20180331 Notice of Decision El Taco Amigo 3
City of Yelm
Site Plan Review Committee
105 Yelm Avenue West
Yelm, WA 98597
NOTICE OF DECISION
DATE: September 19, 2018
PROJECT NAME: El Taco Amigo 3
PROJECT LOCATION: 1110 Yelm Ave E, Suite A, Yelm, WA 98597
PARCEL NUMBER: 22730110207
CASE NUMBER: 20180331
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Community Development Department issued a site plan review
approval to Yalina Mondragon-Valencia at the above referenced location.
The complete decision may be viewed on the City’s website at www.yelmwa.gov and choosing
‘Document Library’ then ‘Currently Under Review’ from the menu system. A copy of the decision
may also be obtained at the Community Development Department in City Hall at 105 Yelm
Avenue West, Yelm, WA 98597 during normal business hours for a fee of 15 cents per page. For
additional information, please contact the Community Development Department at 360-458-
3835.
City of Yelm
Site Plan Review Committee
105 Yelm Avenue West
Yelm, WA 98597
Site Plan Review 20180331
Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Decision
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. Yalina Mondragon-Valencia owns the mobile food vending business to be located at 1110
Yelm Ave E, Suite A, identified by Assessor’s Tax Parcel Number 22730110207. This
approval is for the operation of a mobile food vendor at this location.
2. The property is approximately .71 acres and owned by Yelm Plaza LLC. The site is leased
to King Cronic Group, LLC, who is subletting Suite A and parking to El Taco Amigo 3. The
property is zoned Commercial (C-1) which is codified at Chapter 18.36 YMC. The
Commercial District is intended to provide for the location of business centers to serve
the needs of the community for convenience goods and services. Retail and service
establishments are allowed uses in the C-1 zone. [Section 18.35.020 YMC].
3. Yalina Mondragon-Valencia submitted a site plan review application on September 11,
2018. The application materials included a preliminary site plan showing the location of
the mobile food vending unit and associated parking.
4. The project is exempt from environmental review as the existing building is less than
10,000 square feet and less than 90 parking stalls are required. [Section 18.20.020 YMC
and Section 197-11-800 WAC]
5. Chapter 18.16 YMC requires a determination that the infrastructure facilities necessary
to serve a proposed development are in place or planned for and properly funded with a
reasonable expectation that the facilities will be in place at the time needed to preserve
adopted levels of service.
a. Concurrency with sewer infrastructure means the project is within an area
approved for sewer pursuant to the adopted sewer comprehensive plan for the
City and improvements necessary to provide facilities and services are present to
meet the needs of the proposed development.
The mobile food vending unit is self-contained. The applicant has a written
agreement with the adjoining business owner to have access to an existing
commercial unit for access to restroom facilities; this satisfies concurrency
requirements for sewer.
b. Concurrency with water infrastructure means the project is within an area
approved for municipal water service pursuant to the adopted water
comprehensive plan for the City and improvements necessary to provide services
are present.
The mobile food vending unit is self-contained. The applicant has a written
agreement with the adjoining business owner to have access to an existing
commercial unit for access to restroom facilities; this satisfies concurrency
requirements for water.
c. Concurrency with transportation infrastructure means that the project completes
frontage improvements, makes off-site improvements required for the safe
movement of traffic and pedestrians if impacted by traffic from the development,
and pays a traffic facilities charge.
The mobile food unit is located on an improved commercial parcel with access
from Yelm Avenue East and Plaza Drive which are both constructed to City
standards.
d. Concurrency with school infrastructure means the developer pays a school impact
fee at the time of construction.
The proposal will have no impact on the School system as it will not increase
student population.
e. Concurrency with fire protection means the developer pays a fire impact fee at
the time of construction.
The proposal does not increase the square footage of the building that requires
the fire impact fee.
8. Title 18 YMC is the Unified Development Code for the City of Yelm and establishes
standards for development within the various zoning districts. The subject property is
identified by the Zoning Map as being within the Commercial zoning district. All
surrounding properties are commercially developed.
a. Retail and service oriented establishments are allowed in the C-1 zoning district as
a permitted use. [Section 18.36.020 YMC]
b. The mobile food vending unit is proposed to be located within an approved
parking stall, which meets the district setback requirements. [Sections 18.36.040
and 18.68.030 YMC]
c. Chapter 18.52 provides guidance for Ingress and egress. Access to the mobile food
vending unit is from approved accesses on Yelm Avenue and Plaza Drive.
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d. Retail and service establishments require one parking space per 250 feet of gross
floor area. El Taco Amigo has leased Suite A and associated parking stalls from
King Cronic Group.
