Article published Jan 17, 2006
Idaho Statesman - Letters to the Editor: Growth and development
Skyline 1, city 0

I attended a meeting last week where the city of Boise laid out its rationale for wanting to put Hammer Flat in the city's area of impact. Now the city P&Z will hear the issue Thursday.

The city admitted it couldn't assure recreational access and the land could still be developed into 40-acre ranchettes that block wildlife and the public. In my opinion, the city failed to make a case how its control would be any better than the status quo. It seems the city wants to control this land, but doesn't have detailed plans to improve it. The city only sought to control this area when Skyline Development made a proposal to build The Cliffs (www.thecliffsidaho.com). Skyline wants to set aside most of its land for open space and will assure public access for recreation. Skyline has come up with a plan that far exceeds any benefits the city could provide.

Personally, I'm sick and tired of hearing about local governments abusing their authority over landowners. Skyline has a good plan and the city shouldn't try to kill it.

For the record, I sold six acres of land on Hammer Flat to Skyline in 2005.

Jon Baumgartner, Meridian

Suburbs and stacks

The developer of The Cliffs says he is concerned and wants to "help" the wildlife that uses that area as critical winter range. How touching. Wow, I never would've thought that planting a bunch of houses, along with associated traffic, roads, schools, shopping areas, and noise would "help" the wildlife so much.

Maybe we can do more to "help" all the wildlife around here. I'm sure we can arrange a bunch of developers to roll into Boise ... wait ... all of Idaho. They can steal every bit of precious open space, develop it into a tangled suburbia, and really help the wildlife out. Sounds wonderful, doesn't it?

This development will fit in well with a natural gas-fired power plant located in Boise. "... The plant would not worsen air quality because the smokestack's heat plume would puncture the inversion, forcing pollutants above the stagnant air." Heck, we oughtta have one of these plants on every street corner. I'll bet if we have 20 or 30 of them, we'll solve that nasty inversion problem in no time.

That's what I love about local politics: always ready to prostitute out what makes our city great so it can be even "better."

Lance Blankenship, Boise

How Cliffs will help

As a consultant for Skyline Development's planned community, The Cliffs, I thank The Statesman for its Dec. 3 story ("Developer says The Cliffs will be wildlife-friendly"). As reported, Skyline will set aside at least half of the 707-acre development east of Boise for contiguous open space, the majority of which will become restored habitat.

I would, however, like to clarify a misconception that readers may have after reading the story. While we will improve the natural and existing corridors to the river, the emphasis of our program is on providing a restored habitat with shelter, food and water for wildlife. This may help reduce the need for some wildlife to cross busy roadways to access the river.

Years of wildfires and invasive weeds have destroyed the habitat native to the property and the surrounding area. Skyline will replant natural food sources and winter thermal cover, as well as create more convenient access to water on the property, so that much of the big game in the area will eventually no longer need to cross dangerous roadways on their way to the Boise River. As a result of Skyline's efforts, more wildlife will be able to live on the land after The Cliffs is built.

Martin Johncox, Alexander and Associates

Public Relations, Boise

Mass transit needed

With the coming of a new year, one of the issues that should be on our mind is Boise's burgeoning population. In 2005 Boise became the third largest city in the Northwest, bigger than Spokane. Though not particularly troubling, what is becoming an issue is the urban sprawl and traffic accompanying that growth. Because much of this growth is in suburban subdivisions, some lawmakers, such as Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, believe there isn't enough population density and ridership to support more investment in mass transit.

However, the longer we put off plans to develop effective mass-transit systems, the worse off we'll be. The expansion of the current bus system and development of light rail between Boise's urban centers and surrounding towns will actually encourage more ridership. The current system is unused because it doesn't serve enough locations. Developing bus and rail transportation hubs encourages growth around those centers and further increases use. Simply building new roads is like trying to solve obesity by loosening your belt. Boise must develop such mass-transit solutions to prevent congestion and air pollution that ruin Boise's quality of life.

Thomas Broz, Star

Displaced residents

Shame on developers whose main interest is to build homes at any cost. The people of mobile home parks aren't wealthy like the ones buying your homes. Take a crowbar to your wallets, pry them open and help the displaced mobile-home-park residents move. We all know that the profit margin on the homes you will build is a handsome one. And shame on Boise city for allowing the loophole to occur.

Marshall Holt, Boise