Planning project · Planning application
14-foot retaining wall proposed to replace failing terraced walls
The plan would replace three aging, failing walls at the back of a 0.72-acre residential lot with one concrete wall 13 to 14 feet tall. It needs a variance and a hillside permit and is under review by the Hearing Examiner.
From the filing
The application's description as it appears in City of Boise's record. See the official record
Category II Hillside permit and Variance for a 14-foot tall wall
Project name on file: 4814 W ROBERTS RD - CFH/CVA
Timeline
Dec. 5, 2025
Pending Application Submittal: Planning Applications in Review
Nov. 4, 2025
Pending Application Submittal: Planning Applications in Review
Oct. 20, 2025
IDR Review Complete: IDR Waived
Oct. 20, 2025
Neighborhood Meeting Review: Not Required
NOTE: THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING REQUIREMENT HAS BEEN WAIVED BY THE SENIOR PLANNING MANAGER AS THE PROJECT WILL HAVE LITTLE POTENTIAL TO CREATE IMPACTS ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE PROPERTIES MOST AFFECTED ARE IN FAVOR OF THE PROJECT.
Oct. 20, 2025
Concept Review Complete: CR Complete - Type 3
Oct. 1, 2025
Concept Review Complete: Engineering Preview
Oct. 1, 2025
Concept Review Complete: Engineering Preview Complete
A determination has been made that this project will be a Category II Hillside project due to the nature of surrounding slopes. In addition to the already submitted documents, additional documents may be required during the CFH Review process.Additional documents that you can expect to provide will be a geotechnical report with a global slope stability analysis; structural calculations for any retaining wall that is greater than four feet of height, more than one retaining wall when the horizontal interior distance between the retaining walls is less than 10 feet and the total of all retaining walls exceeds four feet in height, a retaining wall having a surcharge, or having a backslope greater than three feet horizontal to one foot vertical; and civil plans.NOTE: The hazards of developing and building on property, especially in the Boise foothills, is well known. It is the responsibility of the applicant/owner’s design, geological, and engineering professionals, not the City, to identify, address, and mitigate any hazards to the site. Satisfying these Conditions of Approval is for limited [City purpose] only and should not be relied on for design, geological or engineering purposes.
Sept. 29, 2025
Application Submittal: Online
Sept. 29, 2025
Application filed
Documents
Site plans
- Download Project overview plan for retaining wall replacement
Schematic overview, not to scale, showing a proposed 14-foot concrete retaining wall to replace failing tiered walls near the Hillcrest tennis courts and maintenance storage building.
Sept. 29, 2025 · 1 page · 1.6 MB · PDS-Other Small Docs
Plans
- Download Grading and retaining wall plan
Sheet of abbreviations and wall elevation notes for the grading and retaining wall plan, including top-of-wall and footing elevations and a note to remove the existing failing wall.
Sept. 29, 2025 · 1 page · 875 KB · PDS-Other Small Docs
Project narrative
- Download Concept review summary report
Planner's summary of a concept review for replacing failing retaining walls with a single 13-14 foot wall, requiring a setback variance and a Category II Hillside Permit.
Oct. 20, 2025 · 2 pages · 460 KB · PDS-Concept Review Summary Report
Application
- Download Planning project application form
Application form for replacing a failing terraced retaining wall with a 14-foot concrete retaining wall in the rear setback, with the applicant's narrative and a Hillside Questionnaire requirement.
Sept. 29, 2025 · 2 pages · 154 KB · PDS-Application
Correspondence
- Download Email on waiving neighborhood meeting requirement
Planner and applicant's representative confirm no neighborhood meeting is required and discuss the adjacent neighbor's support for the wall application.
Oct. 20, 2025 · 1 page · 214 KB · PDS-Other Small Docs
Other documents
- Download Public Works hillside project questionnaire
Checklist answering whether the project involves new grading over 12 inches deep and a retaining wall taller than 4 feet exposed; other earthwork items are marked no.
Sept. 29, 2025 · 1 page · 695 KB · PDS-Other Small Docs
