Airway Heights Planning Commission begins goal discussions

At its Jan. 14 meeting, the Airway Heights Planning Commission began its discussions on its 2015 work plan, goals and priorities.

Due to the absences of Commission Chair Rita Osborne and Commissioner Aspen Monteleone, the commission tabled approving the 2015 work plan until the February meeting.

Development Services Director Derrick Braaten presented a memorandum that explains some of the upcoming priorities for the city and staff in 2015.

“The city is going through a big change in terms of participation, outreach and programs,” Braaten said.

Some of the staff goals include updating the comprehensive plan (CIP), specifically the chapters regarding land use and zoning.

“It’s a pretty gargantuan task and staff is working on it,” Braaten said. “It may take until the end of the year or go into next year.”

Staff is also reviewing and updating the capital improvement plan. Braaten said the city is supposed to update the capital improvement plan on odd numbered years.

Braaten said the City Council has developed a list of priorities but is still fine-tuning them and haven’t officially adopted them yet. He asked the commission to come up with their own goals for the next year.

“Maybe the Planning Commission is seeing things that I’m not, or there’s a project that you would like to see,” Braaten said.

Braaten explained that the overall plan is for the Planning Commission to take their goals and prioritize them, then meet and collaborate with City Council.

Vice chair Larry Bowman and Commissioner Matthew Pederson said they would like to see a list of the council’s goals and how they would coincide with the Planning Commission’s.

“By looking at what council has discussed, we can look at that and flesh out our own ideas that they might be missing out on,” Pederson said.

During staff reports, Braaten said the city contracted services with SPVV Landscape Architects to develop a community outreach program for the Highway 2 Safety and Revitalization concept plan. Braaten said staff will start placing A-frame signs along Highway 2 to announce upcoming public meetings. Staff will also reach out to local businesses to advertise meetings on their reader boards.

Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].