Statement from Tucker Johnson regarding the City of Boise’s efforts to expand the Area of Impact boundary:

“The City of Boise’s efforts to exert control over the Plateau come at a time when the City has many pressing issues within its own limits, and after we have presented a plan that assures a higher level of environmental protection than the City would require.

”The City says it wants to expand its area of impact to ensure sound planning, protect habitat and promote public recreational access, because it believes its rules are more restrictive than Ada County’s. In truth, the City will be able to guarantee none of these benefits. Habitat protection and improvement far exceeding anything the City could mandate are already planned with The Cliffs.

”Forty-acre parcels would be the default zoning for this land and the City is aware there is nothing it could do to require landowners to maintain wildlife habitat or provide access for hikers, climbers, bicyclists and paragliders. Forty acre home sites are the ultimate in suburban sprawl, each using a septic tank, individual well and putting up a fence to deny people and wildlife access to the land.

”The irony is that The Cliffs will create a neighborhood attracting people from all walks of life, is close to employment opportunities, while maintaining over half of our 700-acre site as publicly accessible open space. Similar to the City’s ordinances we are proposing to cluster the homes to preserve that open space In addtion, we will be undertaking extensive habitat restoration and enhancement efforts funded from development proceeds. This is in contrast to the City ordinances which do not require any habitat restoration.

”The Cliffs will be an example of Getting It Right in foothills development. The County has rigorous standards that ensure this will happen. The County also has a track record of seeing large projects through to success. Earlier this week, we filed our application with Ada County which has jurisdiction in the matter. We look forward to working with the County to ensure that our better way of building community comes to fruition.”

- Tucker Johnson, Skyline Development Vice President
February 22, 2006

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Media Contact:
media@thecliffsidaho.com
Jeannette Duwe, office: 208.321.1253, cell: 208.794.2620,
Martin Johncox, office: 208.658.9100, cell: 208.407.0700