Plan now moves to City Council
AIRWAY HEIGHTS — City planning’s industrial sub-area plan for a 300-acre area south of Highway 2, east of South Craig Road and along West McFarlane Road was approved by the Planning Commission after a public hearing Oct. 14 and will now move to City Council for another public hearing and final approval.
The plan was funded by the Community Economic Revitalization Board through a $50,000 grant and produced targeted industries, marketing strategies and a phased development plan for the industrial area through data collection, stakeholder interviews, feasibility analysis and public engagement, city planner Heather Trautman informed the commission.
The study found 300 acres of undeveloped land within the target area and 1.1 million square feet of existing buildings, with the potential for 3.27 million square feet of building area, meeting documentation states.
Three recommended industries are emphasized in the plan: Aerospace, metals and machinery and food processers, which could include cannabis.
Within aerospace could come maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities. Within metals and machinery could come defense, alternative energy, machinery manufacturing and infrastructure opportunities, such as rail, bridges, cargo vessels and containers.
The infrastructure development plan is broken into nine phases for various portions of the subarea and includes needed improvements or additions for roads, sewers, gas lines, water mains, power lines and other utility necessities.
Phase 1 covers the area on West 21st Avenue from South Garfield Road to South Hayford Road and is estimated to cost $2.75 million. The area is currently a paved access road. Phase 2 would also develop on West 21st Avenue but be to the west of Phase 1, from South Garfield Road to South Lundstrom Street, an area which is currently a gravel road. It’s estimated to cost $2.7 million.
Phase 3 would wrap up the West 21st Avenue development from South Lindstrom Street to South Craig Road, which is primarily gravel access driveway and part of the rock quarry. It’s largely on private property presently and is estimated to cost $2.2 million.
After Phase 3, development will shift from east and west to north and south. Phase 4 is on South Hayden Road from Highway 2 to West McFarlane Road. Presently, that area is mostly gravel local access road, with some “failing” pavement. The phase is estimated to cost $2.5 million.
Phase 5 covers the mostly paved local access area of South Garfield Road from Highway 2 to West McFarlane Road and is estimated to cost $2.3 million. Phase 6 moves to South Lyons Street from Highway 2 to West McFarlane Road with an estimated cost of $1.8 million. The section is currently a local access gravel road.
Phase 7 runs on South Russell Street from Highway 2 to West McFarlane Road, presently mostly local access gravel. The estimated cost is $2.2 million.
The final two phases run on South Lundstrom Street from Highway 2 to West McFarlane Road and on South Lawson Street from West 21st Avenue to West McFarlane Road. The former is a paved local access road, and development runs an estimated cost of $2.9 million. The latter is already developed and doesn’t come with an estimated cost “since this phase would be considered road reconstruction of Lawson Street and is not linked to expansion of development in the ISA study area,” documentation reads.
Possible federal funding sources for development, according to meeting documentation, include the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, U.S. Economic Development Administration, U.S. Surface Transportation Board and U.S. Department of Transportation.
Potential state funding sources include the Department of Commerce, Department of Transportation, Transportation Improvement Board, Department of Ecology and Department of Health.
The plan also details internal strengths and weaknesses and external opportunities and threats for infrastructure choosing to develop in the area.
Some strengths listed include the established aerospace manufacturing interest in the area, proximity to Fairchild Air Force Base and Spokane International Airport, relatively cheap land and power costs and the large amount of underdeveloped land.
Some weaknesses listed include slow broadband speeds in the area, a lack of a middle and high school in the city, a lack of a “neighborhood feel” in the city and a limited diversity of population and workforce.
Some opportunities listed include Washington’s lack of an income tax, the potential to attract military veterans and recent graduates into aerospace and metal careers and Washington’s status as the home of Boeing.
Some weaknesses listed include a limited workforce with a STEM education, lake of state incentives and the fact that the state aerospace industry is primarily on the West Side near the Seattle area.
The draft of the plan was also discussed at council’s Oct. 12 study session.
Drew Lawson can be reached at drew@cheneyfreepress.com.
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