Olympia Site Plan Committee reviews proposed 21-unit apartment project on Kaiser Road

The Olympia Site Plan Review Committee yesterday held a presubmission conference for a project proposal for a 21-unit apartment at 506 Kaiser Road SW.

Architect Brett Lindsay said the project is a three-story building with seven units on each floor with a plaza which will provide access to the main entrance of the building.

The project narrative submitted to the review committee stated there is ADA (Americans with Disability Act) parking at the same level as the first floor of apartments to alleviate the requirement for an elevator. 

The site is currently described as undeveloped vacant land by project engineer Will Schuur.Schuur said the proposed frontage improvements include widening Kaiser Road, adding a bike lane, curb, planter strip and sidewalk.

Schuur said there is currently no sewer main along the property frontage. "The project proposes to extend the public sewer main that terminates south of the project north, to the north property line of the site."

"There is a water main in Kaiser Road that the project will tap to provide water and fire protection services," Schuur added.

Planning review

Olympia associate planner Jackson Ewing said the site was located south of Harrison Road on Kaiser Road and had recently changed to a high-density corridor. "The idea (is) that over time, it would be developed for a more pedestrian-friendly environment."

According to Ewing, the process of this project is permitted in the high-density corridor.

"The project would be reviewed through the Land Use review process, which is a site plan review process where we look at how the project will fit on the site," said Ewing, adding it would also include neighborhood meetings.

"It's an opportunity for interested folks to learn about the project. It's an opportunity for the developer to help answer any questions that the public and neighbors may have regarding the project," Ewing said.

Ewing noted that the project is triggering State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process and would require an environmental checklist to be submitted along with the Land Use review application.

According to Ewing, the site is located in a high-density corridor, which would trigger a board-level Design Review.

Forestry code

Urban Forestry officer Shelly Bentley informed the developers that Olympia has a minimum tree requirement for all parcels within the city.

"There doesn't look to be any trees on the site," Bentley commented. "Right now, it looks like shrubs.  You’re required to create a protected forested area that contains at least 50% of that tree density.”

"In your case, if there are no trees on the site, you'd be required to plant 16 native species of trees. At least half of those trees would need to be in a protected area. It's not a park-type area for people to be using. It's to be set aside as a natural native forest ground cover of shrubs and trees," Bentley added.

Bentley said the other eight trees could be placed elsewhere on the site either in the parking lot islands or the courtyard.