SaveThePlateau.org

January 13, 2005

The Hon. Rick Yzaguirre, Chairman
Ada County Board of Commissioners
200 W. Front Street
Boise, ID 83702

Dear Chairman Yzaguirre:

Ada County, Boise City, Boise National Forest, Bureau of Land Management and Idaho Department of Fish & Game are partners in the Ridge to Rivers pathway program, which has been in existence since 1992. These same partners are co-signators on the Foothills Open Space Management Plan for Public Lands of 2000. These collaborative efforts have allowed our agencies to efficiently manage public lands and to conserve the valuable natural resources that are vital to the Treasure Valley's quality of life.

As part of the City's Foothills Conservation effort authorized by Boise voters through the Foothills Serial Levy, we have worked with our partners and private land-owners in an attempt to secure open space that is critical to management goals of the Boise Foothills. We understand that Ada County is in discussions with a developer concerning a proposed Planned Community in the 700-acre east Foothills property commonly referred to as Hammer Flat. We have significant concerns with this proposal and would like to go on record with the following statements and requests.

Hammer Flat is a large area in the eastern foothills just outside the Boise Area of City Impact. It is bordered by the Fish and Game Wildlife Management Area to the north and by the Black Cliffs to the south. The property is used extensively as critical winter range by elk, antelope, and one of Idaho's largest mule deer herds. The Black Cliffs have known value as a raptor roosting and nesting area, and are closed to climbers each spring to protect nesting birds.

The Foothills Open Space Management Plan for Public Lands, of which Ada County is a signator, identifies the importance of the Boise Foothills Wildlife Management Area and of protecting this resource. The plan has identified Hammer Flats as a crucial wildlife resource area that should be protected from development. High-density residential development of Foothills properties immediately adjacent to the Wildlife Management Area will, on a year-round basis, bring people, pets, motor vehicles, noise, light and general activity that will be harmful to the area's sensitive habitat resources.

Boise has other concerns regarding development of the Hammer Flat area:

* Development of this area with a package sewer treatment plant directly conflicts with Boise Department of Public Works' policy. Package plants eventually fail and must be absorbed, with considerable difficulty and cost, by the City sewer system.
* The area currently has no fire protection. Adequate fire protection services to meet minimum standards will require significant resources. Whitney Fire District and the Boise Fire Department operate under a joint powers agreement, so the impact on resources could affect both entities.
* Vehicular access to this site must come through an existing local roadway system and will then impact Warm Springs Avenue, which is already over capacity.

From virtually any environmental, infrastructure or public resource perspective, the Hammer Flat property appears inappropriate for a high-density development. This is especially true if it does little more than accommodate residential home sites that create a disproportionate burden on City infrastructure and public lands in the Boise Foothills.

In the event that we have received incorrect or incomplete information regarding this proposed development, we request a meeting as soon as possible between County and City staff to discuss the project. We further request that the County invite Boise City Planning, Parks, Fire and Public Works staff to any conceptual discussions that the County may have with the applicant or with adjacent property owners, including public agencies.

You may contact Hal Simmons, Planning Director, or Paul Woods, Open Space Coordinator, for notification of any meetings that you may have pending.

Sincerely,

David H. Bieter,
Mayor

cc:
Boise Project Board of Control
Idaho Department of Fish and Game
Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Reclamation
East End Neighborhood Association
Harris Ranch Neighborhood Association
Riverland East Neighborhood Association
Warm Springs Mesa Neighborhood Association
Southeast Neighborhood Association
Whitney Fire District

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