AIRWAY HEIGHTS — Developments are afoot in Airway Heights. The City Council met on June 28 for a study session that covered multiple departments’ plans for the city.
Public Works Director Kevin Anderson went over the 10th Avenue project, which has been in the works for years now. With a Transportation Improvement Board grant, construction on a corridor extension project on 10th Avenue is expected to begin in 2022.
The entire project cost is $3,544, 295, with contributions from the grant, the city and the Kalispel Tribe of Indians. It will create a 37-foot-wide boulevard with additions such as a center island, turn lanes at intersections and sidewalks. New lighting (traffic signal, pedestrian crossings, etc.) would also be constructed.
Anderson also reviewed the oncoming Ninth Avenue and Hayford pedestrian crossing. The city is hoping to add a flashing beacon and refuge island to make the crossing safer. Having been presented to the city council, designs for the project can now be developed.
Principal Planner Heather Trautman went over development agreements for both Airway Auto Licensing and the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. Both are required to install landscaping around their buildings, but both are located on 14th Avenue. Both the avenue and State Route 2 are due for development in the city’s US-2 corridor Plan and Downtown Sub-area Plan.
To avoid damaging the required landscaping, the planning department recommended a deferral of landscaping. The property owners do not have to complete their landscaping until the 14th Avenue improvements are finished, or after five years have passed from now, whichever comes first. The city council moved the motion forward to a public hearing.
The planning commission may be welcoming a new member soon, as they considered Stephanie Lamb’s application for position two. Lamb has lived in the city for over 10 years and would complete the planning commission if given the position. Her nomination by Mayor Sonny Weathers will take place on July 6.
Finally, the presentation of both gas and electric franchise agreements with Avista were tabled for later discussion. The city has also received its first installment of CARES Act funds.
Riley Kankelberg can be reached at [email protected].
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