Title
Capital Mall Triangle Subarea Plan and Environmental Impact Statement Briefing
Recommended Action
Information only. No action requested.
Report
Issue:
Briefing and discussion on the project
Staff Contact:
David Ginther, Senior Planner, Community Planning and Development, 360.753.8335
Presenter(s):
David Ginther, Senior Planner
Michelle Swanson, AICP, Senior Planner, Public Works Transportation, 360.753.8575
Background and Analysis:
The Olympia Comprehensive Plan has a vision for the Capital Mall area to:
1. Gradually transition to a high-density, mixed-use neighborhood where people can walk, bike, or take the bus to work, school, shop, or have fun.
2. Continue to support the business community in order to keep the area a regional shopping destination.
The main purpose of the Capital Mall Triangle planning project is to help facilitate development consistent with the vision described in the Comprehensive Plan.
There are three major parts to the project:
1. A subarea plan, which is a 20-year land use plan with detailed vision, goals and recommended actions
2. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which evaluates potential significant adverse environmental impacts of future development
3. A Planned Action Ordinance, which identifies and adopts mitigation measures to be applied to development
By defining and adopting the mitigation before development happens, private developers will have greater certainty about what they will be required to do with development.
Draft EIS
The Draft EIS has three potential development scenarios for the subarea, which are called alternatives.
The alternatives are:
1. No Action. This alternative assumes development would continue under current regulations and programs.
2. West Olympia Hubs. The second alternative includes a range of moderate actions the city can take to help facilitate the envisioned development within the triangle.
3. Urban Sustainability. The third alternative is a bold approach that incl...
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