The Boise City Council has agreed to take a second look at a previously rejected housing development along State Street, voting 4-1 to reconsider the Bonnybrook Subdivision — a 292-unit mixed-housing project proposed for the western edge of Boise near 9744 State Street. The decision marks a significant reversal for a project that had been turned down over traffic and pedestrian safety concerns, and it comes as Boise continues grappling with housing supply shortages across the Treasure Valley.
Background: Why the Project Was Originally Denied
The Bonnybrook Subdivision drew scrutiny from council members during its initial review largely because of questions surrounding traffic flow and pedestrian safety at the site’s location near the city limits. The council had attached a traffic-related condition to any potential approval, but the developer rejected that condition, characterizing it as vague and open-ended. That standoff contributed to the project’s outright denial before the council agreed to revisit the matter.
The site spans just over 18 acres along State Street and is bordered by Utahna Road and Gardener Lane. Under the current proposal, the development would not include a direct outlet onto State Street — a design choice that may address some of the earlier traffic concerns — but would instead extend both Sloan Street and Leighton Street to serve residents moving in and out of the subdivision.
What the Bonnybrook Project Would Build
If ultimately approved, Bonnybrook would deliver a mix of housing types across the 18.9-acre parcel. The development calls for 24 detached single-family homes, 52 townhomes, and 216 apartment units — a combination that reflects an increasing trend in Boise of layering different housing products into a single project to maximize density on available infill land.
Council member Jimmy Hallyburton signaled cautious optimism about the project during the reconsideration vote, saying, “Other than that, it looked like a really great development.” Council member Meredith Stead echoed that sentiment, saying she felt there was enough merit in the proposal to warrant a deeper look: “I feel like maybe there’s enough here to dig into more.”
Council member Kathy Corless cast the lone dissenting vote, opposing the move to reconsider. Council member Colin Nash was absent from the vote entirely, leaving the final tally at 4-1 in favor of moving forward with another review.
Impact on Ada County Residents and Boise’s Housing Supply
For Ada County homeowners and renters, the Bonnybrook project represents another potential addition to a housing pipeline that has struggled to keep pace with population growth in the Boise metro area. The Treasure Valley has faced sustained pressure on housing affordability, and projects at the city’s edges — like this one near the State Street corridor — have become a common mechanism for adding new inventory without displacing existing neighborhoods.
The mix of apartments, townhomes, and single-family homes in the proposal could serve a range of income levels and household types, though affordability designations were not detailed in the project materials reviewed by the council. Boise has taken additional steps in recent months to address housing supply through land acquisition — the city has also explored purchasing property on Cole Road to expand its affordable housing land trust — suggesting a multi-pronged approach to the region’s housing challenges.
Traffic concerns along the State Street corridor remain a practical consideration for nearby residents. The decision to extend Sloan and Leighton streets rather than punch a new outlet directly onto State Street may ease some pressure on that roadway, but the full traffic analysis will likely be central to any renewed hearings on the project.
What Comes Next
With the council’s 4-1 vote to reconsider, the Bonnybrook Subdivision will return for additional review. The developer and city planning staff will need to resolve the outstanding questions around traffic conditions — particularly the language of any conditions attached to an eventual approval — before the project can move toward a final vote. Residents near the 9744 State Street site, as well as those in neighborhoods that would be affected by the Sloan and Leighton Street extensions, should monitor upcoming Boise City Council meeting agendas for hearing dates. Meeting schedules and agenda materials are available through the City of Boise’s official website.