Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Olympia, Washington - The Olympia City Council and Executive Staff presided over a public hearing regarding the Isthmus interim rezone. About 35 people made comments. I would estimate there were about 80 people in attendance. The meeting was held at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts.

At the City Council's first meeting back in the beginning of January, the Council took assertive and decisive action to revert zoning regulation on the Isthmus back to a 35 foot height limit. Last year, after a lengthy and divisive process, certain parcels on the Isthmus had been rezoned to 90 feet in order to allow development of a luxury condominium. This year's January vote in favor of reverting to the earlier 35 foot building height zoning regulation was unanimous, 7-0.

There will be a public hearing on the newly re-re-zoned Isthmus parcels tomorrow evening, February 23. The hearing will be at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. Doors open for registration at 5 pm. Testimony begins at 6 pm. Registration to testify closes at 7 pm. All the pertinent details are on the City Website: Isthmus Rezone Public Hearing

Here's a comment I just submitted in regard to a building permit request for Larida Passage. It is edited slightly for syntax and clarity. In addition to the comments below, I want to add another reason to not grant the permit; it's my understanding that there is currently litigation underway over the rezone. That's not to mention that there are also a number of regulatory hurdles to clear in regard to environmental and aesthetic impacts.

-- So, this is my understanding of the situation in relation to the building permit request, please chime in to correct if I am wrong about any of that! I am not an expert in the development and planning industries. I suppose that it makes sense that a permit request would precede the public hearing process regarding impacts.

To:        Cari Hornbeim, Senior Planner
City of Olympia
Olympia, WA 98507-1967

From:    Berd Whitlock
[address redacted]

There has been a lot of discussion in the environmental community about proposed development on the North Point of the Port Peninsula. Janine Gates has an article a recent open house here: Potential NorthPoint Developer Has Not Seen City Sea-Level Rise Maps, Data

You may have already read Brad Shannon's article in the Olympian. Senator Karen Fraser's effort to prevent the Triway Rezone by amending House Bill 1379 ("Regarding moratoria and other interim official controls adopted under the shoreline management act") has been obstructed. But there are further efforts being undertaken to protect the Isthmus against inappropriate development. So, there is still hope. Have hope.

Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial Overlook

Residents of Washington State, as well as out-of-state and international visitors, deserve a Capitol Campus vista that is unobstructed and unimpeded by commercial development.

Many of the Triway Rezone and Larida Passage proponents have said that the luxury high-rise condominium development will not harm the vista.

To whom does this view belong?

"The Earth, like the Sun, like the Air, belongs to everyone... and to no one."
- Edward Abbey

Could it be that this view, like the Earth, the Sun, the Water, and the Air, "belongs to everyone, and to no one"?

Happy Easter!

Earlier today, March 25, 2009, the Washington State House Local Government and Housing Committee heard testimony on ESSB 5800 - which would create a shoreline of statewide significance on the Isthmus of downtown Olympia.

Janine Gates has an article posted at Little Hollywood: Now in the House: Isthmus Bill ESSB 5800

Here's a short excerpt from the beginning of an article by Peter Callaghan of the Tacoma News Tribune. The topic of the article is the battle over Isthmus building heights in downtown Olympia. Thoughtful and articulate, it's well worth reading in entirety. Thanks to Peter Callaghan.

Capitol Campus, its water view belong to all

PETER CALLAGHAN THE NEWS TRIBUNE

Why exactly is the Washington state Legislature second-guessing a land use decision made by the Olympia City Council?

I mean other than the fact that it was a bad decision. Because if that were sufficient cause, the Legislature would do nothing but overrule local land use decisions. In fact there’s one in Tacoma regarding view-destroying height limits on the Foss Waterway I’d like them to take a look at.

No, the Legislature has gotten involved with a decision to increase height limits on the Olympia waterfront for a good reason. It fears allowing taller buildings on the strip of land between Budd Inlet and Capitol Lake will disrupt views between Puget Sound and the Capitol Campus.

...

An axis of the pedestrian and public view corridor of the State Capitol Campus: