Council approves Deer Flat Ranch master-plan after extended public hearing

The Nampa City Council voted unanimously to approve annexation, zoning, and preliminary plat approval for the Deer Flat Ranch master‑planned community, a proposal that will add 259.95 acres to the city and create a mix of residential, agricultural and commercial uses. The approval came after more than an hour of presentations from project representatives, a detailed staff report and a long public hearing that drew several dozen speakers both for and against the project.

The council approved a plan that designates 144.14 acres as agricultural (AG), 20.6 acres as community business (BC) and the remaining acreage for a range of residential zones (RS4, RS7, RS8.5, RS15 and RS22). The preliminary plat shows 189 single‑family detached lots, seven commercial lots, three agricultural lots and 25 common‑use lots. The applicant told council the design concentrates smaller lots near existing city limits and locates larger lots and open/agricultural areas toward the wildlife refuge and former Bowman gravel pit.

City staff told the council that utilities are available to serve the site and that required right‑of‑way dedications and on‑site stormwater measures are conditions of approval. The applicant and project engineer said they will retain substantial open space: roughly 15.5% qualified open space inside the platted area and about 60% of the gross site left as…