Coast Welcome Figure Sculpture proposed for Isthmus Park

At its Wednesday meeting, the Olympia Site Plan Review Committee held a presubmission conference for the proposed installation of a 12-foot welcome figure carving in the city's Isthmus Park.

In the narrative submitted to the committee, the Olympia Parks, Arts, and Recreation Department (OPARD) plans to install a new public art piece, the Coast Welcome Figure, along with associated landscaping, at Isthmus Park, located at 531 4th Ave W.

The project will be constructed on the park's northwest corner, near the Olympia Yashiro Friendship Bridge on 4th Avenue.

The City Council and the Squaxin Island Tribal Council have requested this joint project, which is a key connection between Percival Landing and the future Deschutes Estuary.

Representatives from OPARD's project partner, Berger Partnership, presented a draft concept design for the proposed installation. The plan involves minimally invasive site work, including peeling existing asphalt and adding new planting soil and paving. The goal is to create a more naturalistic corner within the park, incorporating native plants, sand pavers, and seating elements around the 12-foot welcome figure sculpture.

The welcome figure sculpture is being developed in collaboration with the Squaxin Island Tribal Council, with the selected artist being a member of the Squaxin Island Tribe.

Planning review

According to city planner Paula Smith, the project site falls within the city's shoreline jurisdiction, which extends 200 feet from the ordinary high watermark. This means the project would likely require a shoreline development permit.

However, Smith noted that there is a potential exemption from the shoreline development permit if the project's fair market value is less than $8,504. She advised the project team to calculate the fair market value, including any donated or contributed labor, equipment, and materials, to determine if they qualify for the exemption.

Smith noted that even if the project is exempt from the shoreline development permit, it must still comply with the city's shoreline master program requirements. This includes addressing issues such as no net loss of shoreline ecological functions, public access, and critical area regulations.

Smith highlighted specific sections of the code that the project team would need to address, such as the 30-foot setback requirement for structures over 30 inches in height unless the project is considered a water-dependent use. She encouraged the team to provide documentation to support the project's water-dependent designation, which could allow for a zero-foot setback.

Additionally, Smith noted that the project site is located within the city's design review corridor, but design review would not be applicable in this case.

Urban Forester Jasen Johns provided input on the tree selection and site conditions for the Coast Welcome Figure project.

Johns noted that the project would trigger the city's requirement of one tree unit replacement for every 500 square feet of disturbance. The project team proposed using culturally significant species like Red Alder and Red Cedar, which can be valuable as culturally modified trees.

However, Johns expressed some concerns about the site conditions, stating that it is a high albedo area, which could make it challenging for the selected tree species to thrive. He advised the project team to consult with an arborist to get recommendations on soil amendments that could help improve the growing conditions.

Additionally, Johns recommended using irrigation, at least during the hottest and driest months of the year, to help ensure the long-term viability of the planted trees. While irrigation is not a requirement, Johns suggested it would go a long way in supporting the establishment of trees on the challenging site.