Olympia committee reviews Department of Enterprise Services' office consolidation project

On Wednesday, January 17, the Olympia Site Plan Review Committee held a presubmission conference on a proposed redevelopment of the Department of Enterprise Service's Ground Maintenance operation facility near the Washington State Capitol.

The project aims to consolidate several scattered offices into one central location.

The narrative stated that the existing property consists of a 1,800-square-foot building currently used as a mechanic's shop for ground equipment maintenance, storage for materials and parking of equipment, Grounds Maintenance vehicle parking, and Washington State Patrol parking.

The project site is on the Capitol campus, bound by a steep hill that slopes to Capitol Lake to the west. To the south is the Governor's Mansion's garage. The Capitol Building and Temple of Justice are located to the east, and parking areas and the Legislative Modular Building border the site to the north.

Freiheit Architecture presented the project proposal and site plans that will involve the construction of a new 5,600-square-foot building to house a mechanic's shop and offices. The building will be made of steel or wood and include structured carports for the team's vehicles and equipment. The existing shipping containers will be repurposed for storage, and covered storage for material and equipment will be provided. In addition, the project will feature an equipment wash station and a semi-permanent fueling station with isolated containment for each.

The project applicant announced that geotechnical studies are currently being conducted on the hill for slope stabilization, adding to similar buildings on the same slope to the south. A new survey is being conducted for the site and surrounding context to cover the scope.

Olympia's associate planner Paula Smith noted that while the Capitol campus is not subject to local zoning ordinances, the Shoreline Master Program regulations would still apply if any portion of the project is within shoreline jurisdiction.

Smith also referred to the mapping they have, which appeared to be outside the shoreline jurisdiction line but was close to it. She encouraged the project team to investigate and verify the exact boundaries further to determine if any shoreline regulations may apply. She also advised checking the shoreline master program's exemption criteria case if a portion is within the jurisdiction.

Engineering plans examiner Zulaika Kim commented on the proposed project's utilities and infrastructure. She noted that the site's water, sewer, and stormwater utilities are owned and maintained by the state, not the city, and the state would regulate any extensions or relocations.

However, Kim said the city would still collect capacity development charges and general facility charges from the project. She explained that the campus sewer lines eventually connect to the city's wastewater treatment system downstream. Treating additional flow from the new development adds demand to the city's wastewater system.