Fixing up and widening a stretch of West Valley Highway between West Main and Highway 18 won’t require the City of Auburn to complete and issue a costly environmental impact statement beforehand because the project won’t hurt the surroundings, City officials have decided.

Residents may write to the City’s planning department about that until 5 p.m., April 1.

The City’s plans call for rebuilding and widening the 1,870-foot section of West Valley Highway South from Highway 18 to West Main Street, as follows:

• Adding two bike lanes, a sidewalk built of previous concrete along the southbound lane and fill slopes,

• Relocating 1,070 feet of existing ditches,

• Installing 2,351 feet of storm drainage piping, 63 feet of culvert, bio-retention swales in the roadway median and 36 linear feet of new retaining wall.

• The City is also going to relocate a water main and improve the intersection/signal at the intersection of West Valley Highway South and West Main Street.

State law does not require a public hearing.

City staff reviewed a completed environmental checklist and other information. This information is available to the public on request. Questions and comments may be submitted to Hillary Taylor, Senior Planner, Planning and Development Department, 25 W. Main St., Auburn, WA 98001-4998 or via email at htay lor@auburnwa.gov.

Any person who wants to become a party of record must indicate in their comments that they wish to receive notice of and participate in any hearings, if relevant, and request a copy of decisions once made. A party of record may appeal the City’s determination by filing an appeal application with the Auburn City Clerk within 14 days of the close of the comment period.

Permit applications and listed studies may be reviewed at the offices of the Auburn Planning and Development Department at One East Main Street, Auburn WA 98001.