Monday gathering will discuss couplet

A consultant to the city of Spokane Valley will hold what’s called a charrette Monday to talk about the future of the Sprague-Appleway couplet.

Charrette is a word used in urban-design circles to describe an intense workshop. It’s meant to harness the talents of different people and create a realistic plan for community change, according to the National Charrette Institute.

Designated business people, government officials and others with an interest in the couplet will break into small groups to discuss the economic, land-use and transportation issues surrounding the roadway. The general public is invited to attend but won’t take part in the discussion, an employee of Oregon-based ECONorthwest said.

The City Council is considering what to do with the four-year-old roadway: Extend it two miles eastward as two one-way roads or extend Appleway as a one-way road and leave Sprague as it is. Some couplet critics want the existing stretch to be converted back to two-way roads and don’t want Appleway extended.

In July, the city hired ECONorthwest to analyze the impact the couplet has had on businesses and the potential impact it could have if it’s extended. The firm also is looking at ways to revitalize that corridor and improve traffic flow.

In addition to the charrette, ECONorthwest will update attendees on its findings about the couplet’s impact.

The meeting runs from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at City Hall, 11707 E. Sprague Ave. For more information, call 921-1000.