By Kiera Morgan

Now that the highway improvements are completed on hwy 101 in Lincoln City the team working on the Nelscott Gap refinement plan will be presenting the plan to the project advisory committee, the Lincoln City city council and the planning commission. The purpose of the Nelscott Gap Refinement Plan project is to produce an attractive, transit-oriented, and walkable neighborhood that will ensure efficient use of urban land and improved facilities planned on US 101.

The group did a design week at the end of October and came up with a plan of how this study area could develop and what transportation in the area would look like. The information includes a mixed use of the area. According to Debrah Nicholson Lincoln City senior planner said they have a lot of vacant and undeveloped land in this area. She said they are hoping now that the hwy 101 project is complete that there will be more interest in development. “It gives better access and makes the area more attractive. This is the reason we are doing this plan is because we want to be ahead of that new development and make sure we can maximize the potential of this area.”

Nicholson added “The improvements and new traffic control light at 32nd is a real boost and makes it more of a premium for retail.” The plan also shows a viable off hwy street network that would provide a system of local streets so people who live and work in the area would not have to always access the hwy. The plan also includes walking and biking paths. Nicholson said the east side of 23rd offers a lot of land that could be used for future development. Those who want more information can go online to www.nelscottplan.com.