Thursday, October 1, 2026
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The City of Olympia granted land use approval for Briggs Professional Suites, clearing another step toward construction of a two-story commercial building, parking lot, sidewalks and a future building on nearly 1 acre at 4510 Maple Lane SE.
The city issued its land use approval, conceptual design approval and State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) determination on Aug. 6.
The city determined the project would not likely cause significant adverse environmental impacts and issued a Determination of Non-Significance. An environmental impact statement will not be required under state law.
The approval comes with a number of conditions that must be addressed before construction permits or a certificate of occupancy can be issued.
Among the conditions are requirements for adequate fire protection and emergency access. The developer must provide documentation that demonstrates sufficient fire flow to serve both buildings, and the plans must include a fire hydrant within 40 feet of each building. An automatic sprinkler system and fire alarm system are also required.
The city’s engineering requirements also address stormwater infrastructure, solid waste collection, landscaping and tree protection. The project’s retention vault must be relocated outside the main drive aisle or be demonstrated capable of supporting the weight of a fire apparatus.
Landscaping plans must also address potential conflicts between mature trees and emergency vehicle access. The city may require additional landscaping or a screening wall if proposed plantings do not adequately screen the parking lot from surrounding streets.
Because the property is located within a wellhead protection area, the project must comply with Olympia’s minimum mitigation standards for development in such areas. The landscaping plans must also include restrictions on fertilizer use and irrigation, and the development must follow an existing Integrated Pest Management Plan recorded with the county.
The city is also requiring bicycle parking, including five short-term spaces and four long-term spaces, as well as compliance with the city’s façade requirements and other design standards.
The Olympia Design Review Board recommended several additional design considerations, including adding returns to a vertical wood panel wall at the northern entrance, providing pedestrian lighting at building entrances and prioritizing seating among the project’s pedestrian amenities. Those recommendations are identified in the approval as optional design considerations.
Construction activity detectable beyond the property will be limited to 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. under the city’s construction-noise requirements.
The land use decision and SEPA determination will become final unless appealed prior to Aug. 27. If an appeal is filed, permits will not be issued until an administrative appeal is resolved.
The approval document does not specify the future tenants of the professional suites or provide a construction start date.
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Positivity
I really like that you include the plans for projects in your articles but ask that you make it possible to click on the plans so that they can be enlarged. As they are published, they are impossible to read, even when you click on the image and it is opened in another tab.
Monday, August 10 Report this
mtndancer
I second the motion by Positivity. I am often frustrated by the inability to make any sense of the plans you print. I also can’t identify the precise area of a project, if only very local lanes are mentioned. Please find a way to allow us to enlarge the plans and to know just what area. is being discussed.
Monday, August 10 Report this
staynavytom
You can read the Fred Meyer ads really good.
Tuesday, August 11 Report this
TheVirtualOne
staynavytom -
Monday, August 17 Report this
TheVirtualOne
staynavytom - Hahaha!
All this bureaucracy the city has regarding zoning, permits, and land use is unnecessary. It simply adds more cost and delays to getting things done. Look at what it has done to our sidewalks. Houston, Texas has no zoning laws - ZERO!
Monday, August 17 Report this