Kuna council approves multiple planning-code updates, selects JUB Engineers for comprehensive plan

The Kuna City Council approved a set of planning and code updates and named JUB Engineers as the consultant to lead the city's next comprehensive plan update.

Marina Lundy, associate planner, presented a zoning text amendment to update landscaping standards and remove an outdated guide. "The proposed amendments remove a reference to an outdated landscaping guide and establish clear installation requirements and minimum landscaping standards," Lundy said. Council members confirmed the amendments reference the Treasure Valley Tree Selection Guide and said the changes are intended to make enforcement and inspections more consistent.

During public comment, resident Cindy Gieson asked the city to publish developer agreements and PUD-related documents online and flagged missing links to lighting standards in several land-use tables. Nathan Stanley, city clerk, directed commenters to the city webpage under local government > agendas where the most recent packet is posted. Lundy and planning staff said most items are included in the packet when they appear on an agenda; one case was tabled and will return to the council on June 2.

Doug Hansen, planning and zoning director, presented additional text changes affecting annexations, title definitions, the official schedule of land-use regulations, home-occupation criteria, and lot-line adjustments. He said updates are largely technical corrections and clarifications to streamline the code and make home-occupation rules clearer. "The goal of the proposed title definitions and land-use table changes is to simplify and streamline both code sections, making them more user friendly," Hansen said.

The council also approved a design review application update adding specified requirements for solid-waste enclosures to ensure access and serviceability for collection trucks; staff said the change would apply only to new design-review applications submitted after approval.

On the comprehensive plan update, the selection panel recommended JUB Engineers; staff said the consultant team includes Langdon & Associates for public outreach and downtown redevelopment services to emphasize revitalization. Nathan Stanley said outreach was a major differentiator: "For me personally, it was their dedication to outreach to the public," he said. The council voted to accept the selection and staff will return a finalized scope and professional services agreement in the May 19 packet.

The council approved the landscaping amendment, the land-use text changes, the design-review form update and the JUB selection by separate motions and roll-call votes. One case (26Dash01DashDA) was tabled to a date certain of 06/02/2026 at the applicant's request.

The approvals take effect as provided by city procedure; staff will post the finalized scope for the comprehensive plan and the updated code language in the council packet and on the city website.