On May 5, 2025, the Nampa City Council voted 5-1 to deny the Sagewood Subdivision — a project that would have brought 173 new homes and a strip of shops to a quiet stretch of farmland on Lewis Lane. If you live near that area, here’s exactly what happened and what it means going forward.
If you’ve been following Nampa’s growth and development, this one is worth paying attention to.
What Was the Sagewood Subdivision?
The Sagewood Subdivision was a proposed development on nearly 34 acres east of Southside Boulevard and north of Lewis Lane. CBH Homes, working with the Moore Family Trust and Cory Barton – Idaho’s largest residential builder — planned to build:
- 95 single-family homes
- 48 alley-loaded townhomes
- 30 front-loaded townhomes
- 7 commercial lots
- A central park with a half basketball court
The city’s comprehensive plan already marks this area for “residential mixed use,” which requires at least 5% commercial and encourages townhomes and smaller lots. On paper, the project fit the zoning. So why did council kill it?
Why Did Nampa Deny the Sagewood Subdivision?
The neighbors showed up – and they made their case.
Seven people signed up to testify. More spoke after that. Almost every one said the same thing: this doesn’t fit out here.
Lewis Lane right now is horse pastures, hay fields, and acreages. Some of the folks who spoke have lived there 35, 40, even 47 years. They moved out there for a reason – peace, quiet, and country life.
Traffic was a major concern too. Lewis Lane is a two-lane road with a 50 mph speed limit, a blind hill, and an offset intersection at Happy Valley that neighbors say has caused multiple serious wrecks. One woman said she has watched the jaws of life pulled out from her kitchen window.
A retired firefighter warned council that townhomes packed close together, this far from a fire station, create a real life-safety risk if a fire gets going.
Planning and Zoning Said No First
Before the project ever reached City Council, the Planning and Zoning Commission had already recommended denial. Their main concern was the same – too much density, too many townhomes, wrong fit for the area.
CBH Homes pushed forward anyway. That’s their right, but it set the tone walking in.
What Did City Council Say?
Councilman Victor Rodriguez made the motion to deny, saying it was not the right move for the area or the residents.
Council President David Bills agreed and pointed out that the nearest freeway is over six miles away through farm country – a long haul for that many new households.
Councilwoman Jangula noted that the green space at just 15.8% felt like the bare minimum, the commercial portion at 5.5% could have been larger, and the closest city park is more than two miles away.
Even council members who typically support growth said this project was out of place. The only vote against denial came from Councilwoman Reynolds.
Will Lewis Lane Still Be Developed?
Yes – eventually. Council members were honest about that.
Councilman Rodriguez said the quiet part out loud: “either way, this is going to get developed at some point.” The question is not if. It is when and what kind.
The city’s 2050 Comprehensive Plan already designates this stretch as future mixed-use. More homes are coming. The fight now is over density, design, and timing.
If you live on Lewis Lane and want a say in what your area looks like in 10 to 20 years, right now is the time to get involved. The city is updating the comp plan this summer with input sessions at the library, the farmers market, and other public spots. You can also follow along at the Nampa 2050 website.
What Does This Mean for Buyers and Sellers?
Buyers – The mixed-use designation on the comp plan is a signal, not a guarantee. Council can push back when projects feel wrong for the area. But long-term, expect change along this corridor.
Sellers on Lewis Lane – Demand for acreage and country-feel properties near growing cities tends to rise when buyers see big developments going in nearby. Your land may be worth more than you think.
Anyone watching south Nampa’s growth – Hubble Homes is already building down the hill. New Horizons school is right there. Brookhaven and Fenway Park are filling in. The transition is happening. It is just slower and messier than developers want.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sagewood Subdivision? The Sagewood Subdivision was a proposed 173-home development on Lewis Lane in Nampa, Idaho, submitted by CBH Homes. It included single-family homes, townhomes, and commercial lots on about 34 acres.
Why did Nampa City Council deny Sagewood? Council cited traffic safety concerns on Lewis Lane, too much density for the rural character of the area, insufficient green space, and distance from city services and freeways.
Can CBH Homes resubmit the Sagewood project? Yes. Developers can revise and resubmit applications. A redesigned project with less density or better traffic solutions could come back before council in the future.
Will Lewis Lane be developed eventually? Most likely yes. Nampa’s 2050 Comprehensive Plan designates the area as future mixed-use, meaning some level of development is expected long-term.
Final Thought
What happened on May 5 was not anti-growth. It was a council listening to a packed room of neighbors and saying: not this, not here, not yet.
That is how this is supposed to work. And if you care about how Nampa grows, the lesson is simple: show up. The people who came to that meeting changed the outcome.
Got thoughts on the Sagewood decision or other developments in your neighborhood? Let us know – we love hearing from Nampa neighbors.