Chehalis council hears final design concepts for downtown rejuvenation; consultants seek feedback before formal adoption

Chehalis City Council on March 24 received a detailed update on the downtown rejuvenation planning effort from HBB Architecture and Landscaping and city staff, who asked councilmembers for final feedback before the city releases a full implementation report and seeks formal adoption.

Consultant Aaron Loma of HBB told the council the team has completed three phases of public engagement and engineering analysis and is preparing a final report for the city. “We are getting really close to the finish line here,” Loma said, adding the presentation was intended to solicit council feedback rather than to ask for immediate approval. He described two buildable concepts—Concept A, which returns two‑way traffic to Washington with a tree‑lined boulevard and shifts most through traffic to Washington so Pacific can become calmer and more pedestrian‑oriented, and Concept B, which keeps existing traffic flows but narrows lanes to add trees and sidewalk space.

The plans include traffic engineering, turning‑movement studies and a topographical survey completed during the third engagement phase. Loma said both concepts were developed with engineers and traffic analysis and that the design team had…