Planning project · Planning application
Retaining wall proposed at single-family home on foothills slope
The homeowner seeks city approval to add a small retaining wall. The city says the site needs hillside review because of slope and unstable soils, and a geotechnical report may be required. The application is under administrative review.

About this application
CAT II Retaining Wall
Project name on file: 2179 S COLOMA WAY
Timeline
Two days ago
5 documents added
Sept. 17, 2026
Pending Application Submittal: Planning Applications in Review
Sept. 14, 2026
Concept Review Complete: CR Complete - Type 2
Sept. 9, 2026
Concept Review Complete: Engineering Preview
Sept. 9, 2026
Concept Review Complete: Engineering Preview Complete
Based on submitted documents and limited overview of the property, 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 (please submit them with subsequent applications), 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 civil plans (full size plan submitted herein will suffice). Please refer to the Hillside Development Requirements for Technical Reports for grading & drainage plan and geotechnical report requirements.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 to 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. Please include your application number and address in the subject line.
Sept. 2, 2026
Concept Review Complete: Corrections Required
Please submit the Rockery Wall Site Plan as a standalone file as the one included in the Rockery Wall Design Package is illegible. It is the Wall Site Layout on page 3 of the report.
Sept. 1, 2026
Concept Review Complete: Engineering Preview
Aug. 25, 2026
Application Submittal: Online
Aug. 25, 2026
Application filed
Documents
Site plans
- Download Wall site plan
Site plan showing a rockery boulder retention wall, its contour lines, fence and property lines, and construction notes from Breckon Land Design.
Sept. 8, 2026 · 1 page · 2.3 MB · PDS-Other Small Docs
- Download Rockery wall design and engineering notes
Breckon Land Design sheet with rockery retaining wall design notes, boulder sizing, drainage and backfill requirements, dated August 17, 2026.
Aug. 26, 2026 · 9 pages · 337 KB · PDS-Other Small Docs
Project narrative
- Download Concept review summary
Planner's advisory summary for a Category II hillside project with a small retaining wall, listing required geotechnical, structural and civil documents.
Sept. 14, 2026 · 2 pages · 452 KB · PDS-Concept Review Summary Report
Application
- Download Planning project application form
Application for a small retaining wall on a single-family residence in an R-1C zone, with a required Hillside Questionnaire referenced.
Aug. 25, 2026 · 2 pages · 154 KB · PDS-Application
Other documents
- PDS-Other Small Docs - 08/25/2026 BOULDER RETAINING WALL HILLSIDE INFORMATION
Aug. 25, 2026 · 701 KB · PDS-Other Small Docs