Michael Boren, who co-founded Clearwater Analytics, has become embroiled in a dispute with his neighbors after he allegedly constructed an airstrip on his Idaho ranch without permission
The co-founder of a billion-dollar software company has become embroiled in a dispute with his neighbors after he allegedly constructed an airstrip on his Idaho ranch without permission.
Michael Boren, who co-founded Clearwater Analytics, officially filed a permit with Custer County Planning and Zoning last month, asking them to recognize a runway and hangar that appear to have already been built at his sprawling Hell Roaring Ranch.
Boren’s ranch is located within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area – a 756,000 acre space filled with stunning lakes, mountains ranges and hiking trails.
Private citizens who own land within the bounds of the National Recreation Area are subject to strict building and development guidelines established back in 1972 to preserve its ‘pastoral character’.
Neighbors claim Boren has ignored those guidelines by building the runway and hangar. They worry it could set a dangerous precedent for other wealthy landowners who have recently swooped in to snap up scenic land nearby.
Photos published on a local construction website claim to show Boren’s new hangar completed by January of this year. It allegedly took 30 weeks to construct and cost a total of $1.1 million.
‘The problem is the fact that you’re going after a conditional use permit when the project’s already been developed without any approval from Planning and Zoning,’ one angry neighbor told The Idaho Statesman.
Another local sternly stated: ‘The Sawtooth National Recreation Area is the heart of Idaho, not a plaything for the wealthy and powerful.’
An aerial view showing the outline of Boren’s sprawling Hell Roaring Ranch. It is located within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area
A graphic from Boren’s proposal, submitted to the Custer County Planning and Zoning commission last month
Boren’s ranch is located within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area – a 756,000 acre space filled with stunning lakes, mountains ranges and hiking trails
Private citizens who own land within the bounds of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area are subject to strict building and development guidelines established back in 1972 to preserve its ‘pastoral character’
In Boren’s application submitted to the Planning and Zoning commission, he states that he owns a number of separate ranches in the area and that ‘small aircraft form an integral part of the ranch management plan’.
He admits to having a ‘grass area occasionally used as a runway’ at the ranch already, and insists that the installation of a proper runway would not increase air traffic.
Boren asserts that flights currently operate from his Hell Roaring Ranch less than a handful of times per week.
His neighbors dispute that claim, saying they frequently see his red helicopter overhead. Some say there are multiple flights per day.
On Facebook, one local is urging friends and neighbors to make their opposition to the airstrip known to the Custer County Planning and Zoning commission.
‘A variety of aircraft have been observed using the strip for take offs, landings and parking, consisting of fixed wing and helicopters. Since development of the airstrip, there have been many low-level flights by Michael Boren’s red helicopter above homes… This is an ongoing nuisance and a safety hazard over private lands,’ they wrote.
‘This airstrip would be solely for the use of a private residence but would have a large impact on the surrounding homes, wildlife and recreators enjoying the solitude of the crown jewel of Idaho… A proposal this significant should have careful planning and plenty of time for public input. Please pass this information on, let’s prevent one homeowner with deep pockets from making an irreversible and negative impact on so many.
On Facebook, one local is urging friends and neighbors to make their opposition to the airstrip known to the Custer County Planning and Zoning commission. They shared this picture purportedly showing Boren’s red helicopter flying over the area
Boren co- founded Clearwater Analytics back in 2004. The software company now boasts close to 1,000 employees and is reportedly valued at around a billion dollars
Boren founded Clearwater Analytics with his brother, David, back in 2004.
The software company – which is based in Boise – now boasts close to 1,000 employees. Clearwater ‘aggregates, reconciles, and reports on more than $5.5 trillion in assets across thousands of accounts daily’, and the company is reportedly valued at around a billion dollars.
David Boren – who graduated from Harvard Business School – has also snapped up scenic land in Idaho.
In 2016, he purchased the 1,781-acre Sawtooth Mountain Ranch. But, like his brother, he was accused of angering neighbors with his aerial activities.
Officials had approved a hiking trail from the town of Stanley to Redfish Lake which cut through part of David Boren’s land.
David and Michael Boren are pictured. David Boren has also been accused of angering neighbors with his aerial activities
Officials had approved a hiking trail from the town of Stanley to Redfish Lake which cut through David Boren’s Sawtooth Mountain Ranch.He was staunchly opposed to the construction of the trail and filed a federal lawsuit to stop it. Later, he was accused of harassing workers by flying low over the top of them in his helicopter
He was staunchly opposed to the construction of the trail and filed a federal lawsuit to stop it. Later, he was accused of harassing workers by flying low over the top of them in his helicopter.
Tensions between longtime locals and cashed-up businessman flooding in to the area has been rising in recent years.
According to The Idaho Statesman, demand for property in the town of Stanley, near Sawtooth National Recreaton Area, is ‘surging’, with ‘big new luxury homes going up’.
‘The whole character of the town changed when the super wealthy swooped in and scooped up all the property,’ Stanely Mayor Steve Botti recently told the publication, complaining that humble log cabins have been replaced with ‘statement houses’.
According to The Idaho Statesman, demand for property in the town of Stanley, near Sawtooth National Recreaton Area, is ‘surging’, with ‘big new luxury homes going up’. Sawtooth is pictured
