Letter To Olympia Planning Commission Re: Shorelines Master Plan Draft

To:

Olympia Planning Commission

900 Plum Street SE

Olympia, WA 98501

RE:  Draft Shoreline Master Program

Dear Chairman Horn and Members of the Olympia Planning Commission:

I am writing this letter on behalf of myself[1] and Olympia 2012, an organization dedicated to promoting the further development of Olympia’s Downtown that is environmentally and economically sustainable.  We appreciate the time and energy the staff and the Planning Commission, especially Commission’s Shoreline Master Program subcommittee, devoted to preparing this draft document.  2012’s members, including myself, attended several of this subcommittee’s meetings.

We have the following questions and concerns:

OLY 2012′s 2010 Strategic Plan

Throughout all of the change of the past year, OLY2012 has remained quiet, yet observant.  We have also been working on a new strategic plan for how to bring positive change to downtown.  To download c copy of this plan, please click the link below.

Oly2012_StrategicPlan_FINAL

Research & Analysis: 2009 Legislative Wrap-up

By Enid Layes

The Legislature adjourned last week.  It’s been a long 105 days and several issues of importance to Oly2012 and Olympia citizens committed to revitalization of our downtown have been settled…at least for now.

Senator Karen Fraser and Representative Sam Hunt introduced legislation to override the Olympia City Council’s decision to amend their comprehensive plan to allow mid-rise mixed-use development on the isthmus. Oly2012 testified against these measures in both the House and Senate committees.  Oly2012 believes the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA) clearly gives authority to local governments to make zoning changes that are consistent with their comprehensive plans while allowing appeals to the Growth Management Hearings Board and then to Superior Court to ensure consistency with the GMA.  The bills ultimately failed.  We want to acknowledge the Olympia Downtown Association, the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce,