Tumwater’s Planning Commission is working on recommendations to city building codes and regulations

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The Tumwater Planning Commission went through proposed revisions to Ordinance No. O2022-013, which is intended to make minor corrections to the city’s development regulations.

During its hybrid meeting yesterday, August 10, city staff collected information on suggested minor amendments of the Tumwater Municipal Code during 2020 and 2021, scheduled to be assessed collectively this 2022.

Planning Manager Brad Medrud told the commission, “We've spent a couple of years gathering these various amendments together in one packet because of the lack of staff, and a few other meetings we didn't have the opportunity to do the amendments in a couple of years.” 

According to Medrud, the presented document is about three years' worth of amendments intended to be minor corrections toward development regulations.

During the public comment section, local architect Glenn Wells commented on the provision about mixed-use overlay.

“This is more of a housekeeping comment and from a logistics standpoint, when we have a mixed-use building with residential above and required to have a residential lobby and elevator, stairs, and mechanical equipment – all of which wouldn't technically be part of the commercial,” said Wells. “And so I just like to add the language that the front building is to be 100% commercial except for what is needed for the residential lobby, elevator, stairs, and mechanical equipment.”

Wells also commented on the Capitol Boulevard Community – Multifamily Parking Requirements, highlighting the need for not too many or too few parking spaces per unit because tenants will always look for a space to park their cars if it is not provided on-site.

“Being in the business from a private sector standpoint, whenever we can have flexibility In the code, then we think that that's good because markets do change, and the private sector does need to respond to those changing markets. So when there's a little flexibility in the code then that that that's good from my perspective as an architect,” said Wells.

The final docket includes amendments in the following areas:

  • Accessory Dwelling Unit Entrances
  • Adult Family Homes/Residential Care Facilities
  • Bicycle Storage
  • Capitol Boulevard Community – Multifamily Parking Requirements
  • Car Washes
  • Duplexes
  • Impound Yards
  • Mixed Use Overlay
  • Nonconforming Signs
  • Optometry Clinics
  • Personal and Professional Services
  • Public Building and Church Signs
  • Residential Mechanical Equipment in Setbacks
  • Storage Shed Access
  • Subdivision Dedication Code Language Update

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