West side residents won’t be happy

PHILIP CORNELL; Olympia • Published January 29, 2012 Modified January 28, 2012

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Harrison and Division is a “failed” intersection in West Olympia that has many serious traffic problems with no apparent solutions. Placement of an auto-dependent business on the southeast corner will only make the situation worse. Dan Leahy has presented considerable evidence to back up his legal challenge that the city act in the best interests of Olympia’s residents. But here’s the response I received by email from the city executive secretary Mary Nolan:

“The Olympia City Council considered the offer of settlement at its January 10, 2012, Council meeting and determined that they were not going to take any of the actions requested in the offer of settlement. The Council then directed the City Attorney to convey by letter their decision concerning the settlement offer to the attorney proposing the settlement and to briefly explain the reasons why Council will not be taking the actions requested in the offer of settlement.”

I can only assume, by the City Council’s decision, that they don’t care what happens on Olympia’s west side. When this project is finished and the failed intersection is made worse by City Council inaction, the residents of West Olympia will hold the City Council responsible for every vehicle accident, every traffic backup in this intersection.

The council had an opportunity to make this project a neighborhood-friendly development but decided to turn its back on the residents (and voters) of West Olympia.

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