Longtime Olympia residents voiced their concerns over the declining health of Budd Inlet, calling for an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed West Bay Yards development.
Residents made their remarks at an Olympia City Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
The proposed West Bay Yards project on West Bay Drive calls for the construction of mixed-use commercial and residential buildings.
Once completed, the property will have more than 450 rental housing units and 20,000 square feet of commercial space, including a restaurant and retail shops.
However, some residents have criticized the project and are worried about its potential environmental impact.
"This is going to further hurt Budd Inlet," said Lee Riner during the public comment segment of the city council meeting.
Riner expressed alarm over the low oxygen levels in Budd Inlet, which she said is leading to the death of fish and other marine life. She argued that the problem has persisted for years but no one is addressing it.
Another longtime Olympia resident, Harry Branch, recalled that Budd Inlet used to be a rich, productive ecosystem but has suffered due to habitat loss.
"As an avid sailor, I can tell you things have not gone well," Branch said. "A lot of this is due to the loss of near-shore habitat."
Branch argued Olympia could restore near-shore habitat, but expressed dismay that the current plans do not prioritize such efforts.
According to Branch, the plan to construct eight enormous buildings along West Bay, and what once was a near-shore habitat, may be a poor idea.
Branch emphasized the need to restore near-shore habitat and explore innovative, science-based plans to revitalize the inlet, rather than allowing large-scale development that could exacerbate environmental issues.
Riner also expressed concerns about the project's affordability, stating most of the apartments would be market-rate units rather than low-income housing.
"The city is going to give a Multifamily Tax Exemption for these apartments, which means this new development will not pay taxes. This is wrong," Riner said.
Branch also pointed to the state's authority to allow cities to adopt development moratoriums under RCW 36.70A.390. As an example, he noted the nearby Fircrest City had implemented a six-month moratorium on mixed-used developments in certain areas five years ago.
The city council did not address the specific comments made about the potential impacts of the West Bay Yards project on Budd Inlet, as Olympia City Attorney Mark Barber advised that there should be no comment from the council members regarding the concerns raised about the project.
"It is probably possible that this matter could come back before the council at a future date," Barber said.
"I know that council members would not want to have to recuse themselves because they made public comments taking a position about West Bay Yards."
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johnvaneenwyk
“Budd Inlet” needs to be renamed “Budd Bog.” It’s the site of eternal algae blooms. Very few ducks, fish, jellyfish, starfish.
RIP Budd Bog.
Friday, February 14 Report this
BobJacobs
In the hands of our local elected officials, environmental laws have become window dressing. All the talk about saving Puget Sound, salmon, and orcas is empty posturing.
Bob Jacobs
Friday, February 14 Report this
davidlee
Yes to both comments and....we need more housing of all kinds.
David Bellefeuille-Rice
Friday, February 14 Report this
Tom_Hyde
There are two proposed projects next to each other - West Bay Yards, as mentioned, and also West Bayview Landing senior housing. That’s a total of more than 700 housing units built, at least partially, on filled tidelands.
It’s amazing to me that while we plan to restore the Deschutes Estuary we concurrently entertain proposals to fill part of Puget Sound. Really?. I didn’t think that was even possible in this century. Doesn’t make sense to me.
And aren’t those sites still contaminated? I assume there will have to be some type of cleanup? And then there is the traffic impact to West Bay Drive. How could that ever work? Why wasn’t an Environmental Impact Statement required? Who made that decision and why? What is the timeline on the projects? When and how can the community comment? So many questions but just not a lot of good information.
I do agree we desperately need more housing. It’s a true crisis when it comes to affordability with only one real solution. Build. But it’s difficult to think of a worse place to build eight massive towers with luxury apartments.
I do wish the local press, as it stands, could do more. Meeting coverage is fine, necessary even, but this is a great example of why it isn’t enough. Not even close though I completely understand the constraints. If I were to prioritize the need for more comprehensive local issue coverage then these proposed developments would be near the top.
The city council, apparently by legal necessity, is rendered mute. Public information on the projects, the kind of information necessary for an informed citizenry to give substantive input, is difficult to access and interpret. There are so many questions to ask. Who will ask these questions Danny?
Friday, February 14 Report this
S2345S23456
Budd Inlet is such a disgusting shame. I bet if an environmental impact statement (EIS) is ran for the proposed West Bay Yards development, they will find a lot more is going on in Budd Inlet than they currently know. And that's what they want to avoid, knowing the extent of the truth of how bad and disgusting it really is, and the battles and costs that would follow. Keep your head buried in the sand, and things will just get worse.
Friday, February 14 Report this
Esther
There are several projects affecting Budd Inlet besides West Bay Yards and West Bayview Landing. The Port is involved in a cleanup, there are navigational channels adjacent to these tidelands that are dredged, and the Deschutes Estuary plan will take out the 5th ave bridge and let the Deschutes River flow into Budd Inlet. None of these interconnected actions have gone through a proper environmental review that takes account of all of their cumulative impacts as required by state and federal environmental law. Several stories on development around Budd Inlet have been published in Works in Progress. Here’s the link. https://olywip.org/?s=Budd+inlet
Friday, February 14 Report this
Boatyarddog
And Remember The Port Claims to be An EVIROMENTAL steward, Could'nt be less True! Considering 1.3 Million in Fines in 2019 for Clean Water violations. They only started Spending Money on researching the extent of Pollution after Approaching a Dredging Funds Deadline Schedual set by DES and the Leg. For Funds to Save The Big Money Losing Marine Terminal. Now they Buy The Batdorp Coffee Building for 2.1 million at a time when Cash is Tight. Do they even have the Contracts for the Inflow that is Needed, or Perhaps the Stakeholders will be Taxed to SAVE THE LONGSHORE JOBS AGAIN!
CLOSE THE MARINE TERMINAL PERMANANTLY and those Problems go away. NO Dredging. SAVE THE ECOSYSTEM.
STOP SPENDING TAX MONIES To Help out Olympia Yacht Club. And the Money saved can be spent on Trucking the DIOXON LADEN SPOILS OFF SITE Instead of mixing with slurry and " filling the Penisula in to Build more Space for Covering woth storage Warehousing. THE PORT IS CRAZY. AND THE PUBLIC PAYS THE PRICE.
Friday, February 14 Report this
Southsoundguy
Liberalism is self-terminating.
Saturday, February 15 Report this
Boatyarddog
S.S.Guy is Concerned about his Taxes, Yet is only willing to be a TROLL with Useless Comments attacking those that Actually Go to These Meetings and ARE involved in the Remeadiation of Our City.
Pathetic Conservatives, Complain about People doing something. NO ONE believes Liberialism is Self Terminating.
BS on S.S GUY
Thursday, February 20 Report this