Board grants lot-size variance in Boise Foothills for Joseph Gunther

Ada County planning staff recommended — and the board approved — a variance to allow building on a 4.41-acre parcel in the West Boise Foothills north of Hill Road and east of Siemens Gulch Road (8560 North Los Sage Lane). The property is located in the Rural Preservation District, which currently has a much larger minimum lot size than the parcel.

Staff said the parcel is part of an historic, nonconforming subdivision created by earlier owners (the Barnes family) in the 1970s without required approvals; it was recorded in the county in 1980 and later conveyed to the current owner. Ada County Code Article 81B (nonconforming property standards) allows variance consideration where parcels were of record prior to Jan. 1, 1985, and where reassembly into larger parcels is not feasible. Staff concluded the property does not create a special privilege, that site characteristics make a variance a reasonable way to relieve hardship, and that affected agencies raised no objections. No written public comments were recorded.

Applicant Joseph (Joe) Gunther told the board that the property has legal access from Los Sage Lane and reiterated that a homeowners'group maintains the private road under a license agreement with Ada County Highway District (ACHD); he said the road would remain maintained and that the fire department would require improvements for emergency access if a new house were built. Gunther submitted additional documents for the record and said he had previously obtained private-road approvals.

The board moved to approve the lot-size variance based on the staff'prepared findings of fact and conclusions of law; the motion passed by voice vote.

Details - Project: 202501354-V (variance for lot size) - Location: 8560 North Los Sage Lane; approx. 4.41 acres, West Boise Foothills - Request: Variance to allow building on a parcel below the Rural Preservation District minimum (parcel is 4.41 acres vs. zoning minimum) - Background: Parcel created as part of an historic, nonconforming subdivision by Joseph and Lillian Barnes in the 1970s; recorded 1980; Ada County Code Article 81B applies - Agency comment: None objecting; staff found variance meets required findings - Applicant testimony: Joseph Gunther explained private-road license agreement with ACHD and that the Los Sage Lane Homeowners Association maintains the road; fire access upgrades likely required for new construction - Board action: Motion to approve variance based on findings of fact and conclusions of law; motion carried (voice vote; roll-call not recorded in transcript excerpt)

Quote "The applicant's property does have frontage on Los Sage Lane, which is an ACHD road that the property owner maintains," planning staff said during the presentation, noting the site has legal access.

Ending The board approved the lot-size variance. Staff will track any conditions and follow typical permitting steps for building permits on the parcel under the county's nonconforming-property provisions.