Olympia committee reviews partially developed office spaces on 12th Avenue SE

On Wednesday, the Olympia Site Plan Review Committee revisited the partially developed project at 1220 12th Avenue SE to review the proposed construction of office spaces.

At the Wednesday presubmission conference, project Architect Matthew Hagen said the proposed project was part of a larger development with a binding site plan from 2008.

The developers applied for a building permit in 2011 and began construction up to the point of cover inspection. Hagen said one building was constructed on Lot 1, dividing Lots 2 and 3 into different owners.

The site has been partially developed with utilities installed, but the building has been abandoned. A permit application was made in 2015, but it was never approved.

Hagen said his client wants a new building permit to complete the construction.

Planning and engineering review

Olympia Associate Planner Lydia Moorehead noted that the applicant's proposed plan looks similar to the approved site plan. Although the approval has lapsed, she said many of the conditions set during the planning approval remain applicable.

However, some things will need to be updated to align the new site plan with the current code. One is the development standards for the Professional Office/Residential Multifamily (PO/RM) zone.

Moorehead also informed the applicant to update the landscape plan.

Moorehead highlighted the review of the critical areas during the initial grading permits. She said a wetland report and a conceptual buffer establishment and restoration program were prepared. She noted that a landscape plan submitted in 2012 permit was unfinished. The agreed-upon procedures to reduce wetland buffer never took place.

Moorehead asked the applicant to present an updated enhancement planting plan aligned with the initial proposal from October 2006.

Engineering Plan Examiner Zulaika Kim discussed the water aspect of the project. She mentioned a map showing a one-inch service and a private waterline to the building. She advised conducting field verification to ensure the private water line is present.

Kim noted that no meter seems to have been installed. "I double-checked on those expired building permits, and none of those general facility charges or meter fees were ever paid under that 2011 permit."

Kim said the general facilities fee and meter fees must be settled. "GFCs, unlike other permit fees, are not vested at application; they're actually vested at the time of payment. They update every calendar year beginning January 1, and it's normally a 5% increase. Those are fees that we usually recommend that you pay by December 31. If not, then come January 1, you will be subject to the new general facility charges, which tend to go up about 5% yearly."

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

Erick Jensen, an Olympia Building official, advised the applicant to consider aligning the plant plan to work on the tree stock with Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) to mitigate crime occurrences in the area.

Jensen offered some example guidelines, such as limiting planning up to eight feet, maintaining clear and clean areas, and avoiding planning against buildings, which creates open and safe spaces. He said these measures provide fewer hiding spots and act as a barrier against illicit activities.