Olympia's Public Works presents proposed changes in engineering policy at the Land Use and Environment Committee

Olympia's Land Use and Environment Committee moved forward with the proposed 2023 Engineering Design and Development Standard (EDDS) update to the city council for a public hearing.

City Assistant Engineer Steve Sperr spoke at the committee meeting. He said the project is in its early stages, with important things like drawings and chapter or text changes already drafted. They have stakeholder engagement and community involvement in looking at these changes.

"We also have to go through Washington State Department of Commerce because these changes are considered development regulations that require the department to look at them,” said Sperr.

Around 56 topics in EDDS are being proposed for change. Sperr discussed the six substantial modifications, some designed to encourage development, especially for smaller businesses.

Street connectivity focuses on larger developments, usually more than an acre. It involves determining the placement and types of streets within these areas and how they will connect to neighboring properties. This topic also covers subtopics, such as:

• What does "unique neighborhood character and context" mean?
• Updating the Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) Guidelines
• Defining substantive Wetland and Critical Area Impacts
• Further identification of "traffic calming" methods to mitigate safety impacts

Downtown sidewalk standards pertain to the guidelines governing sidewalks in the area, specifically in mixed-used projects. It aims to accommodate sidewalk cafes and improve the overall pedestrian experience. Sperr mentioned they are evaluating sidewalks but not in terms of requiring a larger width. "Right now, it is not something on our plate."

Frontage improvements. Sperr said they are proposing waiving frontage improvements for properties where the requirement improvements are less than 25% of the property's assessed value.

According to Sperr, requirements on frontage improvements can act as a barrier to redevelopment, especially for smaller businesses. He said these businesses often face difficulties due to financial constraints.

Many projects fail to move forward because of the extensive requirements for off-site improvements within the right-of-way. Examples of these requirements include driveways, utility extensions, and planter strips.

Private streets and mobile home parks. Sperr mentioned that the city has limited areas zoned for mobile home parks, making it challenging to improve existing parks or develop new ones with the desired density. The goal is to promote higher density within the urban growth area and reduce sprawl.

To address this, a hybrid approach has been developed for street standards in mobile home parks. The proposed design includes a parking land, approximately an 18-foot driving area shared by vehicles, and provisions for adjusting when two cars are entering or existing simultaneously. Safety measures such as streetlights and sidewalks are also being considered for implementation.

Enhanced bike lanes. The update introduces five enhanced bike lanes designed for major collector and arterial roads. These bike lanes aim to provide safer and more accessible options for cyclists and promote sustainable transportation. These bike lanes will be implemented as part of capital projects carried out by the Public Works department.

Waste resources. According to Sperr, the change focuses on revising and clarifying solid waste regulations and processes. Their goal is to provide detailed information that can be easily followed, like a flowchart. They consider factors such as the number of units in multi-use buildings, residential and commercial square footage to determine the appropriate sizing of services required.