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 worked with city staff on phasing, costs and grant opportunities. He said the team has prepared both an executive summary and a 200‑page master plan with graphics, cost estimates and a proposed implementation phasing schedule.

Why it matters: the design effort aims to improve safety, add pedestrian space and refresh downtown streetscapes while maintaining or increasing parking overall, a priority cited repeatedly by business owners and residents during engagement.

Council and staff questions focused on specific details the design will need to resolve in later phases. Topics raised during the presentation included: - Parking layout: Loma said Concept A allows significant angled parking on Pacific because it reduces traffic to one lane there; angled parking on Washington is harder without converting lanes. He noted the concepts yield a net parking gain overall when combined with reorganized parking on Pacific, Washington and Division. - Market and Boisvert (Boisvert) spaces: the plan shows a possible permanent closure of the south side of Boisvert to create a flexible farmers‑market and event space while maintaining loading access. Loma described terraced planting and seating on the east side of Market to provide family‑oriented gathering areas. - ADA access and parklet design: staff and council asked about accessible routes in stepped or terraced areas. Loma said the design includes ramps and zig‑zag accessible routes where terraces and steps are proposed. - Utilities and undergrounding: the cost estimates assume a wide range of work, including undergrounding overhead utilities in some segments. Loma said the Public Utility District (PUD) is not opposed but will require funding: “They’re not against it. They’re just…someone’s gotta pay for it,” he said. - Trees and maintenance: the team proposed roughly 80 street trees in the concept plan but said species selection and final numbers would be set to minimize maintenance burdens for city crews; irrigation is included in cost line items as an option.

Implementation: Loma outlined a recommended phasing approach so the city can seek grants and build projects over time rather than completing all work at once. He emphasized intersections at the north and south ends of Market as high priorities to simplify movements and improve pedestrian safety. The team said several projects can be constructed independently; however, changes to Washington and Pacific are interdependent and would likely be implemented together.

Next steps and timing: the consultant said the final master plan and detailed cost breakdown will be delivered to the city next month; staff will incorporate council feedback and present a package when the city is ready to request formal adoption. Loma stressed the current request was feedback only: “We are not here asking you to adopt it tonight,” he said. Councilmembers said they want additional detail on tree species, irrigation, maintenance impacts and firm cost assumptions before adopting the conceptual plan.

The presentation included references to prior engagement events at Mint City Coffee and coordination with Experience Chehalis and the city’s historic preservation board and planning commission; Loma said both boards have met with the design team multiple times. The consultant also recommended pursuing state and federal grant sources that require evidence of council support when applications are submitted.

The council did not vote on the conceptual plan at the March 24 meeting; staff will return with the final report and a refined adoption package after incorporating council input.