Commission defers new-construction plans for 718 W. Ada; asks for true 1½‑story massing, tree mitigation and privacy measures

The Boise City Historic Preservation Commission on Dec. 9 deferred consideration of a proposed new 1½‑story residence with an ADU at 718 West Ada Street and told the designer to return with revisions that make the house’s massing closer to a true one‑and‑a‑half‑story form, include a detailed tree mitigation plan specifying caliper inches removed and replaced, and propose measures to protect neighbors’ privacy.

Staff presented the resubmittal and noted the applicant had reduced lot coverage to 35 percent, increased the accessory dwelling unit’s roof pitch and reduced the ADU depth so the overall footprint would meet the city’s guideline threshold. Staff said the new drawings show the primary residence’s roof peak at 25 feet, 8 inches and that the accessory structure would be shorter than the…