The Olympia Capitol Park Foundation delivered the Isthmus Park Feasibility Analysis Petition to City Hall yesterday. Over 4,500 signatures were attached to the initiative petition. Petition signature gatherers will continue to work over the weekend in order to create a larger buffer for validation purposes, and to spread the message about the vision for a great public park on the Isthmus. I don't know about you, but it's pretty exciting to me.

Mayor Mah says that the petition won't affect the process for the proposed zoning changes. However, if the petition is proved to be valid, then it will be more likely that the City won't be able to go forward with zoning changes, or approval of any plans or permits to build, until the called for park study has been completed.

If the city instead opts for a referendum vote, it would cost $100,000, and it is likely that people - considering the overwhelming opposition to the zoning changes and building on the Isthmus - would approve the park feasibility analysis.

Here are some photos from the delivery:

Former Governors Speak Out:

20/20 Vision Olympia

I picked up a copy of the Olympia Isthmus Park News. It has an article about the initiative petition drive. I am going to transcribe it here (with emphasis added):

The Olympia Capitol Park Foundation has taken the lead in organizing an Initiative Petition campaign to ask the City Council to take a serious look, for the first time, at the feasibility of developing a large part of the Isthmus between Capitol Lake and Budd Inlet into an extension of Heritage Park.

The Initiative drive grew out of the concerns of six former Olympia Planning Commissioners about the proposed increase in the height limitations for buildings on the Isthmus, from 35 feet to 90 feet.

While the former commissioners believe that such a re-zone should not be permitted, they also believe that instead of polarizing the community every five years or so with a divisive debate over the height limits, it is time to seriously look for a better vision for Olympia. They hope that instead of just being against the change, people are ready to support transforming this spectacular site into a great public space.

Public response has been overwhelmingly positive. Over 80% of the people approached about signing the petition have done so.