Middleton council adopts updated comprehensive plan after heated debate over Highway 44 alternatives

The Middleton City Council voted to adopt an updated comprehensive plan, including revised maps and text that city staff say reflect growth since the plan's last major update in December 2019.

Roberta, city staff, opened the public hearing by summarizing the package: amendments to the comp plan text (including sections on existing conditions, community design, economic development, housing, land use, natural resources, transportation and an appendix) and updates to 17 map layers such as the future land use map, transportation and school maps, parks and recreation, flood hazard, sewer and stormwater maps, and a new Crane Creek Plaza / Riverwalk District map. "The future land use map is the vision for the city," Roberta said.

The primary focus of public comment and council debate was the transportation map and an ITD (Idaho Transportation Department) PEL study alternative known as the one-way couplet (Alternative 4). Nathan Davis, consultant with Downtown Redevelopment Services, described the plan elements and said the update builds on 18 months of outreach, multiple workshops and a November 13, 2024 final workshop with the governing board.

Planning and Zoning had recommended approval of…