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Commission denies streetscape variance on Cribbon Street; approves subdivision with arborist condition
Summary
The commission denied CVA25-41, a variance to replace required detached sidewalk with attached sidewalk on Cribbon Street, citing lack of property-specific hardship evidence; it recommended approval of the two‑lot subdivision provided the applicant works with an arborist and city forestry on sidewalk routing to protect a large maple tree.
Boise — The commission denied a variance request (CVA25-41) to deviate from the code-required detached sidewalks and associated streetscape standards on a Cribbon Street subdivision proposal but recommended approval of the underlying subdivision (SUB24-54) with a condition requiring an arborist review and community forestry involvement.
Staff position Planning staff reviewed the requested variance and recommended denial. Staff said variances must be supported by hardships specific to the property; no arborist report or tree‑health documentation was submitted with the application. Staff noted a detached sidewalk is the code standard and that an existing attached sidewalk to the south was installed under an earlier code and does not establish precedent for variances.
Applicant and neighbor statements David Crawford (Centurion Engineers) and property owners Mark and Janine Verbanek described the neighborhood as a legacy subdivision with a narrower-than-standard right-of-way and argued that installing a detached sidewalk would require removing large shrubs and could threaten an adjacent 60‑year‑old silver maple. Owners provided tree measurements and argued that detached sidewalk trenches within 15 feet of the maple’s trunk would endanger the tree’s root system and long‑term stability; owner Janine Verbanek summarized those risks: "Installing a sidewalk within 15 feet of a 60 year old silver maple would likely harm the tree."
Commission action and condition The commission found the subdivision otherwise consistent with development standards and approved the plat recommendation to City Council, but denied the variance. The motion that passed added a condition requiring the applicant to work with a qualified arborist and with the city’s community forestry staff to evaluate the maple and to identify a sidewalk routing or design that preserves tree health if the arborist determines the tree should be preserved. The condition was added because staff and commissioners agreed tree preservation requires technical evaluation before final sidewalk treatment is set.
Practical effect The subdivision can proceed toward council consideration; the variance to permit an attached sidewalk was denied. The new condition requires a professional arborist assessment submitted before final plat recordation or approval steps identified in staff conditions; if the arborist determines the tree cannot be preserved, standard detached sidewalk could be required per code.
