Final design plans for downtown Langley’s First Street project are expected to be reviewed by the City Council at its next meeting, 5:30 Tuesday, Jan. 22, at City Hall.

Because Monday is a holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr., the usual Monday schedule is bumped to Tuesday.

In 2016, the city was awarded a $250,000 grant from the state Transportation Improvement Board’s Complete Streets Awards Program to be used for aesthetic and safety improvements. “Complete Streets” emphasize pedestrians, not vehicles, and are touted as providing a more pleasant atmosphere for residents and visitors to congregate, and it’s hoped, spend more time and money at local businesses.

Comments about proposals to spruce up and improve First Street from Wharf Drive to Anthes Avenue were gathered at numerous public discussions over the past two years. Last week, the city’s Design Review Board approved the plan.

Reducing safety concerns for children as well as elderly people walking the streets is the project’s goal. Visually connecting visitors to the Whale Bell, Seawall Park and views of the surrounding scenery is also key.

“The entire intersection at First and Anthes is being reworked to provide a large pedestrian public space and better crosswalks,” said David Price, a design business owner.

He described the current intersection as “a sea of asphalt.”

“This area has a lot of potential for public gatherings and interesting uses,” Price said. “It will need to be populated with furnishings and planters to be fully realized, otherwise it will feel like a big empty space.”

However, according to Price, there may be no money in the budget for such items.

The need to eliminate parking spaces — or switch to parallel or angled parking — has been a point of contention of the overall plan. The plan includes a 5-foot-wide sidewalk on the upper part of First Street, a connecting sidewalk to DeBruyn Avenue, bioretention cells for drainage and underground filtration facilities.

Improving the crosswalks in front of Boy & Dog Park and Anthes Avenue and Frick Lane were also part of the original plans but may be dropped because of cost. Adding bike racks and benches have also been discussed.

•For more information, go to the city’s website, https://designlangley.org/2018/03/30/first-street-complete-streets-meeting/