Title
Review of Proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment: Downgrade Maple Park Drive Southeast’s Street Classification
Recommended Action
Move to recommend that the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment neither complies nor conflicts with the heritage review standards under OMC 18.12.090.
Report
Issue:
Whether to recommend approval of the proposed reclassification of Maple Park Drive Southeast under the standards for heritage review required under OMC 18.12.090, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
Staff Contact:
Joyce Phillips, Senior Planner, Community Planning & Development, 360.570.3722
Michelle Sadlier, Historic Preservation Officer, Community Planning & Development, 360.753.8031
Presenter(s):
Michelle Sadlier, Historic Preservation Officer
Joyce Phillips, Senior Planner
Background and Analysis:
The City of Olympia has received an application from the South Capitol Neighborhood Association requesting the downgrade of Maple Park Drive Southeast’s street classification from “Major Collector” (Attachment 1). Approval of this proposal would require a change in Olympia’s Comprehensive Plan. As a result, it is being addressed under the annual Comprehensive Plan amendment process. This quasi-judicial process results in a recommendation from the Olympia Planning Commission to the Olympia City Council. The public hearing before the Planning Commission is the only public hearing held as part of this process.
The Olympia Heritage Commission’s Heritage Review Committee will review this application in light of the standards for heritage review under OMC 18.12.090 (Attachments 2 and 3). Committee’s recommendation will form part of the public record and be submitted to the Planning Commission and City Council to consider in their deliberations.
This proposal requests a change in street classification only. It does not involve any planned alterations, demolition, or other construction. Any such actions that require a building permit would be assessed under heritage review at the time of application.
Maple Park Drive Southeast’s Heritage Designation Status
This street falls within the boundary of the National Register of Historic Places-designated South Capitol Neighborhood Historic District, which was formally designated on September 5, 1991. As an open space, Maple Park is described in the narrative “Present and Historic Physical Appearance” section (see Attachment 1). It is designated as a Contributing open space to the character of the historic district (Attachment 4).
Street Classification
The City of Olympia’s adopted Engineering and Design Development Standards (EDDS) classify City streets into different categories in order to ensure that they meet safety and regional transportation requirements. The standards for each classification must conform with the minimum requirements of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and Institute of Transportation Engineers. The City works with nearby municipalities to ensure that our street classifications support regional multimodal transportation needs. Some relevant language from the EDDS is provided in Attachment 5.
Maple Park Avenue Southeast is classified as a Major Collector. Other examples of City street classifications are found in Attachment 6.
Staff Recommendation
Because the application proposes a change in designation and is not tied to any planned alterations, demolition, or other construction within the designated historic district boundaries, staff recommends a finding that the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment neither complies nor conflicts with the standards for heritage review under OMC 18.12.090.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Of interest to residents of the South Capitol neighborhood, employees and other visitors to the East Campus of the State Capitol Campus, and Intercity Transit users among other users of Maple Park Drive Southeast.
Options:
1. Recommend that the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment complies with the heritage review standards under OMC 18.12.090; or
2. Recommend that the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment neither complies nor conflicts with the heritage review standards under OMC 18.12.090; or
3. Recommend that the proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment conflicts with the heritage review standards under OMC 18.12.090.
Attachments:
1. Application
2. Municipal Code
3. Heritage Review Checklist
4. Historic District Registration Form Excerpt
5. EDDS
6. Street Classification Examples