Olympia Standard

flickr by Robert FW Whitlock

originally posted at OlyForums by Christie

The Olympia City Council listened to five hours of testimony the evening of September 16. The topic discussed was the request by Triway Enterprises to modify height limits to accommodate a 65 foot condo development on the isthmus between Capital Lake and Budd Inlet. That’s right, 65 foot, not the staggered development of 35, 65 and 90 feet countered by the Olympia Planning Commission.

The planning commission began the due process portion with their recommendations. They were quickly followed by three representatives of Triway, the owner, Tri Vo, an architect, and their attorney.

The attorney closed Triway’s presentation by announcing: “There will not be a park on the isthmus.” This served as a rallying call for the many objections that followed. Following the attorney’s statement, Mayor Mah amended his bland instructions to listeners and added: “No swearing and no name calling.”

The meeting moved quickly because each speaker was given only 3 minutes. The presentations from both sides were largely well organized and concise. The strong majority opposed the development in that particular location.

Speakers from Oly 2012 were quick to remind people that the group speaking was not representative of the community and that a silent majority approved of the revised height limits. Yet these comments seemed at odds with the diversity of people attending the meeting, many of whom were long term Olympia residents. They represented a cross-section in terms of age, economic circumstances, and employment. Some had group affiliations while many did not. The petition against this development is up to almost 5,000 signatures.

Everyone agreed on the need for more housing downtown. Yet many expressed concern that this project uses a one of a kind property to benefit people coming in from outside Olympia. Thus it doesn’t meet the council’s objective of providing housing to allow people “to live, work and play in the community.” It could also backfire and end up raising rents for businesses and residents downtown. These buyers don’t represent the workforce intended by market rate housing objectives.

Much was said about the divisive manner in which this project was thrust upon the community. George Barner from the Port Commission summed up what many before and after him suggested in saying revitalize downtown by building elsewhere. Others expressed concern about building high rises on an area composed of fill and subject to flooding.

The testimony will continue on Sunday, September 21.

flickr by Robert FW Whitlock

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