PL CV GuidingeHWY 507-YelmSquare8.15.07 (2)
City of Yelm
Community Development Department
105 Yelm Avenue West
P.O. Box 479
Yelm, WA 98597
Pre-Application Meeting
August 15, 2007
These comments are preliminary in nature and are not intended to represent final comments and or
requirements for the City of Yelm. Until a complete application is made, the Community Development
Department can only attempt to inform the applicant of general requirements as they appear in the form
presented by the applicant at the time of pre-submission.
Proponent: Steve Guidinger / Tom Spader
Project Proposal: Yelm Square
Project Location: Yelm Avenue East (HWY 507)
Tax parcel numbers 64303200300, 200400, 200500
Zoning and Setbacks
The property is zoned Heavy Commercial (C-2) which is codified at Chapter 17.26
YMC. The C-2 district is intended to permit, in designated areas, commercial uses and
activities which depend more heavily on convenient vehicular access than pedestrian
access, and which do not require locations in other commercial districts, or which may
be inappropriate in other commercial districts;
The C-2 district allows retail and commercial establishments as a permitted use subject
to site plan review.
Building setbacks are 15 feet from the front, 20 feet from the rear and 10 feet from the
side property lines
The maximum building height is forty (40) feet.
Critical Areas
All of Yelm is considered a critical aquifer recharge area. The City critical area maps
indicate that the property is located outside of wetlands, flood zones, and high ground
water areas. The City critical area maps also indicate that there are mapped high
ground water areas to the west and east sides of the proposed project. A Critical Areas
Pre-Application Meeting
Page 2 of 11
Report may be required to verify that there is no existing high groundwater conditions
located within the parcels proposed for development.
Binding Site Plan Standards
The subject site consists of 3 parcels of land of approximately 19.07 acres. In order to
create commercial lease pads for the office/retail buildings, a binding site plan is
required. A binding site plan would create building ‘pads’ with common access, parking,
and stormwater facilities. A binding site plan would allow the creation of a condominium
at a later date to sell the buildings located on the approved ‘pads’.
The binding site plan application would show the general area of building pads, parking,
stormwater, utilities, and access. The uses of the buildings would not be reviewed for
site plan review unless the proposed use was known at the time of binding site plan
approval. A binding site plan would also provide an avenue of phased improvements,
based on a phased construction plan.
Review Process
The binding site plan requires a public hearing before the Yelm Hearing Examiner and
includes Environmental Review. Once preliminary approval is granted, the applicant
has 5 years to install all required infrastructure improvements to serve the pads and
apply for final binding site plan approval
A Site Plan Review application as established by Chapter 17.84 YMC is an
administrative review process. The minimum application requirements can be found at
Section 17.84.060 YMC and are listed on the application form. A notice of application is
mailed to all property owners within 300 feet of the site.
The site plan review committee’s decision on a site plan review application may be
appealed to the Hearing Examiner, who would hold an open record hearing on the
issue. The Examiner’s decision can be appealed to the City Council, which would hold
a closed record hearing and determine if the decision was supported by substantial
evidence or contrary to law. If a SEPA appeal is filed, the site plan review would be
combined with that appeal and the Hearing Examiner would become the decision maker
with a recommendation from the SPR Committee. An open record hearing would be
held by the examiner on the site plan review application, if combined with a SEPA
appeal.
A conceptual landscaping plan is required at the time of application for site plan review.
The final landscaping and irrigation plan is required as an element of civil plans, with
installation and approval prior to occupancy of the business.
Pre-Application Meeting
Page 3 of 11
Land use approval typically contains conditions of approval that the applicant must
complete prior to receiving a building permit. Upon satisfactory completion of all
conditions of land use approval, the applicant can submit building plans for approval.
State Environmental Policy Act Process
A SEPA threshold determination will be required before action is taken on the Site Plan
Review application. An environmental checklist is required when the proposal creates
4,000 square feet or 20 or more parking stalls. Because of the size of the project, an
expanded environmental checklist will be required initially. The expanded checklist
should include the following environmental documents:
• Traffic Impact Analysis
• Preliminary Stormwater Plan.
The SEPA threshold determination is appealable to the Hearings Examiner, who would
hold an open record hearing on the issue. The Examiner’s decision may be appealed to
City Council, which would conduct a closed record hearing and determine if the
Examiner’s decision was contrary to law and supported by substantial evidence.
Land Use Fees
Binding Site Plan $350.00 + $50 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor are
Site Plan Review $350.00 + $50 per 1,000 sq ft per gross floor area.
