Committee reviews Swantown expansion project from Port of Olympia

The Port of Olympia is proposing a 32,500-square-foot expansion of its Swantown Marina & Boatworks yard to increase capacity and improve services for the region’s boating community.  

The Olympia Site Plan Review Committee held a pre-submission conference for the project on Wednesday, Sept. 30. The project site is located at 915 Washington St. NE in Olympia.

The proposal calls for the conversion of a grassy, previously unpaved area south of the existing yard, between the Boatworks facility and Marine Drive NE, into space for vessel storage, staging and equipment operations. Plans also include new fencing, lighting, water connections and stormwater improvements.  

Port of Olympia Public Works Program Manager James Sommer said the expansion would extend the existing operation into the grassy area and add space to serve customers. 

Review 

City of Olympia Senior Planner Jackson Ewing said the project qualifies for the city's State Environmental Policy Act exemption because the expansion is under 65,000 square feet and is located outside shoreline jurisdiction.  

However, the existing stormwater pond is within shoreline jurisdiction. Ewing said the Port of Olympia's permitting requirements depend on whether the pond needs to be modified. If modifications are required, the Port of Olympia may need a shoreline substantial development permit.  

The proposed fencing and retaining wall along Marine Drive NE must also be set back 10 feet from the property line, with landscape screening required along the frontage.  

City of Olympia Senior Engineering Plans Examiner Zulaika Kim said the current plans do not appear to require modifications to the existing stormwater pond.  

Because the project creates more than 5,000 square feet of new hard surface, the Port of Olympia must complete a stormwater scoping review before final permitting requirements are determined. 

The timing of the application could also affect which stormwater standards apply. Applications deemed complete before July 1, 2027, would be reviewed under the city’s 2022 drainage manual, while applications deemed complete on or after that date would be subject to the planned 2027 standards.  

The Port of Olympia's next steps include completing the stormwater scoping process and submitting the required materials. The review helps to determine whether additional shoreline or landuse permits are needed.