A city failing to grow from within, and instead growing outward, has defined many of America’s largest metros now characterized by sprawling suburban development and a degradation of the natural environment. By prioritizing density, Boise’s new zoning code seeks to avoid the mistakes of its larger counterparts and retain its reputation as the City of Trees.
Boise’s new zoning code began implementation at the close of last year, marking the first time in decades that the city’s zoning code received a rewrite. Named the “Modern Zoning Code,” it is a rewrite of rules and guidelines for development that hadn’t been updated in 60 years, when the density of Boise was far different than it is today.
What has seen comparatively less change in that period is the landscape that surrounds Boise: desert to the south, mountains to the north and the river that flows through the city — these defining characteristics have all remained and continue to shape the state of the city today. In the overhaul of the code, Boise’s Planning and Development Services Department sought to determine how to retain the closeness of nature while accommodating the needs of a population that continues to grow.