SEPA $150.00
Civil Plan Review Billed on a cost recovery basis
Traffic Impact Analysis $500.00 scoping fee, and actual cost for review
Traffic Impact Fee $1,276.00 per peak PM trip
Water Meter Fee Based on meter size
Building Plan Review Based on 1997 UBC fee Schedule
Building Permit Based on 1997 UBC fee Schedule
Sewer Connection Fee $5,725 per ERU or $2,927 if part of LID
Sewer Inspection Fee $145.00 per ERU
Water Connection Fee $1,500 per ERU
Fire Impact Fee $0.216 per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area.
Design Review
Street Fronts
Pre-Application Meeting
Page 4 of 11
All development for properties not on pedestrian oriented streets shall include site
planning measures to create an attractive street edge, accommodate pedestrian
access, and support downtown design objectives. Examples of requirements based on
Downtown Goals and Policies are stated in the following:
• Define street edge with building landscaping or other features.
• Provide direct access to building fronts from the sidewalk.
• If parking is adjacent to street frontage, provide substantial landscaping to
spatially define the street edge and create a distinctive perimeter along the street
front.
Large Lot Developments
The design guidelines indicate that development should provide for public
transportation, encourage buildings to complement adjacent activities and visual
character and create comfortable human environments, and to incorporate screening,
mitigation, utilities and drainage as positive elements.
Street Corners
Developments on corner lots must enhance the property’s visual qualities by installing
substantial landscaping, a decorative screen wall, providing pedestrian access, and
architectural cover treatments.
Side and Rear Yards/ Siting Service Areas
The design guidelines indicate that service areas, and outdoor storage be located away
from neighboring properties to reduce conflicts and requires screening of refuse
containers located behind the building. No refuse container shall be permitted between
a street and the front of a building.
The refuse area must be large enough to accommodate a dumpster and recycle bin.
Refuse areas must be screened with an enclosure of a material and design compatible
with the overall architectural theme. A six foot wall or fence shall enclose any outdoor
refuse collection point. The fence shall be a solid material such as wood or masonry.
The following describes the intent in siting service areas based on the Design
Guidelines:
• To “reduce the visibility of unsightly uses”.
• To minimize the visibility of “backs” of buildings where service areas are located.
• To “encourage more thoughtful siting of trash containers and siting areas by
screening its negative aspects”.
• To reduce the noise impacts of service areas.
Pre-Application Meeting
Page 5 of 11
Pedestrian Circulation
The following elements must be provided as part of the site plan for new developments:
• All pedestrian paths must comply with the ADA.
• Adequate lighting must be provided for pedestrian access.
• Walkways should be integrated with the required parking lot landscaping.
• Provide pathways through parking lots
• Integrate transit stops into the planning of site improvements
• Provide weather protection such as a canopy to create a covered pedestrian
open space.
• Provide at least 200 square feet of landscaping at or near the entry.
• Provide pedestrian facilities such as benches, kiosks, or bicycle racks.
• Provide pedestrian scaled lighting
• Adjacent window displays
• Provide artwork or special pedestrian scaled signs
Building Design and Details
To encourage buildings that are comfortable at a human scale, at least three of the
following features must be incorporated into the building design:
• Balconies in upper stories
• Bay windows
• Pedestrian oriented space
• Individual windows
• Gable or hipped roof
• Porch or covered entry
• Spatially defining building elements that define an occupied space
• Upper story setbacks
• Composing smaller building elements near the entry or pedestrian oriented street
fronts
To ensure new development is compatible with Yelm’s architectural size and character,
at least two of the following features must be incorporated into the building design:
• Upper story setback
• Horizontal building modulation
• Modulated roof line
• Building articulation
Pre-Application Meeting
Page 6 of 11
To encourage unique, identifiable architectural features at intersections, at least one of
the following features must be included on a façade facing a public street:
• Decorated roofline
• Decorative treatment of windows and doors
• Decorative railings, grill work, or landscape guards
• Landscape trellises
• Decorative light fixtures
• Decorative building materials (masonry, wood details or patterns)
Concrete block walls must use textured blocks, colored mortar or a mix of other
masonry types. Concrete must be architecturally treated.
Metal roofing must be of high quality with a standing seam and can not be brightly
colored.
Blank walls must be treated through trellis and plantings, landscaping beds or other
methods.
Parking Lot Location and Design
The requirements for off-street parking and their design shall be regarded as the
minimum; however, the owner, developer, or operator of the premises for which the
parking facilities are intended shall be responsible for providing adequate amounts and
arrangement of space for the particular premises even though such space is in excess
of the minimum set forth.
