AIRWAY HEIGHTS—Revitalizing and developing the downtown area of the city has been a hot topic for years. Now, council and the planning committee are anxious to start making practical steps toward downtown development, a sentiment discussed during council’s study session Sept. 29 that included a joint workshop with the planning committee.
The city received a $50,000 grant from the Department of Commerce to prepare a downtown plan in spring 2020 and is partnering with SCJ Alliance Consulting Services to develop that plan, which city planner Heather Trautman said is required to be completed by April 2021.
The materials will be brought to workshop with the planning commission this fall and draft language development for zoning code changes by the end of the year. Final drafts will be presented in February and March 2021.
Rachel Granrath is the senior planner from SCJ Alliance for the project. She presented SCJ’s current plan for the downtown development, which include five “transformational priorities” based on feedback from the public and stakeholders:
Invest in drastic streetscape improvements and beautification efforts.
Integrate a mixture of housing options including affordable housing options.
Strengthen existing businesses and support reinvestment downtown.
Create and improve collaborative, inclusive and safe public spaces.
Develop safe crossings, multi-modal options, and improve US-2 to slow traffic through downtown.
“It’s invigorating moving forward again and seeing (a plan) brought in front of us,” councilmember Larry Bowman said.
The plan includes a “civic center” just south of the highway, which could include many items, Granrath said.
“It could be an amphitheater or some sort of gathering space as some sort of downtown core space,” Granrath said. “It’s more of a transformation to anchor Sunset to a southern public space.”
While there are long-term plans being developed for the downtown, Monday’s discussion included opinions that the city should start with less expensive measures that could show progress is beginning on development.
“I think it’s go time,” Bowman said, a sentiment echoed by council, planning commission members and Mayor Kevin Richey. “It would give us something to grasp onto and something to look forward to.”
Bowman suggested beginning with a beautification process along the medians of streets, such as trees, grass and pedestrian lights.
“Once it starts, the momentum moving forward can be quick,” Bowman said.
Public works director Kevin Anderson added that the safety of traffic and pedestrians goes along with the street development, which is a top priority of the city.
Trautman said she felt streetscaping is the current highest priority of council and the planning commission.
Planning commission member Mark Collins added that taking small steps, such as some form of public art along Highway 2, could help city residents feel positive about possible development in a time when many people feel not much is going right due to the pandemic.
City manager Albert Tripp suggested the possibility of painting murals that display the city’s long-term vision for the downtown area.
Councilmember Doyle Inman shared his feelings of the importance of continuing maintenance of the present corridor as development gets under way.
Earlier in the meeting, city clerk-treasurer Stanley Schubert reported that city hall will re-open two days a week, Tuesdays and Wednesdays beginning Oct. 6 from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. with all required safety restrictions and guidelines.
Drew Lawson can be reached at drew@cheneyfreepress.com.
Reader Comments(0)