Subdivision of property to 69 lots on Harrison Avenue in Olympia approved

City of Olympia Hearing Examiner Mark Scheibmeir reviewed and verbally approved the 22-5482 Harrison Avenue Plat application during a hearing yesterday, September 25.

“I've been asked to convene a public hearing in reference to an application for what is referred to as the Harrison Avenue preliminary plat during the city's No. 22-5482, a request to subdivide 12.18 acres into 69 residential lots on the property,” said Scheibmeir.

Scheibmeir explained that public hearings like the current session are for the city staff to fully explain the nature of the project, and confer with the applicant to provide any additional testimony to supplement what's been explained. Once those two things have happened, it will be subjected to a public hearing portion.

Before this, the city already conducted an Information Neighborhood Meeting with the applicant, and staff review and approval with the Site Plan Review Committee (SPRC).

Olympia Associate Planner Jackson Ewing discussed the details of the project.

“Some project details, as the hearing examiner had stated, this is a 69-lot preliminary plat, and there is a public street dedication associated with access off of Second Avenue with another access directly off of Harrison Avenue,” said Ewing.

There will also be a pedestrian path between the two areas in the old right of way, a large 0.65-acre soil and vegetation protection area, which already retains the required trees for the soil and vegetation production requirements of the subdivision.

Within the subdivision, there are also frontage improvements being proposed along with the street dedication, including sidewalks, streetlights, street trees, as well as curb and gutter, and utilities for sewer and stormwater facilities.

Decision

“The end product is an excellent one which, more than most, has met with almost no resistance or concerns by surrounding neighbors. That's a strong demonstration of a job well done by both staff and applicant,” said Scheibmeir.

“I find no problems with his proposed application, so I'm going to go ahead and approve the preliminary plat, subject to conditions that have been recommended by staff,” Scheibmeir declared.

The verbal decision will be converted to a detailed written one, containing several components-- findings of fact, conclusions of law, and the decision itself.