Chapter 17.72 YMC requires professional offices to provide one (1) parking stall for
every 300 square feet of office space, retail establishments to provide one parking (1)
space for every 250 square feet of gross floor area, and restaurants to provide one (1)
stall for every 200 square feet. In all parking facilities containing 25 or more parking
spaces, a maximum of 25 percent of the required parking spaces may be compact.
A standard stall is 9 feet by 20 feet while a compact stall is 8 by 16. A loading space is
required and must accommodate a truck 45 feet in length, 12 feet in width, and 14 feet
tall.
All parking areas must be surfaced with asphalt or concrete, and shall be striped and
landscaped to the standards of the development guidelines.
The design details for parking lot construction can be found in the Yelm Development
Guidelines.
Pre-Application Meeting
Page 7 of 11
Landscaping Types and Description
The purpose of landscaping requirements is to preserve the aesthetic character of
communities; to promote retention and protection of existing vegetation; and to reduce
the impacts of development on drainage systems and natural habitats.
Type I landscaping is intended to provide a very dense sight barrier and physical
buffer to significantly separate conflicting uses and land use districts. A minimum of 15
feet of width shall be required when Type I landscaping design is utilized. Type I
landscaping will be required along the east and south property lines due to adjacent
residential uses.
Type II landscaping is intended to provide visual separation of uses from streets, and
visual separation of compatible uses so as to soften the appearance of streets, parking
areas and building elevation. It is used around the perimeter of a site with a minimum
planting area of eight-feet in width. When used adjacent to a building, a minimum five-
foot planting area shall be provided. Type II landscaping will be required around the
perimeter of the site.
Type III landscaping is intended to provide visual relief where clear sight is desired.
This type is utilized along pedestrian corridors and walks for separation of pedestrians
from streets and parking areas. The minimum width for Type III landscaping shall be six
feet. Type III landscaping is required as a part of street frontage improvements.
Type IV landscaping is intended to provide visual relief and shade in parking areas.
Parking shall have at least 24 square feet of landscape development for each parking
stall proposed. Each area of landscaping must contain at least 100 square feet of area
and must be at least six feet in any direction.
Type V landscaping is to provide visual relief in storm water retention/detention areas
with vegetation that is suitable and will thrive in hydric soils.
Refuse
The refuse area must be large enough to accommodate a dumpster and recycle bin.
Refuse areas must be screened with an enclosure of a material and design compatible
with the overall architectural theme. A six foot wall or fence shall enclose any outdoor
refuse collection point. The fence shall be a solid material such as wood or masonry.
Pre-Application Meeting
Page 8 of 11
Transportation
Ingress and egress at the site shall be consistent with the Yelm Development
Guidelines, Section 4B.140. Proposed accesses from Yelm Avenue East (SR 507) and
the proposed future SR 510/ 507 Yelm Loop will be reviewed in more detail through the
Traffic Impact Analysis.
The Traffic Impact Analysis required as part of the environmental review will indicate the
impacts that the development will have on the transportation system and suggest
mitigation measures that may be required including improvements to the portion of the
SR 510/507 Yelm Loop which bisects the subject properties. Mitigation measures will
also include construction and right-of-way dedication for the SR 510/507 Yelm Loop.
The City of Yelm has adopted a Transportation Facility Charge (TFC) of $1,276.00 per
PM peak trip generated by new development. The code provides a default table that the
applicant can use to determine the number of new PM trips generated by a proposal.
The TFC charges are based on the type of use proposed. Each use may be
significantly different. For example, the traffic generated from a fast food restaurant is
much greater than a “sit-down” restaurant. Retail sales are also determined by different
factors.
EXAMPLE: Gross Floor Area / 1,000 x $750.00=TFC
Retail Shopping Center: 3.06 x 206,846= 632,949 ÷1,000 = 633 x $1,276.00 =
$807,708 This number is based on the assumption that the total build out is strictly
retail.
Traffic Facilities Charges may be applied to off-site improvements required to mitigate
potential significant impacts attributed to the proposed development if the required
improvements are capacity related.
*Credits may be given for projects which create a significant economic benefit to the
community. The size of the credit shall be measured at an appropriate percentage of
the anticipated annual tax revenue increase to the community and available for capital
contribution to transportation facilities on the approved plan as a result of the project.
The credit is calculated as follows:
1. Estimated gross revenue for six years.
2. Multiply gross revenue by 0.2 percent (B and O tax).
3. Multiply gross revenue subject to sales tax by 1.5 percent (city share of state
sales tax).
4. Add products of 2 and 3 above.
Pre-Application Meeting
Page 9 of 11
5. Multiply total from line 4 by nine percent (percentage of tax revenue budgeted to
city road fund).
