ARLINGTON — More details were recently unveiled on the city’s long-term plan to redevelop west Arlington.
Troy Davis, an independent contractor designing a project that could one day change city streetscape and zoning regulations in the Smokey Point, Island Crossing and West Bluff areas of Arlington, gave the city Planning Commission an update on his proposed plan during a Feb. 18 meeting.
Davis shared with the Commission a preliminary map that showed some possible improvements to the area, which included widening sections of Smokey Point Boulevard to either three or five lanes, adding a number of side and connector streets and constructing roundabouts to ease congestion.
The map also showed a proposed trail that would run from the Stillaguamish River south along Smokey Point Boulevard and connect west of the Arlington Municipal Airport.
Other smaller trails between city streets were also on Davis’ map.
The idea was to make the area “multi-modal,” or accessible to many different types of transportation.
“Right now we’re making sure that we’re giving attention to vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists — not just one or the other,” Davis told the Commissioners.
Davis also had eight roundabouts listed on his map, including two at and near the intersection of SR 530 and Smokey Point Boulevard and one near the Stillaguamish Senior Center.
Other improvements Davis discussed included gateway signage so drivers could see when they are entering and leaving Arlington.
Davis stressed that all of his plans were very preliminary and will require extensive work with city engineers and city officials before any specific recommendations would be made.
Currently it is unclear when any improvements would be made to the Smokey Point area or how much those changes would cost. A timetable has not been set as to when these changes would take place.
Davis said he has spent that past year researching the area and said he has begun drafting plans.
Davis said his next step will be coming up with block standards to help prevent dead ends on roads affected by the plan. After the transportation drafts have been completed, he said he will be focusing on zoning and land-use changes in the proposed area of development.
Davis said in an interview that he’s hoping to have a draft plan completed by end of this year and ready for City Council adoption in early 2011.
No public meetings are currently planned, but residents can attend sub-committee meetings on the West Arlington plan on the second Thursday of every month at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers library room.
