Duplex and cottage housing development proposed on Chambers Street

Olympia's Site Plan Review Committee held a presubmission conference on a proposed project to build a duplex and six cottage housing at 908 Chambers Street SE on Wednesday, September 7.

In a narrative submitted to the committee, developers Ben and Max Maclay stated that the housing project would be completed in two phases. 

According to Ben Maclay, the 28,314-square-foot vacant parcel is zoned for multifamilies. 

"There used to be a house there. We planned to build back the house and build it as a duplex, that is phase 1," Maclay told the review committee. He added that the overall plan is to build cottage housing that would fit the area.

Planning feedback

Olympia associate planner Jackson Ewing said the duplex would be allowed through a building permit application without requiring any specific Land Use review process.

For phase 1 construction, Ewing told the developers to ensure they have enough space on the site to incorporate other requirements for the cottage housing development. It may include allowances for the parking and the courtyard structures for the proposed phase 2 development.

For phase 2, Ewing said it would require Land Use review and staff-level Design reviews. "Each cottage structure is required a staff level design review."

Ewing noted other requirements for the cottage housing, including the size that the first floor limited to 800 square feet and no more than 1,600 square feet – if they do a two-story cottage.

Another requirement, he added, is to have a minimum of 200 square feet per unit of open space. "In this case, you would be required to have that 1,500 square feet of open space in a contiguous area. 

Water meter

Tiffani King, senior engineering plans examiner, said the previous house on the site had an existing water meter. In building a duplex, she required each unit to have its water meter.

King noted that the water main on Chambers Street is only two inches. "That's considered undersized, especially since it is galvanized pipe."

She informed the developers that the pipe had been on the ground for about 50 years and may no longer be two inches in diameter. "Galvanized piping actually kind of rust from the inside out."

She told the developers to verify if the water line can meet pressure and flow requirements, not just for domestic use.

She said the duplex would also need to have a fire sprinkler system.

With phase 2 of the project, King said the developers needed to upsize the water main as the two-inch water main could not appropriately provide water for the cottage housing. "So water main extension or upgrade of this pipe will be required."