Planning commission approves Rocky Mountain Jet permit, allows limited on-site repair and light manufacturing

The Nampa Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to approve a conditional use permit for Rocky Mountain Jet to sell mini jet boats, parts and accessories at 612 First Street South and to allow accessory on-site boat repair and light manufacturing, provided the applicant meets the conditions listed in the staff report.

Associate Planner Terry Friend told commissioners that the property is zoned Downtown Village and that staff used Nampa City Code 10-3-2.B (unlisted land uses) to evaluate whether boat sales and related activities could be permitted with a CUP. Friend said staff found that the site's most intensive activities appear to be boat fabrication and repair, which are not allowed primary uses in the Downtown Village zone, and that the property lacks required frontage improvements and the appropriate occupancy classification for fabrication and repair operations. "The most intensive use here is the boat fabrication or boat repair," Friend said, adding that those activities are not permitted primary uses in the DV zone.

Applicants William ("Bill") and Nia Gore said Rocky Mountain Jet sells and services custom mini jet boats and would provide in-person sales, registration and non-invasive-species stickers for the boating community. "We sell new vessels as well as parts and accessories for the vessels," Nia Gore said during the applicant presentation. The Gores told the commission they had received a previous CUP in 2024 but that permit expired after tenant-improvement permits were not submitted within the required timeframe; a building permit application was submitted recently, they said.

Several agencies and staff raised issues commissioners considered before voting. Building code and fire officials identified an occupancy-class mismatch: the building's current permitted classification (Type B) was based on a former tenant and likely does not match fabrication and repair operations, which would require a different occupancy classification and related life-safety upgrades. Engineering noted the parcel is served by city water, sewer and pressurized irrigation but said a change in occupancy would trigger completion of deferred frontage improvements. The Idaho Transportation Department paperwork for dealer and manufacturer licenses showed the permits remain tied to Rocky Mountain Jet's previous Caldwell address and the required change-of-location paperwork had not yet been filed.

One member of the public, Justin Buckholtz (running for mayor), spoke in favor of the business, saying, "Let's cut the red tape. Let's approve this." The applicant also addressed lengthy compliance and permitting delays during public testimony and described efforts to prepare parking, landscaping and tenant-improvement plans.

Commissioners debated whether the site's fabrication and repair work could be considered accessory to a dealership and therefore allowable under the CUP. City legal counsel advised commissioners that the decision is discretionary and within the commission's authority as long as it is not arbitrary. Rodney (Planning & Zoning Director) cautioned that the outcome depends on whether the commission determines the primary use is a dealership (an allowed use with CUP) or a manufacturing/fabrication use (not allowed in DV).

Commissioner Morgan moved to approve the CUP for sales of new vehicles (mini jet boats), parts and accessories, with boat repair and light manufacturing as accessory uses, and Commissioner Selman seconded. The motion passed on a roll-call vote (all voting members present voted in favor). The commission's written decision will become effective 15 calendar days after the written decision is provided to the applicant unless an appeal is filed with the planning and zoning department.

Clarifying details and next steps: the Gores previously received a CUP that was recorded July 11, 2024, but no tenant-improvement permits were applied for within six months of the CUP issuance and the CUP was marked expired in 2025; a building code compliance investigation was opened in March 2025 that identified repair and fabrication activities; the applicant stated a commercial tenant-improvement building-permit application was submitted recently. The commission's approval is conditioned on the list in the staff packet (occupancy classification to match operations, completion or deferral of required frontage/site improvements per code triggers, and other standard building and development conditions). No action may be taken on the CUP until the 15-day appeal period concludes.

Votes at a glance: Motion to approve conditional use permit for Rocky Mountain Jet (sales of new vessels, parts and accessories) and to allow accessory boat repair and light manufacturing — Mover: Commissioner Morgan; Second: Commissioner Selman; Roll-call: Garner Aye; Daffer Aye; Turner Aye; Kehoe Aye; Morgan Aye; Kirkman Aye; Selman Aye; Copeland Aye; Outcome: Approved.