Planning project · Planning application
Single-family home on foothills lot approved after hillside review
The city approved a hillside review on Aug. 18 for one house on a 0.23-acre lot. Because of slope and unstable soils, the builder must submit geotechnical and engineering documents, and a soils inspection is required during construction.

From the filing
The application's description as it appears in City of Boise's record. See the official record
Hillside Review
Project name on file: 5488 N POLECAT LOFTS LN
Timeline
Aug. 18, 2026
Planning Applications: Project Entitled
April 27, 2026
Pending Application Submittal: Planning Applications in Review
March 26, 2026
Concept Review Complete: CR Complete - Type 2
March 25, 2026
Concept Review Complete: Engineering Preview
March 25, 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 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, having 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 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.
March 25, 2026
Application Submittal: Online
March 25, 2026
Application filed
Documents
Site plans
- Download Site plan with existing conditions and general construction notes
Site plan showing existing improvements and ground contours from a November 2021 survey, with notes on utilities, fire hydrant, irrigation, and geotechnical and code requirements.
March 25, 2026 · 1 page · 1.4 MB · PDS-Other Small Docs
Project narrative
- Download Concept review summary report
Advisory concept review notes for a single-family home in the Hillside Overlay, identifying a Category II Hillside application and expected geotechnical and retaining wall documentation.
March 26, 2026 · 2 pages · 467 KB · PDS-Concept Review Summary Report
Application
- Download Planning project application form
Application for a single-family detached home on an R-1A zoned lot, with a note that a Hillside Questionnaire is required.
March 25, 2026 · 2 pages · 158 KB · PDS-Application
- Download Public Works hillside project questionnaire
Checklist asking whether the project involves new parcels, additions, dwellings, driveways, deep grading, or retaining walls over 4 feet, with multiple walls under 10 feet apart.
March 25, 2026 · 1 page · 66 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.
March 25, 2026 · 5 pages · 804 KB · PDS-Agency Comments


