OUTREACH SUMMARY REPORT – REVISED MODULES 1 +2
PROJECT BACKGROUND Boise’s zoning code has shaped Boise as we know it, guiding how the built environment of our city evolves. To support Boise’s long-term vision as our community grows and changes, we are rewriting our zoning code in three parts, called modules. The first module of the zoning code outlines what kind of uses are and are not allowed within each zone across the city. The second module outlines development and design standards for redeveloping properties within the city. Staff completed outreach for Module 1 in the spring of 2021 and outreach for Module 2 in the winter of 2022. City staff completed another round of community outreach to review the revised Modules 1 and 2 throughout July of 2022.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The zoning code rewrite is a multi-year process that includes deep community engagement with residents to shape Boise’s future. Following outreach for Module 2, city staff heard residents and made significant changes to the original Modules 1 and 2 that were presented to the community. For staff to begin working on Module 3, it was important for the City of Boise to share revisions with the community and provide an update on the new direction of the zoning code rewrite to ensure there was a solid foundation to build upon. The community had opportunities to participate through three in-person open houses as well as a digital open house hosted on the zoning code rewrite webpage. The open house format allowed staff to present the new framework, have a conversation with residents during the question-and-answer portion and for the residents to look more in-depth at the presentation with boards spread throughout the room during an open house forum. The boards provided additional details from the presentation and residents were able to share questions or comments with city planners. The digital open house mirrored the in-person event, with the same opportunity to provide feedback. At the open houses, staff presented the new framework with four new goals for the zoning code rewrite, which are a direct reflection what we heard from the community. The new framework city staff presented are outlined below: 1.
Have a variety of great neighborhoods.
2. Direct development where there is planned public investment.
3.
Have a strategy to produce affordable and sustainable housing.
4.
Manage growth along the edges of the city
Within this framework, staff presented how the city plans to achieve each of these goals. Additional details were covered in depth during the presentation such as descriptions of the new zones that tell us where and what can be built in the city, explaining how transit-oriented development will encourage development and growth where we have our bus transit lines, and how the city will not continue to grow on the edges of the city to be conscious of our current infrastructure and water resources. Residents were encouraged by the updates and could more easily see and predict what could be built, and where, in the city. This predictability carried a positive tone throughout the community conversations and, in general, residents understood how the city is working to utilize where the public has committed to investment areas such as the State Street Urban Renewal District and major streets that have every fifteen-minute bus service times, to our advantage. This report presents the feedback and recommendations we heard from the community during the latest round of outreach in July 2022 for the revised draft of Modules 1 and 2 of the Zoning Code Rewrite.
REVISED MODULES 1 +2 OUTREACH SUMMARY | 1