Land Use & Environment Committee

City Hall Meeting Minutes 601 4th Avenue E Olympia, WA 98501 Land Use & Environment Committee Information: 360.753.8447 Thursday, March 26, 2015 5:30 PM Council Chambers 1. ROLL CALL Present: 3 - Chair Steve Langer, Committee Member Julie Hankins and Committee Member Jeannine Roe OTHERS PRESENT Community Planning & Development (CP&D) Deputy Director Leonard Bauer CP&D Associate Planner Michelle Sadlier Public Works Transportation Engineering and Planning Manager Randy Wesselman CP&D Associate Planner Stacey Ray 2. CALL TO ORDER Chair Langer called the meeting to order at 5:34 p.m. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3.A 15-0300 Approval of February 26, 2015 Land Use and Environment Committee Meeting Minutes The minutes were approved. 4. COMMITTEE BUSINESS 4.A 15-0216 US 101 / West Olympia Access Project Update Mr. Wesselman presented on the West Olympia Access Project. He discussed proposed ramps at Kaiser Road and Yauger Way and said the goal is to reduce congestion around the Black Lake Blvd interchange and the Black Lake Blvd/Cooper Point intersection. The preferred proposed option would provide functional operations and traffic flow through 2035. The next steps include preparation of the IJR, detailed traffic analysis, environmental studies, and public outreach. The discussion was completed. 4.B 15-0276 Sub-Area Planning - Discussion of Project Initiation Letter Response Ms. Sadlier presented on the Sub-Area Planning Project, which included discussion between the Committee and the neighborhood representatives. Major goals include collaboration with the public and cultivating neighborhoods that are planned and City of Olympia Page 1 Land Use & Environment Meeting Minutes March 26, 2015 Committee improved with care and thoughtful consideration. Questions were posed to the Committee as part of the presentation, to gather information on their view of sub-area planning, including input on the objectives, project names, and processes. The current project can serve as a template for how other neighborhoods can develop a positive relationship with the City that provides a high degree of collaboration to shape the look and feel of neighborhood priorities and strategies for their future. Strong integration and communication among various groups would be important to coordinate efforts and prevent conflict. Collaboration may include sharing plans and creating a document with a written set of priorities for neighborhoods that could be consulted by the City’s staff when looking at projects in that neighborhood. Setting an example through a successful template will help others to create their own successful and engaged neighborhoods with a positive relationship with their City. Defining short-term and long-term goals will enable milestones to be reached and visible accomplishments to be appreciated. Assessing these goals early will provide a realistic view and add doable projects. A plan for the current team includes providing quarterly updates to the LUEC to summarize progress and receive feedback. The discussion was completed. 4.C 15-0285 Ordinance Amending OMC Chapters 12, 14, 16, 17 and 18 Related to Project Review and Decisions by the Site Plan Review Committee Mr. Bauer briefed the Committee on the amendments to the OMC. The goal of the changes is to make site plan review processes clearer, smoother, more effective, and more formal. The discussion was continued to the April 23 meeting. 4.D 15-0271 Status Reports and Update - Action Plan Ms. Ray presented an update on the action plan. Information has begun to be distributed, some outreach has been done, and the Action Plan Partner Work Group has been formed and begun meeting. The open house launch party will be held in The Olympia Center on Saturday April 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The discussion was completed. ANNOUNCEMENTS Ms. Bauer stated comments have been received on the Shoreline Master Program and changes will be made accordingly. Principle Planner Steve Friddle will be the new Director of Community Development for the City of Fife and will be leaving CP&D on April 6. 5. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m. City of Olympia Page 2