The Olympia Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, at 6:30 pm to discuss proposed changes to development regulations in the Capital Mall Triangle Subarea.
On July 16, the Olympia City Council adopted the final Capital Mall Triangle Subarea Plan, recommending several modifications to the city's existing development rules.
The proposed ordinance under consideration includes significant changes that could reshape the future development of the area:
The changes aim to align the city's regulations with the vision set in the adopted subarea plan. The changes could potentially pave the way for more diverse and affordable housing options, while also considering the area's commercial needs and environmental impact.
The Planning Commission invites Olympia's residents and stakeholders to attend the public hearing and provide comments on the proposed changes. This input will be crucial as the commission prepares to recommend to the city council.
The hearing can be attended virtually or in person at City Hall, 601 4th Ave East, Olympia. To attend via Zoom, register using the following link https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0TDz_pf9S-iZZcU9yQKN8w.
To attend in person, a computer with Zoom will be available in Room 207 to access the hearing and comment.
Comments will be accepted in writing, in person, or via Zoom. To ensure your input is considered, please submit written comments by 5 pm on Jan. 6, 2025. You can send your written statements to the Community Planning and Development Department, PO Box 1967, Olympia, WA 98507-1967, or via email to dginther@ci.olympia.wa.us.
For more information about the Capital Mall Triangle Subarea plan, visit: https://engage.olympiawa.gov/capital-mall-triangle
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northbeachcomm
It is unfortunate that the City of Olympia keeps saying it wants to take public comment, but then they ignore public comment. This development of the Capital Mall area, on the West side of Olympia, has been on-going for years. For years local residents have attended these meetings. For years local concerned residents have made suggestions to the City regarding this proposal. The suggestions range from asking the city to limit the height of the buildings, the city wants tall buildings that are out of character with the homes, and the neighborhoods in this area. For example, the city approved a high rise apt. building next to Grocery Outlet near Harrison AVE NW, and Division ST NW. It would loom over the tiny homes behind the grocery store. That neighborhood has tiny narrow streets, but the city would allow that building to use those streets for access, for parking for its occupants. This will destroy this neighborhood, and many other neighborhoods surrounding this proposed high rise building. The city says that it will not demand parking stalls for the occupants of the building, so that occupants will have to park on the streets. That does not make sense. What about families with children who have to have cars to get to work? What about the elderly, the handicapped? The Olympia bus system will not work for many employees, it is inadequate! What about the stormwater issues that flood Cooper Pt RD NW near the overpass freeway on HWY 101? There is flooding there once or twice per year currently. It is awful. The city says that these floods, this stormwater will be taken care of "on-site of these proposed buildings"? Does that make sense? No. Also, the baseball fields in the skate board park nearby flood each year, it is a public health hazard for the children who pay in this park. The city wants to double the traffic in this area. Bad Idea. Please email the City staff, say "NO" to these bad ideas; dginther@ci.olympia.wa.us
Friday, December 27, 2024 Report this
DudeInOlympia
Chick-fil-A is going to suuuuuuuck, doesn’t matter if you like their values or not, that place is going to be bumpin’ and will further deteriorate the traffic nightmare.
Additionally, the absolute mess of cooper point/black lake MUST be addressed sooner than later. It MUST expand or be radically changed. Throwing more lanes at traffic issues does not always work, but what is currently there is a joke. Walgreens isn’t going to be demolished, so it's the Jiffy Lube and old gas station or the Wells Fargo that must go. I think it will be the old gas station and expand several lanes up to the ‘loop road’ in the Hagen’s parking lot
Friday, December 27, 2024 Report this
Boatyarddog
Northbeachcomm is 100% correct. It is obvious that The Planners HEAR the Public Opinion...BUT CHOOSE TO DISREGARD it's Recommendations, OUTRIGHT! I Witnessed A large Hard Shelled Pond Turtle Fall off the concrete traffic lite support, its a retaining wall., then attempt to cross Cooper Point Rd. Causing ALL sorts of Traffic Mayhem! HOW about the Wild Critters All over that area. A Chic Fila. REALLY!!! STUPID PLANNERS
Saturday, December 28, 2024 Report this
HappyOlympian
Traffic in Cooper Pt/Black Lake area wretched during the day, and barely moves during afternoon rush hour. Any development that adds to that a big step in the wrong direction.
Sunday, December 29, 2024 Report this
Somney
Yeah, the Chick fil-a will suck....the traffic will get bad. Generally, I think traffic circles are good solutions when two roads intersect and you want to avoid conflicts but want to avoid a lighted intersection. When you put them too close there can be a problem, when there is also close by commercial it is even more difficult. What they did to Tumwater by Capital Blvd is almost comical... Im talking about Capital blvd, and Trosper and going towards Fred Meyers, I went over there for the first time since the construction and was....like...what in the actual F? I hope nothing like that happens on the west side and that with the zoning they do not put more drive thru in the Triangle area.
Monday, December 30, 2024 Report this
OvercastDays
Traffic concerns from development are legitimate, but that’s where I run into a stumbling block, because I’d prefer not to see a gridded street network, which is the antidote to that.
So, the scale they propose allowing (12 stories! Is this the backup site for downtown if/when sea level rise goes haywire?) doesn’t make sense. But, I don’t know if we can really be complaining about the idea of affordable housing developments right near the major bus routes, and with the condition of better connecting paths/sidewalks/bike lanes allowing for some sustainable transportation. The idea, anyway, but I don’t exactly trust the city to follow through on stuff that their constituents would support, without some additions.
Also, funny that for a plan that attempts to not be defined by the major streets, they chose to name it after the shape that those streets form.
Monday, December 30, 2024 Report this