The Nampa Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday approved a conditional use permit allowing Lowe's at 1400 Caldwell Boulevard to maintain and expand outdoor storage and seasonal sales areas, concluding the permit will take effect after the written decision is issued and the appeal period ends. Brandon McDougall, representing the applicant team, said the application responds to a city code-enforcement complaint. “We're here tonight in response to a code enforcement complaint Lowe's received regarding their outdoor storage and display,” McDougall said.

City planning staff told commissioners the property is zoned BC and that exterior storage in front of a principal use requires a conditional use permit under the city code. “In code 10 16, it requires that any exterior storage in front of the principal use requires a conditional use permit,” Christie Watkins, principal planner for the City of Nampa, told the commission.

Why it matters: The discussion centered on balancing a large retailer's seasonal inventory needs with parking supply, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) space requirements and emergency access. Commissioners pressed the applicant and staff on parking calculations, whether stored materials are intended for immediate retail sale or for longer-term bulk storage, and how the Nampa Fire District's access needs will be preserved.

What commissioners heard and decided: Applicant representatives, including KK Yao, construction manager for Lowe's, said outdoor display has increased over time and that the company seeks to manage it as temporary, high-turnover inventory. “Lowe's is always looking for a way to improve efficiency,” Yao said, adding the retailer intends to turn over outdoor product quickly and avoid permanent placement in customer parking.

Staff presented photographs and a color-coded site plan showing areas proposed for outdoor retail, bulky seasonal inventory and trailer sales. Watkins described competing ways to calculate required parking, noting the original 2003 building permit used a gross-square-foot retail calculation while more recent staff calculations separate bulky retail from general retail. Watkins said one calculation shows the site is effectively overparked by a small margin under current layout, but that other reasonable approaches to classifying square footage could change required counts significantly.

Commissioners raised several concerns during discussion. Several said the city might need clearer code language tailored to big-box seasonal displays. “We haven't really addressed it in code, have we? ... We're still talking about a code from 02/2003, and the the problem didn't exist in 02/2003,” Commissioner Kehoe said, arguing the city should consider updated standards for modern retail operations. Commissioners also asked whether outdoor displays were occupying required parking and whether the fire district's unobstructed width and vertical clearance needs would be maintained.

Conditions and compliance: The staff report and proposed conditions require the applicant to provide the number of required ADA spaces identified by code and to maintain unobstructed fire access widths consistent with Nampa Fire District guidance. The applicant agreed to verify and, if necessary, restore required ADA spaces and to comply with the listed conditions.

Formal action: Commissioner Kehoe moved to approve the conditional use permit; the motion was seconded and approved by the commission. The commission's decision carries the condition that the CUP will become effective 15 calendar days after the written decision and statement of reasons is provided to the Planning and Zoning Department and provided no appeal is filed; staff emphasized that no action should be taken on the permit until the appeal period expires.

Background: The application follows a violation letter sent to the store after city code compliance staff documented exterior storage and display that, staff said, was occupying parking and intruding into areas regulated by city code. Staff noted similar large retailers have sought conditional use permits for exterior storage in the past and that the city’s enforcement capacity has recently increased.

Next steps and practical effects: The applicant must confirm with planning staff that there have been no appeals before acting on the CUP. Staff and the Nampa Fire District will continue to monitor the site for compliance with parking, ADA and emergency-access conditions in the approval.

Ending: The commission's approval allows Lowe's to continue seasonal and bulky outdoor merchandise displays at the site under the conditions adopted; implementation depends on the conclusion of the 15-day appeal window and the applicant meeting the CUP's conditions.