About the Developer

Peter S. O’Neill

Developer Peter (Pete) O’Neill, Principal, has steadily innovated and improved new residential communities during the 30-plus years he has developed land in Idaho, and in doing so he has earned peer recognition nationally and from Idaho. He has been involved as a developer in creating more than ten communities in Idaho that combined host more than 2,600 living units. Lane Ranch, a community along Elkhorn Creek in Sun Valley, created 110 distinctive sites for fine homes. Among many other awards, Pete O’Neill received an Award of Excellence in 1990 from the Urban Land Institute, the country’s most esteemed group committed to land use leadership that enhances the total environment. In 2011, he received the prestigious Idaho Smart Growth Charles Hummel Award in recognition for his leadership and dedication in implementing smart growth principles reflecting a respect for place, as well as for design and function.

Background

Always an innovator and an achiever driven to bringing results, Pete O’Neill’s education provided a solid foundation for his future as a developer. Raised in Chappaqua, New York, O’Neill earned a BA from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Stanford University. His corporate experience includes service at Alcoa Aluminum and Boise Cascade, where as Senior Vice President he was charged with all operations connected to supplies for the building industry, valuable knowledge for his future role as a developer. As an entrepreneur, he co-founded and grew the Sandpiper Restaurant chain. However, Pete found his most fulfilling calling in creating innovative and distinctive residential developments. He has formed deep roots in Idaho. He and his wife Barrie have a home on the Boise River in River Run, and they split their time between it and their “cottage” in West Ketchum. He has four grown children and seven grandchildren.

Land to Neighborhoods

Pete O’Neill shifted his focus to becoming a land developer in 1979, and his first project was River Run, the recipient of the Urban Land Institute’s Award of Excellence. With a starting point of 120 acres along the Boise River, the development created lush open spaces including trout streams, walking paths and ponds for the enjoyment of more than 650 households. Since that time, nine other developments have followed in Idaho featuring innovations such as mixed-use commercial with markets and office space; biking, hiking, and walking trails; green space; preserved and rehabilitated riparian land with streams and ponds; convenient recreational amenities like parks, pools, and golf; and many ways to enjoy wildlife. These well-recognized Idaho developments include Brown Crossing, Canyon Point, Spring Meadow, River Run, Surprise Valley, Meadow Creek, and Woodbridge, all in the greater Boise area; Spring Mountain Ranch near McCall; and Lane Ranch in Sun Valley.

Community Commitment

Pete O’Neill has consistently expressed his commitment to his community through his involvement in community affairs. He served as chair of the Boise Redevelopment Agency, where he was instrumental in helping the Capital City Development Corporation build a strong downtown Boise and was a member of the steering committee that prepared “Blueprint for Good Growth.” O’Neill is chairman of the Treasure Valley Air Quality Council, and he is past chairman of the Board of Trustees for College of Idaho. He supports numerous non-profits, and O’Neill’s service to professional groups included membership to the National Association of Homebuilders and an active role with the Harvard-MIT Joint Center for Urban Studies. Additionally, O’Neill served on the board of two NYSE companies, IDACORP, Inc., and Building Materials Holding Company.

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