PRCAC partners with urban planning and development students

At the Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee’s regular monthly meeting on July 16, members discussed a new partnership with the Western Washington University Senior Planning Studio, which pairs Urban Planning and Sustainable Development students with local communities to develop visions, conceptual designs and implementation strategies for community development. 

Committee members said Point Roberts will serve as a yearlong case study, with students producing recommendations focused on planning and economic development. Funded through a state grant, the project will include community surveys, public meetings and stakeholder outreach beginning in late September and continuing through May.

“The more engagement the students get from the community, and the more information they get from the community, the better the product’s going to be,” member Allison Calder said.

Committee members said the final report could provide valuable groundwork for future updates to the Point Roberts Subarea Plan, zoning changes and other planning efforts while giving WWU students hands-on experience.