Eckert Road bridge appeal

Barber Valley Neighborhood Association president said the board voted to support the appeal, arguing ACHD was clear about the bridge width from the start and that licensed professionals approved the design; he urged caliper-inch tree mitigation.

Southeast Neighborhood Association representative said the SENA board voted to support P&Z's denial and asked the council to deny the appeal, urging creative construction methods like using the riverbed as staging, as done on the Broadway Bridge.

Opposed the design over destruction of 35 trees, questioned inch-for-inch mitigation claims since replacements are four-inch caliper, and said signs and RFPs already out made citizens feel they had no input.

A regular cyclist on the route said the five-foot buffers seem unnecessary and expensive, questioned the center turn lane, and asked whether there is an actual accident history justifying the wider bridge.

Timberline High School senior and Tree Club member asked the council to protect the mature Ponderosa pines and cottonwoods, saying replacement saplings cannot replace decades of shade, habitat, and carbon storage.

A consulting ecologist and co-author of the river system ordinance, speaking neither for nor against, warned that removing south-bank shade trees threatens the river's cold-water fishery and the city's temperature TMDL compliance, and cautioned about precedent.

Speaking as a resident, urged upholding the P&Z denial and better staging — possibly using the riverbed — while suggesting the bridge deck's extra width could host a belvedere or fishing pier rather than an unused turn lane.

A teacher with student interns from Life Outdoors asked why the rush, noted the site borders Barber Pool, and highlighted carbon sequestration and water temperature benefits of the mature trees; said Dr. Tiedam offered pro bono advice.

Timberline High senior noted a recent canal project placed a crane inside the river and asked why that can't be done again; said losing the 50-year-old trees feels rushed and sad.

Timberline junior and cross-country runner agreed the bridge is needed but asked that it be built in a way that keeps the trees, citing the generational impact of losing the shaded route to Barber Park.

Idaho Trucking Association president/CEO raised safety concerns about tractor-trailer off-tracking through the proposed roundabout's truck apron and asked ACHD to demonstrate trucks can safely pass; warned detours would add truck miles and CO2.

Southeast Boise resident asked the council to support the permit denial, citing a four-question survey, no design alternatives offered, excess bike lanes, a turn lane that 'doesn't turn anywhere,' and unaddressed noise impacts.

Joey's wife and 20-year neighborhood resident said noise is her top concern, the project seems over two years of construction, and she only received her first mailed notice yesterday.