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Planning and Zoning Commission approves two duplexes, a townhome PUD and a temporary caregiver home
Summary
At its April 15 meeting the Nampa Planning and Zoning Commission approved two conditional use permits for duplexes, a preliminary plat and planned unit development for Sugar Creek Townhomes and a temporary manufactured-home caregiver residence, all with conditions. Key concerns included emergency access, parking and frontage improvements.
The Nampa Planning and Zoning Commission on April 15 approved four land-use items: conditional use permits (CUPs) for two duplexes, a preliminary plat and planned unit development (PUD) for Sugar Creek Townhomes, and a CUP to place a manufactured home as a temporary caregiver residence on Birch Lane. Decisions were unanimous by the six members present and will become effective 15 calendar days after the written decision is provided unless appealed.
The actions addressed infill housing, multiunit development and a temporary caregiver unit. Staff and public testimony focused on access and fire-apparatus requirements, parking counts, and engineering concerns about right-of-way and frontage improvements.
Votes at a glance
- 0 Smith Avenue (CUP for duplex). Applicant: Yasir (Yasir Abdul Rezek). Motion to approve the CUP with staff conditions (including paving the existing access, recording an access easement benefiting 230 Smith Avenue and meeting fire-code or sprinkler requirements) passed (motion by Commissioner Kirkman; second by Commissioner Miller; motion carried). Public commenters Troy Burleson (230 Smith Ave) and Linda Smith (232 Smith Ave) raised concerns about the narrow, unpaved easement and emergency access. Staff noted the Nampa Fire District granted a variance on apparatus-access width conditioned on fire sprinklers or a cross-access easement.
- 812 North Second Street (CUP for duplex). Applicant: Colton Elma. Motion to approve the CUP with standard conditions passed (motion by Commissioner Garner; second by Commissioner Kirkman; motion carried). Staff said utilities are available and the 0.16-acre lot meets the city’s minimum 6,000-square-foot requirement for a duplex.
- Sugar Creek Townhomes (preliminary plat and PUD, 7.68 acres at Third Street North/Sugar Street). Applicant: John Dixon and Kyle Sales/Bunker Development. Motion to approve the preliminary plat and PUD with conditions (right-of-way dedication, frontage improvements or fee in lieu, parking adjustments and engineering conditions) passed (motion by Commissioner Kirkman; second by Commissioner Kehoe; motion carried). The proposal is for 72 units in 18 fourplex buildings, a density of 9.375 dwelling units per acre (the RD zone baseline is 2.5–8 du/acre; PUD allows up to 20% increase). Staff flagged the need to dedicate 40 feet of ROW on Third Street North, provide contractor estimates for frontage work, and adjust parking (code requires 180 spaces; the plan showed 177 regular spaces plus 11 ADA stalls; applicant agreed to reclassify surplus ADA stalls).
- 7734 Birch Lane (CUP for temporary manufactured-home caregiver residence). Applicants: Michelle and Joshua Reuman for Sue Gendron. Motion to approve the CUP with conditions passed (motion by Commissioner Kirkman; second by Commissioner Kehoe; motion carried). Staff noted the caregiver residence is temporary, must meet setbacks, utilities and building tie-down requirements, and must be removed once the named care recipient no longer occupies the unit. The approval includes a condition requiring proof of occupancy by the named person every five years; if proof is not provided, staff may revoke the CUP.
Why it matters
The approvals move a combination of infill duplexes and a mid-density townhome development forward into permitting and construction while the caregiver CUP creates a temporary, code-authorized option for family caregiving on a residential lot. Commissioners and neighbors pushed staff and applicants to resolve emergency-access and utility questions during permit review and before construction begins.
What to expect next
All approvals are subject to a 15-calendar-day appeal period after the written decision is issued. Developers must obtain building permits and satisfy engineering, building and fire requirements—paving and access easement recording for the Smith Avenue CUP, ROW dedication and possible fee-in-lieu for Sugar Creek frontage work, and building-tie-down and permit checklists for the caregiver unit.
Key quotes
"The Nampa Fire District has approved a variance to allow use of the existing access under the condition that the structures on the property are fitted with code compliant fire sprinklers," Christie Watkins, principal planner, said about the 0 Smith Avenue application.
"We have reviewed the staff report and are aware of the deficiencies noted by the city's engineering department," John Dixon, project representative for Sugar Creek Townhomes, said. "We are confident we can work with city engineering to redesign and accommodate the 40-foot right-of-way."
Ending note
Commissioners repeatedly reminded applicants that technical issues identified by engineering, fire and building staff must be resolved at the building-permit stage and that no construction should begin until permits are final and the appeal period has closed.
