Thread by @mlcarmel

*drum roll please*

Starting in just a few minutes, Boise's Planning & Zoning Commission will start taking testimony on Interfaith Sanctuary's proposal to relocate to State Street.

As many as over 200 people are expected to testify so it will be a long night. Follow along!

I will be keeping tabs on highlights here, as well as how many people from each side testify.

We haven't had testimony yet, we're just doing final questions from commissioners.

Commissioner Chris Danley is asking if Interfaith Sanctuary has provided a contingency plan to address guests who were asked to leave the shelter and a security plan for the facility.

Chief Lee:

"Interfaith Sanctuary is aware of their responsibility to create a plan and our willingness to review and assess it. We are prepared to discuss whether or not when we see a plan whether or not it meets our concerns, but at this time we have not seen a draft plan."

Danley asked a series of questions setting up the possibility deferring a hearing and a decision until IFS submits these security plans. Commissioner Milt Gillispie is opposed.

Gillispie: "I think there's already in place in the conditions sufficient language to make sure the security plan is there if we decide that the proposed security plan is sufficient to mitigate the adverse impacts."

Danley is arguing they need to see this security plan before voting.

"I know more about how trash is going to be handled at this site than I do about security. I can't answer if there's going to be security on site nor how many hours or other details that come along with it."

Wardle, IFS's attorney, tried to object with a due process concern but he could not respond right now as per the chair.

Commissioner Blanchard is following Danley's lead.

"I have worked on at least five supportive housing units over the last two years and this is, like, the thinnest plan I have seen in my experience of developing these things."

Blanchard: "What all of these people want to know are these things, and we have no answers for them so what we would be doing is sitting here for five hours listening to people's concerns on things we don't have answers on."

Blanchard:

"We have an operator that is not experienced with what they propose to do here. We have an operator proposing to go from a nighttime shelter where people sleep and are gone all day and now we're going to a 24/7 facility with an unknown number of residents on hand."

Commissioner Mohr is not supporting Danley. She's agreeing with Gillispie.

Mohr: "There are ways to look at it without deferring it and delaying the project further that I am personally comfortable with, especially with plenty of time to deliberate."

Wardle is going to respond. He's likely not pleased.

Wardle: "You are attempting to impose an application condition after the submittal of an application in a way that is wholly inconsistent with Idaho law."

Wardle: "Do you know why you know so much about the garbage? Because you have a requirement in your code that we provide a landscape plan that says that. I personally am appalled every time we submit applications and it's the what about. The answer is where does it stop?"

Wardle: "I take umbrage with the characterization that this applicant is not experienced and doesn't know what it's been doing. We have been providing 24/7 service."

Wardle: "Part of this site is the inclusion of a hospice facility operated in conjunction with Terry Reilly. If you expect applicants to come and answer your questions, due process dictates that you tell us what those standards are."

Wardle: "Even before November 15, IFS had scheduled meetings with BPD to proactively address these concerns. This is something we do regularly because we know this is a population we have to interact with the police department. BPD however was hesitant to be specific."

Wardle: "During the 15th hearing we heard your interest in a security plan and Gillispie raised the fact that us coming back with a security plan is highly unlikely because of the timing and impermissible because you had closed the written record."

Wardle: "We cannot keep kicking this down the road. The time is running. I recognize that we run the risk if we don't agree to a deferral you deny it and we appeal it, but I am not going to leave it open and I am not going to surrender the rights of my client."

Wardle: "I will not allow the due process rights of IFS and most importantly the safety of its guests and employees to be a political football. We will work through these issues. We appreciate the depth the police have gone through, but there are two due process issues here."

Wardle: "We are amenable to the public safety requirements because we already satisfy those...but do not surmise, assume or project your personal experiences on the hard-working and decent staff and supporters of IFS."

Chair Meredith Stead said she would not be supporting the motion to defer, noting that this same topic was discussed last month.

After comments from the Deputy City Attorney, Danley is opting to withdraw his motion.

"I have my concerns, I've voiced my concerns and I think there is a lot of validity here but for the sake of the hearing and the public and the time I will retract the motion."

It's about time for public comment. Let's rock and roll.

A former guest of IFS is speaking in favor of the project. He is in their Project Recovery program to help handle his addictions and is now in a home of his own.

"Our friends without homes deserve the same opportunities to get back on their feet and find their way home."

We have another Interfaith Sanctuary staffer speaking in favor. He runs the nutrition training program to help guests get a job.

"This new facility isn't just about shelter it's about hope."

A resident who left California and its "poor governance" owns a home near the Greenbelt is speaking against the project. He said his family already deals with the homeless community camping near his home and issues including "public defecation" and pan handling.

The woman testifying now is arguing against the project because of its potential impact to the Willow Lane Sports Complex, which allows alcohol to be consumed on the premises. She said IFS would impact the events held at the park and other businesses in the area.

