Potential multifamily residential units project on Fones Road reviewed by Olympia Site Plan Committee

Olympia's Site Plan Review Committee heard a proposal for a multifamily residential project at 1411 Fones Road SE.

At a presubmission conference held Tuesday, February 7, project applicant Raj Singh mentioned that Olympia is expanding Fones Road this year or early next year.

"As part of the expansion, the city is looking to acquire a portion of my property. They are putting sidewalks and driveways into the property to make sure it is ready for future use," Singh told the review committee.

Singh said he has been working with city engineers on the Fones Road expansion regarding his property.

"They wanted to understand the access requirements this lot would need. We have been working with them to correct the design they have proposed to what this site will essentially be constructed for,” Singh added.

As for the project, Singh said they plan to develop about 31 to 32-unit apartment complexes on a 46,304 square feet lot.

Engineering review

City Engineering Plan Examiner Zulaika Kim emphasized that the comments from the review committee are based on code they would generally provide to any applicant during a presubmission conference. She added that the comments on this development plan would not be factored into the city's corridor expansion project.

"It is not taking into account the Fones Road Corridor Project because none of us here have the ability to negotiate or to approve anything under the right-of-way acquisition that is happening as part of that process," Kim told the applicant.

Kim continued that the project is required to have frontage improvement on a three-lane major collector standard.

She added that if the project were developed before the corridor expansion, the applicant would be required to dedicate right-of-way to meet the minimum width for a major collector. "You would also be responsible for installing all frontage improvements, including sidewalk planter strip and bike lane."

Kim noted there is no connecting road, which is a dead end as far as access is concerned. The applicant was asked to have a cul-de-sac for solid waste turnaround and emergency services.

Planning review

Olympia Associate Planner Paula Smith confirmed that the project is in Residential Multifamily (RM) 24 zone, which means multifamily uses are permitted.

She explained that the development standard for RM 24 has a maximum density of 24 units per acre. 

Based on the code for maximum density, Smith said the applicant is only allowed 28 units. The proposal is over 30 units.

Smith said the city has a code for density bonus for affordable housing.

As for the design review, Smith reminded the applicant to demonstrate in the plan a usable space. It could be a variety of things, such as an outdoor seating area with a gazebo or a playground.

Smith told the applicant to provide a safe walking conditions analysis. She noted that Madison Elementary and Reeves Middle School schools are not within walking distance from the site.

She required a walking route analysis for the project, including the location of the bus stop for the children and the safe walking conditions to the site.