AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The city has won an award for comprehensive and downtown sub-area development planning.
The Smart Communities Awards program annually recognizes local governments and partners for working to effectively install the state’s Growth Management Act to manage growth, a sustainable economy and an increased quality of life, officials said.
“These award winners model best practices that can easily be adapted by other communities,” state Commerce Director Lisa Brown said. “Their work demonstrates how thoughtful planning with robust public engagement can build shared vision and buy-in for meaningful action on important priorities and projects that strengthen communities.”
The plans have been in development for several years, city planner Heather Trautman said, and it took a lot of hard work from our planning department.
She said the community put in a lot of feedback and was heavily involved, too.
The recognition comes after the city had been nominated for the award.
“Commerce receives nominations from any source, but are mostly likely submitted by individuals with specific knowledge of the plan or project and can articulate how it meets the specific award’s intent,” Commerce’s Buck Lucas said.
Trautman nominated the city and City Manager Albert Tripp provided a supporting letter.
The awarded proposal is a Downtown Sub-Area Plan, and some funding for this plan comes in the form of a $50,000 grant from the state Department of Commerce “to focus on identifying a downtown, enhance the housing and mixed-use development in the downtown and along U.S. Hwy. 2, and update the development standards for commercial areas. This funding resulted in a Downtown Sub-Area Plan adopted as part of the Comprehensive Plan in 2021, and updated commercial zoning to guide new standards and development within the downtown core and US-2,” the application said.
One of the main topics in the proposal is to improve the housing situation and “mixed-use development” along U.S. Highway 2.
According to judges, the proposal clearly shows how the updated commercial zoning guide can benefit the community with the increased growth rate Airway Heights is experiencing.
According to census numbers, Airway Heights’ population has grown by more than 65% since 2010.
Trautman said growth may be as high as 75% and the city has grown commercially and industrially, as well.
The plan “has strategies that directly assist with implementation along with cost and timeline estimates,” Trautman said. The plan breaks down into five focal areas and is very clear and repeatable for other communities to follow she said.
The city is already working toward a couple of these focal points and has applied for a grant to help plan for improved crossing areas along U.S. Highway 2.
Trautman said the city currently has standard crossing areas, but city planners are looking into ways to make the downtown sub area safer and more walkable for pedestrians.
Trautman said the city is also implementing an Art Commission, and the city hopes to have that commission established by Winter, so the city can apply for art grants to help beautify the downtown area and install public art pieces as well.
Matthew O. Stephens can be reached at [email protected].
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