Here's another item testimony:

"If this application were to be granted, it asks way too much of the existing private property owners and businesses to make this type of use fit into their neighborhood."

A former chief of police in California is testifying now.

"It is my professional opinion that currently, IFS is not compatible in any neighborhood...IFS has created a chronic nuisance to the neighborhood and no attempts by IFS have been made to mitigate the issues."

Sam McCaskill, a real estate broker who helped IFS find the State Street site, is testifying now. He noted how the site will help them carry out their mission and fits their budget.

"I am very confident IFS will do everything in their power to be a good neighbor"

David Klinger, with Boise Working Together, is speaking against the project. He said there's been insufficient analysis of the move and it would impact the new State Street urban renewal project.

"There's something about this project that still feels rushed and thin."

Klinger said VRT should weigh in on how this project would impact ridership.

"Locating a mega-shelter on this bus line will compromise existing ridership and negatively affect Valley Ride's ability to attract more, fare-paying patrons it so desperately requires."

A resident is speaking now about screening for sex offenders. He is arguing that Interfaith's screening is not sufficient to block them from staying at the shelter, endangering the neighborhood.

Here's another comment from who appears to be the wife of the gentleman who just spoke about sex offenders.

"Please don't tempt a suffering and recovering sex offender nor endanger the neighborhood children. Deny this CUP."

The next person testifying brought up Timmy Kinner, the man who stabbed several children in 2018.

"Kinner was in prison for 2011 incidents of felony sexual battery. IFS admitted him as a resident in 2018 and reportedly stayed at IFS as late as two days prior to the stabbing."

This is the third person who just ended their testimony with that same sentence about not "tempting a suffering sex offender."

A fourth woman with this same group, who works for the Boise School District, is speaking now against the project due to the fact that there are many places where children congregate in the neighborhood.

"I would like to propose perhaps our children are our most vulnerable"

An IFS staff member is testifying now, criticizing the residents for trying to link IFS to the 2018 stabbing.

"These things can happen in any neighborhood with any group of people so to blame IFS for Timmy Kinner and some of the other things that have happened is really unfair.

The Senior Pastor of a Methodist Church in the Collister Neighborhood is speaking for the project.

"One of the pillars of the Christian faith is to care for and love the least, the last and the lost"

The Shelter Coordinator at Corpus Christi House is speaking now for the project. They serve the unsheltered community.

"Many of the crimes and calls that IFS gets blamed for are not folks who stay at their shelter, but folks who sleep outside and use our services during the day.

We’re on a ten minute break now. Here’s my rough count of testimony:

We're back and starting back up with an Interfaith Sanctuary guest who is currently in their recovery program.

"For a city who wishes to be known as Boise Kind, why does it feel like we are a city mired in waring political factions?"

We're going to have several IFS guests Zoom in now.

Stephanie Day, with CATCH, is speaking now.

"I think people mostly act in ways that seem unrelatable to us when they are feeling desperate, so we need to make sure we give people hope and a reason not to feel desperate."

A Collister resident is testifying now. Her children are zoned for Taft Elementary.

"It is really terrifying and appalling that we are even here considering and discussing a shelter of this magnitude near schools."

The owner of the Corona Village, a Mexican Restaurant, is speaking against the project now.

"Approval of this plan will result in loss of employees and business. As second-class citizens, my husband and I provide for our three children solely off of this business."

Nick Guho, a construction contractor, is testifying for the project. He gave a nod to Cooper Court, which was a dangerous tent encampment before IFS was in its current form.

"Is the city better off without IFS? If this doesn't get approved, IFS probably goes away."

A neighbor is criticizing IFS' decision to buy this property before they got a CUP. He is alleging multiple nearby homes have sold because of worries over the shelter.

"Who sells a property and buys a multimillion-dollar one before any permitting measures are in place?"

Brian Ertz, an attorney who represented Boise Working Together and NWNA, is speaking against the project.

"It's the magnitude, it's the intensity of the use that gives rise to the impacts we're looking at here. 200 plus beds is too many for this small a site in a neighborhood."

Ertz: "I would also point to the segregation. This neighborhood has taken a disproportionate amount of impacts and protected classes are in this neighborhood that would be disproportionately impacted in ways more affluent neighborhoods---"

He was cut off, but you get the gist

A retired social worker is testifying now, saying IFS does not have proper intake procedures. She said there should be security cameras both inside and inside the facility and security patrols with K9s to search for drugs and other contraband.

We now have another presentation from a Veterans Park Neighbor about inadequate parking at the shelter.

IFS argues it needs far fewer parking spaces than other similar projects because many of its guests do not have their own cars.

