Title
Case: 13-0055 Fern Street Apartments
Report
Applicant:
David Meissner
BV Funding III, LLC
16541 Redmond Way #277
Redmond WA 98052
Representative(s):
Steven Hatton
Hatton Godat Pantier
3910 Martin Way E, STE B
Olympia WA 98506
Staff Contact:
Catherine McCoy, Associate Planner, 360.570.3776
Site Address:
1000 Fern Street SW
Project Description:
Construction of 11 2 and 3 story multi-family buildings, with 135 residential units on 5.96 acres; off-street surface parking for 228 vehicles; 3500 sq.ft. recreation building and pool. Project includes a pedestrian and bicycle pathway extending from Fern ST SW to 11th Ave SW.
Zoning District:
Residential Multi-family 24 (RM 24)
Critical Areas:
None
SEPA Determination(s):
At this writing a SEPA Determination was made on March 19, 2014. The SEPA Official's Determination has not yet been issued.
Public Notification:
In accordance with the Olympia Municipal Code (OMC) 18.78, public notification was mailed on or before March 14, 2014 to the Parties of Record and the Recognized Neighborhood Association(s).
Existing Conditions, Adjacent Development and Project Context:
The development site is located in the South West Side neighborhood, south of 9th Ave SW, between Fern Street SW and 11th Ave SW. Surrounding development consists of multifamily residential housing west and south of the site, and single family (further) east and north of the site. The development pattern corresponds with the underlying Residential Multi-family (RM-24) zoning district which abruptly changes to lower density residential zoning immediately east of the site (R 6-12 and R 4-8).
The site is 5.96 acres in area and consists of two parcels. The western parcel is developed with two four-plex housing units with attached garages, and unfinished site improvements including pervious pavement, parking, and direct access from Fern Street SW. The east parcel, adjacent to Decatur Woods Park, remains mostly vegetated except for an unfinished gravel/dirt access roadway through the mid-section of the lot. Decatur Woods Park, 6.2 acres in size, is adjacent to the development site. The Park contains several trails, an open space area, and a playground.
Concept Design Review:
The project design program came before the Design Review Board for Concept Design Review on June 27, 2013. The Board recommended approval of the project with conditions, which are included in the attached Recommendation Memo (Attachment 4, Concept DR Memo).
Detail Design Review:
Staff recommends that the Design Review Board approve the Fern Street Apartments Multifamily design proposal, File No. 13-0055, with the conditions noted below. Unless otherwise noted, these conditions shall be met prior to the engineering or building permit issuance.
Pedestrian and Vehicular Circulation, 18.170.020
Usable Open Space, 18.170.040
Fences and Walls, 18.170.050
1. Modify the design of the fence along the pathway from Fern Street SW to 11th Avenue SW, such that:
a. The fence is no taller in any one spot that four (4) feet in height;
b. The fence is visually penetrable in the form of a lattice design, vinyl colored chain-link, or other (note examples provided in the detail design review checklist - Attachment 5);
c. Plant trees, shrubs, other landscaping along the fence to provide more aesthetic value along the pedestrian path, and to unify and integrate the fence with the landscape and pathway;
d. Group plant choices along the fence line so that the plants are well-suited to the changes in direct sunlight along the fence - full-sun plants in full sunlight, shade plants nearest the areas of denser trees and existing native vegetation.
e. Submit a pathway-specific landscape plan, taking into account the trees to remain and the existing native vegetation, to this Lead Planner for review prior to building permit issuance.
f. Add the photos of all proposed plantings, including those proposed for the pathway, to the landscape plan, so that the photos (plant choices) are graphically depicted on the plan itself.
Site Plan Review Committee Decision:
The Site Plan Review Committee made a decision associated with the land use review on March 19, 2014. As of this writing, the decision has not been issued.