Updated October 20, 2026
The Lone Star master plan community is dead, at least for now.
After a hearing that ran past 11 pm on Monday, October 19, the Nampa City Council voted 4-2 to deny the annexation and zoning for the roughly 149-acre development. The site is near Smith Avenue, Midway Road and Lone Star Road in southwest Nampa.
That reverses the momentum from August, when the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval.
How the Council Voted
Council member Rodriguez made the motion to deny.
- Voted to deny: Skaug, Jangula, Griffin, Rodriguez
- Voted against denial: Bills, Reynolds
The denial was based on two parts of Nampa’s annexation code. The first is whether the city can serve the area. The second is whether the project is in the public interest and reasonably necessary right now.
What Was Proposed
The plan mixed homes, apartments and shopping on one large property. The applicant’s latest estimate was about 862 total units:
- Single-family homes on about 90 acres
- About 313 apartments and 100 townhomes on about 29 acres
- About 30 acres of commercial, pitched as a neighborhood shopping area with a grocery store, restaurants and coffee
- A 20% density bonus on the apartment area, raising it from 12 to 14.4 units per acre
The earliest homes would not have started until about 2031.
Why the Council Said No
Traffic with no fix in sight
Transportation Director Crystal Craig said the city is building road improvements from the inside out. Midland comes first, then Middleton. She doesn’t expect improvements on Midway Road for 5 to 10 years. Midway also isn’t on the city’s impact fee project list right now.
Police staffing
Council member Griffin pointed out that Nampa is asking voters for a police levy right now. He estimated this one development would need about 3.5 more officers and extra support staff.
No fiscal impact numbers yet
The city is building a tool to measure whether a development actually pays for itself. City staff said it should be ready around January. Several council members said they didn’t want to approve a project this big without those numbers.
Too dense for the area
Residents and council members said apartments and small lots didn’t fit an area boxed in by Lake Lowell on the west and south. Griffin said he would rather see RS 8.5 zoning up to Midway Road, with large-lot homes west of Midway. Late in the hearing, the applicant offered to drop the apartment zoning from RMH to the slightly less dense RML. It wasn’t enough.
A Packed Room of Opposition
More than 20 people testified, and the city received over 35 written comments. Nearly all of them opposed the project.
Speakers raised:
- Traffic backups on Midway, Middleton and Iowa
- Loss of farmland and rural character
- Light pollution affecting migrating birds at Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge
- Water supply
- Whether growth pays for growth
A few speakers defended council member Bills after the hearing got heated. The mayor eventually stepped in to stop the back-and-forth.
What This Means for Midway Park
This is the part that stings.
The city has wanted to annex Midway Park for years. Annexing it would let Nampa add parking lot lighting, connect the park to city sewer and water, and remove the concrete barrier on Midway Road that blocks left turns. City staff said the park’s annexation was contingent on Lone Star being approved. Lone Star was the piece that made the park touch city limits.
With Lone Star denied, that plan is on hold. Parks Director Cody Swander said the city could still ask Canyon County for permission to add lighting under the park’s current county rules. That request hasn’t been made yet.
Could Lone Star Come Back?
Possibly. The developer could return with a revised plan, and it’s not unheard of. The same night, the council approved a Victory Road industrial project it had denied back in July.
If Lone Star does come back, Griffin made his wish list pretty clear: bigger lots, less density, and smaller-scale commercial.
All Things Nampa will keep following what happens next with this property and Midway Park.
You can follow other major projects on our Nampa Growth & Development page.
FAQ
Was the Lone Star development in Nampa approved?
No. The Nampa City Council voted 4-2 to deny the annexation and zoning on October 19, 2026. The Planning & Zoning Commission had recommended approval in August.
Why did the Nampa City Council deny Lone Star?
Council members cited traffic, police staffing, density, and the lack of a fiscal impact analysis. The city’s tool for measuring whether growth pays for itself isn’t expected until around January.
How many homes were planned in the Lone Star development?
The applicant estimated about 862 total units. That included single-family homes, about 313 apartments and about 100 townhomes, plus roughly 30 acres of commercial.
What happens to Midway Park now?
The city’s plan to annex Midway Park depended on Lone Star being approved. That annexation is now on hold. The city may ask Canyon County for permission to add lighting in the meantime.
Can the Lone Star developer reapply?
The developer could bring back a revised proposal. No new plan has been announced.
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