For the last couple years, since early 2021, I volunteered for the North End Neighborhood Association and stepped into the role of Planning & Zoning Chair. NENA was the first and is the oldest Neighborhood Association in Boise. As such, a lot of the projects in the North End are subject to the Historic Overlay Zone Guidelines. There are now about 34 NA’s all around Boise. About half of them are fairly active in what goes on in and around and affects their neighborhoods.
The P+Z Chair for NENA reviews Planning Applications that get a chance for public input and feedback. Some of these are simple, over-the-counter administrative reviews (Certificates of Appropriateness) that are over and done with in a week (like replacing windows, cutting down trees, etc.). Others have a longer review with a required neighborhood notification and meeting, leading to a public hearing in front of the City of Boise Historic Planning Commission and/or the Planning & Zoning Commission. If an appeal to any of these is filed, it then goes before the City Council.
NENA has two wonderful ladies that shepherd the Historic Planning applications and hearings. P+Z typically will hear variances, changes of use, subdivisions, planned unit developments, etc. These were all hot and heavy back in 2021, but have since cooled down a bit.
In conjunction with this volunteer role, I have taken on planning and hosting NENA’s annual Transportation Summit and Bike Rally. This is a community engagement opportunity for North Enders to come out to a park, play games, meet local organizations affecting modes of transportation in and around the North End, as well as learn about upcoming projects and programs. We end the Summit with a Bike Rally throughout the North End. Organizations that typically attend this one-day, afternoon summit are:
The City of Boise
Office of Community Engagement (Energize our Neighborhoods!)
Planning & Development Services
Mayor’s Transportation Advisor
May In Motion
Boise Bicycle Project (a non-profit that collects, repairs and gives bikes away to children in need)
Valley Regional Transit
Ada County Highway District (they control all the streets in and around Boise)
Safe Routes to School
Commuteride
Idaho Mountain Touring (local bike shop, performing bike repairs and handing out swag)
COMPASS (Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho)
In September of 2022, I was appointed to the NENA Board of Directors by the current Board of Directors to fill a vacant seat on the Board. In November of 2022, I was then nominated to take on the Presidency role for NENA. As we are a volunteer neighborhood organization, this is mostly a symbolic role as well all work together to do the same thing. We have a wonderful and diverse board of local professionals, homeowners, renters and the like all working together to represent and help guide this wonderful neighborhood forward while respecting our past.
More information about NENA can be found here.