March 22, 2006

SKYLINE APPEALS BOISE’S PROPOSED AREA OF IMPACT EXPANSION
City Failed to Follow Its Own Rules in Effort to Control Land Outside Its Jurisdiction

BOISE – Skyline Development Company filed a Petition for Judicial Review today in 4th District Court concerning the City of Boise’s efforts to expand its Area of Impact (AOI) to include Skyline’s proposed development, The Cliffs. The petition notes there were numerous legal, factual, and procedural flaws in the City’s recent proceedings.

Skyline’s legal action is in response to the Boise City Council’s February 22 decision to begin negotiations with Ada County to expand the City’s AOI to an area which includes more than 700 acres where Skyline has proposed to develop a 1200-1400 home planned community called The Cliffs. Skyline submitted an application for the development last month with the County. The development would set aside more than half of its total land as open space, the greatest amount of which will be restored and will enhance wildlife habitat.
Before the City made its decision on the AOI, Skyline and its legal counsel wrote several comment letters objecting to the City’s proposal. Among other things, Skyline objected that the City failed to hold a proper public informational meeting prior to making its decision, the City failed to properly analyze Skyline’s private property rights, and the City exceeded its statutory authority.

“Boise officials have stated their intent in expanding the AOI is to prevent The Cliffs from being built,” said Tucker Johnson, Skyline’s vice president and project manager for The Cliffs. “If they’re going to use the AOI process as a way to control growth outside their city limits, they have a responsibility to follow the law. Skyline expects Boise to stop its misguided and misdirected efforts to control land outside its boundaries, and instead focus on the very real issues facing its taxpayers.”

The family comprising Skyline Development Company, a 38-year-old home-grown Idaho business, has developed and designed more than 15 Treasure Valley neighborhoods totaling more than 5,000 homes, including The Hickories, Vienna Woods and Rockhampton. About 15,000 people valley-wide live in Skyline neighborhoods. For more information on The Cliffs, go to www.thecliffsidaho.com.

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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