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Council approves rezone along Overland Road after neighborhood signage concerns
Summary
Council approved CAR 24-14 to rezone about 2.5 acres at 10100 West Overland Road from R-2 to MX-2 with a development agreement modification; planning staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval. Neighbors expressed concern about potential future electronic message signs.
The Boise City Council voted unanimously Feb. 4 to rezone roughly 2.5 acres at 10100 West Overland Road from R-2 (residential traditional) to MX-2 (mixed use general) and to modify the related development agreement to allow a future alternative sign program.
City planning staff told council the property sits on the west side of Gold King Way in the Overland Road and Five Mile Road Community Activity Center and is currently developed as a commercial plaza. Staff said the requested zone change is consistent with the comprehensive plan land-use map and that the development agreement modification would update exhibit B to allow new types of signage and reflect the zoning change. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval.
At the public hearing, Betty Berman Solo of the Southwest Ada County Alliance testified she supports maintaining Overland Road as a safe, attractive gateway and voiced concern that MX-2 zoning could allow electronic message displays. “I only found out about the fact that the MX 2 would allow for, the message, display, which we're hoping that with, going forward, the rest of the property, will continue to have the same type of signage that is on the East side,” Berman Solo said, adding that residents have found electronic signs distracting and that the area behind the commercial parcels is residential.
City staff and the applicant told council the applicant is not proposing an electronic message display on the freestanding plaza sign; instead, the developer seeks the MX-2 designation specifically to be eligible for an alternative sign program that permits a larger center sign for the plaza. The applicant, participating online, said the goal is to have signage that better matches existing building architecture.
Council members acknowledged the neighborhood concerns about future electronic signage but said the rezone aligns with the comp plan and will help businesses in the activity center. One council member asked whether the applicant intended to redevelop beyond signage; staff said the site is already developed as a commercial plaza and the rezoning primarily enables the alternative sign program.
A motion to approve CR 24-14 and the DA modification passed unanimously.
