Planning project · Planning application
Retaining wall, partly in front setback, sought on foothills lot
The city is reviewing a plan for a retaining wall along a side property line, with a portion in the front setback, on a 0.34-acre lot. It needs a hillside review and a geotechnical report because of slope and unstable soils.
From the filing
The application's description as it appears in City of Boise's record. See the official record
Retaining wall parallel to the side property line.
Project name on file: 5046 N ARROW CREST WAY
Timeline
Oct. 14, 2026
5 documents added
April 24, 2026
Pending Application Submittal: Planning Applications in Review
April 23, 2026
Concept Review Complete: CR Complete - Type 2
April 22, 2026
Concept Review Complete: Corrections Required
Hello, The retaining wall cannot exceed 3 ft. in height as measured from grade along the interior of the wall to the peak height of the wall. Please let me know if you are able to adjust the height as required. You may apply for a Variance if this portion of the wall and this height is necessary due to unique site hardships. Again, let me know how you would prefer to proceed.
April 20, 2026
Concept Review Complete: Engineering Preview
April 20, 2026
Concept Review Complete: Engineering Preview Complete
A determination has been made that this project will be a Category II Hillside project due to slope, erosion-prone soils, unstable soils, earth movement, and other geologic and hydrologic hazards. 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 site-specific geotechnical report with the possibility of a global slope stability analysis (please see the Agency Comment for Hillside Retaining Wall Permitting within this PLN); structural calculations for any retaining wall system that is greater than four feet in height from top of foundation to top of wall, that has more than one wall when the interior horizontal distance between the walls is less than 10 feet and the total height of all walls exceeds four feet, that has a surcharge, that has a backslope greater than three feet horizontal to one foot vertical, or that has structural components (these requirements will be assessed again at the time of occupancy); and limited civil plans.A subgrade inspection by a geotechnical firm will be required at the time of construction once the subgrade is exposed and prior to placement of foundation materials or forms/rebar. A report of the inspection will need to be submitted and accepted by PW Hillside (HillsideDrainage@cityofboise.org) before scheduling your inspection with the Building Department and receiving final occupancy.NOTE: The hazards of developing and building on a property, especially in the Boise foothills, are 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. Developer will comply with all requirements of Boise City Hillside Development Code Sections or submit evidence satisfactory to the Boise City Engineer that the proposed development is exempt from the requirements therein stated due to location, topography and/or the absence of adverse conditions associated with slope stability, ground water, erosion and sedimentation.If you would like to discuss this determination, please contact us at HillsideDrainage@cityofboise.org or we can set up a meeting if you prefer.
April 20, 2026
Application Submittal: Online
April 20, 2026
Application filed
Documents
Site plans
- Download Retaining wall site plan, revision 1
Site plan for a 155-foot segmented retaining wall, about 4 feet high, with a typical cross section, drainage layout, and materials specifications.
April 20, 2026 · 6 pages · 1.3 MB · PDS-Maps and Drawings
Project narrative
- Download Concept review summary report
Advisory concept review notes stating the project is a Category II Hillside application and listing expected geotechnical, structural and civil documents, including a retaining wall in the front setback.
April 23, 2026 · 2 pages · 465 KB · PDS-Concept Review Summary Report
Application
- Download Planning project application form for retaining wall
Application form for a retaining wall in an R-1A zone, filed by a landscaping contractor on behalf of the property owner, with a hillside questionnaire required.
April 20, 2026 · 2 pages · 158 KB · PDS-Application
- Download Public Works hillside project questionnaire
Checklist asking whether the project involves new parcel lines, additions, dwellings, driveways, deep grading, or retaining walls over 4 feet, for hillside review.
April 20, 2026 · 1 page · 46 KB · PDS-Other Small Docs
Correspondence
- Download Hillside retaining wall permitting guidance
Public Works guidance on when retaining walls in the hillside zone need a determination, slope stability analysis, and planning-code height and setback limits.
April 20, 2026 · 5 pages · 804 KB · PDS-Agency Comments