9. The Yelm Critical Areas and Resource Lands, Chapter 18.21 YMC provides protection for
critical aquifer recharge areas, frequently flooded areas, wetlands, geologically hazardous
areas, and fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas.
a. All of Yelm is identified as a critical aquifer recharge area. Compliance with
Federal, State, and County water source protection regulations and with the City’s
adopted stormwater regulations is required to protect the aquifer. [Section
18.21.070 (C) YMC]
b. The Mazama Pocket Gopher has been listed as a threatened species by the
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife since at least 2008. Yelm has
protected this species through the implementation of the Critical Areas Code.
When a development occurs on property suspected to be occupied by the
Mazama Pocket Gopher, the Community Development Department has required
the applicant prepare a critical areas report which would include mitigation
measures if it was determined that pocket gophers would be impacted by the
proposed development. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is
provided with notice of all threshold determinations issued pursuant to the State
Environmental Policy Act and the City consults with the Department when a
critical areas report is required.
In April, 2014, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Yelm subspecies of the
Mazama Pocket Gopher as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. While
the City of Yelm is not responsible for implementation or enforcement of the
Endangered Species Act, it consults with the Service and provides notice to
applicants that the pocket gopher is a federally protected species and a permit
from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may be required.
The parcel is covered asphalt. Visual reconnaissance showed no evidence of
gopher activity.
Compliance with Yelm’s requirements under the Critical Areas Code does not
ensure compliance with the provisions of the Endangered Species Act. The
applicant should contact the US Fish and Wildlife Service with any questions about
compliance with Federal standards for threatened species.
10. Chapter 13.04 YMC and Chapter 6 of the Development Guidelines establish requirements
for connection to the City’s water system.
Page 5 of 6
a. The existing building is currently served by City water. The applicant has use of the
existing building for restroom facilities. Water service hose may not be located
overhead or lying on the sidewalk.
b. The City implements a cross-connection and backflow control program pursuant
to Title 43 RCW and Chapter 248-54 WAC. [Section 13.04.220 YMC] A backflow
prevention assembly is installed at this site.
11. Chapter 13.08 YMC and Chapter 7 of the Development Guidelines establish requirements
for connection to the City’s sewer system.
a. The site is currently served by City sewer.
b. Connection to the sewer system is not allowed for the mobile unit. Waste water
disposal must be approved by Thurston County Public Health Department.
12. All of Yelm is considered a critical aquifer discharge area. The control and treatment of
stormwater is required to protect the critical aquifer. The City has adopted the latest
edition of the Stormwater Management Manual for Western Washington published by
the Washington Department of Ecology. [Section Chapter 18.27 YMC].
The proposal does not include additional impervious surface.
13. Chapter 18.68 YMC provides general requirements for the location of mobile food
vending units. The mobile food vending unit meets the requirements of this chapter as
the size of the unit is less than 300 square feet, restroom facilities are secured in writing
and available in Suite A of the building on site, the unit meets the setback requirements
of the building, the unit is self-contained, the use does not take more than 15 percent of
the required parking spaces, and provides safe and accessible vehicular and pedestrian
maneuvering area for its customers. Electrical service connection may be provided by the
adjacent property owner; however electrical lines are not allowed overhead or lying on
the sidewalk.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
A. Section 18.13.020 (B) YMC allows the Site Plan Review Committee to approve a proposal
when the preliminary site plan conforms to the standards, provisions and policies of the
city as expressed in its various adopted plans and ordinances.
B. Yalina Mondragon-Valencia has established that the request for site plan review approval
can satisfy all criteria set forth in Section 18.13.020(C) YMC, meet all requirements of the
Commercial zoning classification, and meet all other requirements of the Yelm Municipal
Code. Therefore, the preliminary plan and use should be approved subject to the
following conditions:
Page 6 of 6
1. A City of Yelm Business license is required.
2. Utility service lines are prohibited overhead or lying on the sidewalk.
3. Waste water disposal must be approved by Thurston County Public Health
Department.
C. The mobile food vending approval is valid for twelve (12) months from the date of this
approval. The mobile unit may move to another location within the City under this
approval, with a revised site plan. The applicant may renew this approval for an additional
twelve (12) months with and updated application and site plan.
DECISION
The request for site plan review approval is hereby granted subject to the conditions contained
in the conclusions above.
Dated this 19th day of September, 2018
_______________________________ _______________________________
Grant Beck, Chad Bedlington,
Community Development Director Public Works Director
Chris Vaccaro, Building Official
Prepared this 19th day of September, 2018
_________________________
Tami Merriman,
Associate Planner
APPEAL
The Site Plan Review Committee’s decision in this matter may be appealed pursuant to Chapter
18.10 YMC, to the City of Yelm Hearing Examiner no later than 21 days from the date of this
decision. An appeal must be in writing, contain specific factual objections, and include the appeal
fee of $1,250.00.