Olympia Councilmember Dani Madrone is zeroing in on the overabundance of parking in the Capitol Mall Triangle area as she inquired about the possibility of code changes related to commercial parking minimums to address the issue.
Community Planning and Development Senior Planner David Ginther spoke at Tuesday's Olympia City Council study session and updated the councilmembers on the Capitol Mall Triangle project.
During the discussion, Madrone noted the vast amount of unused 'blacktop.' She asked if the city required all that parking and sought information if they would have to make code changes around commercial minimums to address the overabundance of parking in that area.
Ginther suggested making flexible parking requirements for the commercial areas. He pointed out that the mall has about 2,000 parking spots, which is their minimum requirement. "It is feasible for them to redevelop part of a parking lot that they don't use very much but can't."
He said the upcoming subarea plan would include recommendations to address the parking concern to provide more flexibility for commercial developments.
On June 6, the city council approved the residential parking code amendment, including Madrone's recommendation of removing parking minimums for residential units in the Capitol Mall Triangle subarea.
Ginther informed the city council that the state legislature had extended the funding into the next two years. The initial deadline to complete both the subarea plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), two components of the project funded by a grant, is this month.
"That was quite a relief because we were very rushed. We did not feel we provided the number of public participation opportunities that the community deserves, and we were not happy with how it was going in regards to being able to provide those opportunities," Ginther commented.
Olympia received $250,000 for the Capitol Mall Triangle Subarea Plan project from the Washington State Department of Commerce through the Transit Oriented Development Implementation Grant.
The CP&D aims to present the final draft of the subarea plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in six months or by the end of the year. Ginther added that they are looking at the adoption of implementing regulations and the Planned Action Ordinance in 2024.
The EIS evaluates potential development scenarios and identifies mitigation measures needed for that development.
The subarea plan is comprehensive, specifically for a smaller area, that includes goals, policies, and a list of implementation options and guidance to fulfill the goals and ideas in the plan. It involves the community and stakeholders.
According to Ginther, the EIS evaluated three alternatives for the Capitol Mall Triangle subarea development.
One alternative is maintaining the baseline conditions. The city will take no action, but several projects are already in the plan regarding transportation.
Among the highlights of this alternative includes the following:
The second alternative – a moderate approach – removes barriers and provides flexibility for developing three hubs, focusing on connections between existing neighborhoods and the triangle subarea.
Highlights include:
The third alternative is called urban sustainability. Expanding density, transit, and mobility options includes climate mitigation and adaptation goals. It focuses on a new interior center.
Highlights include:
Ginther described the third alternative as a very aggressive set of actions. He said it would help facilitate the area's transition into the city's envisioned goal of a complete urban neighborhood and a thriving commercial area.
In the following months, Ginther added, they would host many public participation opportunities "to help refine these and determine which is the most appropriate and which the community wants to go forward with."
Leland Consulting Group is currently working on the EIS. The city staff is expected to receive the draft framework next month.
They will provide comment periods, community meetings, and open houses to get the public's input on the preferred alternative.
1 comment on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
AugieH
I'm surprised one of the alternatives didn't include building a village of tiny homes for the homeless on some of that unused blacktop.
Thursday, June 15, 2023 Report this