City Government
Boise Council Wisely Approves State Garage
April 17, 2013 
With the state of Idaho’s legal ax hanging over its head, the Boise City Council used some wisdom and approved a parking garage to built by the state near the Capitol Building.
As predicted in a February POSTING “higher authority” prevailed over the over zealous design review committee. Council President Maryanne Jordan publicly spanked the committee and the planning and zoning commission when she said, “There’s a middle ground that was missed. It was missed all along. And so, we find ourselves here.”
Council members unanimously supported Jordan’s motion to approve the state building application for the 6 story, 580 space facility.
The elephant in the room was the fact the Idaho Legislature passed a law allowing the state to build without seeking permission from the city.
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Comments & Discussion
Comments are closed for this post.
Apr 17, 2013, 9:11 am
Well I guess council members are not complete idiots….just almost
Apr 17, 2013, 11:16 am
I commend the city council for being the grownup in this matter. I am not a pro-state garage person at all, but I’ve been through these processes enough to know that design reviews and planning and zoning committees often get seriously sidetracked by personal tastes and preferences, instead of the actual ordinances and laws that govern the entire process. When something is proposed that meets all legal requirements, there is really nothing more frustrating and wrong that having un-elected committees injecting their personal biases into the process.
Apr 17, 2013, 12:34 pm
They obeyed the law. Remarkable.
Apr 17, 2013, 5:24 pm
I propose that the garage be named the Joe Palmer and Sons Garage.
Apr 19, 2013, 12:03 pm
My best guess is that a parking sticker will be required. Wonder if Legislators get more than one sticker???
Apr 19, 2013, 3:08 pm
Common sense prevails. Seems like the Council could have let the P&Z know before they made their bad decision.
Apr 20, 2013, 3:19 pm
I wonder a why there is such a animosity between the guardian and a the city?
Would a the editor care to esplain?
EDITOR NOTE–Animosity? The council unanimously agreed with the GUARDIAN and reversed the Design Review and P&Z on the parking garage, averting the state using the law passed by the legislature to ignore city zoning rules. It would appear the animosity came from the elected state officials who seek a parking garage.
Apr 21, 2013, 10:47 am
Humm
I look at the guardian home page and 6 out of 25 stories listed have something to do with city govt and non of it is good.
Thats 24%, any researcher any where in the world would considered that significant.
EDITOR NOTE–There are those who would say that is good journalism. If you do the same research at the DAILY PAPER, my guess is you would find a near 100% positive outlook. The same researcher would also find that significant right? The mayor’s office refuses to respond to any GUARDIAN requests for information or comment, hence their “side” is not offered. The GUARDIAN has repeatedly offered space to the mayor or other city departments on various issues and will continue to do so. When was the last time the mayor appeared on Nate Shelman KBOI radio or the KIDO radio morning show? Those are not “friendly” venues, hence they are ignored.
Apr 21, 2013, 6:05 pm
Here’s your answer Father Guido:
Boise Mayor Bieter in response to Statesman questions about his self-annointment to G-BAD and speculation that he is trying to stack the deck in favor of a Boise baseball stadium:
“I’d like to say I’m the puppet master, but I think that’s kind of laughable really, in the end, and that’s why I don’t treat this that seriously. I don’t know where (the accusations are) coming from and I don’t really care.”
Read more here for context of his statement:
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/04/21/2545272/bieter-a-puppet-master-on-auditorium.html#storylink=cpy
The mayor and all elected officials should care what’s being said about them and their administrations. To shut out a seasoned and highy credible member of the press, such as Mr. Frazier of the Boise Guardian, is simply NOT COOL. Bieter is not my brand of Democrat(even though his position is “nonpartisan”), nor public official. Glad I moved to Meridian – road construction and other city frustrations aside -after 26 years in Boise.
Keep up the great work, BG.
Regards,
KTA-Independent Journalist
Apr 21, 2013, 7:39 pm
I understand that “some” would agree with you that is good journalism, CNN and Fox both make a living off of it. I am sure if I was to look in the daily I would find unfettered support for the mayor, just like I will find unfettered support on this site for certain subjects. Who is correct, I would say neither. I guess it’s the ole two wrongs don’t make a right. I know nothing about the mayor’s office refusal of your requests. I assume there are individuals who choose to not talk to the daily as well. I guess I should be ashamed to say that I have no idea who Nate Shelman is. I would say this, and I am in no way trying to stand up for ole deer in the headlights Dave, why would he go on a “non friendly” show. People usually don’t wade into the valley of the shadow, on their own. Unless they are marines.. One thing my momma used to tell us was this, you catch more fly’s with honey than vinegar… yes I’m from “southern Italy” my point is this you might get a comment from the mayor if “he“ wasn’t sure you would try to put it in the worst light. I have seen people on this very site vilified more than once because they did not opine down the party line so to speak.
Apr 21, 2013, 8:20 pm
Kappa
Im not a member of the statesmans site so I do not have… and dont intend to have axcess so I will take your word for it.
Apr 22, 2013, 5:28 pm
“Father Guido Sarducci is a chain-smoking priest with tinted eyeglasses, Sarducci worked in the United States as gossip columnist and rock critic for the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano and, later, as Assistant Managing Editor for The Vatican Enquirer.”
Gossip Columnist ??????
Apr 22, 2013, 7:33 pm
Thank you for reviewing my credits. Please do not forget I was also the Dean of the 5 minute Universtiy. Now in all seriousness what was the point?
Apr 23, 2013, 12:52 am
Father GS: The animosity flows both ways between this site and the City of Boise. The problem is the City always seems to lose.
Over the years, the Guardian has led to many changes at the city. It all started with the city owned farm that helps to process sewer waste in 2005. Probably the biggest defeat for the city was in Boise v. Frazier. The city could no longer use creative financing to fund parking garages and fire stations.
http://caselaw.findlaw.com/id-supreme-court/1364887.html
The name of this site should imply the purpose and slant of the articles. I don’t always agree with BG’s views but he is always welcome to feedback especially with factual insight. Welcome aboard.