A project to build the final residential and commercial area of an Ada County subdivision hit a snag earlier this month following outcry from neighbors over changes from the original plans.
The Ada County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denial of plans to rezone and allow a planned unit development on land for the final phases of the Winters Run Subdivision, located northwest of W. Lake Hazel and S. Maple Grove Rd. The applicant, Jayo Development, Inc., applied to change the zoning of 8.4 residential acres from Medium Density Residential to High Density Residential, and to rezone about 2.5 acres of commercially zoned land into residential, decreasing the commercial part of the site to 9.25 acres, according to the staff report on the application. The residential acreage would be for townhomes. The application also includes a master site plan for an 8,432 sq. ft. veterinary clinic as one of the commercial uses.
While those representing the applicant at the hearing said that they had worked with neighbors to create a plan that complied with Ada County Highway District rules and the City of Boise’s comprehensive plan, dozens of neighbors testified against the changes, saying they were out of line with the original approved plans for the site and decrease much-needed commercial acreage in the area.
The commission voted 3-2 to recommend denial of the project, with two commissioners absent. Because the decision differs from the staff’s recommendation of approval, staff will take time to write alternative conclusions that align with the commission’s recommendation before the application heads to the Ada County Board of Commissioners for consideration.
Developer’s dilemma: Satisfying three jurisdictions
The first phases of the Winters Run Subdivision project came before the county 2003, according to a slide presented by Hethe Clark, representing the applicant…