Walmart allowed to display seasonal merchandise in parking lot after parking analysis

The Nampa Planning and Zoning Commission on June 10 approved a conditional use permit allowing Walmart to store and display seasonal merchandise in part of its parking lot at 2100 Twelfth Avenue Road, subject to parking and safety conditions.

Planning staff presented a parking analysis showing the store’s net floor area requires 674 parking spaces and the site currently provides 796 spaces. The proposed exterior storage would occupy 60 spaces, leaving 736 available — 62 more than required, staff said. The staff report recommended conditions including ensuring accessible parking and fire lanes are not blocked and obtaining any building or fire permits required.

James Miller, the store manager, told the commission the displays are the seasonal garden and bagged goods Walmart has sold since the store opened and that the request formalizes longstanding practice. Staff noted building-department comments that ‘‘the outside storage shall not reduce or affect the accessible parking spaces or the route of public way’’ and that higher-piled storage may require additional permits under Title 4 (building regulations).

One resident raised notice and trash concerns in a public comment; staff said that comment related to a different area of the store and referred the resident to code compliance. Staff also said Nampa Fire District provided standard fire-access comments.

Commissioners asked why the city is addressing these permits now. Staff said recent additions to building-department staffing have enabled code compliance follow-up on long-standing practices that previously went unchecked.

The commission approved the permit with the recommended conditions and findings. Staff reminded the applicant that the permit becomes effective 15 calendar days after written decision is provided unless appealed; applicants must confirm with planning staff that no appeals were filed before taking action.