Planned development at Pattison raises concerns about traffic, nearby wetland

A proposed subdivision at Pattison Street NE raised concerns from neighboring residents about increased traffic and the project’s effects on nearby wetlands.

Olympia’s Hearing Examiner meeting yesterday, March 29, discussed applicant Ron Dearing’s plans to build Pattison Plat, a 37-lot subdivision made of single-family houses on currently undeveloped land at 604 Pattison St. NE. The property borders 8^th Avenue NE on its north boundary.

Georgene Abbot, who lives along Pattison Street, noted that the road is only 17 ft. wide and does not allow parking on both sides. She also mentioned that the Pattison-Martin Way crossing regularly has vehicle collisions occurring once or twice every year.

“Traffic is something I really want considered,” said Abbot.

Another resident, Mick Jeager, seconded Abbot’s statement, saying vehicles speed along Pattison, despite the street having bus stops, and that “people don't obey the stop sign at Eighth Avenue.”

Jaeger also suggested improving the whole Martin Way-8^th Avenue section of Pattison Street, with power lines moved underground and the road widened instead of on the proposed development only.

“It's not serving the neighborhood,” Yeager commented. “It's like throwing a piece of candy to us.”

Chris Carlson, the project’s representative, mentioned earlier in the meeting that the proposed subdivision will have residential roads with parking, and that parking is allowed along both Pattison and 8^th Avenue.

Bill Day, another neighboring resident, also raised traffic concerns, as well as how the proposed development will affect water supply in the area. “I'm wondering how long it takes for all those approvals for a plan for the water and sewer,” remarked Day.

Outdated wetland boundaries

Another concern about the planned subdivision is its effects on the environment, particularly the identification of the boundaries of the wetland east of the proposed project.

City of Olympia Planning Staff Member Lydia Moorehead noted that the 2008 wetland delineation from a previous subdivision proposal on the site no longer reflects present conditions, warranting a new study.

“The location of the wetland edge needed to be determined because our critical areas ordinance regulates and requires wetland delineation for any wetland within 300 feet of the site,” Moorehead explained.

According to Moorehead, the wetland reconnaissance letter the developers provided “was not specific about how the wetland edge was determined,” or if the wetland was visited or not.

Moorehead added that projects near wetlands should submit a report prepared by a qualified wetland biologist with specific documentation about how any other portions of the wetland edge beyond 300 feet of the project sites are determined.

Carlson responded that Becky Reiger of Environmental Design, LLC who prepared their wetland reconnaissance letter is qualified and that she had made physical inspections on the area.

“The Wetland edge is clearly greater than 300 feet from the east boundary of the Pattison Streer Plat, asserted Carlson.