water reclamation, habitat restoration and methods designed to keep traffic predominantly inside our development. While we plan to employ many advanced methods for environmental stewardship, don't lose sight of the bigger picture: The Cliffs will open up Foothills living to many people who otherwise would not have an opportunity to live there.

Ted Johnson is President and Founder of Skyline Development Corporation