Commercial development proposed for growing Kuna corner

Commercial development proposed for growing Kuna corner

In a growing sea of suburban Kuna, one developer is hoping to bring in 20 acres of commercial.

Northlake Park has been proposed for the corner of Columbia Rd. and Linder Rd. The project is split into seven commercial lots, with six smaller lots averaging 43,113 square feet and one larger lot totaling 420,127 square feet.

The larger lot would not be part of the development’s initial build-out because the area does not have the sewer capability to handle a business of that size yet, Bailey Engineering’s Kelli Black said.

Getting the development approved by the city council could be difficult, given that one Kuna government body has already voiced its disapproval. Northlake Park went before Kuna’s Planning and Zoning Commission on May 26, where it received a recommendation of denial.

The commissioners had concerns about commercial stores bordering the one-acre home lots of Chisum Valley. Neighbors attending the meeting had said they would prefer some sort of transition buffer into higher-density housing to occur before the commercial stores. The neighbors and commission also had concerns about the increase in traffic that would come with a commercial development.

Agency comments submitted by the Ada County Highway District for the property stated that the plan for the property would allow roads to “meet acceptable level of service thresholds per ACHD policy.” ACHD recommended that the developer be required to construct a southbound right-turn lane and a center left-turn lane on Linder Rd., and a westbound right-turn lane and center left-turn lane on Columbia Rd.

The approximately 20-acre parcel on the corner of Linder Rd. and Columbia Rd. is designated as commercial space on the city’s future land use map.

The application is set to go before Kuna’s city council on August 18th. The council will make the ultimate decision on Northlake’s future. If the project’s annexation application does get approval, it will have to go through a separate design review process with the city. Black said this would happen once the developer has tenants for the property.