Another neighbor is testifying about the importance of Willow Lane Sports Complex that allows alcohol. He noted that being able to drink there makes it a popular destination, and if the privilege was abused and later taken away it could negatively impact the park.

Rabbi Dan Fink is testifying in favor.

"I want to remind us that when we talk about IFS we're not talking about numbers, we're not talking about beds we're talking about women, men and children who want the same things we all want. Shelter, safety and security."

IFS Board President Andy Scoggin said the city's taskforce looked at other sites, but could not find another one.

"If we are not given this CUP, there is nowhere else we can go. That is not an ultimatum. We want to do this, we will do everything we can, but it's a fact we face."

We still have nearly 100 people to testify.

Someone representing Burger and Brew is testifying against the project now.

"If you approve this facility, businesses will not stay. They will leave. This is a disaster in the making."

We have another Veterans Park neighbor in opposition. He is saying the site does not have enough space per square foot per resident to not be overcrowded.

This was discussed at length in the hearing three weeks ago.

A Collister resident is sharing information about how Farmer's Union Canal Company opposes the project and is concerned the proposed shelter would increase people trespassing on their access road.

We're not hearing testimony from someone about how the project will be dangerous to pedestrians and cyclists. Increased accidents on State will impact commuting.

"How long will citizens tolerate homeless suffering injuries or being killed and the shutdowns of State Street?"

Cori Erikson, a Collister resident, just testified about her concerns with moving this shelter away from the police substation opened on Fairview last year.

We're now hearing testimony on how this would impact the wetlands and riparian area near the Greenbelt along Willow Lane.

"There will a high likelihood of encampments springing up as people seek privacy outside of the shelter"

Here’s the latest tally:

A woman is referring to two of my articles about complaints developers have lodged about the River Street area in her arguments against the project.

"Even though CCDC stated they were not involved in IFS move, it stands to reason they would benefit if this were to occur"

She is suggesting Saint Alphonsus should donate some vacant land to build a shelter instead. I am not sure exactly where she is referring to, unfortunately.

Ethan Mansfield, a former city planner, is speaking in favor. He said it would closely follow Boise's mission statement.

"It's imperative we provide a diversity of housing types if we truly want to create a city for everyone and I welcome that diversity in my neighborhood."

A gentleman testifying now is talking about how if the city approves this project they will likely not ever be revoked.

"Don't approve it and forget about us."

Someone just DMed me to let me know that Saint Als has a large parcel north of the hospital off of Curtis near the Connector.

https://twitter.com/mlcarmel/status/1468070394649198592?s=20

We have 10 more people in the room and another 45 online.

Chairman Stead just announced that tentatively the commission will accommodate the last 10 in person speakers and the 45 online speakers will have to go at another meeting.

Someone just shared some information he said came from a former employee of IFS. I have no way to confirm this information, so I won't share in detail, but he made allegations of shelter staff allowing people with troubling behavior to stay on-site and other issues.

A neighbor who has been really outspoken against the project is testifying now. He signed up as a volunteer with Interfaith Sanctuary for three shifts before he was asked not to come back. He just said he plans to extensively document any impacts.

Same man: "I will document so there will be evidence in case something goes terribly wrong like in the Timmy Kinner incident."

Continued: "Those families that suffered we are going to make sure if anything like that happens again and if there is an increase in violence the people who facilitated this move will be held personally and politically accountable."

We have another gentleman testifying against the project. He said there used to be "a crack house" on his street BPD declined to address for 7 years.

He also said he saw Kinner in the neighborhood.

Same man: "I saw a man walking down the street on Alamosa. He wore a red hoodie and he didn't belong in the neighborhood. He stood like this *slouching* okay? That was a couple of years ago. I saw him a couple of times."

Continued: "I found out that guy was the one who stabbed those girls and killed a 4 year old at her birthday party. He has mental problems and you're going to increase the amount of mental patients in the area by putting the shelter there."

Cont: "Here you are put up here to have to vote on this and if you put the shelter in the area it's like dropping a bomb on it. You have to live with that the rest of your life. You'll have to think about that when the next murder goes on and the next drug problem goes on there."

Katy Decker, VPNA Vice President, is testifying as a citizen now. She spoke at length at the first hearing three years ago.

*three WEEKS ago

sheesh

That's everyone for tonight. We heard 86 people tonight.

There is a motion on the floor to defer the remainder of the hearing until a meeting next week. It will start at 6 p.m.

If you were unable to testify tonight, come back next week. We SHOULD get a decision then as well.

You cannot speak twice.

I will see you guys next week for the STUNNING CONCLUSION of this nearly spectacularly long hearing.

But don't forget...we're going to have found two when this is inevitably appealed to #CityCouncilTuesday.

And if it goes to court for judicial review, ya gurl will be there too.

Sleep tight and I bid all of you zoning free dreams!