Local News
Setting the Record Straight and Moving Forward
Harris Ranch residents and community members have raised questions about the source of Your Baber Valley, and we wish to clarify the source of this website. Your Barber Valley is a community resource provided by friends of Harris Ranch. We aim to respond to rumors and hollow rhetoric with simple facts that are credible and cited.
The Harris family has been exemplary citizens of Boise and the Barber Valley for some 70 years. For the last two years, the Harris Family, Barber Valley Development, and LeNir have endured false and defamatory accusations by the Harris Ranch Community Infrastructure District Taxpayers Association (HRCIDTA) and their efforts to cast a shadow over the development. We cannot allow a one-sided, false narrative to be perpetrated by a handful of misguided individuals.
It is not only our opinion that the HRCIDTA’s narrative is false; an Ada County Court judge dismissed 16 of 16 claims brought by Bill Doyle, Larry Crowley, and the HRCIDTA. Yet, after every claim they brought before the court and an attempt to retry the case were both denied, the HRCIDTA appealed to the Idaho Supreme Court, extending the earliest timeline to resolution at least into late 2024. Crucially, as the CID Board uses CID funds to pay for its legal defense, no matter which way the suit is settled, homeowners will have lost at least $700,000 from CID coffers that could have been spent in their neighborhood. Furthering the damage to homeowners, the costs that the HRCIDTA litigation has caused the CID to incur are accruing interest at 10.5%, wasting more homeowner dollars with every passing day.
We know the residents of Harris Ranch want to see the development completed, as laid out in the Harris Ranch Specific Plan nearly 20 years ago. Despite the continuous attempts to block progress in Harris Ranch, the project is moving forward. All entities involved with developing Harris Ranch are working with the City of Boise to resume planning and related pre-construction efforts on major amenities in Harris Ranch, including Alta Harris Park, Murray Ponds, and the Harris Ranch Town Center. Regarding Alta Harris Park, while the city of Boise owns the property and is responsible for building the park, Harris Ranch is voluntarily assisting with development and is in discussion to aid in financing to ensure Alta Harris Park has a path to completion.
Restarting planning efforts despite the ongoing litigation is a vote of confidence that the lawsuits surrounding the CID will be resolved and the projects brought to fruition. Resuming the planning process now ensures that when the HRCID litigation is resolved and funds are made available, construction can begin immediately.
Possible CID Settlement: HRCIDTA Ignored Offer to cut CID Taxes by 50%
In a previous article, we cited a BoiseDev story that alluded to a settlement offer it was looking into that would ostensibly end the litigation brought by the Harris Ranch CID Taxpayers’ Association against Barber Valley Development, the Harris Family Limited Partnership, and the Harris Ranch CID Board. While BoiseDev may not yet have received a response to its public records request, Your Barber Valley has confirmed the existence of that offer.
On Thursday, July 13, Barber Valley Development circulated a signed settlement offer that would reduce CID taxes for all residents in the Harris Ranch CID by ten percent per year for each of the next five years, resulting in a 50% yearly reduction in payments. The condition of the offer was that pending litigation be dropped and that approved and outstanding bonds be funded. The offer was contingent upon Harris Ranch CID Board approval, which would in turn require discussion at a public meeting of the HRCID. The offer was sent to Larry Crowley, President of the HRCIDTA, with a response requested by Tuesday, July 18.
The offer would have been a compromise that would allow progress in Harris Ranch to continue, funding amenities stalled by more than two years due to the litigation. Under the terms of the offer, progress could indeed have restarted, albeit at a slower pace with fewer dollars in CID coffers to fund improvements. (more…)
The Planned Future of Harris Ranch
Decades ago, Dallas Harris and his family began planning the future of their large plot of land in the Barber Valley. In the previous century, the land was home to the town of Barber, logging operations that were an economic engine for the region, and then, ranchland for the Harris family, who had several hundred head of cattle among other ranching endeavors. Nearly fifty years ago, the Harris’ first dreamt of the land’s next act – a vibrant community hosting hundreds of families in this idyllic valley surrounded by natural landscapes. 
The long journey to today’s Harris Ranch had humble beginnings and took shape over many decades of planning, research into smart growth principles, and how the land could be put to best use while maintaining a respect for and stewardship over the natural ecosystems of the Barber Valley. Buoyed by the success of the early developments in Harris Ranch, these long-laid plans finally came to life in the Harris Ranch Specific Plan (SP-01), which was adopted by the City of Boise in 2007 after many years of neighborhood charrettes, discussions, and public hearings. SP-01 lays out the plans, standards, and definitions for architecture, landscaping, land use, roads, and more. This plan ensured residents of Harris Ranch would enjoy a community with high standards for quality, livability, walkability, safety, and connection.
