Plans for massive Thurston County housing development change
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Costco proposes a 166,000-square-foot store on a 55-acre site at Tumwater Blvd and I-5.
- Oak Tree Preserve SEPA reduced to 803 single-family lots with 2.4M cubic yards graded.
- Regence members are out-of-network with Olympia MultiCare Capital Medical Center.
Costco representatives met with the city of Tumwater’s Development Review Committee on Thursday, providing more details about a new store proposal while learning more about what the city will expect of the project.
The wholesaler would like to bring a 166,000-square-foot store to a 55-acre site near the southwest corner of Tumwater Boulevard and Interstate 5.
Costco first met with the Development Review Committee about 18 months ago. Brian Whelan, who works in site selection for the company, attended that meeting, and he was back again on Thursday.
Once again, he reiterated the reasons for a new store.
“This proposal would be a relocation of our existing Costco in Tumwater,” he told the committee. “I think, as most know, we’ve been operating in Tumwater for quite some time, and our current facility is smaller than our new prototypes. And honestly, as anyone who shops there knows, it’s parking constrained, so we are simply trying to right-size our facility to create a better shopping experience for our members. It would be a relocation of that facility to a larger facility with more and better parking.”
The existing Tumwater Costco on Littlerock Road measures about 143,000 square feet, The Olympian previously reported. It also is between Walmart and Fred Meyer.
The 55-acre site is intended to be more than just the store and the associated parking, Whelan said.
“(It) also will have a fuel facility larger than our current fuel facility at the existing Tumwater location, as well as a Costco-operated car wash,” he said.
“In addition, because we have more ground than what we need for those operations of Costco, there will be additional properties for development around the Costco property. Some of them would be traditional retail pads. Others are larger parcels that would be available for several different potential uses.”
The project is not official just yet.
Eighteen months ago Costco discussed the feasibility of the project, while Thursday’s gathering was a “pre-application” meeting, a time to confirm that they have all the information they need before an official submittal to the city, Community Development Director Brad Medrud previously said.
Oak Tree Preserve gets amended SEPA determination
A determination under the state Environmental Policy Act for the preliminary plat tied to Oak Tree Preserve, which was issued more than 10 years ago, has been amended, Thurston County Community Planning & Economic Development announced this week.
Oak Tree Preserve is in Lacey’s urban growth area at 2903 and 2905 Oakwood St. SE.
The original SEPA determination was tied to a project with more than 1,000 single-family lots spread across 258 acres, according to the county information.
Now, it has been revised down to 803 lots, the county information shows.
Although the number of lots has been lowered, the amount of land to be graded for the project has increased, according to the county.
The revised SEPA checklist increases the volume of grading to 2.4 million cubic yards, according to the county.
“The applicant (Oak Tree Developer LLC) states that this change is in part due to the reduction of total lots, but also an increase in the size of lots and homes from the original design,” the county information reads.
Care to comment on these changes? The county has released three comment period deadlines:
- The SEPA comment period ends at 4 p.m. May 28.
- The notice of application comment period ends at 4 p.m. June 2.
- The SEPA appeal comment period ends at 4 p.m. June 4.
To comment, go to the county’s comment page.
MultiCare, Regence at odds over insurance
MultiCare has been unable to reach a contract agreement with insurer Regence, the health care system announced this week, which means that Regence plan members will be treated as out-of-network with Olympia-based MultiCare Capital Medical Center doctors.
Regence members elsewhere in South Sound, North Sound and Spokane are not affected and will remain in-network, according to MultiCare.
“We are disappointed that Regence has not offered (reimbursement) rates that reflect the financial realities facing health systems and health care providers today,” MultiCare officials said in a statement. “This situation threatens continuity of care and creates unnecessary anxiety for the patients and families who rely on MultiCare for their care.
Regence responded with its own announcement.
“(It) was MultiCare’s leadership who ultimately decided to walk away from a competitive multi-year offer from Regence. Our proposed agreement offered MultiCare’s leadership rate increases that more than cover the cost of care for Regence patients.
Said Regence: “We remain committed to continuing discussions with MultiCare leadership to bring these facilities and providers back in network.”
Said Multicare: “We are continuing to negotiate with Regence and remain hopeful we can reach a multi-year agreement.”
If you know of a retailer, restaurant, coffee shop or other business that is opening, closing, expanding, remodeling, or changing its focus, send an email to reporter Rolf Boone at rboone@theolympian.com.
