UW planners look to Palmer's future

PALMER -- A team of University of Washington students and professors is about to begin a nine-month study to find ways the city of Palmer can preserve and enhance the downtown area's character while managing growth during future annexations.

Palmer City Council members approved spending $25,000 for the project by unanimous vote at their Feb. 24 meeting. City Manager Tom Healy estimated the cost is one-third of what a consulting firm would charge, and Council Member Kathrine Vanover said a similar professional study might cost $100,000.

"They're progressive and creative," she said of the team.

"It's a wonderful opportunity," added Council Member John Combs.

Fifteen students and two professors from the university's College of Architecture and Urban Planning will do the work. The project begins March 15 and concludes Jan. 31, 2005. The student-faculty team will be in Palmer for 10 days in September to collect data and talk with city and Mat-Su Borough officials, community and business leaders, and citizens.

The study will focus on ways the downtown core can improve "its functionality, encouraging more intensive commercial and residential use, and enhancing visual amenities for both residents and visitors," according to the proposal.

The team will look at ways to improve accessibility, as well as considering traffic flow, parking, pedestrian connections and "walkability."

For its recommendations on future growth outside the city's core, the team will study where and how much growth can be accommodated over a particular time, proper densities and land-use mixes, as well as how much open space is desirable.

"Specific attention will be given to the city's building, zoning, and subdivision codes and revisions that might help implement development policies in growth areas," the proposal said.

The team will produce separate reports for the city core and for annexation. Drafts of those documents are due Nov. 30 for review by city officials.

"I think anything we can do to stimulate a public discussion of planning issue is good for us," said Council Member Tony Pippel.

Contact Steve Kadel at steve.kadel@frontiersman.com.