New subdivision proposed for Lister Road

The Olympia Site Plan Review Committee yesterday held a proposal for a 32-lot single-family detached residential subdivision on a 4.7-acre parcel area at 2020 Lister Road NE.

Ivana Halvorsen, of Barghausen Consulting Engineers submitted the proposal for Sandjay Property, which includes a public road and tracts for access and an internal local access road with low-speed curves and shared driveways where applicable. 

Halvorsen also stated the project would provide a half-street improvement for Lister Road that will loop through the site to connect at Beaumont Drive NE.

The developer is also inquiring about the process and limitations to townhouse design if they opt to develop a subdivision of townhouses instead of single-family structures.

Residential options

Lydia Moorehead, Olympia associate planner, discussed the options for the 4.7-acre lot area. She said single-family units are permitted but also permit duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes on individual lots. "This is important to note because that could get you to your minimum density while also keeping your lot count low."

Moorehead noted the plans met the single-family residential development standards, which would also apply to duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes.

As for the townhomes, Moorehead said it has different development standards.

"Basically, for townhomes, your lot sizes significantly decreased to a minimum of 2,000 square-feet or an average of 3,000 sf lot size, your minimum lot width is 18 feet, your lot coverage increases to 60%," Moorehead told the Barghausen staff who attended the online site review hearing.

The developer's proposal for 32-lot single-family detached would have a minimum of 4,000 sf, 45 feet minimum lot width and 45% lot coverage.

The city’planner informed the developers that townhomes built in more than 10 lots would need to go to the hearing examiner. "Because this is 4.7 acres, you would need to include other housing types, in addition to townhomes."

Engineering plans examiner Tiffani King said they would require extending Beaumont Drive to the local access.

King told the developer that Lister Road frontage has to be improved, and they would look forward to connecting to Cherry Blossom Street.

However, the presence of wetland off-site may change the road connection. “If it is deemed that a vehicular connection cannot be made, we would be looking for a pedestrian bicycle connection,” commented King.

Moorehead noted the presence of wetland within 300 feet off-site. "When we have a wetland or think we have a wetland within 300 feet, we ask you to look at that. The reason is that you could have a buffer that would impact your design."