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, our City Council members, and all of you who testified in committee, wrote letters, and made phone calls to oppose these bills. Thank you!
It’s now time to move ahead to the eventual acquisition and removal of the Viewpoint Tower building and the remaining buildings on the fountain block, as proposed in our May 2008 “Vision” statement for downtown improvement. Oly 2012 stands ready to participate in discussions with the City Council on a potential ballot measure to raise the public funds necessary to accomplish these goals and to fully rebuild Percival Landing, as proposed by Mayor Doug Mah.
Unfortunately, a bill that would have established a downtown Capital City District, intended to retain one cent of the state’s sales tax generated in the district for the purposes of downtown economic development, failed to pass due to the fiscal crisis facing the state. Oly2012 remains committed to creating the District, and will support efforts to pass legislation in 2010. While the economy certainly took its toll on all of the state’s budgets, downtown Olympia was fortunate to receive capital budget funding for several important projects as mentioned in the News Updates Section.
As we move forward, the need to create housing opportunities for all ages and income levels in downtown Olympia remains our highest priority. We desperately need people living, working, and enjoying our restaurants, theater, and shopping in downtown. The city’s comprehensive plan has not been implemented and must begin to meet its goals of absorbing population growth – as a better alternative to rural housing tracts. Creating density where infrastructure already exists is the environmentally right path and one that Oly2012 will continue to support.
We want to urge you to share in Oly2012’s vision and to encourage your friends, neighbors, and colleagues to sign up for our newsletters and alerts. Ultimately, your voice must be heard to make downtown Olympia a truly wonderful place.