6. Multiply product from line 5 by 28 percent (percentage of money in the road fund
that is designated as private share for projects on the TFC).
Water
The proposed project is located in the City of Yelm’s water service area. The project is
required to connect to City water service. There is an existing 10” water main located in
Yelm Avenue East (SR 507). Water lines will also be required to be installed within the
SR 510/507 Yelm loop as a part of the required improvements.
Water connections are based on a consumption rate of 900 cubic feet a month and are
charged at a rate of $1,500 per a connection (fee subject to change) inside city limits.
The fees will be calculated utilizing the water consumption calculations provided by your
civil engineer. These fees are payable at building permit issuance.
An irrigation meter shall be installed and an approved backflow prevention device
provided. As sewer use fees are calculated based on water usage, an irrigation meter
will lower monthly sewer bills.
Any existing well(s) will need to be abandoned per Department of Ecology standards
and the water rights will need to be dedicated to the city.
All commercial buildings and irrigation systems are required to provide for cross-
connection control through the provisions of a back flow prevention device installed on
the water services. A list of approved devices can be found at Chapter 246-290-490
WAC.
A portion of the site is currently assessed a water system latecomers fee. The
latecomer’s fee in the amount of $8,489.33 is due and payable prior to connection to the
service.
Sewer
The proposed site is currently located in the City of Yelm’s STEP sewer system service
area, and the proposed site is currently not connected to the City of Yelm’s STEP sewer
system. There is an existing sewer main located in Yelm Avenue East (SR 507).
Installation of sewer lines will also be required within the SR 510/507 Yelm Loop as a
part of the required improvements.
This proposal will be required to install step tank(s) and associated equipment needed
to operate with the City of Yelm’s step sewer system. The size of the STEP tank will be
Pre-Application Meeting
Page 10 of 11
based on peak flows as calculated by the developer’s engineer, which must be
submitted as part of the civil plan review.
There is a sewer latecomers’ fee associated with the three parcels for the installation of
the sewer main along Yelm Avenue East (SR 507) by Walmart. This fee is in the
amount of $44,828.15 for the three parcels combined.
Any on-site septic systems will need to be abandoned prior to site plan review approval.
Commercial sewer connections are based on a consumption rate of 900 cubic feet a
month and are charged at a rate of $5,725.00 per a connection (fee subject to change)
inside city limits. An inspection fee of $145.00 per a connection will also be required.
Fire Protection
All projects need to have fire protection for the buildings. It is likely that fire flow may be
an issue at this location, which will be addressed through building official review of the
proposed building uses and construction material used for the buildings.
The International Building Code (IBC) provides occupancy ratings for different types of
uses. The fire coverage and sprinkler system for the proposed use must meet IBC
requirements.
Fire Impact Fee pursuant to Section 15.40.020 (B)(6) YMC is established at a rate of
$0.216 per square foot of development for all new development I the City of Yelm.
Stormwater
Developments with additional impervious surface are required to provide stormwater
facilities pursuant to the 1992 DOE Stormwater Manual. Stormwater treatment for all
impervious surfaces, such as internal and frontage streets is to be treated on site.
The size and design would be reviewed as part of the site plan review and further
review at civil plan submittal. An operations and maintenance agreement will be
required.
ADA Requirements
The American Disabilities Act required that facilities are ADA accessible. Facility
improvements will have to meet current code. Review of these improvements will be
determined upon further review of the civil and architectural plans.
Pre-Application Meeting
Page 11 of 11
Civil Plan Review Process
Civil Plan review generally takes place after a land use approval. The Yelm
Development Guidelines contain standard details for all infrastructure requirements,
including parking lot layout, sewer and water lines, STEP tank design, and stormwater
control.
Building Permit Process
Building Plan review, permitting and inspections will be based on Title 15 Yelm
Municipal Code, adopting the 2003 IBC, IMC, UPC, IFC and the 2001 Washington State
Energy Code. By resolution, the City of Yelm re-adopted the 1997 UBC, UMC and UPC
Fee schedules.
Building Plans may be submitted after Site Plan Review approval. Five(5) sets of plans,
one of which may be half scale, two (2) sets of engineering calculations, energy
calculations and specifications will be required. Due to the size of the occupancy, an
integrated sprinkler and fire alarm system will be required. These plans may be
submitted at a later date along with any required kitchen suppression systems. All fire
related items 5’ outside the building will be subject to civil review along with domestic
water, waste, and storm water.
Concurrently with Site Plan Review two sets of building and accessory building
elevations must be submitted for review of the building for consistency with the Design
Guidelines.
Allow at least 8 to 12 weeks for Building Plan Review and 2 weeks for design guideline
review.