Arrowleaf final plat approval targeted for June 15

AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The City Council voted to advance approval of the final plat of the Arrowleaf Townhomes development out of their study session Monday night, June 8, for final consideration at the upcoming regular meeting June 15.

In doing so, the council agreed the development had met all of the conditions set aside under law and in a proposed preliminary plat adopted via resolution on Feb. 4, 2019. Arrowleaf Townhouses is a single-family (R-1), duplex (R-2) subdivision east of Craig Road between Ketchum Drive and Whitetip Avenue containing 72 townhouse and duplex units on 52 lots spanning approximately 15.4 acres.

Advancing the 2019 resolution for final approval means the development has met certain basic requirements such as having transportation facilities in place or financial commitments to put in place within five years from date of final approval, no significant findings of environmental impacts due to construction that cannot be mitigated and the property fits into the city’s Housing Element of its comprehensive plan.

It also means the development has met requirements specific to its creation, such as being required to pay park and transportation impact fees to be assessed at time of building permit application and filing of a boundary line adjustment along with open-space and stormwater maintenance plans. The applicant also must provide a copy of the rent-to-own program that has been proposed for the subdivision.

Also at Monday’s study session, the council heard a first report of possible measures the city might take to help local businesses recover from the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. The recommendations were developed by interviewing 47 city businesses with approximately 800 employees over a two-week period.

The city undertook the survey in order to determine how best to spend whatever it might receive from the $91.22 million awarded in April to Spokane County as part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Last week, county commissioners dispensed the first portion of that funding, awarding $6 million to the Spokane Regional Health District.

Airway Height’s survey revealed five areas of needs businesses would like assistance with as they reopen under Washington state’s guidelines and phases. Those needs focused on short (30-60 days), mid (60-90 days) and long-term (90 days plus) potential needs in personal protective equipment (PPE), child care, workforce development, supply/demand and business continuity.

Council took no action on the recovery recommendations presented Monday night, and will be on an upcoming study session agenda for further consideration, City Manager Albert Tripp said in an email.

Council also heard a report on the updating of the city’s six-year transportation plan. Some of the projects reviewed include a $4.2 million new construction and revitalization of the 6th – 12th Avenue U.S. Highway 2 relief corridor schedule for this year — with $4 million targeted for new arterial construction of the corridor between Garfield and Hayford roads and $200,000 of revitalization between Hayford and Deer Heights.

Also proposed in 2021 is a $3.2 million roundabout at Craig Road and U.S. 2. Further out are new construction of 21st Avenue between Hayford and Deer Heights in 2022 ($4.4 million), U.S. 2 safety measures between Craig and Hayford in 2023 ($1.45 million) and in 2025 extensions of the 21st Avenue corridor between Garfield and Hayford ($3.9 million) and Russell Street between Sprague and Deno ($4.59 million).

Projects would be paid for via combination of city, state and federal funding

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].