Chiropractor’s building gets go-ahead despite Olympia neighborhood’s fight

A hearing examiner has ruled in favor of an Olympia chiropractor’s new building despite opposition from residents in the Bigelow Historic Neighborhood.

After spending months in the review process, John Tanasse will be allowed to move forward with his new office and family home on a vacant lot at 924 State Ave.

However, some residents say the proposed three-story building’s size and modern boxy design will clash with the neighborhood’s historic character.

The two sides met for a final hearing Wednesday (Oct. 29). In his oral decision, hearing examiner Mark Scheibmeir denied the neighborhood’s appeal — and said the Tanasse project’s application is appropriate. A written decision will come later, he said.

In the decision, Scheibmeir said he carefully reviewed the city’s comprehensive plan, which outlines the city’s vision and goals. While he empathizes with residents’ desire to protect the neighborhood, the hearing examiner said the city’s interpretation of the site’s zoning is correct and consistent with current policies.

“I find nothing with this application that is inconsistent with the historical preservation aspects of the comprehensive plan,” Scheibmeir said.

For the past 14 years, Tanasse has operated Tanasse Chiropractic in an old house a few blocks away at 1303 Fourth Ave. E.

Tanasse told The Olympian that he never expected the proposal for his new office and home to attract so much backlash, much of which came up “long after we were knee-deep into it.” In addition to providing an apartment for his in-laws on the property, Tanasse said the family’s goal with their new home is to give up two cars and live a more urban lifestyle.

At this point, the project will go back to the drawing board with no timeline for construction, he said.

“It’s one thing to win a decision. It’s another thing to still do something in the face of lots of opposition,” Tanasse said after the decision. “We have to regroup.”

At Wednesday’s hearing, attorney Allen Miller represented the Bigelow Neighborhood Association and urged the examiner to stop the project.

Miller cited examples of other buildings, such as the Olympia Master Builders office on State Avenue, with more tempered designs that fit better with the neighborhood. He said the Tanasse building would be a mistake as currently designed, adding that it would block the sun as well as views of the Capitol, all while creating parking problems in the area.

Another argument was that a proposed rooftop parapet for an elevator would extend the building’s height to nearly 48 feet, which exceeds the current height limit of 35 feet. The vacant lot itself measures about 6,300 square feet with the building’s footprint proposed at nearly 3,000 square feet, according to city documents.

“They’re trying to put too much into this small space,” Miller said. “This is in essence a four-story building.”

In his decision, the hearing examiner said he concluded the height limits have not been violated, and noted that the rooftop extension, while stretching the envelope, is “clever but not improper.”

This story was originally published October 30, 2014 at 12:33 PM with the headline "Chiropractor’s building gets go-ahead despite Olympia neighborhood’s fight."