300+ homes proposed on Boise-area farmland by a new WinCo. What just happened

Caldwell’s City Council should approve a Meridian developer’s application to develop 125 acres of farmland at the northwest corner of Highway 20/26 and Midland Boulevard, a hearing examiner said.

The Brighton Corp. plan proposes 305 single-family residential lots, 11 commercial lots, and two lots for a future fire station and a K-12 school.

“This is our little baby,” Eli Benski, a project manager for Brighton, told Hearing Examiner Sabrina Durtschi at a public hearing Tuesday. “It has a little bit of everything for the community. It’s not just going to be for the residents here, and we’re really excited to present this to Caldwell.”

The development, called Aviary Heights, is planned in five phases, with the option to start commercial lots at any time. Amenities proposed include a wildlife observation garden, bike repair station, pedestrian safety features, a dog park, a clubhouse and a tot lot.

Developers described Aviary Heights as a “community-driven” project, emphasizing a network of pathways, detached sidewalks and a 100-foot-wide linear park along the railroad that doubles as a buffer from passing trains. The plans include amenities like a wildlife observation garden along the Lower Five Mile Drain, a dog park, clubhouse and a playground, as well as a bike repair station near the future school to encourage students to bike. Housing types would range from larger detached lots to smaller alley-loaded town homes fronting shared green spaces.

On the infrastructure side, city staff acknowledged that water and sewer mains are not yet available to the site and are tied to the state Highway 20/26 expansion. However, Caldwell city staff said the city already has funding and right-of-way secured for the utility extensions and can build them independently if the highway schedule slips. The developer has also been contributing to upgrades at downstream sewer lift stations to ensure capacity for the new homes.

The development is planned next to the anticipated WinCo supermarket. Brighton Co. asked for flexibility so the commercial plot directly to the south, including WinCo, can start earlier than the later residential phases if needed.

Traffic and access remain under detailed review, particularly for the commercial frontage along Highway 20/26, but the city engineer reported no concerns with the two proposed residential access points on Midland. The final traffic impact study and access spacing for the commercial area will be resolved in coordination with ITD before the project goes to the Caldwell City Council for a final decision. No one opposed the proposal at Tuesday’s hearing. The examiner’s recommendation sends the proposal to the City Council for a decision.

Brighton has been building homes, commercial spaces, and mixed-use venues in the Treasure Valley since 1968.