Northwest Meridian is mostly farmland. Idaho 16 highway extension could change that
Northwest Meridian may be the city’s last rural stronghold. The area is mostly agricultural land, with farmhouses surrounded by acres of soil awaiting planting season this spring.
That rural, agricultural lifestyle is likely to be interrupted as Meridian continues to be a center for growth and development. Earlier this year, the Idaho Transportation Board approved funding for the Idaho 16 extension from U.S. 20/26 (Chinden Boulevard) to Interstate 84.
With the extension moving forward, northwest Meridian may be the next development hot spot.
The Idaho 16 expansion project began in 2012 and the first phase built 2.5 miles of highway from Idaho 44 (State Street) to U.S. 20/26. The next phase has awaited funding since 2014. Then, this year, the Idaho Legislature approved $350 million to transportation projects in the state. That paved the way for the extension to proceed.
The Idaho Transportation Department expects construction on the highway to begin as early as spring 2022.
The second phase includes extending the highway 5 miles from U.S. 20/26 to I-84. It also includes an interchange with I-84 and connections at Franklin and Ustick roads.
The highway is expected to go between Star Road and McDermott Road in northwest Meridian.
Meridian planning staff addresses ‘disjointed area’
For years, about 4 square miles, between Can-Ada, McDermott, Ustick and Chinden roads, has been a “growth area priority” for Meridian’s planning staff and leaders.
“Surrounded on three sides by other cities/county, and soon to be defined on its east boundary by the now funded SH-16 extension, this area of Meridian may feel disjointed from the rest of the city,” read a planning memo, presented to the City Council earlier this month.
Brian McClure, an associate planner for Meridian, presented the plan on Dec. 7. It outlined the growth the highway extension will bring to northwest Meridian.
The plan would be part of the city’s comprehensive plan and its goal is to give developers an idea of what the city wants in the area.
“There are a lot of large land holdings out there and we saw opportunities to make this a special place,” McClure said in a phone interview. ”The existing property owners out there have seen their farm ground having a great value.”
McClure said the highway extension was “a huge component” of the plan. It’s called the Fields Subarea Plan.
“For decades, that area of Meridian felt like the ugly child of Meridian, it didn’t have services and access to what northern Meridian had,” he said. “This plan works in a sense of identity. We looked at what we could do to make this place special and give it identity.”
Apartments, businesses, walkability are the focus
The Fields Subarea Plan includes plans for a mixed-use center at Star and McMillan roads. The center would include businesses and a pedestrian-oriented feel, planning staff said. It would also include live-work apartments atop the businesses, the plan said.
The plan outlines the possibility of a community grocer coming to the area or a farm, lawn and garden store as an anchor.
The plan includes rooftops to support the businesses in the area. They include a mix of apartments and town homes, the plan said.
Though the Idaho 16 extension will bring more travel to northwest Meridian, the city planners said they want the center to accommodate residents in the area, not just commuters.
Caleb Hood, planning division manager for Meridian, said most of the highway traffic will be going through the city on the way to the interstate. The community center and business areas will be mostly for the residents of the area, he said.
“This is going to be your coffee shops and ice cream shops,” Hood said by phone. “We wanted to make sure people there have their own little mini-community of Meridian.”
The planning staff had to work around the 7 million-gallon Intermountain Gas Liquified Natural Gas storage building located in the southwest area of the plan. They said that a buffer may be necessary around the facility and plan not to allow residential development near the storage building for safety and aesthetic reasons.
The plan also includes ideas for a business park on the northeast corner of Can-Ada and Ustick Roads and commercial businesses along Ustick and Chinden.
The plan is an outline for developers and would not take effect until they apply to build in the area.
Growth, services already coming to area
This year, Owyhee High School opened for more than 1,400 students in northwest Meridian. The city is also planning to build a new police substation and fire station in the area.
The police and fire stations would be located near the high school on Owyhee Storm Avenue.
“There is a lot to do still,” McClure said. “This helps support the community out there, to meet the demand for resources.”
This story was originally published December 27, 2021 at 4:00 AM.
