Highline Estates Approved — Nampa Council Divided on Growth

When we last covered Highline Estates, the council had sent the developer back to the drawing board. Tuesday night, they came back – and this time, it passed. But just barely.

The vote was 3-2. And the debate that happened before that vote tells you a lot about where Nampa is headed.

What Is Highline Estates?

Highline Estates is a 355-unit single family subdivision planned for approximately 93 acres in north Nampa near Franklin Boulevard and Linden Road – directly across from Ridgevue High School and next to Warhawk Elementary.

The project includes:

355 single-family homes in RS4 and RS6 zoning
33 common lots for open space
A 6.5-acre commercial lot in the southwest corner
Pathways, pickleball courts, bocce ball, a tot lot, and picnic pavilions

What Changed Since April?

If you read our first post on Highline Estates, you know the council had real concerns. Not enough usable open space. Amenities that felt like the bare minimum. Drainage basins being counted as places where kids could play.

Developer KM Engineering came back Tuesday night with upgrades:

Bocce ball courts
Pickleball courts (placed in the southeast corner to limit noise)
A tot lot
Picnic pavilions with barbecue stations
A 10-foot pathway along the south side of Ten Mile Creek

They also cleared up the open space numbers. The project comes in at 14.35 acres of qualified open space – just over the required 14.06. And they went from two amenity areas to five.

On paper, they did what the council asked.

Neighbors Still Had Concerns

A handful of Madison Road residents who live right next to the project showed up to speak.

One pointed out that the late Councilwoman Jangula had specifically asked for a ball field at the April hearing – not bocce ball. Another reminded council she has personally watched people die in the Highline Canal and asked that usable green space be kept away from the water. A third questioned whether drainage basins that can flood during storm events should really count as recreational space.

Nobody said don’t build it. They said build it smarter.

The Vote Was Close – And The Conversation Was Bigger Than This Project

What started as a discussion about pickleball courts and open space turned into something much bigger. Council members started asking out loud whether Nampa’s growth is actually sustainable – and whether the city is being honest with itself about the cost.

Councilman Rodriguez raised a number that’s hard to ignore: the city may be subsidizing each new rooftop anywhere from $700 to $1,200 when you factor in the true cost of police, fire, roads, and water. Add a reported $600 million deferred maintenance bill and 970 already-approved but unbuilt lots sitting within one mile of this project, and you start to understand why some council members are getting uncomfortable.

Councilwoman Scog pointed out that the area around Ridgevue and Franklin is already struggling to keep up with traffic and services. Adding 355 more homes on top of what’s already in the pipeline is a lot to absorb.

On the other side, Council President Griffin argued that higher density actually protects farmland by reducing sprawl, and that building more homes is the only real path to affordable housing. His position: if council doesn’t like the current standards, change the code – don’t penalize developers who followed it.

Councilman Bills landed somewhere in the middle. He made clear that if Nampa is quietly moving toward tapping the brakes on new development, the city has an ethical responsibility to say so publicly. Developers are spending six figures to get projects to this stage. They deserve to know where the city actually stands.

The final vote:

Council Member	Vote
Bills	Yes
Griffin	Yes
Reynolds	Yes
Scog	No
Rodriguez	No

What About the Commercial Corner?

The 6.5-acre commercial lot got approved as BC zoning – community business – but with restrictions. Off the table:

Alcohol sales establishments
Hookah lounges
Homeless shelters
Drug paraphernalia shops
Mobile home and RV sales
Hotels and motels
Tobacco and vape shops
Tattoo parlors

The goal is to leave room for restaurants, retail, and neighborhood services while keeping out uses that don’t fit a residential neighborhood.

What Comes Next for Highline Estates?

Council made one thing clear before the night ended: they want a workshop soon to have a real conversation about growth costs, infrastructure capacity, and where Nampa actually wants to build going forward.

That conversation is overdue. And based on Tuesday night, it’s going to be a direct one.

In the meantime, Highline Estates is moving forward. If you live near Franklin and Linden, this one is worth watching.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Highline Estates approved by Nampa City Council?

Yes. Highline Estates was approved 3-2 at the June 17, 2025 Nampa City Council meeting. Bills, Griffin, and Reynolds voted yes. Scog and Rodriguez voted no.

Where is Highline Estates located in Nampa?

Highline Estates is located in north Nampa near Franklin Boulevard and Linden Road, directly across from Ridgevue High School and adjacent to Warhawk Elementary School.

How many homes will Highline Estates have?

The approved plan calls for 355 single-family homes on approximately 93 acres, plus a 6.5-acre commercial lot.

What amenities will Highline Estates have?

The development includes pickleball courts, bocce ball courts, a tot lot, picnic pavilions with barbecue stations, and a 10-foot pathway along Ten Mile Creek.

What schools will serve Highline Estates?

Students in Highline Estates will attend Warhawk Elementary, Summit View Middle School, and Ridgevue High School.

What businesses will be allowed in the Highline Estates commercial lot?

The commercial lot is restricted to neighborhood-friendly uses such as restaurants and retail. Hookah lounges, vape shops, tattoo parlors, hotels, and homeless shelters are among the excluded uses.

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