Title
Plum Street to Eastside Street Subarea Planning Scoping Discussion
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Discuss the future subarea planning or text amendments scope of work for areas of Olympia in the vicinity of Plum and Eastside Streets.
Report
Issue:
Whether to discuss the future subarea planning or text amendments scope of work for areas of Olympia in the vicinity of Plum and Eastside Streets.
Staff Contact:
Casey Schaufler, Associate Planner, Community Planning & Economic Development, 360.753.8254
Presenter(s):
Casey Schaufler, Associate Planner, Community Planning & Economic Development
Background and Analysis:
A text code amendment application was received in 2023 requesting City Council consider allowing additional drive-through businesses along Plum Street in downtown Olympia. The amendment was ultimately not adopted by Council. However, a majority of Council identified a need to re-evaluate the underlying zoning and development standards in an area from Plum Street to Eastside Street.
Plum Street is a primary entry to downtown Olympia via its connection to Interstate 5. Immediately off of Plum Street is a mix of commercial and office uses, most prominently featuring existing restaurants and drive-throughs as well as Washinton State agency offices. The north section between Plum and Eastside Streets contains a mix of single-family and multi-family residential and is represented by the Olympia Downtown Alliance and Olympia Downtown Neighborhood Associations. The Bigelow and Eastside Neighborhood Associations are also immediately adjacent to the north and east, respectively. Additionally, the recognized Olympia Avenue Historic neighborhood is to the north (lying largely within the Bigelow Neighborhood Association boundaries).
As part of the Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan Update, Council directed staff to include language to consider future subarea planning for the Plum Str...
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