Many of the components in SP-01 are complete – hundreds of single-family homes of varying sizes enjoy premium community amenities like swimming pools, mail pavilions, extra-wide sidewalks, micropaths, permanent oversized flower planters, attractive community landscaping, and many others. Also complete are the sediment basin, deflection berm, and storm water drainage facilities, crucial safety infrastructure that protect homes from flooding after heavy rainfall and runoff. All these projects were made possible by the Harris Ranch CID that not only allows residents a high-quality lifestyle, but provides the cohesive, refined sense of place that makes Harris Ranch so sought after in Boise’s real estate market.
With a solid base of infrastructure and homes, the community is looking forward to the next phases of development, which bring further life and opportunity to the residents of Harris Ranch.
Among the most highly anticipated upcoming projects is the Village Center. Located on three large plots of land in the center of the community, the Village Center will function as the “main street” of Harris Ranch, hosting restaurants, cafés, retail, entertainment venues, an amphitheater, kids play areas, and programming to engage and entertain residents. The Village Center will also include the “Village Green/Plaza” that will be a gathering place for residents.
Residents are also aware of another large, City-owned, amenity-rich public park that is in the plans in the coming years. The City of Boise already has designed and owns the land for Alta Harris
Park, directly adjacent to the neighborhood between the Boise River and Eckert Drive. The park will feature soccer fields, bocce courts, pickle ball courts, a children’s play area with water features, scenic overlooks, trout stream, and more. The Harris Ranch CID made acquisition by the City of this large park possible. So long as the CID is allowed to function, the development of Alta Harris Park can be moved up significantly as it can provide a source of bridge or seed funds that can be added to the park impact fees collected by the City of Boise as Harris Ranch grows.
In the last two decades, Harris Ranch has transformed from a cattle ranch to a flourishing community. The journey is far from over, and current residents have much to look forward to as the neighborhood marches toward a full realization of a plan a lifetime in the making.
Location and Amenities: Top Drivers in Boise Real Estate Purchases
It is no secret that Boise has been one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. With a steady economy, affordable housing compared to major metros, and an abundance of recreational opportunities, Boise has been a popular destination for people relocating from all corners of the country seeking a higher quality of life. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Boise’s population grew by 11.5% between 2010 and 2020, making it one of the fastest growing cities in the country. 
The pandemic turbocharged this growth, with the Treasure Valley growing by a staggering 3.3% from July 2020 through 2021 alone. Add to this the fact that fewer native Idahoans are moving out of state, instead choosing to plant roots in their home state, and it is easy to see why the Boise real estate market has boomed in recent years. With increased demand for quality homes, Boise developers and home builders are offering more amenity-rich housing options than ever.
The top drivers that influence home purchasing decisions in Boise and the Treasure Valley are not new considerations – homebuyers want to live and play in safe neighborhoods, take advantage of Boise’s greatest asset in its proximity to nature and outdoor recreation, be near vibrant entertainment and business districts, and families want to live near quality schools. Checking off every item on a homebuyer’s wish list is rarely feasible, especially in a booming market like Boise, but a handful of neighborhoods can offer it all to those lucky enough to call them home.
A shining example of these rare neighborhood gems is Harris Ranch. Though homebuyers’ preferences and priorities will differ, Harris Ranch is sure to check the top boxes for both native Idahoans
moving within the city and newcomers alike. Located in southeast Boise in a valley is historic significance to the region, residents enjoy direct access to both the trails of the Boise Foothills on one side and the Boise River on the other. Even as the neighborhood is surrounded by picturesque, protected natural environments, it is only a 10-minute drive to downtown Boise or a 30-minute bike ride down the Boise Greenbelt, which runs adjacent to the development. Community amenities include multiple pools, green spaces, dedicated walking and biking paths, and well-planned infrastructure that protects homes from natural disasters. Further, Harris Ranch has among the lowest crime rates in Boise, which boasts an already-low rate by national average, and children attend schools in the highly rated Boise School District.
As more people continue to discover the benefits of living in Boise, the city is poised for steady growth for decades to come. In the long term, homeowners that purchase and maintain quality homes in amenity-rich communities stand to benefit the most from their investment.