The Boise Auto Mall, formerly known as the Boise Motor Village, has been a subject of debate regarding its future development. When Boise adopted its zoning code rewrite in late 2021, the auto mall property at Cole and Franklin was rezoned, no longer allowing new car dealership buildings to be built.
This change has prompted the owner of the Lyle Pearson dealership, Gee Automotive, to seek a rezone from the city. The company recently purchased the former Intermountain Design office furniture building, intending to use it for vehicle sales and service. However, the new MX-3 zoning designation does not allow these intended uses, which has led Gee Automotive to apply for a rezone.
City planners have acknowledged the challenges of the auto mall’s location, noting that it is not well-suited for the type of pedestrian-oriented development the MX-3 zoning is designed to encourage. As a result, they have suggested a compromise, proposing to rezone the majority of the auto mall property to MX-2, while keeping the parcels closest to the Cole and Franklin intersection in the MX-3 designation. This proposal will ultimately be presented to the Boise City Council for approval or denial.
