AH council OKs downtown plan for U.S. 2

The Airway Heights' Highway 2 Revitalization and Safety project continues to be developed, one piece at a time.

During its April 3 meeting, City Council approved a request to contract with Studio Cascade, the city's land-use consultant firm on the Highway 2 project, regarding developing a "downtown plan."

As they were developing the project, Studio Cascade broke Highway 2 corridor into six sectors to represent different levels of improvements based on factors, including public comment, existing uses, potential uses and overall vision of the corridor. The downtown plan, which will be in two phases, will cover both the north and south sides of U.S. Highway 2 between Campbell and Lundstrom streets, including 14th Avenue.

Similar to the previous work that has been done for the project, Studio Cascade and staff will engage stakeholders, local businesses and property owners in "Coffee Conversations," in order to gain feedback and support. After collecting the feedback, the firm will gather information relating to the physical, economic, demographic, and functional conditions of the area as a baseline reference, which will allow the team to establish a planning area boundary.

Staff will take these findings and put them into different drafts for the plan and present a them in a workshop for community feedback.

In other action items, council approved a consulting agreement regarding a master plan for city Public Works Department properties.

Public Works Director Kevin Anderson explained that the city owns three parcels west of Russell Road between 19th and 21 avenues and is in the process of acquiring another parcel. While the land is currently used for vehicle and equipment storage, maintenance shops, parking lots and office spaces, The department is hoping to create a master plan to develop these sites in a comprehensive manner in order to accommodate the planned improvements to 21st Avenue and future growth in the city.

"As the demands of the department grow, we want to be prepared for that," Anderson said.

Council also welcomed new police officers Patrick Carbaugh and Joseph McCollum and Legend, who is the Police Department's new K-9 unit.

Officer Dennis Bachman, who will be Legend's handler, returned from training at the academy at Shelton Corrections Center after six weeks.

"It said it takes about four weeks of the six to get things clicking between you and your partner and they did," Bachman said of his relationship with Legend. "Now we're working great together."

Bachman added that Legend is trained in cocaine, marijuana and heroin detection.

In other business:

● Council approved a Lodging Tax Advisory Committee request for marketing the Airway Heights Days festival in August.

● Karlen Cameron Teresi were appointed to the Airway Heights Youth Advisory Commission, bringing the group to six members.

Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].