I'll be honest. When the new South Meridian Costco opened on Nov. 5, my biggest question was whether the rotisserie chicken tastes better closer to Kuna. (Research continues.)
My second question was about all that dirt around it. Turns out the answer has a name, Momentum, and it goes to the Meridian City Council next Tuesday. So I did the homework. Here's what we know.
First, the Costco
Meridian is now the first city in Idaho with two Costco warehouses. The new one is at 203 E. Tower Ln., at Lake Hazel and Meridian roads. Thousands of people showed up on opening day. It has a 16-pump gas station and a 30,000-square-foot market-delivery operation, which Idaho Press says is the first of its kind for Costco in the Treasure Valley.
The store is Phase 1 of a much bigger Brighton Corp. project. That project used to be called Apex Zenith. Momentum is the next chunk. [1][2]
What Momentum Is
Momentum Subdivision (city file H-2026-0036) covers about 106 acres at the southeast corner of Meridian Road and Lake Hazel Road, right around the warehouse. [1][3] Brighton is asking the city for four things in one package:
A land-use map change. 60.97 acres would go from "Medium-High Density Residential" to "Mixed Use Regional." [3]
Two rezones. 19 acres would go from R-15 to R-40 (that's apartment-level density), and about 8.3 acres from R-15 to general commercial (C-G). [3]
A preliminary plat with 11 residential lots, 24 commercial lots and 3 common lots. [3]
A brand-new development agreement, with an updated concept plan and design guidelines. [3]
What It Could Include
According to city staff documents reported by BoiseDev, the rezone would allow up to 400 multifamily units (the application calls them "garden-style apartments") plus 240 single-family homes. [1]
For comparison, the January 2025 Apex Zenith approval covered 740 homes and 400,000 square feet of commercial space. The new filing lists 690 homes and 546,000 square feet. [2]
What we don't know: tenant names, building designs or what the apartments will look like. BoiseDev says those details come later, in future applications. [1] Boise Builds also points out that some of the filing's numbers don't quite match up. For example, all 690 homes are listed as single-family, even though part of the site is asking for R-40. [2] I'm not going to guess which number is right. Watch the council hearing.
The Traffic Question
You knew this section was coming. The traffic study reviewed by the Ada County Highway District (ACHD) estimates that full buildout would generate about 22,798 vehicle trips a day, with about 2,012 in the evening peak hour.
ACHD's conditions include signal agreements at Lake Hazel Road and Optima View Avenue, plus a future signal at Lake Hazel and Linder. Meridian Road itself is State Highway 69, so it belongs to the Idaho Transportation Department, not ACHD. So yes, the cart corral is not the only thing that's going to get crowded.
Where It Stands
The Meridian Planning and Zoning Commission took up Momentum on Nov. 5, the same day Costco opened. Commissioners spent their time on the balance between commercial and residential uses, the transitions between the two, pedestrian connections, and how much of the "illustrative" concept plan should actually be binding. Brighton wanted flexibility to react to the market. Commissioners wanted more clarity, especially near homes. Boise Builds' case timeline shows the commission recommended approval. I couldn't confirm that on the city's own records page, so take it as "reported, not confirmed" until the council packet comes out. [2]
What's Next
The Meridian City Council public hearing is Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026, at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 33 E. Broadway Ave. Council meetings are open to the public and streamed live, so you can watch from your couch. Even if the council approves it, Brighton still has more steps ahead: final plats, plus the detailed apartment and building plans. [1][2]
Why I'm Watching
I'm watching because this corner is turning into a second downtown for South Meridian, practically overnight. Retail, offices and hundreds of new homes, all built around a warehouse store. That could be great: you'd have more places to eat, shop and maybe even work close to home. It could also be a headache on Lake Hazel at 5:15 p.m.
The Man of Meridian's Verdict
My verdict: it's worth your attention, and not only if you live nearby. Rezones in Meridian rarely get denied. Boise Builds counted zero denials out of 21 in the last three years. [2] That means the real influence comes from the details: the design guidelines and how binding the concept plan is. If you care about walkability, buffers next to existing neighborhoods or traffic signals, Nov. 17 is the night to show up or send in a comment.
As for me, I'll be watching the stream with a $1.50 hot dog in my lap. Purely for research.
- The Man of Meridian
