Olympia Site Plan hears 60-townhome project proposal

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Olympia Site Plan Committee yesterday heard Olympic Capital Growth's proposal to build 60 townhomes on a five-acre parcel near North Thurston High School, just west of Sleater-Kinney Road NE.

According to Architect Josh Gobel, of Studio 360 Architects, Olympic Capital also owns Bayan Trails project, a retirement and townhouse project that is adjacent to the proposed project.

Gobel said the developer acquired the northern piece of land, where they plan to build a row of townhouses and apartments.

"The goal is to tie the northern piece of the lot into the development of Bayans Trail. The idea is to put a series of houses at the northern portion similar to what we're doing at the southern end," Gobel said.

However, Gobel said the property is not yet zoned for development.

Tim Smith, deputy director of Community Planning and Development, recommended going to the hearing examiner. "And because there is a 200-foot kind of fuzzy boundary between land use designations, this one could qualify as a site-specific."

Smith said it doesn't have to go through a comprehensive plan amendment process.

Gobel raised some concerns on stormwater at the property. He said there is a development in the neighborhood and the stormwater is sheeting onto the north property.

Olympia senior planner Nicole Floyd recommended updating the wetland report.

Floyd said the last report was more than five years ago and did not address the current site.

"[Update] of a portion of a wetland or stream within 300 feet of your site might help define what this area is – is it stream or wetland? It might address the stormwater issue that you have," Floyd said.

Engineering evaluation

Olympia engineering plans examiner Zulaika Kim said the development site has water along Sleater Kinney Road. The city would require an extension and backflow devices for the multifamily development project.

As for the sewer, Kim said the nearest is about 200 feet north of the site at the intersection of Sleater Kinney and Balsam Avenue. She said an extension to the building is required.

Kim noted that the development site has no continual passage for the solid waste truck. "You must look at an approved turnaround for the continual passage for solid waste trucks or emergency services."

Kim asked the developer to provide an analysis of how the wetland would allow 6th Avenue to connect with Coulter Street and Chehalis Trail.

"If the study or the analysis demonstrated that wetland makes it not feasible for the street connections, then the city would require a neighborhood connect or shared-use path to both Coulter Street and the Chehalis western trail," Kim told the developers.

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