Planning commission recommends approval of Gallica Heights rezone and preliminary plat after revisions; neighbors sharply dispute traffic and density impacts

The Kuna City Planning and Zoning Commission voted Tuesday to recommend approval of the rezone and preliminary plat applications for the Gallica Heights subdivision after the applicant substantially revised the project following a council remand.

Troy Beheunin, senior planner in Kuna’s Development Services Department, told the commission the currently proposed project covers roughly 132.5 acres at the southeast corner of Columbia Road and Black Cat Road. Under the updated plan the applicant seeks C‑1 commercial zoning on the corner (about 2.08 acres), R‑4 zoning on approximately 62.58 acres and R‑6 zoning on approximately 70.06 acres, and a preliminary plat to create 514 residential lots, 103 common lots, 20 common driveways, one commercial lot and a four‑acre lot reserved for a charter school. Staff reported the proposal yields a gross density of about 3.89 dwelling units per acre and a net density around 5.01 dwelling units per acre and includes a centrally located charter school adjoining a public park.

Beheunin and the applicant recounted a long review history: an earlier planned unit development that included higher‑density zones, townhomes and a development agreement was denied by the commission and affirmed by council; council later…