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Kuna planners back removing state prison parcels from city impact area to allow Jasper Solar
Summary
The Kuna Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of a comprehensive plan map amendment removing seven state-owned parcels from the city's area of city impact to enable the Jasper Solar project, a 150 MW solar and up to 150 MW battery-storage proposal sited largely on Department of Corrections land.
The Kuna Planning and Zoning Commission on April 8 recommended approval of case 25-01-CPM to amend the city's comprehensive plan map and remove seven parcels totaling about 877 acres from Kuna's area of city impact to clear the way for the Jasper Solar project.
The amendment affects parcels that applicant DESRI said are owned by the Idaho Department of Corrections. Caitlin Clancy, a project representative, told the commission the company's overall project area is about 1,500 acres, of which roughly 1,000 acres would be leased from the Department of Corrections. She said the developer plans a 150-megawatt solar array with up to 150 megawatts of battery storage, expects to begin construction in mid-2027 and to be operational by the end of 2028, and anticipates limited need for new transmission because the site would connect to an adjacent Idaho Power substation.
"These parcels are not targeted for annexation into the city limits in the future," Clancy said, adding that the prison operations are largely independent of the city. Doug Hansen, Kuna planning staff, confirmed the parcels are state-owned and noted that state-owned land in the area does not generate property-tax revenue for the city.
Commission discussion focused on the narrow procedural request before them: whether to remove the parcels from the area of city impact so the project can apply for permitting with Ada County rather than within Kuna's permitting jurisdiction. Commissioners noted that ACHD (Ada County Highway District) and other agencies would review project design and that environmental and cultural-resource work would be completed during the county permitting process. Clancy told the commission the applicant's studies to date showed no jurisdictional waterways, no special-status species impacts and no significant cultural artifacts on the parcels.
A commissioner moved to recommend approval of the map amendment with the conditions listed in the staff report; the motion passed after one commissioner voted nay. The commission recorded no detailed roll-call tallies in the meeting minutes beyond the voiced aye and the single nay.
Because the parcels are state-owned, Kuna city staff told the commission the change would not reduce property-tax revenue to the city. Staff and the applicant said removing the parcels from the area of city impact is required for the developer to locate energized facilities there under Ada County permitting rules.
The commission's recommendation will go to the Kuna City Council for final action; the council will consider the staff report, the commission's recommendation and any additional testimony at that hearing.
Transcript evidence for this article includes the applicant presentation beginning with Troy Buchanan introducing the item and Caitlin Clancy's presentation on the Jasper Solar project, followed by commissioners' questions and the motion to recommend approval.
