Thursday, October 1, 2026
A proposed multi-unit development at 1607 Union Ave. SE in Olympia could eventually be sold with each dwelling being owned separately if the project passes muster with the city.
Ambar Escalante, the applicant for the project, said she recently finalized the purchase of the vacant, approximately 5,894-square-foot residential lot. She made her remarks at an Olympia Site Plan Committee meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
Escalante is proposing to build one attached three-unit townhouse building, with each unit functioning as an independent residence while sharing common structural walls. The project would also include rear garages from the alley and improvements to the back of the property.
She said her long-term goal is to allow each unit to be separately owned and sold through a unit-lot subdivision after construction.
The site is within 300 feet of a wetland. Under the city’s current rules, that could require a full wetland report identifying the wetland’s boundary, classification and required buffer. Escalante would need to provide documentation from a qualified biologist before permits could be approved.
But Olympia Planner Casey Mauck said proposed code changes expected to be considered by the Olympia City Council could allow a shorter review for properties where existing development or other conditions separate the site from a nearby wetland.
In that case, Mauck said two existing homes sit between the proposed development site and the wetland. That could potentially mean the property is “functionally isolated” from the wetland, although a qualified biologist would need to make that determination.
Escalante said she expects to submit permit applications after January 2027, when the proposed code changes could take effect if approved by the Olympia City Council.
Although the potential “functional isolation” provision could reduce the amount of environmental documentation required, Mauck said the change is not guaranteed and the property’s eligibility has not yet been determined.
Under the proposed approach, a biologist could provide a shorter analysis explaining whether the wetland is functionally isolated from the development site. That would be less extensive than a full wetland delineation and classification report.
Mauck advised Escalante to begin contracting with environmental consultants experienced in preparing wetland reports for Olympia and working with the city’s critical areas code.
The preliminary plan includes a 3-foot paved walkway connecting the units to Union Avenue. Mauck said the walkway meets the city’s emergency access requirement.
Because of the property’s proximity to transit, the city does not require vehicle parking in the area, leaving the amount of parking to the developer.
4 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
BillSpencer
This bureaucracy is ridiculous. Olympia needs a Mamdani to straighten things out. This small project having to commission a wetland report. The wetlands near 1607 Union? What wetlands? I don't see anything near this address on google other than the filthy swamps near the freeway. It's time to build some housing in this unaffordable and exclusionary city!
Friday, August 21 Report this
Duffish
Lets use our bureaucracy and have review of areas of critical wetlands, not small wet areas that are non-functional. This just puts more cost burden on developers and serves no purpose
Friday, August 21 Report this
JW
"We've got to solve the affordability crisis!!"
"Here's tens of thousands of dollars in red tape and bureaucratic BS to wade through!!"
Saturday, August 22 Report this
Pkt3154
Red Tape when it is surrounded by residences. Proposed changes...means probably two years from now to adoption. Feel sorry for the person wanting to do the project. Seems super straightforward from a wetlands perspective.
Sunday, August 23 Report this