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Commission approves downtown mixed‑use tower at 1080 W. Front St.; variances granted
Summary
The commission approved CUP 25‑31 and CVA 25‑48 for a proposed high‑rise mixed‑use building at 1080 West Front Street, granting four variances and recording a 7‑1 vote; two additional variance requests were withdrawn by the applicant and staff conditions apply.
The Boise City Planning and Zoning Commission approved a conditional‑use permit and a package of variances for a proposed high‑rise mixed‑use tower at 1080 West Front Street.
Staff framed the application as a 39‑story, high‑density project with ground‑floor retail and residential units and recommended approval of the CUP while noting two variance requests that staff originally recommended denying. The applicant subsequently withdrew those two variances; staff remained supportive of the remaining requests and the CUP. "The planning team is supportive of and recommends approval," staff said during the presentation.
Sean Kennedy, the project architect for GGLO, told commissioners the team was in agreement with staff recommendations and described design solutions including a bicycle lounge and elevator access for cargo bikes. Commissioners raised questions about bike parking access, potential future conversion of structured parking into housing, and traffic impacts on Front Street (an Idaho Transportation Department jurisdiction). ACHD provided traffic comments; ITD provided limited written comment and said it would follow up.
Commissioner Torres moved to approve CUP 25‑31 and CVA 25‑48 with the terms and conditions in the staff report, acknowledging the withdrawal of two variance requests. After discussion about construction impacts and traffic mitigation, the commission approved the motion on a roll‑call vote, 7 in favor and 1 opposed.
Several commissioners praised the project’s contribution to downtown housing supply; Commissioner Torres called the proposal a major increase in downtown housing supply during deliberations. The approval is conditioned on the staff report terms and the remaining variances as listed in planning materials.
