Tumwater gets proposal for 1-million-square-foot warehouse
A Bothell-based real estate company has proposed building a distribution center near 93rd Avenue Southwest, according to city of Tumwater public records.
Puget Western Inc. wants to develop a 1.1-million-square-foot warehouse within about 65 acres at 2311 93rd Ave. SW. The project will include loading bays, vehicle parking, landscaping, stormwater collection, and treatment areas, as well as water and sewer extensions, utility connections and street improvements, according to application information.
The developer doesn’t mention the tenant for the warehouse, but does say that 300-500 people could work at the site once it opens.
Puget Western President Joel Molander said Tuesday the project is already under contract with another developer. Puget Western will typically take a project through the state Environmental Policy Act and the National Environmental Policy Act processes, then sell it, he said.
That developer will then pursue building permits with the city, Molander said.
He said the building could start rising from the ground in late summer or early fall of this year and take 18 months to two years to complete.
This is the second time around for this property and Puget Western, according to city information.
In 2011, the real estate business pitched a 700,000-square-foot warehouse for the site and received a conditional use permit for it, Tumwater permit manager Chris Carlson said Tuesday. However, the project never materialized.
Molander said that was due to the slower economy. That permit expired after five years, he said. Puget Western also bought more property in the area and returned to pitch a larger building to the city.
Distribution centers are filling up in Puget Sound, which has pushed demand for these buildings to the south.
“Now is the time to pursue this,” he said.
The city says a public hearing is not required for this project, but it is subject to the city’s comprehensive plan, zoning ordinance, critical areas ordinance, tree protection ordinance and the U.S. Endangered Species Act, to name a few requirements identified by the city.
The Mazama pocket gopher is an endangered species in Thurston County that developers have to contend with. Molander said of the property they own in the area, about half would be developed for the distribution center. About 70 acres in the area also has been set aside as “mitigation for the gopher.”
The proposal also must be reviewed under SEPA, according to the city.
The notice of application to the city triggers a public comment period. Written comments can be sent by email to Tumwater permit manager Chris Carlson at ccarlson@ci.tumwater.wa.us.
Comments must be received by 5 p.m. Feb. 7, according to the city.
This story was originally published January 28, 2020 at 5:45 AM.
