Nampa planners back form‑based code and new downtown zoning, send recommendation to city council

The Nampa Planning and Zoning Commission recommended that City Council adopt a new form‑based code and accompanying text and map amendments to redefine the city’s downtown core.

Senior planner Brianne House told commissioners the form‑based code is intended to make clear what the city expects for building form and streetscape in downtown, preserving the area’s character while removing ambiguity that has complicated design review. "Form based code will allow more flexibility in the building form and create clear expectations of what the city would like to see," House said.

Principal planner Christy Watkins said the rezones would convert several existing downtown districts — changing Downtown Historic and Downtown Business designations to a Central Nampa (CN) zoning district and converting some Downtown Village and Downtown Business areas to Gateway Business (GB1/GB2) zones. Watkins said staff would also replace an entire chapter of the Nampa 2040 comprehensive plan with a link to the form‑based code document and reduce certain downtown setbacks to 10 feet to support a more pedestrian environment.

Watkins told the commission staff expects most projects inside the new CN district to be reviewed administratively with appeals to the Design Review Committee, while properties already on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places will continue to be reviewed by the Arts and Historic Preservation Commission.

No members of the public signed up to speak on the item. Commissioners said they had seen the proposal in prior workshops and supported the approach; Commissioner Morgan moved to approve the project as presented and Commissioner Daffer seconded. The motion passed by voice vote.

The commission’s recommendation will go to Nampa City Council for final action.