Title
Public Hearing on the Downtown Strategy Draft
Recommended Action
Conduct a public hearing on the draft Downtown Strategy. Hold the written record open until March 3 at 5:00 pm.
Report
Issue:
The Commission will receive public testimony on the draft Downtown Strategy
Staff Contact:
Amy Buckler, Senior Planner, Community Planning & Development, (360) 570-5847, abuckler@ci.olympia.wa.us
Presenter(s):
Amy Buckler
John Owen, MAKERS architecture and urban design
Background and Analysis:
The public process to form Olympia's Downtown Strategy (DTS) kicked off in November 2016 and is now in the last step, which involves a Planning Commission public hearing on the draft, the Commission's recommendation to City Council, and Council adoption.
The Downtown Strategy identifies a design framework, public priorities and realistic, impactful actions to move our Downtown vision forward over the next five years. About 3,500 people participated in this through public workshops; online surveys; business and development forums; and numerous Stakeholder Work Group, community, City Council, committee and staff technical team meetings.
The report consists of three pieces:
1. A highly graphic summary that will serve as a primary communication document
2. Seven chapters (one for each element) that describe related background, and rationale for the recommended actions
3. An appendix with various work products for reference
These documents are available online (link provided in attachment 1.) As of the date of this staff report, a few of the background chapters are still being formatted. As these are complete the formatted versions will replace unformatted versions on the web. Content will not be changed.
Committee & Public Comments
City advisory boards were given the option of writing a comment letter to the Commission and Council regarding DTS recommendations that pertain to their area of expertise. Memos received are attachments 2-5.
At their last meeting on Nov 14, the...
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