Commission recommends approval of Sugar District development-agreement modification; removes 750,000 sq ft cap

The Nampa Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval to City Council of a proposed modification to the development agreement for the Nampa Gateway Center (rebranded as the Sugar District). The modification replaces the previously approved concept plan to retain existing retail buildings rather than demolish them, eliminates a 750,000-square-foot cap on building area in the concept plan, and updates lighting provisions to apply current code standards when lighting is installed or retrofitted.

Jeff Wardle, counsel for the developer (Gardner Company), told commissioners that market demand and new recreational users prompted the applicant to retain existing retail space rather than demolish and replace it as originally contemplated. "We are not going to demolish that space," Wardle said, explaining the change required a development-agreement amendment and that the applicant would correct a minor numbering error in the draft before council review.

Staff summarized the item's history: the original annexation and development agreement dated to earlier ordinances (including Ordinance 3499) and a 2022 council modification that included conditions such as a 750,000-square-foot building-area limit, reduced lighting after 10 p.m. except for seasonal exceptions, and removal of auto sales from the list of allowable uses. The proposed amendment removes the cap, clarifies that existing lighting was installed to code and that any future new lighting or retrofits must meet then-current design-review and code requirements, and reaffirms the approved exhibit of allowed uses.

No public testimony was offered at the hearing. Staff recommended a handful of ministerial edits (renumbering to fix an omission) and listed conditions to confirm the final agreement's text and address any outstanding code violations before final council action. Commissioner Kirkman moved to recommend approval to city council; Commissioner Kehoe seconded and the commission approved the recommendation on a unanimous roll-call vote.

Key changes proposed: removal of the 750,000-square-foot cap on building area; retention of existing retail space rather than demolition; new language requiring future lighting to comply with the city's design-review and code standards at the time of installation; and correction of a misnumbered paragraph in the draft agreement. The recommendation will go to City Council for final action and the applicant said it will submit a corrected agreement (reinsert missing paragraph) for council consideration.

Authorities and references: the staff report references the original development-agreement ordinances (including Ordinance 3499 and the later ordinance that included the 750,000-square-foot limit) and the development-agreement instrument number cited in the staff packet.