Utility rate increases (borne by all users) caused by needing more capacity means we ALL pay for denser housing (which requires area-specific capacity increases). Why not make developers pay for those area-specific capacity requirements (and the trunk lines (sewer, water, electrical, roads)?

EDITOR NOTE–Well said! Also impose impact fees for schools which do not currently exist.

Generally speaking I agree with your current Boise population density numbers and, if it were 2013 and not 2023, I might agree with your assessment that Boise will never get to those higher population densities. But it is 2023 and the proposed zoning code rewrite (ZCR), if adopted, will make major changes to Boise’s density.

High density projects are here already and more are proposed under current allowable densities. Some examples are noted below. The proposed ZCR actively encourages higher densities, particularly along bus routes. It even rewards them. So there’s no validity to your claim that “ … the premise of this opinion piece is patently false.” If anything, I respectfully suggest your premise is patently false.

Here are some current and proposed high density examples. Some might be in, or coming to, an area near you. Keep in mind that anything above 63 units per acre is more than the housing density of Manhattan, the most densely populated area in the nation.

In addition to the project mentioned by Frank above, there are two more 40 plus density projects approved for the Vista neighborhood. In addition, there is:
–80 plus proposal at Federal Way & Kootenai.
–Moda Franklin project on The Bench
–70 plus proposal by Grovers on W Franklin Road
–CWI proposal downtown
–six story project on Ash St downtown at a whopping 150 units per acre
–at least four other proposed or already approved high density / high rise projects downtown. And in the State St renewal area there’s pretty much no restrictions on density or height. So high density projects are already here and more are on the way.

Any way you look at it? Well damn my lying eyes then.

The 15 – 45 numbers are coming from current Boise City allowable densities and the proposed 611 page Zone Code Rewrite. There are tables within each document which show allowable densities and also how those densities might be increased if certain conditions are met.

For starters see:

https://www.cityofboise.org/departments/planning-and-development-services/planning-and-zoning/zoning-and-overlay-districts/

https://www.cityofboise.org/departments/planning-and-development-services/planning-and-zoning/zoning-code-rewrite/

Just about anyway you look at it, Boise densities (current and proposed) are either close to current NYC densities or exceed current NYC densities.

Also, what about sewer, water, gas and electrical infrastructure to support all these new units? More streets being torn up to replace/expand utility capacity. Is that what we want?

EDITOR NOTE–Utility companies are all asking for rat hikes to pay for their need to expand capacity. Growth pays for itself as long as the rates go up. Veolia water is asking for about 25% hike.