Word on the Street Issue 19, February 2022
Interfaith Sanctuary has submitted our appeal brief to Boise City Council in response to the Planning and Zoning Commission denying our application for a Conditional Use Permit.
Our organization is represented pro bono by Clark Wardle, a land use law firm based here in Boise. The brief they filed is 61 pages long and explains why IFS believes the building on State Street is an ideal location to operate a shelter. The complete brief can be viewed on the City of Boise Planning and Zoning Website.
Attorney Geoffrey Wardle spoke to KTVB Channel 7 this month stating, “Interfaith Sanctuary has done what’s been asked of them. We think their board has bent over backward to address the issues from a legal perspective. We are a land use law firm, we do this regularly. This is just one that we are really passionate about because there has to be somewhere to provide social services for those that do not have homes.”
Public hearings are scheduled for: April 18, 4-9 PM; April 19, 10 AM-4 PM (45 minute lunch break); April 20, 4-9 PM; April 21, 4-9 PM; April 25, 4-9 PM.
If you would like to lend your voice of support to Interfaith Sanctuary’s State Street Project you can:
Write a letter to your City of Boise Council members and Mayor McLean to let them know you are in support of this project.
Mike Lanza, a community member, has started a change.org petition to help our community show their support in one easy step- sign the petition. You can find the petition at change.org by searching “Support the Conditional Use Permit for Interfaith Sanctuary.”
(Note: a pop-up does appear on change.org asking for a monetary donation for their organization. No donation is required to sign your name on this petition).
If you sent a letter or testified during the P&Z meeting you are eligible to testify during the appeal hearing. Please email jodi@interfaithsanctuary.org if you would like to learn more about how to testify.