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About one year after interim regulations were put in place, the Olympia City Council took public comment Tuesday on proposed changes that would rezone land near the Ken Lake subdivision to the residential low impact zone (RLI) from Residential-4 (R-4). The RLI zoning calls for less impervious surface, lessening the potential for stormwater runoff.
Neighbors near the lake have expressed concerns that a planned subdivision on the property, which when proposed in 2006 by developer Washington Land Holdings of Seattle included about 300 homes adjacent to the Ken Lake subdivision, could flood Ken Lake or siphon groundwater that infiltrates into it. The developer submitted a new proposal called Park Heights about a month after the rezoning, with 100 homes proposed.
The decision to add the zoning change to the comprehensive plan means the city won’t have to readdress the issue every six months, said planning manager Todd Stamm.
“It’s permanent until we complete the study,” he said.
Changes also include engineering standards for streets and stormwater, Stamm said.
The proposal was approved by staff and the planning commission. The City Council is expected to approve the ordinance on consent during its Nov. 15 meeting.
A staff study of the area won’t be complete until next year, though initial observations question urban densities at the site, according to a staff report.
The staff report cites limited public services and facilities as well as the geologic and drainage issues as reasons development could be tough. Water pressure is limited and a new storage facility is needed, according to the staff report.
Further changes are possible, depending on the findings of the study. New findings could mean more revisions to the land-use map, zoning and other development regulations, according to a staff report.
The Lakemoor Community Club, the neighborhood association for the Ken Lake neighborhood, has been vocal about more restrictive zoning, noting the community had sustained more than $300,000 in flood damage.
Lloyd Goodwin, vice president of the association, spoke at the hearing Tuesday. He said there needs to be more scientific discussion.
“With respect to the issue of the study … it’s basically our feeling that we’ve been fighting this issue for five years now,” he said.
Before the meeting, Goodwin said the geological condition of the area makes it so there should be no development, regardless of the stronger restrictions.
The zoning change is supported by the Westbrook Park neighborhood, though there are lingering concerns about protecting the neighborhood and environment from future development, according to a letter written to council.
Andy McMillan wrote that he and his neighbors are frustrated by the lack of progress on the study of the Ken Lake basin. He continued that the zoning change “falls short of what is necessary” and that the city should “adopt higher engineering standards for this property right now and consider reducing zoning density, hillside development regulations, and stricter stormwater requirements for this site as soon as possible.”
During budget discussions later in the night, city officials said staffing issues have caused the study to be delayed.
Nate Hulings: 360-754-5476 nhulings@theolympian.com www.theolympian.com/outsideoly
