Planning and Zoning Commission backs rezone for 1519 S. Londoner, advancing 189‑unit mixed‑use proposal to City Council

The Boise City Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval to City Council of a rezone for 1519 South Londoner Avenue that would allow an approximately 189‑unit, three‑story mixed‑use apartment and retail project on about 5.7 acres.

Planning staff and the applicant told commissioners the proposal replaces underused parcels and two industrial uses with multi‑family housing and ground‑floor retail. Staff recommended the rezone to an R2 (Residential Compact) zone as consistent with Blueprint Boise and the city’s modern zoning code; the commission’s recommendation will go to City Council for final action.

The rezone matters, staff said, because the site is in a “level 2” infill area and adjacent to arterial corridors and transit routes. The applicant, Doug Russell of The Land Group, said the plan responds to prior direction from the commission by consolidating parcels to create a single, cohesive block redevelopment and by increasing density compared with an earlier 2021 single‑family subdivision proposal.

Staff presentation and project details

City planner Matt Dennis told commissioners the site is roughly 5.7 acres and spans the north half of the block bounded by Highland Street, Division Avenue and South Londoner Avenue. The applicant proposes two three‑story multifamily buildings with ground‑floor retail, four “urban flat” two‑story buildings…